Scott Mccorkle

After scoring 24 points to lead Capistrano Valley High School to a 76-49 victory over Irvine for the Southern Section 5-A championship Saturday night, forward Scott McCorkle tried to put into words the importance of the occasion. "Well, put it this way," he said. "I'd rather have a win in a game like this than 50 points anytime." As it turned out, McCorkle, who played only 19 minutes, didn't need to score many more points.

This was a special basketball game for Scott McCorkle, a bright moment in what had been a star-crossed career at Syracuse. All the injuries, the time on the bench and the frustration seemed to fade away. He was having a superb game against Pittsburgh last month--hitting jumpers, diving for loose balls and banging inside. It would be a 13-point, six-rebound night, with a couple of blocked shots.

Scott McCorkle of Capistrano Valley High School, a member of The Times' All-County basketball team last season, will sign a national letter of intent to attend Syracuse, he said Sunday. McCorkle, 6-feet-5, led Capistrano Valley to a 20-4 overall record and the Southern Section 5-A title last year as a junior, when he averaged 24.1 points. McCorkle said a factor in his decision was the recommendation of his friend, Mike Hopkins, a former Mater Dei player who is a redshirt freshman at Syracuse.

On the eve of his high school graduation, Capistrano Valley's Scott McCorkle leaned back on the couch in his family's home, searching for the right words to describe his paradoxical basketball career. "It's been a pretty full career," McCorkle said. "We've made it to the Southern Section finals twice and played in the L.A. Sports Arena. That's every player's dream. I got a college scholarship. That was my personal goal. We won the (Southern Section) title once, but . . .

As the leading scorer of Capistrano Valley High School's Southern Section 5-A champion boys' basketball team last year, Scott McCorkle figured to lead the Cougars again this season. Opponents braced to stop McCorkle, a 6-foot-5 forward who signed a letter of intent in November to attend Syracuse in the fall. "He's had two people running at him in every game we've played," Coach Mark Thornton said.

This was a special basketball game for Scott McCorkle, a bright moment in what had been a star-crossed career at Syracuse. All the injuries, the time on the bench and the frustration seemed to fade away. He was having a superb game against Pittsburgh last month--hitting jumpers, diving for loose balls and banging inside. It would be a 13-point, six-rebound night, with a couple of blocked shots.

It was a remarkable week for Scott McCorkle, Capistrano Valley High School's multitalented junior forward, in the 17th Tournament of Champions at Ocean View High. McCorkle scored 130 points in 4 games for a 32.5 average. He broke former Mater Dei star Tom Lewis' tournament record of 122 points established in 1983. He eclipsed Lewis' mark of 15 free throws in a single game by making 16 in a row against Fresno Edison.

Scott McCorkle, Capistrano Valley High School's sophomore forward, vividly remembers the first time he dunked a basketball. McCorkle was warming up for a summer league game at Tustin High, where he would be matched against 6-foot 7-inch Derek Stone of Mater Dei. He took a pass on a layup drill and decided the time was ripe for slamming. "I was psyched up playing against a 6-7 center and decided to try and dunk," McCorkle said. "I had been trying all year, and I finally did it."

On the eve of his high school graduation, Capistrano Valley's Scott McCorkle leaned back on the couch in his family's home, searching for the right words to describe his paradoxical basketball career. "It's been a pretty full career," McCorkle said. "We've made it to the Southern Section finals twice and played in the L.A. Sports Arena. That's every player's dream. I got a college scholarship. That was my personal goal. We won the (Southern Section) title once, but . . .

Scott McCorkle, a Times' All-Orange County basketball player last season for Capistrano Valley High School, will sign a national letter of intent to attend Syracuse, he said.

As the leading scorer of Capistrano Valley High School's Southern Section 5-A champion boys' basketball team last year, Scott McCorkle figured to lead the Cougars again this season. Opponents braced to stop McCorkle, a 6-foot-5 forward who signed a letter of intent in November to attend Syracuse in the fall. "He's had two people running at him in every game we've played," Coach Mark Thornton said.

Scott McCorkle of Capistrano Valley High School, a member of The Times' All-County basketball team last season, will sign a national letter of intent to attend Syracuse, he said Sunday. McCorkle, 6-feet-5, led Capistrano Valley to a 20-4 overall record and the Southern Section 5-A title last year as a junior, when he averaged 24.1 points. McCorkle said a factor in his decision was the recommendation of his friend, Mike Hopkins, a former Mater Dei player who is a redshirt freshman at Syracuse.

After scoring 24 points to lead Capistrano Valley High School to a 76-49 victory over Irvine for the Southern Section 5-A championship Saturday night, forward Scott McCorkle tried to put into words the importance of the occasion. "Well, put it this way," he said. "I'd rather have a win in a game like this than 50 points anytime." As it turned out, McCorkle, who played only 19 minutes, didn't need to score many more points.

It was a remarkable week for Scott McCorkle, Capistrano Valley High School's multitalented junior forward, in the 17th Tournament of Champions at Ocean View High. McCorkle scored 130 points in 4 games for a 32.5 average. He broke former Mater Dei star Tom Lewis' tournament record of 122 points established in 1983. He eclipsed Lewis' mark of 15 free throws in a single game by making 16 in a row against Fresno Edison.

Scott McCorkle, Capistrano Valley High School's sophomore forward, vividly remembers the first time he dunked a basketball. McCorkle was warming up for a summer league game at Tustin High, where he would be matched against 6-foot 7-inch Derek Stone of Mater Dei. He took a pass on a layup drill and decided the time was ripe for slamming. "I was psyched up playing against a 6-7 center and decided to try and dunk," McCorkle said. "I had been trying all year, and I finally did it."

Capistrano Valley High School defeated Mission Viejo, 77-63, in a South Coast League boys' basketball game Friday night that included a fourth-quarter brawl between fans and players from both teams. The Cougars, ranked fourth in Orange County, were leading, 67-53, with 3:49 left when a scuffle broke out underneath the Mission Viejo basket between Capistrano Valley's Scott McCorkle and Mission Viejo's Eric Cramer, the teams' leading scorers.

El Toro 78, Irvine 60--Irvine's Rob Johnson had 40 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but El Toro (16-4, 4-2) won easily. John Molle had 19 to lead El Toro. Irvine is 10-12, 2-4. Capistrano Valley 87, San Clemente 53--Scott McCorkle scored 26 points and Chris Kostoff added 23 to lead visiting Capistrano Valley (14-7, 5-1). Jason Dunahee had 12 for San Clemente (6-14, 0-6).