SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : 8-Year Wait Ends; Montgomery Beats Sweetwater, 58-54

After eight years of frustration, the Montgomery High School boys’ basketball team was eager to knock off Sweetwater.

Almost too eager.

Montgomery held on Friday night for a 58-54 victory--its first over Sweetwater in eight years--and remained in first place in the Metro-Mesa League with a 10-1 record (13-6 overall). Sweetwater dropped to 11-11 and 8-3.

It was a struggle from start to finish.

Poor ballhandling put Montgomery in a 10-0 hole after six minutes, but Paul Ssali came alive and scored all seven Aztec points in the first quarter to make it 15-7.

Montgomery rallied in the second quarter, with Cid White and Ssali playing strongly inside. White scored nine points and Ssali added seven for a 27-27 halftime tie.

Neither team was able to draw away in the third quarter, but Montgomery started to assert itself halfway through the fourth. With four minutes remaining, the Aztecs led, 52-44, and appeared to have the game in control.

But then the pressure started to take its toll. Montgomery guards failed to convert on the front end of seven one-and-one free-throw opportunities down the stretch.

As a result, Sweetwater’s Carlos Campbell was able to gradually bring the Red Devils back. With 25 seconds to go, they pulled within two points, 56-54.

Sweetwater had two chances to tie it but hurried three-point shots instead and missed.

With seven seconds left, White was fouled and hit both free throws to wrap up the victory.

“We haven’t beaten Sweetwater in eight years, and the pressure was so intense we couldn’t buy a free throw,” said Bob Aguilar, Montgomery coach. “We made a decision to bring Cid up and get the ball in his hands. That worked. He nailed those two free throws.

“I’m proud of my kids. They have a lot of heart.”

White finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Ssali scored 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

Kevin Crawford scored 8 points for Montgomery, 6 coming in the fourth quarter when the Aztecs pulled in front.

Sweetwater’s scoring was spread out. Charles Starnes led the Devils with 15 points, 12 on three-point shots. Campbell added 12 and Scott Catlin had 10.

Red Devil center Ruben Hernandez started strong, scoring seven points in the first period. But he ran into foul trouble and sat out all of the second period.

Though he played most of the second half and never fouled out, Hernandez played cautiously and finished with just one more point.