Playoff seeding will always be a contentious matter regardless of which rankings are used.
But, for the most part, it has been spot on in the San Diego Section.
If the outcome is to produce a playoff field that is uniformly balanced, one might look at this year’s Division III boys basketball bracket.
Of the eight teams in action in Tuesday’s opening round, two higher-seeded teams suffered upset losses, including the No. 2 seed, while three other games were decided by a handful of points.
The Bonita Vista Barons received the No. 3 seed in the division and hosted the 14th-seeded Central Union Spartans.
In most years, one might have been expected a lopsided verdict by the home team.
Not so on Tuesday.
The Barons started and ended the game in a scoring frenzy but it was essentially all Spartans in the middle two quarters.
Bonita Vista broke out to a 17-7 first-quarter advantage on the scoreboard. But fast forward to halftime and the score read Central Union on top 21-19.
The Spartans held the hosts to just two points in the second quarter while scoring 14 points of their own.
The hosts quickly tied the game, 21-all, on a deuce by Adrian Wade at the start of the second half. But the Imperial County visitors just as quickly went back to what had been working for them in the second quarter. They not only quickly reassumed the lead but expanded on it.
When CU’s Khalil Wyatt scored on a slam-dunk at the end of the third quarter, the Spartans led by 16 points, 45-29.
But just when it appeared ready to pronounce the Barons dead on arrival in the fourth quarter, the momentum suddenly turned 180 degrees as the hosts fought to keep their season going.
The Barons trailed by 14 points with 5:11 left in the game but that deficit was down to 10 points two minutes later and again to seven points with 2:01 to play.
At that point, one of those wacky comeback endings that include a final magical play seemed on cue.
Tahj Stewart scored on a lay-up with 1:39 remaining to make the score 51-46 and Anthony Mendoza sank a three-point shot to make it a two-point game, 51-49, with 1:22 left on the clock.
Stewart was called for traveling on what would have been a game-tying bucket with 52 seconds to play.
Predictably, foul shots decided the outcome.
The Spartans’ Diego Baez sank two shots from the charity stripe to put his team up 55-49 with 24 seconds to play in the game.
Bonita Vista then took its turn at the free throw line and Wade made one of two shots to trim the margin to 55-50 with 12 seconds left.
But 12 seconds can be an eternity in basketball, of course.
Mendoza sank another trey with five seconds remaining and tacked on a foul shot. The four-point play made the score 55-54.
But the ball went back into the hands of the visitors, who were quickly fouled on the restart and headed back to the free throw line.
BV fans retained a glimmer of an impossible comeback when Kevin Even missed his free throw shot.
In-bounds play by the Barons with four seconds to play.
The ball went quickly to mid-court whereupon Stewart took a long-range shot at the basket. The ball’s trajectory seemed perfect and the crowd held its collective breath as the ball started its downward arc toward the hoop.
The ball hit the back edge of the rim and backboard simultaneously … and bounced away.
No good.
Season over.
It was a crushing moment for the hosts and a game filled with a multitude of turns along the way that any one of which could be singled out as deciding the outcome.
“In a playoff game, there are so many things that add up to a win or a loss,” BVHS coach Don Dumas said after the game. “Did that guy foul or travel? — those are bang-bang plays that are hard to call.
“There are shots made and missed shots, and free throws that are missed. We missed our first three free throws in the game. That could have been it right there. But it could have been anything else at any point during the game.
“The bottom line is that we just couldn’t hit on our shots. We made our shots in the first quarter and they didn’t. They made their shots in the second and third quarters and we didn’t. Then in the fourth quarter our shots started falling.”
Second-seeded Rancho Buena Vista (16-13) must be going through the same rewind process in reviewing its game film after the Longhorns dropped a 61-51 decision to 15th-seeded University City on Tuesday.
The victorious Centurions (10-17) will next play at seventh-seeded Brawley (19-9) in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Central Union, the runner-up team to Brawley in this year’s Imperial Valley League, will travel to play at sixth-seeded Carlsbad (13-15) on Friday. The Spartans carry a 14-14 record into the road contest.
