Boys’ Athletes of the Week

BASKETBALL

Paul Newark seldom gets a chance to make key plays as a reserve guard on the seventh-ranked Santana High School boys’ basketball team.

But when Newark got such an opportunity in a showdown against Valhalla for the Grossmont League title, he made the most of it.

After going 0 for 4 from three-point range in the first half, Newark came back with a 4-for-5 performance in the third quarter to help lead Santana to a 97-81 victory. Newark finished with 14 points.

The victory avenged one of Santana’s two losses this season. The Sultans also lost to No. 3 Lincoln in the Santana tournament.

Newark’s first three-pointer broke a 53-53 tie late in the third quarter, and Santana never trailed again. Newark hit all four of his three-pointers in the final 2:50 of the quarter. During that stretch, Santana broke away for a 69-62 lead.

WRESTLING

History was on the line when Helix’s Doug Hammell met Valhalla’s Paul Stevens in the 157-pound final of the San Diego Section 2-A championships Saturday.

Helix led Valhalla, making a bid for its sixth consecutive section title, by just two points. A Hammell victory would clinch Helix’s first wrestling title.

Hammell took a 5-0 lead, but Stevens battled back to take a 9-8 advantage. With 23 seconds remaining, Hammell scored a two-point reversal for a 10-9 victory.

SOCCER

Midfielder Declan Marmion of St. Augustine continues to rack up impressive numbers, and for the second consecutive week is an athlete of the week.

In St. Augustine’s 5-2 victory over Crawford last week, Marmion scored twice and had an assist. The goals were his team-leading 18th and 19th of the season for St. Augustine, which finished third in the City Central League.

The Saints (12-4-4) have been plagued by injuries this year but, largely because of Marmion, still qualified for an at-large berth in the 2-A playoffs.