BOYS: TAKING VICTORIES TO HART RUSSELL NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING BUT WINNING GAMES.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Ryan Russell isn't concerned about setting a school scoring record or perhaps earning a Pacific-10 Conference scholarship.

He's too busy winning basketball games.

A 6-foot-2 junior, Russell does whatever it takes to help the Hart High boys' team. Sometimes his job is to provide a spark off the bench, or to shut down a hot shooter. Lately, as the starting point guard in place of injured Ryan Wolfe, Russell has helped direct Hart (17-2, 4-0) to first place in the Foothill League. The team has won six in a row and nine of its past 10 heading into tonight's 7 p.m. showdown against visiting Valencia (12-7, 2-2).

Whenever Russell is on the floor, his job is to guard the other team's best scorer. He's Hart's official designated defender, which isn't a particularly glorious role. But if Russell wants glory, he simply points to Hart's .895 winning percentage.

``You put me in there, and I'll play good defense, hustle and not turn the ball over,'' Russell said. ``We've got plenty of scorers with guys like Adam Rich and Brandon McQueen, so that makes my job a lot easier. I don't care about how many points I score. I just want to win.''

In high school basketball, or at any level for that matter, it's always nice to have someone like Russell on the team.

``Actually, that's true,'' McQueen said.

``Ryan can play just about any position, and if he's not in the starting lineup, everyone knows he's going to play a lot of minutes. He's just a good asset.''

During Tuesday's 60-54 victory over Saugus, Russell became a bit overeager defensively and fouled out. His presence was missed down the stretch, and Saugus nearly overcame a 20-point deficit in a Hart victory that eventually gave it sole possession of first place.

Otherwise, Russell has been among Hart's most dependable and consistent performers.

``Ryan has kind of played every position, and he's handled it well. That's not easy to do,'' coach Tom Kelly said. ``He's not always looking to score, but he's still usually good for six or seven points and three or four rebounds. A lot of what he does doesn't show up in the box score.

``But Ryan's the kind of guy who gets his hand on a pass or blocks a shot at the end of the game. That's just the kind of things we're looking from him, and he does it.''

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

GIRLS: O'Linn solid in shaky Saugus season

Scoring leader keeps Centurions in playoff hunt

SAUGUS - The Saugus High girls' basketball team has a lot of new faces this season, so most expected a difficult season - especially in the high- powered Foothill League, which includes two of the Southland's best programs in Hart and Valencia.

But that doesn't make the drudgery any easier for Kelly O'Linn. She's averaging about 15 points a game and has asserted herself as one of the league's most complete players. But without much help, Saugus (8-12, 0-4) is struggling, never more so than during Tuesday's 72-31 loss to Hart, which scored 51 of the game's first 59 points.

``We know we didn't have too many players coming back, so we're just trying to persevere,'' O'Linn said. ``It's been difficult because we don't have many passers, and we don't have many scorers, etc. But nobody likes to lose, so we've been coming out and trying our hardest every game.''

Linn, a 5-foot-6 junior who was a reserve last year, isn't used to this. Saugus has reached the Southern Section quarterfinals each of the past two seasons and has averaged nearly 20 victories over the past four years.

But four 6-footers graduated this past spring, and the team's top returning scorer, Taylor Lilley, has transferred to Hart. Plus, the girls are making a go with a new coach, Ron Manalastis. He has replaced Eric Olsson, who was 79-32 (.712 winning percentage) in four seasons.

Heading into tonight's 5:30 game against visiting Canyon (11-9, 1-3), Saugus has lost six in a row by an average of more than 20 points, and the team has been held to fewer than 50 points in all of the losses during the skid.

``We knew Hart and Valencia would be tough, but we thought we'd do better against some of the other teams,'' Linn said.

Nevertheless, with six games remaining Saugus still has a chance to qualify for the playoffs by winning at least three. That would give the team the requisite 11 victories necessary for an at-large berth.

Without Linn, who knows whether Saugus would have such an opportunity at this point?

``Kelly's definitely a bright spot. She's not just a playmaker, she creates for others, too, and she's got heart,'' Manalastis said. ``I know it's been tough for her because she's such a competitor, and if she had a different supporting cast things might be different for her. But the fact is, it's still possible for us to make the playoffs, and that's a great motivator.''

Linn has the scenario all planned out.

``We still have Canyon, Burroughs (of Burbank) and Burbank, and I really think we can make it by beating those three,'' she said. ``Making the playoffs would be great, so that's what we're shooting for right now.''

BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK

VALENCIA (12-7, 2-2)

at HART (17-2, 4-0)

Tonight, 7

Outlook: No matter what sport, no area rivalry brings more heat, so Hart's gymnasium undoubtedly will be packed and rocking for this much-anticipated showdown.

Hart is off to its best start in years. But weaknesses were exposed during a wobbly 60-54 victory over Saugus on Tuesday, when Hart nearly blew a 20-point lead, missing seven of its last nine foul shots while managing just four fourth-quarter points. In fact, if Saugus could have shot halfway decent, Hart probably would have lost by 10 points.

Guard Ryan Russell, Hart's designated defender, probably will guard Alan Husted, who is Valencia's key outside shooter. The other interesting matchup pits Hart's high-scoring forward Adam Rich against Valencia junior Chad Allen, who is coming off a 22-point performance in Tuesday's 76-59 victory over Burroughs of Burbank.

GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK

VALENCIA (15-2, 4-0)

at HART (18-1, 4-0)

Tonight, 5:30 p.m.

Outlook: Both teams are enjoying hot streaks - Hart has won 14 in a row and Valencia has won four in a row (all by 20 points or more) - so someone will have to budge in this attractive showdown for first place in the Foothill League.

Hart, generally considered a much stronger team, has seen better competition and should prevail if high-scoring guards Ashlee Trebilcock and Taylor Lilley continue their hot shooting. UCLA-bound Trebilcock, averaging about 20 points a game, has a tendency to rise to the challenge when confronted with high-caliber opponents. So Valencia's first priority is to stop her, though that won't be easy considering Trebilcock might be the most dominating all-around player in area history.

Kelley Tarver, Valencia's all-time leading scorer, is one to watch. She scored 23 points in a 68-37 victory over Burroughs of Burbank on Tuesday.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 6 boxes

Photo:

(1) Ryan Russell has been a valuable player for Hart, which is in first place in the Foothill League.

(2) Junior Kelly O'Linn, foreground, had been a spark for struggling Saugus (8-12).

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) TIME OUT

(2) COMING UP

(3) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK (see text)

(4) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK (see text)

(5) LOOK BACK

(6) STANDINGS