By Bill Dickens
MaxPreps.com
From the day he saw him enroll at San Diego High School, basketball coach Kenny Roy knew he had something special when center Jeremy Tyler stepped onto the Cavers’ basketball court for the first time.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Tyler has been a force indeed.
“You name the school, and they wanted him,” Roy said of Tyler, who is beginning his junior season.
Louisville is the winner, as Tyler has committed to the Cardinals. He cannot sign his letter of intent until November, 2009.
USC, Texas, UCLA and San Diego State also rated high on Tyler’s list of choices.
As a sophomore, Tyler averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks per game for the Cavers, who captured the CIF-SDS Division I championship with a 23-5 record.
The mobile post player, who figures to stretch an inch or two taller, was a first-team All-San Diego Section pick.
“Jeremy has enhanced everything we’ve been able to do as a team,” Roy said. “And he’s only going to get better.”
8-Man record breaker
When St. Joseph Academy of San Marcos defeated Lutheran 94-76 in a Citrus League 8-man football game Saturday (Oct. 11) at Grossmont College the teams set a state record and produced the second-highest scoring count in the nation according to the National Federation High School Record Book.
The only 8-man record missed by this scoring free-for-all was an Arizona battle won by Seligman over Canyon State Academy of Queen Creek 116-108 on Sept. 4, 2004.
The previous 8-man California scoring record came in 1989 when Smith Valley (Nev.) edged Big Pine 82-76.
St. Joseph’s Paul Delgado scored eight touchdowns to lead the Saints (2-2), while Lutheran’s Bryce Calloway tallied seven TDs in defeat.
St. Joseph’s rolled up 649 total yards, while Lutheran countered with 585 yards.
The present state scoring record for two teams in an 11-man football clash was set in 1994 when Bloomington bowled over Lakewood Artesia 82-62.
Other high water state marks in 11-man football include Santa Rosa burying St. Helena 141-0 in 1924, San Diego downing Army-Navy 130-7 in 1920, Inglewood smothering L.A Military Academy 136-0 in 1913 and 136-0 over San Fernando in 1914.
Mavericks live up to top ranking
Junior outside hitter Natalie Hagglund of La Costa Canyon, the No. 1 ranked girls volleyball team in the nation, registered 22 kills in the Mavericks 25-19, 23-25, 26-24, 25-22 win over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa to capture the championship of the prestigious California Challenge. Hagglund earned tournament MVP honors. La Costa Canyon’s Niki Chu and Lydia Rudnick were named to the all-tournament team.
El Cajon safety ties 45-year old record
Braves ball-hawking safety Gavino Pinal tied a 45-year old El Cajon Valley record for interceptions in a game when he picked off three aerials against Otay Ranch on Friday (Oct. 10). Pinal’s hat trick ties the El Cajon Valley record set by Dave Nuttall, who picked off three against Helix in 1963. Nuttall, who holds the Grossmont Community College season record of 14 interceptions in nine games (1965), went on to star as a wide receiver at UCLA. Only four players in the 47-year history of the Grossmont Conference have intercepted more passes than Pinal in a game, and they each had four.
Oceanside’s win streak reaches 17
Led by the passing of senior quarterback Jordan Wynne, who completed 10-of-21 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns, Oceanside (5-0) slugged San Pasqual 42-8 for its 17th consecutive victory. Demario Coleman had five receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown, while Osmond Nicholas also caught five balls for 101 yards and a touchdown.
More Top Performances
— Senior quarterback Parker Hipp of Cathedral Catholic was darn near perfect, completing 11 of 12 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns in the Dons’ 63-7 rout of Chino on Friday, Oct. 10.
— Torrey Pines field hockey goalie Ashlee Schleiser logged eight saves in a 2-1 win over Rancho Buena Vista and tacked on two more blocks as the Falcons shut out Fallbrook.
— Cathedral Catholic’s Gaby DeSimone, last year’s CIF San Diego Section tennis singles champion, won all six of her sets without losing a game last week.
— Scripps Ranch senior Robert “Tate” Forcier, who has accepted a scholarship offer to Michigan, fired three touchdown passes and totaled 348 yards passing to lead the Falcons to a 44-34 win over University City. He also rushed for 48 yards and a score.
— Junior Katy Sirota of San Diego Serra scored six of the Conquistadors’ 14 goals in shutout field hockey victories over Mira Mesa (9-0) and Cathedral Catholic (5-0).
Looking Ahead
— Undefeated Valhalla (5-0) has never won a football league championship in its 33-year history. But the pass-happy Norsemen may have a shot this season. No doubt the key game in this year’s Grossmont South League title bid is Friday’s (Oct. 17) opener against perennial champion Helix (3-1-1) in La Mesa.
Dickens Dealings
It seems any team that wins consistently is always under fire. “They must be cheating,” say the less successful. Finger pointing at the Poway baseball team is now in vogue.
Sure, the Titans have won a bundle of games over the past few seasons. And yes Poway has won Division I CIF-SDS Section championships two of the last three seasons. But that is hardly a dynasty.
The flap among some Poway parents claim the Titans’ success is due to a multitude of transfers. That is nonsense. This program has ranked among the elite for years.
Granted, the Titans do have more players on their roster (28) than any other team in the CIF-SDS. Thus, finding playing time for all his players has been a challenge for coach Bob Parry.
Remember now, the Poway program has produced several homegrown standouts, who were drafted or advanced to the college level. Most prominent of this group are major leaguers Phil Plantier and Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Bottom line here is centered on travel ball connections and Poway coaches who conduct private hitting and pitching businesses, serving some Titans players with out-of-season tutoring.
Perhaps Poway is bending the rules a bit. If so it’s up to the section commissioner Dennis Ackerman and assistant Bill McLaughlin to clarify what is right and what is jealousy.
