Horizon makes a new statement

03-16-2006

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

High school basketball powers often rise and fall with the tenure of a dynamic coach.

So when Zack Jones left Horizon High after last season for the college ranks as an assistant at Liberty University in West Virginia, there was reason to believe the Panthers’ reign as a CIF San Diego Section and state power could be fading.

Not so fast.

Horizon, a private school in Clairemont that won 10 CIF Division IV titles and back-to-back CIF State Division IV titles in 2002 and 2003, is one win from a third state title in five years. The Panthers have continued to win under first-year coach Waheed Mitchell.

“The goal was always to win a state title this year,” said Mitchell, an assistant the previous two seasons for Jones at Horizon as well as an assistant to Jones at San Diego City College. “Coach Jones left me some big shoes to fill, but he also left the foundation to take the program to the next level.”

The Panthers enter the Division IV championship game at 2 p.m. Friday at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento as the favorite after upsetting San Joaquim Memorial of Fresno in the Southern California Regional Division IV final. Horizon faces San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral (23-8).

Horizon is 26-3 with rankings of No. 1 in Division IV, No. 11 in Southern California for all schools and No. 17 in California for all schools by CalHiSports.com.

The Panthers have a balanced lineup in the scoring column and in their options with an inside-outside game. Sophomore Jeff Withey is a 7-foot, 220-pounder averaging 12.3 points. His is a name to remember.

“Jeff makes our inside-outside game work,” Mitchell said. “He demands attention.”

Marquise Carter is a 6-3, 185-pound junior guard who can penetrate and hit the 3-point shot. He leads the team in scoring with 14.5 points a game, but he’s explosive and capable of big nights.

“Marquise can put the ball on the floor and he can pull up and hit a jump shot,” Mitchell said. “He gives teams a tough matchup.”

Steve Winnock, a 6-3 senior guard, also averages in double figures with 12.4 points a game while Raymond Williams contributes 7.3 points and 5.8 assists.

Williams, who won CIF San Diego Section titles at Steele Canyon in 2004 and 2005, transferred to Horizon but didn’t gain eligibility until midseason. Horizon is 15-0 with Williams, the younger brother of San Diego State point guard Richie Williams, in the lineup.

“We’ve had a great season with Jeff in the middle and some great leadership on the team,” said Mitchell, a 1995 Lincoln High graduate. “We’ve got some great guys who shoot the ball well and play hard.”

One other San Diego team plays for a state title when Santa Fe Christian (24-8) faces Ross Branson (33-1) at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday at the ARCO Arena.

Veteran Santa Fe Christian coach Randy Wright has guided his second team to a state final after leading Christian to a runner-up finish behind Tony Clark in 1990. The Eagles are led by Marcus Sun, who averages 19.7 points a game.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.