REPEAT SWEET FOR LOCAL TALENT : HOOP-IT-UP TITLE TO BOLDEN, GRANDE, O'HERRON, YOEST.

Byline: Robert Rundquist Special to the Daily News

Former local high school players Pat Bolden, Rich Grande, Pat O'Herron and Mike Yoest were able to defend their Mens' Top Gun Division Title Sunday afternoon, coming out of a competitive 30-team field to defeat ``Dunk Pro'' 16-14 in the NBA Hoop-It-Up championship game.

``It feels pretty sweet,'' said Yoest, who graduated from Crespi High School in 1984, ``especially since the road was a lot more difficult this time. It's true what they say: It is tougher to repeat than to win the first time.''

And a difficult title game it was for ``Behind Da Line.''

After scoring consecutive one-point baskets and building up a seemingly comfortable 15-10 lead - only one shot away from repeating as champions - their San Diego opponent rallied with a couple of deep two-point baskets to make the score 15-14.

Bolden took the inbounds pass and isolated himself on the right side. He slashed to the basket, where he drew some heavy contact, and looked for a foul to be called as the shot came up short.

The whistle didn't blow, but the team regained possession. Bolden set the play up again and scored the winning basket on a nearly identical drive.

``On the first move, I got hit across both arms,'' explained the ex-L.A. Lutheran High standout. ``I took it personal and just took it to the hole, knowing I'd score or get fouled.''

Physical play occurred throughout the contest, which fell right into the champion's strength.

``We usually pound the ball in there and get our big men fouled,'' said O'Herron, a former Simi Valley High standout, before the game. ``Then we get the easy ones at the free-throw line.''

Free throws were a key to the win. Yoest was 4 for 4 at the line late in the game after getting repeatedly fouled in the low post.

The team was in the penalty after Grande, a graduate of Glendale High, drew a flagrant foul on a drive to the basket on which he was forearmed in the jaw. Grande hit the free throw to make the score 9-7.

The champions went undefeated in the weekend tournament at Cal State Northridge, winning all seven of their games. The team now advances to the West Regional in Huntington Beach with the opportunity to receive a berth in the World Final - a November NBC Sports televised event. The two-time champions lost in the quarterfinals last year. No men's team from Los Angeles has ever won the regional.

Layups: Faye Hagan, Cynthia Davis, Felice Logan and Blythe Linsey of ``Fast Lane'' won the Women's Top Gun Championship and will also advance to the West Regional. . . . Pasadena resident David Dunham was the Nike 10-foot Slam Jam Champion. . . . Palmdale High School senior Markus Carr won Sunday's 9-foot Gatorade Dunk. . . . Teenager Firozu Mobarez of Tarzana was the Baby Ruth's ``TurboHoops'' winner. . . . Cheryll Few of San Bernardino was judged best in the 8-foot Gatorade Dunk for women. . . . 14-year old Tofi Purcell of La Puente came up six feet short in the 75-foot Southwest Airlines' $25,000 long shot (he got a nice T-shirt instead).