Breitbard Stars of the Month, February 2005

February, 2005

Breitbard Stars of the Month

PROFESSIONAL

PHIL MICKELSON (Golf, USDHS) – Phil Mickelson claimed the first back-to-back wins of his PGA Tour career when he won FBR Open at the TPC of Scottsdale on Feb. 6 and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Feb. 13. His Scottsdale win included a round of 60 as his 267-total was good for a five-stroke victory. At Pebble Beach, he was the first wire-to-wire winner in the 68-year history of the event started by Bing Crosby. He won the AT&T with rounds of 62-67-67-73 for a a 269-total and four-shot win. In addition to winning the first-place prize of $936,000 at Scottsdale anda the $954,000 winner’s check at Pebble Beach, his first-place point total on the West Coast swing earned him a $500,000 bonus for the second straight year from Allianz.

JOHN LYNCH (Football, Denver Broncos/Torrey Pines High) – John Lynch played in his sixth Pro Bowl and first in the AFC’s colors after the veteran strong safety earned a Pro Bowl trip with the Denver Broncos following 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lynch was named a starter in the Pro Bowl and finished as one of the AFC’s leading defenders. He recorded three solo tackles and recovered a fumble in the second quarter.

ANTONIO GATES (Football, Chargers) – The Chargers’ tight end, making his first Pro Bowl trip as a second-year pro, caught three passes for 51 yards and one touchdown to help the AFC defeat the NFC in the NFL’s annual all-star game at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Gates’ longest catch of the game was a 33-yarder and his touchdown reception was a 12-yarder for a 28-7 lead with 5:50 remaining in the second quarter. He shared the AFC lead for most catches in the game with Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward.

DREW BREES (Football, Chargers) – The Chargers quarterback opened the Pro Bowl week by winning the skills competition for quarterbacks. Brees recorded the highest score in the competition among Pro Bowl selections that was a test of accuracy called “On the Mark.” In the Pro Bowl game, Brees was a fan favorite by perfecting a play chosen by the fans in on-line voting. It was a flea-flicker that called for Brees to hand off to Chargers’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson then threw back to Brees and Brees completed a 33-yard pass to Chargers tight end Antonio Gates that set up an AFC touchdown. For the game, Brees was 2-of-2 passing for 58 yards.

AMATEUR

JESSICA MERCADO (Women’s basketball, Point Loma Nazarene/San Diego High) -- Jessica Mercado has been capping off a career that is quite possibly finest by a guard to play women's basketball at Point Loma Nazarene. The San Diego High School alum posted 4.90 steals per game this season, a mark that leads NAIA. She is second all-time in NAIA history for career steals and is the PLNU record holder in that category. Mercado also is second all-time in scoring at Point Loma and is in school's top-10 in rebounds, blocked shots and three-point field goals. Offensively, Mercado has produced 16.7 ppg this season, including seven games where she had 20 or more points. Mercado led fifth-ranked Point Loma to victories over then #1 Vanguard University and #10 Azusa Pacific. On February 14, she was named as GSAC Player of the Week for the second time this year.

MARGARGET JOHNSON(Women’s basketball, UCSD) -- UC San Diego forward Margaret Johnson was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week of February 7-13. Johnson, a senior from Minneapolis, Minn., led the Tritons to wins over 15th-ranked Chico State (Feb. 11) and Cal State Stanislaus (Feb. 12). She had 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot to power UCSD to an 80-77 upset of Chico. Two weeks later, Johnson helped UCSD to upset victories over No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona, and the CCAA leader, Cal State Dominguez Hills, on consecutive nights. Johnson also became only the seventh player in UCSD women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 points in a career.

TRIOLA JACKSON (Women’s basketball, St. Mary’s/Kearny High) – Triloa Jackson was named a first-team choice on the All-WCC, gaining recognition on the West Coast Conference team for the third time in her career. She was a first-team choice as a sophomore in 2002-03 and was honorable mention as a junior. The 6-foot-2 Jackson averaged 16.1 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior and recorded five double-doubles in conference play.

JUAN MORA (Wrestling, Cal-State Fullerton/Rancho Buena Vista High) – The Cal-State Fullerton senior from Rancho Buena Vista High won the Pac-10 wrestling title at 141 pounds. Cal State Fullerton is a Pac-10 school in wrestling because only four of the established Pac-10 schools have a wrestling team. Mora was seeded No. 1 in the Pac-10 Tournament and his win earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament with a 29-6 record.

PREPS

RICHIE WILLIAMS (Boys basketball, Steele Canyon High) – The San Diego State-bound point guard led the Cougars to a second straight CIF San Diego Section title, winning the Division II crown this year after claiming the Division III championship a year ago. En route to the CIF championship, Steele Canyon swept two Grossmont South League games from Helix, the eventual Division I champion, to claim the Grossmont South title. Williams, considered one of the quickest point guards in the nation, averaged 19.4 points a game. But his true value to the team is his ability to elevate the play of his teammates.

ANDRE HARDY (Boys basketball, St. Augustine High) – The athletic play of the 6-foot-5 post player led the Saints to an unbeaten record as they claimed Western League and CIF San Diego Section Division III titles en route to advancing to the state playoffs. Hardy averaged 19.4 points a game in the Saints’ balanced offense. St. Augustine is the first San Diego Section school to complete an unbeaten season through the San Diego Section playoffs since Kearny in 1974, an era that predates the state basketball playoffs.

KATIE RULON (Girls water polo, USDHS) – The University of San Diego High School senior finished her career as the San Diego Section record holder for most goals scored in a season and career. She scored 192 goals for the Dons as a senior and finished with a career total of 502. Rulon has accepted a scholarship to UCLA, where she will join her older sister, Kelly, a bronze medalist for the 2004 U.S. Olympic team.

TAMIKA LIPFORD (Girls basketball, The Bishop’s School) – The San Diego State-bound point guard played in the shadow of La Jolla Country Day’s dynasty, but she led her team to San Diego County Top 10 rankings and Top 10 state rankings by CalHiSports.com. Bishop’s advanced to the finals of the San Diego Section Division IV playoffs before falling to LJCD. Lipford carried her team through the playoffs, including an upset of Francis Parker in the semifinals, despite playing with an injured collarbone. She averaged 12.8 points a game while directing the offense and leading the team defensively.

LUKE KELLEY (Boys basketball, Hilltop) – Kelley, a 6-foot-2 senior, led the Lancers to the South Bay League title, the school’s first league championship in basketball in 42 years. Kelley averaged 18.3 points a game for Hilltop. The Lancers finished the regular season with a 24-2 record and were ranked in the county Top 10 throughout the season.