“We will have our work cut out for us,” CU head coach Juan Valenzuela said after Tuesday’s playoff win.
Valenzuela said the key to his team’s win over Bonita Vista was to keep its defensive scheme intact throughout the game.
Valenzuela substituted defenders after the first quarter and stayed with that rotation the remainder of the game.
“They only scored two points in the second quarter and both on free throws,” the Spartan coach said. “We had them confused with our defense. I didn’t want to change up but my boys got a little fatigued at the end. I expected them (the Barons) to make a run at the end but nothing like they did. It was a great win for our kids.”
The Barons end the season prematurely at 18-13.
Mendoza led Bonita Vista with 25 points in Tuesday’s playoff loss while Stewart tacked on 11 points. Wade followed on the BVHS score sheet with nine points.
Wyatt paced Central Union with 25 points while Baez sank 19 points.
Top-seeded Mount Miguel raced past 16th-seeded San Ysidro, 106-55, in another playoff opener on Tuesday.
The Matadors (27-4) will host eighth-seeded San Dieguito Academy (12-17) in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Three Metro Conference teams entered the fray in Division III. Olympian, seeded fifth, downed 12th-seeded Mt. Carmel, 57-50, on Tuesday while South Bay League champion Sweetwater dropped a heart-breaking 71-68 decision at fourth-seeded Hoover.
SuHi freshman C.J McMillan led all scorers in Tuesday’s game with 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while team scoring leader Neilryan Pangilian poured in 23 points.
The Cardinals led by eight points with two minutes to play and the 13th-seeded Red Devils, feeding off the momentum of a three-game winning streak, promptly began to whittle that down with relentless play from McMillan and Pangilinan in particular.
McMillan sank a pair of free throws with 10.5 seconds to play to narrow the Hoover lead to 69-68.
But James Malveaux, who stand 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, grabbed a decisive rebound in the final six seconds of the game to preserve his team’s home court victory. He finished the game with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Jalen Harrington tallied a team-high 23 points for the Cardinals.
“We had a slow start but battled back,” Sweetwater coach Jesse Aguirre said. “We missed a lot of free throws at the beginning, we were maybe 1-for-10 from the line. C.J. played his best game of the season.
“We battled throughout the game and at the end were right there with the No. 4 seed. It was a good experience for our team for the future.”
Olympian (15-14) travels to City Central League champion Hoover (18-9) on Friday. The Cardinals are now working on a 10-game winning streak.
Brawley edged 10th-seeded Santana, 52-51, to also advance on Tuesday.
“Every year Division III seems to be wide open,” Bonita Vista’s Dumas assessed. “Two years ago when we won it, we were seeded fifth. Every year Division III seems to be very competitive. Mount Miguel made some separation during the regular season. But when it’s playoff time, it’s anybody’s game.”
Division II playoffs favor top-seeded Montgomery Aztecs
Montgomery High School’s boys basketball squad finished 10-2 in Mesa League play, 22-5 overall, but otherwise took a back seat to league champion Mater Dei Catholic during the season. But now it’s clearly time for the Aztecs to shine.
Montgomery — braced by top scorers Kyle Paranada (16.8 ppg), Timothy Crawford (15.8 ppg) and Rahin Williams (11.2 ppg) — recorded the top winning percentage (.815) in the division during the regular season. The Aztecs were duly rewarded with the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
The Otay Mesa team did not rest on those laurels.
The Aztecs topped 16th-seeded Scripps Ranch, 53-44, in Tuesday’s opening round to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals against ninth-seeded Francis Parker (11-12).
Tip off is 7 p.m. at Montgomery High School.
“As far as earning the No. 1 seed for the Division II playoffs, it was definitely one of our goals coming into the season,” Aztec coach Ed Martin said.
“We know its to our advantage to have teams come to us. We look forward to some really stiff competition in the Division II playoffs with nine of the 16 teams having at least 15 wins on the season. It shows that these coaches and teams know how to win. We look forward to the challenge.”
