thesportsedition BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
HIGHLIGHTS · VOLUME II, ISSUE EIGHT · FEBRUARY 21, 2012
Boys’ basketball triumphs in second round CIF Benjamin Hannani After months of preparation, the boys’ basketball team is prepared for the intensity of CIF playoffs. With sights set on a CIF championship, a goal established at the beginning of the season, the team has worked harder leading up to the tournament. Practices have lengthened to three hours and Coach Jarvis Turner has, at times, even held two-aday practices. The team’s postseason journey began with a first round game at Arroyo High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, which the Normans won 61-38. The squad received a scoring boost from Michael Lanier, who finished with 24 points. Shooting guard Brodric Smith attributed part of the team’s success to an insightful scouting report from Coach Turner prior to the game. “We played great team basketball and good defense too,” Smith said. One of the team’s issues was stooping down to the level of the opponent. Point guard Austin Mills described the team’s play as “sloppy” at times and believed the team was capable of playing better. “When you play a team of a lower skill level it is difficult to play up to your maximum potential,” Mills said. The Normans then proceeded to defeat Palm Springs 49-48 in a thriller at the Swim Gym on Friday. While the team came out aggressive in
the first half, a sluggish second half almost cost the Normans the game. After trailing by one on the final possession of the game, the team escaped with a victory after Brodric Smith’s game-winning floater at the buzzer. “I knew we had to push the ball up the court and I wanted to put myself in a position where I can be an outlet to whoever was dribbling,” Smith said. “The whole time I had my hands up ready for the ball and fortunately the ball was blocked right into my hands. I knew had to get it up quick to beat the buzzer and after it went in I was happy because we had worked too hard that game to lose.” The Normans have now advanced to the third round of CIF playoffs, in which they will face Lawndale at the Swim Gym on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
At Friday’s CIF game (clockwise from top left), Frank Brown dribbles down the court; Brodric Smith dodges their defense; Austin Mills races around Palm Springs. ARMAN ZADEH
Boys’ soccer ends season with CIF loss Arman Zadeh
Captain Elijah Lichtenberg manoeuvres the ball against Sierra Vista. ARMAN ZADEH
On Thursday, Feb. 16, boys’ varsity soccer was eliminated in the first round of CIF playoffs. The team was defeated by Sierra Vista, 2-1, in a golden goal double overtime thriller. After a year of success and hard work, both on and off the field, this loss brings an end to the boys’ season. Striker Nick Marmureanu scored off an assist from striker Angel Jaramillo with less than nine minutes left in the second half, sending the game into its first overtime. With the Normans down 1-0 at halftime, head coach Steve Rappaport struck motivation in the slumping Norman squad, telling them to keep their minds off the early mistakes and “get it back…step it up 100 percent.” The Normans opened the second half with a barrage of great plays and a number of opportunities to score, but failed to execute on many of them. The team’s luck finally turned after a corner kick from striker Gefen Laredo went off course and was recovered by Jaramillo, who then passed to Marmureanu for the goal. According to soccer CIF regulations, overtimes are governed by the golden goal rule, meaning the first team to score wins the match. Being the first to score in overtime, Sierra Vista ended the game within five minutes of the second overtime.
Lichtenberg led the game with nine steals despite sitting out early due to injury, followed by Jaramillo with eight steals. Goalkeeper Adrian Spitz contributed with four crucial saves late in the second half, and goalkeeper Matthew Davidov saved three attempted shots in overtime. Rappaport believed that playing without key players Josh Horowitz, Bryan Khalilirad and Ignacio Gonzalez showed its effect against Sierra Vista. According to the coach, some of the team’s biggest problems were fouls near midfield, the loss of Lichtenberg toward the end of the game and the lack of execution on the offensive end. The Normans made only one of 20 shot attempts taken in the game. “We needed to finish when we had the chance to finish,” Rappaport said. “When you get an opportunity and have an open goal, you have to put it in the back of the net. We missed way too many chances.” Although this season just ended, Beverly soccer has plenty to look forward to in its upcoming years. With seven underclassmen having started in Beverly’s final game, Rappaport believes that next year’s team will be one for the Ocean League to fear. “We’re going to be great next season,” Rappaport said. “Although seniors were key, I think we’re going to be stronger.”
