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SoCal High School & Prep Report

Pat McKinney: USDHS Wins
Division III San Diego Title--(March 10, 1998)

Here's Pat's report from USDHS's win in the San Diego Division III title game, played March 8, 1998. Be sure to visit the USDHS Dons Basketball Website to stay in touch with the Dons and the rest of San Diego Hoops. With the win, this set up the Don's matchup tonight in the quarterfinals of the CIF State Championship Southern Regional games against Yosemite in San Diego. And as you'll find out from reading that report, the Dons continue to roll. But before we get to that, here's what happened Saturday in the CIF Sectional final:

CIF San Diego Section - Division III Final

Walton Gives Dons One for the Thumb
USDHS Outlasts Saints in Physical Battle

By Pat McKinney

It was not pretty, but the University of San Diego High School Dons beat Saint Augustine for their fifth straight Division III CIF title and sixth in seven years. This game featured a lot of shots, a lot of bad shots, some good defense, and a star carrying the better team to the title. The refs really let them play and Todd Martinez and Billy Silva really used it to their advantage. The ugly nature of the game kept it close, but a strong first quarter carried the Dons to the win.

The Dons started the following five:
Luke Walton 6'8 Sr. F
David Abramowitz, 6' Sr. G
Ron McMillan, 6'6 Sr. F
Carlos Cong, 5'5 Sr. G
Kam Walton, 6'8 So. F

Saint Augustine countered with this lineup:

Rica Marentez, 5'10 Jr. G
Donnie Cochran, 6'2 So. G
Andre Porter, 5'11 Jr. G
Jim Hill, 6'5 Sr. F
Billy Silva, 6'4 Sr. F.

Luke won the tap and the Dons went to work. They held the ball for nearly a minute, getting an offensive rebound and missing twice. Jim Hill scored on the other end and McMillan answered. Luke was fouled in the lane and hit two free throws. On the next trip, Luke got a put back to put the Dons up 6-2 with 4:45 left. It was not a good night for the point guards: Andre Porter had four turnovers in the first three minutes and it got Uni going. Play was extremely physical inside and the Dons exploited it in the first. Luke got another bucket on a look from Chris Walton despite the sagging zone Saints operated. On the next trip, Carlos Cong drilled a three to put Uni up 11-2. Jamaal Williams hit a free throw before Luke hit one from the baseline. The quarter ended with the Dons up 13-3. Saints was 1 for 10 in the first, thanks to an 0 for 6 for Porter. Luke finished the first with 8 points and 4 rebounds.

The second started with Luke finding Ronnie inside before Williams got another bucket. Luke came back and hit a three and the teams were trading baskets. Jim Hill made four free throws in the next two trips and Saints was in it at 20-13 with three and a half left. This game was televised and we were treated to a nice four minute break at this point, allowing the teams to stay cold. Each side would score four points to make the score 24-17 at the half. Saints shot an icy 27% for the first half including 1-11 from Porter. USDHS was a cool 36%, but Luke scored 14 points and pulled down 9 rebounds. David Abramowitz could not find it and did not score in the first half at his home for next year. Williams led Saints with five at the half.

A lot of fouls were called but the game was extremely physical. Todd Martinez at 5'10 was matched with either Chris or Luke Walton and had no choice but to hang all over them. The Dons kept going inside and for some reason fouls were more often not called. In turn, Martinez, Billy Silva, and Leon Doxey created a nasty hackfest. Porter opened up the third firing (and missing). Doxey got a bucket before Luke answered with a drive to the hole. Kam drilled a 17 footer and Luke converted a three point play to push it to 31-20. The quarter ended with Uni up 35-25 on two from Cochran, a put back by Kam, a three from Porter, and a deep two from Luke.

Luke got his passing going in the final quarter, finding Kam and Conor for points. Williams got a two and Luke was fouled on the trip back. He hit the first and missed the second but got his own rebound and made the shot. Leon Doxey fouled out soon thereafter and sent Abramowitz to the line. Dave got his first points of the game with 1:56 to go and would manage only five from the line. The game ended with free throws as the Dons claimed the title. Luke led all scorers and was the only player for the Dons in double figures with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Williams led Saints with 11 points and 7 boards.