Williams led the Aztecs in Tuesday’s game with 14 points while Paranada and Ze’Tiam Burton each dropped in 13 points. Sebastian Morgan added 10 points for the victors.
Daniel Cox led all scorers in the game with 18 points while Falcon teammate Grant Norberg added 16 points.
Quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Both Otay Ranch and Eastlake, which tied for third place in the Mesa League standings behind Mater Dei Catholic and Montgomery, both won their openers on Tuesday to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Chris Stanek led fifth-seeded Otay Ranch (17-10) with 28 points in the Mustangs’ 69-67 win over 12th-seeded Escondido. Tariq Deadman tacked on 21 points for Otay Ranch, which will play at fourth-seeded Westview (18-11) on Friday.
Eleventh-seeded Eastlake topped sixth-seeded Steele Canyon, 74-67, in yet another win for a road team. Jarret Isaacson keyed the victorious Titans (15-14) with 26 points, while Grant Holman dropped in 14 points. Kevin Bateman added 11 points in the win for the Titans, who advance to play at third-seeded Bishop’s (16-10) on Friday.
Gage Sanders paced Steele Canyon (14-8) with 20 points while Thomas Fishburne, the Cougars’ state bowl championship quarterback during the football season, poured in 16 points in the loss.
On a Crusade
Mater Dei Catholic, seeded fifth in the Open Division, carries a 23-6 overall record into Friday’s quarterfinal playoff game at fourth-seeded San Marcos (23-3), including a 10-game winning streak.
Top-seeded Foothills Christian (24-5) will meet eighth-seeded St. Augustine (17-6) in a high profile quarterfinal matchup Friday at Cuyamaca College.
Tip-off for both games is 7 p.m.
Trey Anderson tops Mater Dei Catholic with a 16.4 per game scoring average, followed by Beon Riley (15.6 ppg) and Joshua Tawhiao (14.3 ppg) on the score sheet.
Free throws
Third-seeded Southwest (14-12) will host 11th-seeded Del Lago (13-10) in a Division V boys quarterfinal game Friday at 7 p.m.
Boys basketball scoreboard
Division II
(1) Montgomery 53, (16) Scripps Ranch 44
(5) Otay Ranch 69, (12) Escondido 67
(11) Eastlake 74, (6) Steele Canyon 67
Division III
(1) Mount Miguel 106, (16) San Ysidro 55
(5) Olympian 57, (12) Mt. Carmel 50
(4) Hoover 71, (13) Sweetwater 68
(14) Central Union 55, (3) Bonita Vista 54
Division IV
(10) Victory Christian Academy 55, (7) Preuss UCSD 54
(2) San Diego 72, (15) High Tech High Chula Vista 32
Division V
(8) Southern California Yeshiva 51, (9) Bayfront Center 43
(5) San Diego Academy 66, (12) Holtville 64
(3) Southwest (bye)
Boys basketball schedule
Friday, Feb. 23
Open Division
(5) Mater Dei Catholic (23-6) at (4) San Marcos (23-3), 7 p.m.
Division II
(9) Francis Parker (11-12) at (1) Montgomery (23-5), 7 p.m.
(5) Otay Ranch (17-10) at (4) Westview (18-11), 7 p.m.
(11) Eastlake (15-14) at (3) Bishop’s (16-10), 7 p.m.
Division III
(5) Olympian (15-14) at (4) Hoover (18-9), 7 p.m.
Division IV
(10) Victory Christian Academy (15-8) at (2) San Diego (19-7), 7 p.m.
Division V
(11) Del Lago Academy (13-10) at (3) Southwest (14-12), 7 p.m.
