One more song for these Pointers sisters

It has been 25 years since the legendary Terri Mann led Point Loma High onto the basketball court.

The season of 1986-87 would be the crowning achievement for the Lady Pointers, who captured their fourth straight state title, three after moving up to Division I for better competition, running their record to a mind-boggling 122-1. No girls team before or since has accomplished that feat.

“Given the number of showcase events that are held these days as well as the top California teams almost always going to the Nike TOC in Arizona, I’d say 122-1 is impossible to duplicate,” said Mark Tennis, publisher of the Cal-Hi Sports state record book. “No matter what the circumstances, 122-1 over four years and four straight state titles is worthy of comparison to De La Salle football — and not any other program in girls hoops. The closest we’ve had (in the state) was Sacred Heart Prep with three straight (state titles) and 113-1.”

A quarter of a century later, Mann will lead 15 players from those dizzying four years, all of whom are in the early 40s, against this year’s varsity in the Lee Trepanier (Coach T) Memorial alumni game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Point Loma High.

Former players like Liza Carrillo, Michelle Collum, Chanelle McCoy, Monica Filer, Tyeast Brown and Beth Thompson are expected to play.

“Oh, we’re going to win,” said Mann, who is now Terri Jacobs, mother of five with a master’s degree in education and living with husband Leonard and their family in Atlanta. “I’m still coaching and I get out there and play a little, but it hurts my knees.”

Mann was state Player of the Year her final two seasons and went on to Western Kentucky University, where she was the team’s leading scorer before suffering a knee injury. She was rushed back too soon, injured the other knee and was never the same player, though she did play professionally in Italy for three years after having a total of seven surgeries on the two knees.

“Back then I was a rebounder and scored by putting missed shots back in,” she said. “I’d guess I’m more of shooter now, we’ll see. You know, the thing that made those teams so good was that we had talent, a great coach (Trepanier) and the camaraderie was awesome.”

In most cases, athletes don’t fully appreciate the significance of their achievements until later in life.

She gets to see good players first-hand daily. Her son is a 6-foot-6 football/basketball player at St. Augustine College, one of her daughters is a 5-10 sophomore playing at Concordia and the best, she says, may be her daughter Sada’, who is already 5-10 and averaging 20 points a game in eighth grade.

“Nobody was good enough to beat us then and nobody I’ve seen playing now could have beaten us,” Mann said. “It was a special group.”

The lone loss her sophomore year, however, still nags at Mann, who at a solid 6-2 dominated inside. The Lady Pointers were playing a strong Pasadena Muir team in the Santa Barbara TOC and suddenly the officials started calling offensive changers on the Pointers’ key player.

By late in the third quarter, Mann was heading to the bench with her fifth foul, Coach T had drawn a technical and Muir would go on to the upset while Mann would go on to etch her name in the national and state record books.

One of the others who played four years with Mann was Carrillo, now director of operations for the Service Employees International Union.

She is one who appreciates the accomplishments more now than then.

“Definitely, when I look back on our accomplishment it was a major, major,” said Carrillo, who is married, going by Liza Leyva. “You know, this game is really the icing. It’s amazing how close the 15 of us have remained so getting together with the others will be the real highlight.

“I think they plan to have some oxygen tanks for us. But seriously, having a chance to see each other and honor Coach T will be the highlight. Yes, we do plan to win the game.”