Wilschetz posts big game for Valhalla; How important are league games?
Basketball and sports in general are so new at
San Ysidro (San Diego) High that off-campus records don't mean much.
Yet Cougars coach Terry Tucker — LT (ret) Terrance Tucker, US Navy — is pleased to point out that his youthful squad has already set some marks worthy of making the CIF-SDS record book.
San Ysidro went into the CIF-SDS records book Dec 30, 2010, hitting 17 three-pointers in a 91-39 victory over Calvary Christian Academy of San Diego. That 3-point long range hoopfest is the 5th highest in San Diego Section history.
The Cougars have netted 102 three-pointers in 14 games this season.
Eddie Martin leads the team with 26 treys followed by
Armondo Guzman's 24 and
Javion Watson's 20.
A 6-foot-3 point guard, Watson – the MVP of the 4th Annual Cougar Cage Classic – averaged 19.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game.
Watson, the second cousin of NBA Player Earl Watson (Indiana, Oklahoma City, Utah) set the San Diego Section record for steals in a season as a sophomore last year with 194. In the five tournament games, Watson also hit 10 3-pointers.
RECRUITING SHUFFLE
El Capitan (Lakeside) softball pitcher Delanie Gourley has given a verbal commitment to the University of Florida. The left-handed sophomore is a blossoming star who has been toiling underneath the radar. As a freshman, Gourley compiled a 1.04 ERA with 310 strikeouts in 161.1 innings. She presently pitches for the Next Level travel ball softball organization.
West Hills junior pitcher
Noelle Johnson, the 2010 EastCountySports.com Pitcher of the Year, reached the first 20-victory plateau (20-4) since 2005. She has accepted a softball scholarship to Utah State after posting an ERA of 1.09 with 152 strikeouts in 167 innings as a sophomore.
MORSE TIGER TELLS TALE OF SUCCESS
Senior Joshua Joseph of
Morse (San Diego) captured the Most Valuable Wrestler award for the lightweight divisions at the El Cajon Invitational at San Diego City College. Joseph, a state meet participant last year, won all five of his 130-pound matches by pins, spending a total of just 4 minutes, 36 seconds on the mat.
VALHALLA CENTERPIECEValhalla forward
David Wilschetz put together one of his finest efforts in leading the Norsemen (6-7) past the Braves (2-9) as the 6-foot-3 senior knocked down 10 of 14 shots from the field and three free throws to finish with 23 points in a 71-43 victory.
To top off his brilliant performance Wilschetz also gobbled up 20 rebounds – 10 ricocheting off the offensive glass. He also blocked two shots and made three steals.
UNSUNG LINCOLN HERO
Lincoln's 6-foot-7
Rasean Simpson poured in 28 points in an impressive 95-75 victory over University Park-Curtis (Wash.) in a Holiday Classic National Division game at Torrey Pines.{PAGEBREAK}
OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
— Five-foot-11 junior
Alexis Merlino of Steele Canyon scored a season-high 34 points and bagged 16 rebounds in an 84-43 victory over Otay Ranch in the Monte Vista Tournament. Earlier, she was able to maneuver inside and score 28 points to lead the Cougars to a 54-41 victory over San Pasqual.
—
Jessica Valenzuela canned four 3-pointers as Tri-City Christian topped Escondido Adventist 58-46.
— Six-foot-4 sophomore
Grant Corsi of Santa Fe Christian landed five 3-pointers against San Diego Mater Dei.
— Senior
Josh More posted his fifth double-double in 12 games for Orange Glen, with 13 points and a dozen rebounds against Rock Academy.
— Maranatha Christian soccer standout
Luke Kadillak has scored at least three goals in eight of 10 games and has tallied 26 goals on the season.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
In a girls basketball tournament labeled Private vs. Public at Marina del Rey on Saturday there is an impressive lineup that begins with
Mount Miguel (Spring Valley) vs.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) at 11:30 a.m. Other interesting encounters include CIF-SDS kingpin
La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) vs.
Ventura at 1 p.m.,
San Diego opposite
Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood) at 4 and
Bishop's against
Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) at 7.
DICKENS' DEALINGS
A first-year coach from Helix asked me "Why do they play an organized league schedule when so few games have any bearing on a league championship?"
He had a point.
In the Grossmont Conference for example, the Grossmont Valley League plays only eight league games. That's no big deal unless you consider that slate makes up less than 30 percent of the overall schedule.
So why bother when the elite members of the circuit are more interested in their record against teams in same division. All, of course, recognize that winning a league title carries guarantees of a higher seed and at least one playoff home game.
But compiling an impressive mark against teams in the same division is worth more weight, including a possible top four ranking and an accompanying first round bye, which is a regular season goal.
It's a shame that winning a league title has lost its value for the sake of higher playoff stakes.
So why does playing all the preseason games present any value more than exercise and a possible pseudo ranking?
Basketball is one of the more messed up sports when it comes to an overall outlook. If you are a Division III team, why play anybody else outside of your league?
It is a puzzle without an answer.