Mesa League Standings
(Through Feb. 21)
League/Overall
Mater Dei Catholic 12-0, 23-6
Montgomery 10-2, 23-5
Otay Ranch 6-6, 17-10
Eastlake 6-6, 15-14
Bonita Vista 5-7, 18-13
Olympian 3-9, 15-14
San Ysidro 0-12, 8-24
South Bay League Standings
(Through Feb. 21)
League/Overall
Sweetwater 9-1, 14-12
Hilltop 7-3, 10-16
Southwest 7-3, 14-12
Chula Vista 5-5, 10-17
Castle Park 2-8, 2-20
Mar Vista 0-10, 4-20
Touch of Aztec greatness puts shine on young Victory Christian Academy boys hoops squad
Back in late May, rechristened Victory Christian Academy (formerly Lutheran High School) announced the hiring of former San Diego State University standout D.J. Gay as head coach of its varsity boys basketball team.
Gay was a four-year starting point guard for the Aztecs under coach Steve Fisher from 2007-2011, where he was a team captain, a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award (for the nation’s best college point guard) and remains the school’s leader in all-time wins and games played.
SDSU finished 33-4 during Gay’s 2010-11 senior season, advancing to the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen.
Gay played professionally in Europe in 2012 and 2013 before returning to San Diego to beginning a career in basketball coaching and skills training.
Victory Christian Academy was established this year through the merger of Lutheran High School of San Diego and Pilgrim Lutheran School (grades Pre-8). Victory has begun development of a new 8.5-acre campus in Chula Vista (two miles east of the 805 freeway on H Street) that will be home to its church and a school for ages preschool through 12th grade.
As Lutheran High School, which was founded in 1975, the school’s boys basketball team has won the past four Sunset League titles (2014-2017) and captured the San Diego Section 2015 CIF Division V championship.
“At Victory Christian Academy, the school’s name may be new but its basketball program has a long history of producing excellent teams and fine young men,” Gay explained. “I am excited not only to build on that success but also to share what I have learned about representing a school with honor and integrity, both on and off the court. I want to make Victory Christian Academy a household name in San Diego.”
After graduating from San Diego State University, Gay played professionally in Italy, Slovenia and Ukraine. He then returned to San Diego where he founded and coached the San Diego Bulldogs youth basketball club and was the head coach for varsity girls basketball at San Diego Jewish Academy.
“D.J. Gay’s resume as a basketball player goes without question, but we were even more impressed by his passion for sharing his knowledge and teaching the game to young players,” said Scott Dufresne, executive director of Victory Christian Academy.
This past season was the first for the school’s sports teams under its new name. Gay has helped introduce the school’s name to the San Diego basketball community with another league championship and winning season.
The Knights (who retain their nickname from their former incarnation as Lutheran High School) finished atop the Sunset League with an undefeated 8-0 league record. Victory Christian Academy received the No. 10 seed in the section’s Division IV playoff bracket and topped seventh-seeded Preuss UCSD, 55-54, in an opening round playoff game on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
The Knights (15-8) will play at second-seeded San Diego (19-7) in Saturday’s quarterfinals. The winner advances to next Wednesday’s division semifinals.
The division championship game is scheduled March 3.
Junior Larry Oldham III leads VCA with an 18.8 scoring average this season, followed by sophomores Steve Stinson (15.9 ppg) and Jalen Wilson (8.7 ppg) and freshman Christian Ubochi (8.5 ppg). Ubochi leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game and 59 blocked shots.
Oldham has made 36 three-point shots this season while Stinson and Wilson have each sank 27 treys. Stinson leads the team with 43 steals and 53 assists.
The Knights have just one senior on their 11-man roster that also includes three sophomores, three juniors and four freshmen.
Stinson had 24 points while Oldham had 14 points in the playoff win over Preuss.
Sunset League Standings
(Through Feb. 21)
League/Overall
Victory Christian Academy 8-0, 15-8
San Diego Academy 6-2, 13-12
Mountain Empire 4-4, 11-13
Calvary Christian Academy 2-6, 8-15-1
Ocean View Christian Academy 0-8, 4-14
DJ Gay File
(From SDSU Athletics)
http://www.goaztecs.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/dj_gay_309442.html
At San Diego State
Played all 140 games since stepping foot on campus prior to the 2007-08 season… Started 120 games, including 71 straight to end his career… Became the 26th member of SDSU’s 1,000-point club when he scored a career-high 30 at New Mexico (1-15-11)… Scored in double figures 56 times and had nine 20-point efforts… Led the team in scoring 18 times and in assists 53 times… SDSU Division I career ranks: first in games played, second in three-point field goal attempts, second in games started, third in three-point field goals, third in minutes played, fourth in consecutive games started, sixth in field goal attempts, eighth in assists, tied-ninth in steals, 12th in points, 12th in three-point field goal percentage, 19th in field goals, 20th in free throws.
