SoCal High School & Prep Report

San Diego's Nike Prep Holiday
Classic: A First Day Report--(December 26, 1997)

Who says there's no basketball in San Diego?

San Diego was once considered the "black hole" of SoCal hoops. No papers reporting. No online news of SD prep hoops, except a few selected team sites. We're trying to turn that around by enlisting the assistance of several folks, including Patrick McKinney, who also maintains the University of San Diego High School Basketball website. We hope to have a flood of information this season to bring some players to the spotlight who might not have received much exposure before from the border-town regions of SoCal.

So thanks to Patrick McKinney, here's his take on the first day of this great tournament:

First Day's Results Nike Prep Classic

By Patrick McKinney

San Diego's big tournament, the Nike National Prep Classic, has come to town and the action has already been fast and furious. Played at four sites (with three different Divisions), talent from around the country has descended on San Diego's North County.

The best match-up on the first day was between San Diego's second-best team (in this author's opinion) and Division V State Championship runner-up Horizon High and defending Division I State Champion's Crenshaw. On paper, Crenshaw appeared to have a distinct advantage and Horizon did nothing to help their cause: The day before the game was played, Horizon's Detrick Watts announced that the winner of this game would be the "best in Southern California".

Was he right? Hard to say, but Horizon sure put a scare into Crenshaw, before succumbing 97-95 on a buzzer beating layup by Brandon Hawkins.

There might just not be that much difference between Division V and Division I after all.

Hawkins finished with 23 and Anthony Garrison put in a game-high 28 in what certainly would have been an embarassing loss for the 'Shaw, which is now 4-0.

Horizon, which dropped to 5-2 on the season, stayed in the game behind 25 points from Zack Jones Jr, including an astounding 8 three pointers, and another 20 points from Watts. The game was locked at 39-39 at halftime, but Crenshaw came back in the third quarter to seize a 66-64 lead. With under four minutes to go, Horizon led 85-80 but could not withstand the furious comeback by Crenshaw.

In other action, St Augustine (ranked #5) defeated Bakersfield Centennial 77-55. Saints' Junior point guard Andre Porter scored a game-high 27 to go with 11 boards while Terrence Terrell was held to just 10. Saints (7-2) jumped up 17-5 and never trailed. The victory sets up today's game with 3rd ranked Rancho Bernardo.

Other scores and highlights: Ocean View 79, #8 Vista 54. Notable: Vista has gone into a tailspin, losing five straight.

Capistrano Valley Christian 53, Granite Hills 50

#4 Rancho Buena Vista 78, Scripps Ranch 49

Torrey Pines 66, Red Bluff 61

#7 El Camino 74, Reno 57

Poway 61, Robert McQueen 50. Notable: Joe Mann 15 points

Jesuit 80, Santa Fe Christian 34

Tokay 51, #10 Bishop's 47

Garfield 72, #3 Rancho Bernardo 69. Notable: Rei Rivera 32 points

Fremont 73, St. Pius X 47

Chaparral 97, Camden 43

John Muir 77, Upland 60

JW North 42, Bishop O'Dowd 40

S Lake Tahoe 90, Canoga Park 80

St Anthony 83, St Mary's Hall 36

Mountain View 65, Bonanza 58

More to follow from down South.

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