BOYS: MR. EVERYTHING WOLFE BECOMES INDIANS' GO-TO GUY IN HIS FINAL PLAYOFFS.

Byline: Gerry Gittleson Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Ryan Wolfe's multisport career at Hart High is lasting a bit longer than expected - thanks to his own doing.

The senior standout has carried the underdog Indians on his back during the Southern Section Div. I-AA boys' basketball playoffs, scoring a career-high 32 in Tuesday's 63-57 upset over No. 2 Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley.

Wolfe will be asked to do just a little bit more. Hart (17-12) hosts Long Beach Jordan (18-9) in the quarterfinals at 7:30 tonight, and a victory can boost the Indians into the final four for the first time in many years.

Over the past two games, Wolfe has scored 57 of Hart's 110 points - that's more than 50 percent - and made four crucial free throws in the final minute against Rancho Verde.

Surrounded by mostly young, inexperienced players, Wolfe is the Santa Clarita Valley's version of Mr. Clutch.

Can Wolfe's - and Hart's - magical run continue?

``Well, I don't know if it's magic. Last game, we just wanted to come out and stun Rancho Verde early, and I guess some of my shots kept on falling,'' Wolfe said.

Football is Wolfe's main sport. After winning football titles with the varsity as a freshman (promoted for playoffs), sophomore and junior, Wolfe said the disappointment of losing in the Div. II quarterfinals this past season has fueled his adrenaline during the basketball playoffs.

``The way things went during the football season in the Foothill League (third place) and the way it ended, I kind of want to make up for all that now,'' Wolfe said.

Wolfe has signed a football scholarship to UNLV. For a young man who's preparing to spend the next four or five years in Las Vegas, Wolfe must realize what a longshot Hart is to keep on winning - especially considering the Indians were in fifth place at one point and qualified for the postseason as a wild card.

But rarely has the region seen a basketball player with such raw intensity. More a natural athlete than a pure shooter, Wolfe is extremely difficult to cover one-on-one because of his deft dribbling, quick feet and imaginative moves.

While most agree he is better suited for football and track, his basketball success can't be overlooked.

``Ryan is just a great athlete who's playing really good basketball right now. The more basketball he plays, the better he gets,'' coach Tom Kelly said. ``He just plays so hard, and he plays the game the right way. He probably could have scored like this last year, too, because I think he's always been this kind of player. But back then, we didn't need him to score so much. Now we do.''

Wolfe is also an honor student who's dedicated to his high school in every way and remains close with former teammates who have graduated.

``Ryan is just a great kid. I can't find anything bad to say about him,'' Kelly said. ``He's a good citizen, a good student, and super humble. Obviously, I'm going to miss him as a basketball player, but I think I'm going to miss him as a person just as much, if not more.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1) Ryan Wolfe, who made a name for himself at Hart High with a successful football, track and academic career, is the focus of Hart's basketball hopes.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(2) ONWUACHI

Box:

(1) TIME OUT

(2) SOUTHERN SECTION DIV. I-AA QUARTERFINALS

(3) BOYS ROSTERS

(4) GIRLS ROSTERS