As A Senior (2010-11 Season)
MWC Rankings: 2nd in assist-to-turnover ratio, 2nd in minutes played, 6th in three-point field goals made, 10th in assists, 10th in three-point field goal percentage, 20th in scoring
NCAA Rankings: 25th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 216th in three-point field goals per game
All-MWC first team, all-MWC tournament team, NABC all-District 17 team selection… Was one of 10 finalists for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award… Earned his first MWC player-of-the-week award on Feb. 14… Went 177 consecutive minutes without a turnover and recorded 23 assists during that time… The streak was snapped vs. New Mexico (2-16-11)… Had 22 games with one turnover or less and 13 with zero miscues… Played 37 or more minutes 19 times, including 50 vs. Temple… Played 40 or more minutes eight times… SDSU Division I single-season ranks: first in minutes played, fifth in three-point field goal attempts, sixth in three-point field goals… Scored in double figures 19 times and reached the 20-point plateau four times… Led the team in scoring seven times and in assists 20 times… Hit a team-best four three-pointers and finished with 20 points at Long Beach State (11-13-10)… Grabbed a career-high-tying six rebounds vs. Green Bay (11-20-10)… Scored all 14 of his points in the second half at California (12-8-10) and knocked down 4-of-5 from beyond the arc… Went 6-of-8 from the floor (4-5 3FG) to finish with 16 points, four assists and two steals vs. San Diego (12-11-10)… Put up a team-high 18 points vs. IUPUI (12-22-10)… Matched his season high for assists (6) at TCU (1-5-11)… Scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half at Utah (1-8-11)… Went off for a career-high 30 points after hitting a career-best seven three-pointers and nine free throws at New Mexico (1-15-11)… Posted his second straight 20-point game, the first time he accomplished the feat in his career, when he finished with 20 points (6 3FG) vs. Air Force (1-19-11)… Hit the game-winner with 1.8 seconds left in regulation at Colorado State (2-2-11)… Tied his season high with six assists and committed zero turnovers in 40 minutes vs. TCU (2-5-11)… Scored a game-high 15 points, had a season-high six assists, and recorded a career-high five steals vs. Utah (2-8-11)… Had game-high figures of 20 points and three assists, and zero turnovers in 40 minutes at UNLV (2-12-11)… Hit his second game-winner of the season, this time with 4.9 seconds left at UNLV (3-11-11) in the semifinals of the MWC Championship; he finished with 15 points… Played a career-high 50 minutes vs. Temple (3-19-11) in the third round of the NCAA Tournament… Scored a team-high 16 points (4 3FG) vs. No. 9/8 Connecticut (3-24-11) in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.
