Pat McKinney USDHS v. St. Augustine

SoCal High School & Prep Report

San Diego Report: Pat McKinney
on USDHS v. St. Augustine--(January 17, 1998)

Once again, we're pleased to bring you Pat McKinney's take on the University of San Diego High School Dons' basketball game from yesterday against St. Augustine. And just as a reminder to those of you who will be coming, and to those who might, USDHS will be playing at the MLK Challenge on Monday, January 19, 1998 at Pauley Pavilion, in a great game against Compton High, scheduled for 2:00 pm. Compton will feature some of SoCal's top players, including DeAndre Moore (5'-8" Sr. PG), Reggie Howard (6'-2" Sr. SG), Tito Maddox (6-4" Jr. SG), Milton Riley (6'-7" Sr. PF), and David Hamilton (6'-9" Sr. C/PF). For USDHS, you know who's coming, but here's a small reminder: Luke Walton (6'-8" Sr. F), Ron McMillan (6'-6" Sr F), David Abramowitz (6'-0" Sr. PG) Carlos Cong (5'-5" Sr G), Kam Walton (6'-8" So C), Chris Walton (6'-6" So F) Carlos Quentin (6'-1" So. G) and Connor Hulburt (6'-3" So SG/F).

It appears also, at least from Pat's report, that Luke Walton's ankle is getting better and that he may be at full strength for Monday's game.

But before USDHS gets to Compton (or Westwood), they had to take a little journey through San Diego St. Augustine. Here's Pat McKinney's take on the game from the USDHS Basketball website:

"After taking apart La Jolla on Tuesday without Luke Walton, the University of San Diego High School Dons faced San Diego's 5th ranked and Catholic school rival Saint Augustine Friday night at USD with Walton back in the lineup. The game was played at USD to accomodate the crowd, and the game was played to a packed house of 2500. Although USD is right across the street from USDHS, this was Saints' home game and they brought the crowds to prove it. Saints was coming off a tough one point loss to Lincoln on Tuesday and Uni may have been looking forward to Monday's game with Compton. Whatever, the case, both teams came out completely flat.

"The game began with a St Augustine bucket with 6:16 left in the first to put them ahead 2-0. The score moved to 4-0 until Carlos Cong drained a three with 4:20 left. It never got much better as the first ended with Saints up 8-5. The Dons were clearly more lackadaisical, shooting 18% (2 for 11) to Saints 33%.

"In the second quarter, Saints went up 12-5 with six minutes to go. The Dons went on a run, however, bringing the score to 12-10 with 3:15 to go and tying it at 12 with 2:02 to play. Saints finished the quarter well, ending the half ahead 18-14. Both teams were playing intense defense and nobody got a good look at the basket. Saints strategy was to close off the inside and force Carlos Cong to beat them from outside. Carlos drilled a couple of threes, but the strategy was extremely effective. Luke was neutralized: 0 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block in the first half. Ronnie McMillan was held to 2 points and five boards, and David Abramowitz scored 2 to go with 3 steals. The Dons shot 25% for the first half.

"Not that Saints was much better in the first, shooting 32% (8-25) from the floor and turning the ball over 11 times. Jim Hill led Saints with 6 in the first, Andre Porter managed only 3, and Terrence Terrell 1.

"I don't know what Coach Tomey said to his squad at halftime, but it certainly took a few minutes to sink in as Saints threatened to run the Dons out of the gym. Uni started the half with two turnovers and Saints went on a run, which stopped when Andre Porter picked up his fourth foul with 5:25 to go in the third. Saints was up 23-15 when Porter went out and Uni closed it to 25-20 with 4:36 to go. Luke Walton was hungry for the ball, took it straight to the basket several times, and took the wind out of Saints. Then, something strange happened: Uni was running its lob play over Saints zone when Abramowitz threw the pass into the hoop from behind the three point line. 25-24 Saints with 3:46 left. Porter and his four fouls came back with 3 minutes left and he stayed in for the duration. With 2 minutes left, Conor Hulburt drove to the hole, was fouled, and converted to give Uni its first lead at 27-25. They would not look back, ending the third up 31-27.

"Things got a little intense in the final quarter, and the game wasn't really as close as the final score indicates. Uni converted on the lob play on a house-rocking dunk by McMillan to put the Dons up 36-31 with 6:30 left. Uni extended its lead to 40-31 over the next minute when tempers flared. Chris Walton and Jim Hill got into it a little bit and each drew a technical. Chris would foul out soon thereafter with 7 points in 10 minutes. The Dons went up 46-34 and held on despite deep three pointers by Jim Hill and Andre Porter in the final minute.

"Luke scored 9 to go with 5 blocks, 3 assists, and 3 steals. David also scored 9 to go with 4 assists and 3 steals. McMillan added 8 points and 11 rebounds, Carlos Cong added 8 points, 4 steals, and shut down the opposing point guard, and Kam Walton added six blocks. St. Augustine was led by 11 from Porter to go with 4 assists, Jim Hill scored 10, and Jamaal Williams added 10 and 9 rebounds.

"Record Watch: Chris pushed his streak to 20 before missing the second half of a one and one. After hitting the first, the Uni bench yelled "This one's for the record! No pressure!" Of course, he short-armed it. Fortunately, Chris is only a Sophomore and we're sure he will be back up there."