BOYS: SOLID AT CENTER WILLKOMM'S EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP KEYS SAUGUS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Perhaps the only one not shocked about Saugus High's 60-50 boys' basketball victory over Hart last week - by far the biggest upset of the season - was Saugus standout B.J. Willkomm.

Willkomm has always believed in his team, and now he's hoping Saugus (12-9, 3-2 Foothill League) can parlay the surprising triumph over Hart into something more: a league title, an impressive run during the upcoming playoffs, and maybe more.

``I think we finally showed what we can do as a team by stepping up the way we did and beating Hart,'' Willkomm said.

What made the victory even more unlikely was the fact Saugus was coming off its worst week of the season after losing by 33 points to Valencia and 10 points to unintimidating Canyon.

``Yes, it was a rough week, but the whole point was we were trying to put all that adversity behind us,'' Willkomm said. ``A lot of people looked at us and looked at Hart and thought there was no way we could beat them. But we were hyped up, and that turned out to be our biggest win of the season so far.''

Ironically, Willkomm, among the league's leading scorers (14.8 points a game) and rebounders (6.7), scored a season-low four points against Hart. But he drew defenders every time he touched the basketball, opening opportunities for teammates Sam Hein (16 points) and Matt Baum (13 points).

``The other team was all over me, but my teammates picked it up,'' Willkomm said.

At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Willkomm is among the league's biggest - and most athletic - post players. In fact, so impressed were the Saugus football coaches with Willkomm's potential that they've been imploring him to join the football team since his freshman season.

Willkomm did play tackle football for four years as a youth. But by the time he got to high school, he knew basketball was his sport. When Willkomm was a ninth-grader, Saugus lacked height and promoted Willkomm to the varsity late in the season. He quickly earned a spot as the team's starting center, and in his third game he scored 18 points with 10 rebounds against a 6-10 center in a playoff loss to Perris.

B.J. Willkomm had arrived.

``Actually, I really liked B.J. the first time I met him,'' Saugus coach Jeff Hallman recalled. ``Not just because he was 6-4 and our tallest player was 6-2. He was just very mature for his age and looked me in the eye when he talked to me. I think we've only had three freshman ever play on the varsity since I've been here, and B.J. was the only one who ended up starting a game.''

Can Saugus' success continue? The Centurions figure to beat 2-16 Burbank tonight, and then comes the rematch Tuesday against Valencia, which embarrassed Saugus 83-50 on Jan. 14. Willkomm thinks his team has the size and skill to compete with anymore. The key is determination.

GIRLS: Hart depending on Patton

Senior guard provides valuable experience on floor

NEWHALL - Amanda Patton is just what Hart High's girls' basketball team needs most: a dependable outside shooter to spread out defenses and compensate for the team's lack of inside size.

She's averaging 13.9 points, including 43 percent from 3-point range (33 of 76), and she's been especially hot the past two weeks, as Hart (15-5, 5-0 Foothill League) has established itself as the region's premier team despite no one taller than 5-foot-11.

``Well, we don't have the tall trees like some other teams, so fortunately we've been able to make some outside shots,'' Patton said.

Sophomore backcourt mate Ashlee Trebilcock has a similar role, leading the team in scoring averaging 20.6 points a game. But Patton, a senior, is a four-year starter whose experience and savvy make her a floor leader.

Perhaps it will be Patton who will be counted on most to provide direction and inspiration once the playoffs begin, as Hart figures to contend for a Southern Section Division I-A championship after finishing as a runner-up last season.

This is Patton's final season, and as league competition winds down - the Indians have five games remaining, starting at Canyon tonight at 7 - she's gaining perspective on her career.

``It's been four years, and it honestly started off slow,'' Patton said. ``We were barely .500 when I was a freshman, but things have steadily evolved and gotten better and better. Last year was really good.''

Hart has won seven in a row, including an impressive 21-point victory over then-No. 1 Saugus last week. Patton, who scored 13 points in the Saugus victory, has improved steadily since recovering from a knee injury that sidelined her for four games last month. Her shooting percentage has risen from 37 percent to 45 percent. She's also leading the area in free-throw shooting at 90.3 percent (28 of 31).

Patton is averaging 3.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

``Amanda's been playing very well all season but especially lately,'' coach Dave Munroe said. ``She's developed a better jump shot and she's rebounding better, which is important because everyone on the team has had to contribute in that area. Plus, I think our team chemistry is better this year. The girls are playing very well together.''

Munroe said he also has been impressed with Patton's ability to change positions, going from point guard to shooting guard.

There had been some speculation that Patton and Trebilcock wouldn't work well together, and it's no secret they aren't the best of friends off the court. But as it turned out, there isn't a better backcourt tandem in the region - and beyond.

``We're not really friends, but we get along fine,'' Patton said.

Off the court, Patton enjoys socializing with friends and listening to music, particularly hip-hop artist Tupac. She also relishes her role as a big sister to Dana, a promising sophomore on Hart's junior varsity team.

``I try to be a good role model for her,'' Amanda Patton said.

Patton's basketball career will continue next season at Loyola Marymount, where she has accepted a full scholarship.

Eventually, she wants to be a physical therapist.

``I've had a shoulder injury and a knee injury, so I guess you can say I already have some experience in that area,'' Patton said. ``I like to help people.''

LOOK BACK Surprising upsets continued, notably Saugus' 60-50 boys' victory over first-place Hart on Friday. On the same night, Hart's girls' team defeated then-No. 1 Saugus, and while that victory was not shocking - Hart was No. 3 and has played a very tough schedule - the 21-point margin (58-37) was more decisive than expected, especially considering Saugus was leading by five points after the first quarter. ``It was the best 32 minutes I've ever seen a girls' team play,'' Hart coach Dave Munroe said. ... Scotts Academy sophomore Teeya Kemp scored a school-record 47 points in a 77-22 girls' victory over Archer School of Los Angeles on Friday.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 3 boxes

Photo:

(1) Saugus' B.J. Willkomm was one of the few players in the Centurions' history to play for the varsity as a freshman.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(2) Hart's Amanda Patton is a four-year starter and will be counted on to be a key player during the playoffs.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(3) ANDREW BRUCKNER

Box:

(1) TIME OUT

(2) COMING UP

(3) GAME OF THE WEEK: Hart at Canyon, 7 p.m. tonight

(4) LOOK BACK (see text)

(5) STANDINGS

(6) LEADERS