As A Junior (2009-10 Season)
MWC Rankings: 2nd in minutes played, 3rd in assist-to-turnover ratio, 8th in assists, t-10th in three-point field goals made
NCAA Rankings: 131st in assist-to-turnover ratio
Honorable mention all-MWC… Averaged career-high figures in points and assists, and matched his career-best in rebounding… Only SDSU player to start all 34 games this season… Ended the season by playing in a team-high 103 consecutive games… Played 40 minutes in five of the final seven games and played 278 of a possible 280 minutes during that time frame… Had 19 double-digit scoring games, the second most on the team, and had two 20-point efforts… Led or tied for team-high assist honors 18 times and led the team in scoring on seven different occasions… Committed one turnover or less in 17 games… Enjoyed a career day with a then personal-best 22 points (4-8 3FG) at San Diego (12-2-09)… Had a career-high seven assists against Northern Arizona… Scored a game-high 18 points at Drake (12-22-09); also blocked a shot in overtime with two seconds left and SDSU up by two… Finished with 12 points and zero turnovers vs. BYU (1-23-10)… Put up a game-high 17 points and recorded a career-high five steals at Colorado State (1-30-10)… Played 45 minutes and produced 25 points on six three-pointers, while adding a team-best five assists at No. 15/23 New Mexico (2-6-10)… Played all 40 minutes at No. 13/11 BYU (2-24-10) and finished with a team-high 15 points and five assists… Led the team with 16 points vs. Colorado State (3-3-10)… Finished with 10 points and also had a game-high five assists and zero turnovers in 40 minutes at Air Force (3-6-10)… Played 40 minutes vs. No. 8/8 New Mexico (3-12-10) and had seven assists and zero assists in the MWC semifinals… Scored 11 points in the MWC title game at UNLV (3-13-10)… Posted a game-high 16 points vs. No. 15/14 Tennessee (3-18-10) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
As A Sophomore (2008-09 Season)
Played in every game for the second straight season… Made 23 starts… Reached double figures in scoring 10 times, which resulted in 10 Aztec victories… Produced two 20-point scoring efforts… Led the team in scoring twice and in assists six times… Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team honoree… Dished out five assists vs. Fresno State (11-22-08)… Scored a season-high 20 points vs. Hampton (11-29-08) in the Great Alaska Shootout title game… Logged seven points, two rebounds and two assists at Arizona (12-10-08)… Scored a season-high 20 points vs. CS Northridge (12-22-08)… Had three steals and 12 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12-29-08)… Connected on four three-pointers to score a team-high 15 points and grabbed a season-high four rebounds at Air Force (1-3-09)… Hit all four free throws to post 10 points for the third straight game vs. Air Force (2-7-09)… Connected on all five free throws to tie a then career high en route to 13 points at TCU (2-28-09)… Matched his career high with five assists vs. Weber State (3-17-09) in the first round of the NIT… Tallied six points, two rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers in the semifinals of the NIT vs. Baylor (3-31-09).
As A Freshman (2007-08 Season)
Played in all 33 games, while earning the starting nod 26 times, including the first eight contests and the final nine… Led the team with 45 three-point field goals and was third on the team in assists… One of five Aztecs to have more assists than turnovers… Scored in double figures in eight games… Committed one turnover or less in 23 of 33 games… Shot 37.2 percent from the three-point line, the 17th-best single-season percentage in school history and the fifth-best among freshman in the Division I era… He also ranked third in three-point field goal attempts, fourth in three-point field goals, ninth in minutes played and 10th in assists among SDSU Division I freshman… Became the first freshman point guard since Richie Williams to start a season-opening game under Fisher vs. Liberty (11-9-07)… Went for 10 points, four rebounds and four assists at Fresno State (11-11-07)… Tallied 11 points and four assists at LMU (11-28-07)… Scored 12 points on four three-pointers, while adding four assists vs. Sam Houston State (12-28-07)… Dished out a then career-high five assists vs. Northern Colorado (1-9-08)… Made his way back into the starting lineup at Utah (2-16-08), scoring a career-high 21 points on a personal-best six field goals… Logged an 18-point performance vs. Colorado State (3-1-08)… Matched his personal bests with six field goals and five treys en route to a game-high 17 points at Air Force (3-8-08)… Started, played 30 minutes and scored five points at Florida (3-19-08) in the first round of the NIT.
High School
Ended his senior season ranked fifth in California and 21st nationally in scoring, averaging 29.4 points per game… He also averaged 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and shot 81.3 percent from the foul line as a senior… Led the Parrots to a 24-6 overall record, including a 9-1 mark in the Sunset Six League… In 2006-07, he had games of 30 or more points on 12 different occasions, scored at least 40 points three times and posted a school-record 56 points against Van Nuys High… Last year he was also the 13th-best prep player in three-point field goals made (243) and ranked 33rd in three-point field goals per game (3.7)… Chose SDSU after receiving interest from Arizona State, USC, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oregon State, UC Irvine and Pepperdine.
