HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : El Camino Dominates San Pasqual

ESCONDIDO — Under most circumstances El Camino’s Shaun Scurry would have been ecstatic about his team’s 71-55 victory Wednesday over host San Pasqual. It kept the top-ranked Wildcats (16-4, 9-2) in a tie with Ramona (14-5, 9-2) for first place in the Avocado League.

But the victory was far from satisfying for Scurry, who didn’t get the opportunity to play against San Pasqual center Erik Meek, the county’s leading scorer (30 points-per-game average).

Meek sprained his ankle last Thursday in San Pasqual’s victory over San Marcos and did not play Wednesday.

Scurry, a 6-5 center, took advantage of Meek’s absence by scoring 23 points and getting seven rebounds, but that was small consolation.

“I was really looking forward to this game because of what happened last time,” Scurry said.

Last time, Meek scored 34 points and held Scurry to 10 in San Pasqual’s 12-point victory.

“He’s their world,” Scurry said. “It’s like cornflakes without the milk. I wanted our team to be tested.”

Even without Meek, El Camino was tested--at least for three quarters. With Meek gone, San Pasqual Coach Tom Buck inserted 6-4 senior Matt Noonan into a passing offense.

Strong offfensive rebounding by Richard Stark (17 points) and Noonan and decent outside shooting by David Durst (15 points) and Erik Davidson kept San Pasqual (12-6, 8-3) in it until late in the third quarter. But turnovers, and El Camino point guard Heath McCoy outside shooting and solid floor play, keyed a 7-2 run that gave El Camino a 47-35 lead after three quarters.

“Erik’s absence didn’t necessarily lose the game,” Buck said. “But for some turnovers at key times, we’re right there.”

McCoy, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds, said he felt cheated that he wasn’t able to face Meek.

“We wanted to redeem ourselves,” he said.