The Sweetwater High School boys basketball team will hold its annual Michael LeMaster Memorial Classic this Saturday in the National City school’s gymnasium. Tip-off for the non-league contest against the Monte Vista Monarchs is 6 p.m.
At halftime, the Red Devils will induct four alumni into their Basketball Hall of Fame: Calvin Murrell (1981), Joe McDowell (1990), Mahlon Williams (1987) and Larry Willson (1985).
McDowell was an All-CIF First Team selection and member of Sweetwater’s 1990 San Diego Section Division I championship team as well as the Metro Conference Player of the Year.
Williams earned All-CIF and first team all-league honors while Willson earned all-section accolades and selection as Metro League Player of the Year.
Murrell, a 1981 all-league first team selection, passed away last year but his family will be in attendance, Sweetwater head coach Jesse Aguirre said.
The four new inductees join nine alumni who have been inducted over the past seven years. They include former head coach Gary Zarecky, former assistant coach Frank Chennelle, Michael Pitts (1979), Juan Aguirre (1981), Darren Lee (1980), Carlos Siragusa (1985), Aaron Rico (1984) and Reggie Wallace (1983).
“I am excited for this year’s inductees,” Jesse Aguirre said. “Joe McDowell was a superstar when he was here and led the team to the CIF Championship in Division I and didn’t lose a game to a San Diego County team that year.
“Calvin Murrell was one of the most popular players on campus and he, too, won a CIF Championship in 1980. Mahlon Williams and Larry Willson were both scoring machines and basically unstoppable in the South Bay. Those two lost a combined four games when they played together.
“It’s an exciting night for our school and program. It will be a difficult game, however, for our current team. Monte Vista is having a good season. They are very athletic and have an outstanding point guard.”
The Red Devils (10-8 overall) defeated visiting Hilltop, 69-53, in Wednesday’s South Bay League matchup between league unbeatens to move into sole possession of first place in the standings with a 5-0 league record.
Hilltop dropped to 4-1 in league play, 6-14 overall.
Craig McMillan led SuHi with 25 points in Wednesday’s game while Jimmy Mattox added 13 points and Neilryan Pangilinan contributed 11 points.
Larry Hopkins led the Lancers with 13 points in the setback while Justin Wilson added 11 points.
Monte Vista defeated visiting El Capitan, 51-49, in Thursday’s Grossmont Valley League game to improve 15-7 on the season, 2-1 in league play.
South Bay League Standings
(Through Jan. 24)
League/Overall
Sweetwater Red Devils 5-0, 10-8
Hilltop Lancers 4-1, 6-14
Southwest Raiders 3-2, 8-11
Chula Vista Spartans 2-3, 7-15
Castle Park Trojans 1-4, 1-16
Mar Vista Mariners 0-5, 4-15
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Sweetwater 69, Hilltop 53
Southwest 66, Castle Park 43
Chula Vista 53, Mar Vista 51
