BAD BREAK FOR SAUGUS STAR.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Kody Kurowski, a standout tight end and defensive lineman who is Saugus High's top player, broke his leg Friday during a 21-17 victory at Burroughs of Burbank. He will miss the remainder of the season.

``Two guys came crashing down on my leg, and I heard it pop. It's horrible,'' Kurowski said. ``I really wanted to keep playing this season.''

Kurowski was carried off the field in the third quarter, and X-rays later revealed a broken tibia. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior is the team's leading receiver and tackler.

``It was a clear break all the way through, but that's good because it didn't splinter and it won't require surgery,'' coach Jason Bornn said. ``We're disappointed, but the team will find a way to bounce back.

``But I'm more hurt for him. It's just unbelievable. We wouldn't have gotten as far as we have without him, but I have no doubt he's still going to get a full ride somewhere. It might not be Miami or Florida State, but it's going to be somewhere.''

Kurowski is scheduled to be fitted for a cast Monday. It's unclear to what extent Kurowski's injury will affect his chances for a Division I-A college scholarship; he's considered a late bloomer but a prime prospect.

``It's just a temporary setback. Nothing has ever kept him down,'' said his mother, Kim.

Kurowski's injury puts a damper on perhaps the most exciting victory of the season for Saugus (6-3, 2-2), which scored the winning touchdown with five seconds remaining on a fourth-and-eight pass from Zach Summers to Tom Oates that covered 10 yards. Oates outjumped several defenders in the end zone.

With one regular-season game remaining, the victory all but clinched an at-large berth in the 16-team Southern Section Div. II playoffs that begin Nov. 19.

--High school basketball practice begins Saturday, and the pressure is on for Saugus and Hart, both coming off their best boys' seasons in many years.

Saugus finished 22-8 and advanced to the Div. I-A semifinals last season, and Hart (25-4) reached the Div. I-A quarterfinals.

There is optimism although both teams graduated key starters. Saugus bid farewell to career scoring leader B.J. Willkomm, and Hart has lost high-scoring Adam Rich, perhaps the best all-around player in school history.

Saugus returns its most important guards, big scorer Neil Diorio and fiery Shant Bicakci. If the Centurions are to make another serious playoff run, 6-foot-8 senior Sam Hein, a varsity player since his freshman year, must fulfill his potential.

``We think we're better than last year, and we want to win it all this season,'' Bicakci said. ``We're more experienced, we know what to expect, and Sam has really come into his own over the summer. He's worked a lot harder, and I think he scored 22 in one (summer-league) game. Plus, he's going to be a good rebounder and play good defense.''

Hart returns Ryan Wolfe, one of the top returning the guards in the Foothill League, although he'll begin late because he's busy with football. Other returning playersinclude part-time starters Ryan Russell (guard) and Jordi Ubaldo (forward/center), and Corey Chefalo. And junior guard Josh Herman is a major prospect with excellent 3-point range.

The most interesting prospects for Hart might be a couple project players, 6-9 center Garrett Stairs, the Indians' tallest player in many years, and 6-4, 230-pound football player Derrick Onwuachi, a raw talent who demonstrated promise last summer.

Valencia (16-12) and Canyon (16-11) also could have good seasons. Valencia returns forward Chad Allan, among the league's most productive all-around players, promising junior Teddy Goetz and 6-8 junior Donje Kakonde, one of the top junior varsity players last season.

Canyon is rebuilding but could be strong if talented 6-3 forward Dejon Negron returns after missing most of last season because of academic problems.

Negron appears to be back on track - he's playing for the football team this season - and basketball coach Chad Phillips said he'd welcome Negron back.

``We're just waiting until after football to see how Dejon feels,'' Phillips said. ``He didn't play during the summer, so if he comes back, we'll have to develop chemistry.''

Canyon also returns inside player Kris Rincon and streaking shooter Tyler Basurto. Junior guard Lucas Guidroz is a promising outside scorer.

--Congrats to former Hart softball standout Sara Dean. A senior catcher at Auburn, she helped the United States win the inaugural World University Softball Championship tournament at Plant City, Fla., batting .375 and leading the team in RBI (nine), slugging percentage (.667) and on-base percentage (.464) over nine games in six days. She hit three doubles and two triples, and the Americans defeated Chinese Taipei 1-0 in the championship game.