thesportsedition
HIGHLIGHTS · VOLUME II, ISSUE EIGHT · FEBRUARY 21, 2012
Girls’ soccer defeats LA Baptist in CIF game Chanan Batra
Junior Ashley Aviram races for possession. ALEX MENACHE
Fresh off its first Ocean League championship in the history of the program, Beverly’s girls’ soccer team played and defeated LA Baptist 2-0 in the first round of CIF on Friday, February 17. Beverly dominated the game, scoring two goals early and holding LA Baptist scoreless. According to forward Sarah Patterson, both the defense and the offense have strengths that contributed equally to the big win. “Our players on defense are really good at passing the ball around to each other and clearing it,” Patterson said. “On offense we have a lot of speed and it was tough for [LA Baptist] to keep up.” Beverly’s offense started the game with a lot of energy, and forward Dinah Pourbaba capitalized on a lapse in LA Baptist’s defense by dribbling the ball through the defense and scoring. Not long after, forward Ashley Aviram kicked the ball off a pass from midfielder Kaela Reisfelt that was deflected off a LA Baptist defender’s leg and into the goal. With a 2-0 lead, Beverly’s defense was able to hold its
opponent scoreless fairy comfortably. In addition to the win, the team also enjoyed a great deal of school spirit from the crowd attending the game. Patterson explained the affect of having a large crowd at the game. “Having a big crowd during the games is really motivating and exciting,” Patterson said. “Having people at our games makes me want to push myself harder so people can see how our team plays and hopefully come out more often.” The squad now looks to get to the third round of CIF for the first time in the program’s history. Forward Aviram explained how the team is preparing to try and make history. “For the upcoming games we’re working on our plays and practicing a lot,” Aviram said. “The next upcoming game is really exciting because we feel like its a winnable game and it’s a big deal because we have never gone past the 2nd round of CIF. “ The squad’s next game is this Wednesday, February 22, against La Reina. The team looks to make this season a memorable one by making the third round of CIF for the first time in Beverly girls’ soccer history.
Girls’ basketball faces first round CIF loss Ginelle Wolfe On Thursday, Feb. 16, the girls’ varsity basketball team suffered a tough 56-38 loss against Norwalk High School in the first round of CIF. Head coach John Braddell felt the team’s performance shifted throughout the match. “We played well at times, but we struggled a little bit against some of their pressure,” Braddell stated. Braddell feels that the team’s momentous comeback briefly helped. “We got down early and then we cut it to two points,” Braddell explained. “We had a lot of the momentum and then we’d turn a ball over about three times in a row, which lead to six points. [The score] went from a 2 point game to an eight point game in a matter of less than about a minute.” One of Beverly’s biggest problems throughout the game, and season as a whole, was turnovers. Players faced challenges with making quick decisions in the middle of a play. Small forward Serena Shlomof said the team was confident it could do well in playoffs. “We practiced really hard in hopes of winning,” Shlomof said. “Our key to
beating them was to shut down their best players.” Shlomof stated that the game was not the best way to end the season, especially for the seniors, but it was a good season overall. Guard Debbie Reyhan felt that this year was a growing experience for the team. Even though the girls did not have as many wins as they had hoped for, the teammates grew close to one another throughout the season. “The relationships you build are what really counts,” Reyhan said. “Playing is just a small part of playing basketball.” Although the team was upset about its loss, the returning players are hoping to improve next season. “I’m looking forward to playing all together again, and I think we could improve on running our offense more,” forward Taylor McBride said. Forward Stephanie Levy agreed that the team has a lot to improve on but is excited for the team to come back and surprise people next year. “I think we had a fun season as a team even though we didn’t win many games, but next year we’re going to be even better,” Levy commented.
Junior Dorsa Mehrannia shoots a free throw at CIF. Photo courtesy of KYLIE COLVIN
Wrestling ends successful season Ryan Feinberg After finishing third place in Pioneer League, the boys’ varsity wrestling team awaits individual CIF results. The season itself was successful overall, especially in relation to last year. This year’s team finished with a record of 2-2 in league, nine CIF qualifiers, three league champions, and one Masters qualifier, senior Dylan Lojac, who hopes to qualify for the state meet. Last year, the team snuck away with a single league victory, one league champion, and six individuals qualifying for CIF, with none
making it to the state level. “We have made improvements in both team and individual success,” Lojac said. “Although we faced some adversity, losing certain wrestlers for short periods of time due to injury, we still improved as the season went along.” Often times, injuries hinder a team’s progress, but not in this case, as Lojac notes. “Lots of young wrestlers stepped up and filled in for varsity spots when needed,” Lojac explained. “We stuck together to finish at an unprecedented third place in league.” Captain Ralph Yun, Bram Geiderman,
Marshall Stevens, Axel Pinotti, and Nick Sands were all eliminated the first day of CIF at the two-day tournament in Corona. However, Dylan Lojac qualifies for the Southern Section Masters meet, in Temecula Valley. If he finishes in the top nine, he will qualify for a state round. Captain Matt Kohanbash and Julian Jackson also made it to the second day of CIF but did not place individually. Yun, who unfortunately did not continue to day two of CIF, acknowledges his next steps. The team will be supporting Lojac in is his endeavors on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
thesportsedition staff Chanan Batra, Ryan Feinberg, Benjamin Hannani, Danny Licht, Mallika Sen, Ginelle Wolfe and Arman Zadeh
advisers Gaby Herbst and Katie Murray
beverly hills high school
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