San Diego High School Basketball Roundup : Sweetwater Falls to La Jolla, 58-44 : Loss of 5 Key Players Has Crippled Hopes for a Big Year

SAN DIEGO —  The Sweetwater High School boys’ basketball team, expected to be one of the top teams in San Diego County this year, has come upon hard times.

Starters Mahlon Williams, one of the county’s top players, Danny Aina and Shawn Burton have been ruled academically ineligible until Jan. 30 when report cards come out again. On top of that, 6-foot 5-inch Sean Styles quit the team, and starting guard Scott Catlin is out with a groin injury.

It’s no wonder Sweetwater is 0-3 following Wednesday night’s 58-44 loss to La Jolla in the Hilltop Tournament at Hilltop High.

“We’re just trying to regroup and get things together,” said beleagured coach David Ybarra, who has a freshman and a sophomore in his starting lineup.

“Tomorrow will be a nice day because we’ll get to have a practice,” said Ybarra, whose team has played each night since the eligibility ruling and the loss of Styles.

La Jolla was led by Sean Rogers who scored 16 points and Jerome Sherman added 14. Sophomore Marcus Carter scored 12 points to lead Sweetwater.

In other Hilltop Tournament games Wednesday night:

Chula Vista 42, Point Loma 32--Tony Hyner scored 11 points to lead Chula Vista. Arlando Hill was high for Point Loma (1-2) with 9 points.

Mira Mesa 73, Hoover 57--Tae Miller scored points and 23, Mike Eicher added 16 for Mira Mesa. Ray Rowe added 12 for the winners. Hoover’s Tyrone Bell led all scorers with 25 points.

Kearny 58, Hilltop 48--Tim Garlin scored 20 points and John Williamson added 14 as Kearny handed Hilltop its first loss in four games. Judd Rachow led Hilltop with 15 points and Bryan Brooker had 14.

Torrey Pines 94, Mar Vista 60--Sophomore forward Courtie Miller had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead Torrey Pines in the Torrey Pines Tipoff Tournament. Junior Tom Underwood, a transfer from Michigan, added 18 points for Torrey Pines (3-0) and Scott Thompson had 17. Todd Habel scored 17 first-half points for Mar Vista, but was shut down in the second half and finished with 21 points. It was the only game in the tournament Wednesday night. The tournament continues with a game tonight and two games Friday night.

Serra 41, St. Augustine 39--Todd Knight scored 18 points asSerra got its first win in a non-tournament game at Serra High. Serra (1-3) jumped out to a 12-2 first quarter lead but St. Augustine (2-2) rallied for a 31-30 lead in the fourth quarter. Dexter Springall then scored on a layup to put Serra ahead to stay. Charlie Applegate led St. Augustine with 21 points.

GIRLS

Fallbrook 55, Mount Miguel 43--Jennifer Jann scored 22 points to lead Fallbrook in the Point Loma Classic round-robin tournament at Point Loma High. Charmaine Green scored 22 points for Mount Miguel (0-2) before fouling ou. Fallbrook (4-0) will meet Point Loma (4-0) Friday at 4:30 in a match up of two of the county’s top teams.

Mira Mesa 55, El Camino 28--Darla Vaughn scored 17 points for Mira Mesa (1-2). El Camino is 0-2.