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Dr. Little’s Dental News Presented by Jeffery Little, D.D.S.
Close loss keeps Ponderosa from title Kevin Christensen Staff writer
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blue banner slipped through the grasp of the talented Ponderosa High School girls soccer team in Rocklin Saturday. The No. 2-ranked Lady Bruins dropped to the No. 1-ranked St. Francis High School Lady Troubadors by a score of 3-2 in the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section championship at Whitney High School. “It was an amazing game and so close,” said Ponderosa head coach Greg Spangler. “Both teams gave everything and played their hearts out.” Both teams came into the showdown with high credentials. St. Francis was ranked 5th in California (24th nationally) and the Lady Bruins sat at 18th in the Golden State (55th nationally). Ponderosa finished its season unscathed with a 10-0 record in the Foothill Valley League and 20-1-1 overall. The Troubadors grinded out a 9-1-2 mark in the Delta League, going 22-2-3 on the season. The stage was set for a soccer classic and neither team disappointed fans. The powerhouse teams delivered as closely a contested match as the records and rankings suggested. The Bruins lit up the scoreboard first in the
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
SMASHMOUTH SPORTS
“Smashmouth” is a slang term used describe a rough, aggressive style of athletic play. This casual talk is well and good, but when it comes to action, athletes had better wear mouth guards to help prevent contact-related dental injuries. Unfortunately, some athletes are reluctant to do so. According to one study, many college athletes said that they disliked mouth guards, because of poor retention and breathing and speech impairment. However, these problems were largely traced to the use of “boil-and-bite” mouth guards. These inexpensive over-thecounter mouth guards are first boiled and, then, while warm and soft, placed in the mouth to mold to the bite. The custom mouth guards available from dentists are far more comfort-
able and functional. One of our basic philosophies is that our patients must recognize the need to take charge of their dental health and do what is necessary to prevent, arrest, or control their own dental conditions. We’ll work together as a team with you to achieve the long-term benefits that quality dentistry affords. From sound advice about mouth guards to routine well visits to major dental reconstructions, we’ve got your dental needs covered. P.S. Wearing a protective mouth guard significantly reduces the incidence of a concussion by a blow to the jaw, because the condyle (the protrusion of bone at the jaw joint) is separated from the base of the skull, with the mandible placed in a forward position.
Dr. Little provides quality family and cosmetic dentistry. His office is located at 344 Placerville Dr., Suite 19, Placerville.
Democrat photo by Kevin Christensen
(530) 626-9127 Visit us at: www.jefflittledds.com
Ponderosa High School junior forward Ally Tomasetti takes on St. Francis defenders on the end line before assisting on a goal for the Lady Bruins on Saturday in the Division II Sac-Joaquin Section championship at Whitney Field in Rocklin. 11th minute when senior striker Shane Steiner found the back of the net on a follow-up for the first of what would be two scores on the day for the forward. St. Francis answered the bell when in the 25th-minute star senior defender Marli Berry stepped into an open space and cracked a shot into the low left corner from 25-yards out. Both teams regrouped at halftime tied 1-1 for what would be a physical second half. The Troubadours wasted no time in taking the lead when Berry dribbled the ball deep into the teeth of the Bruins defense, drawing defenders before finding senior forward Lindsey
Paitanesi, who slipped a shot past Ponderosa senior goalie Alizabeth Sanne from the penalty mark area. Not long after the “never-say-die” Bruins countered when junior Ally Tomasetti put on a dribbling exhibition, tiptoeing along the sidelines past Troubadour defenders before sliding a pass to Steiner for her second goal. Tied 2-2 the match seemed destined for overtime but in the 78th-minute St. Francis junior forward Jackie Stanco chipped a shot no keeper could have saved into the right upper corner of the net — from 20-yards out. As remaining time ticked off the clock the
goal would prove to be the game winner for the Troubadours, leaving the Bruins runner-ups. An early injury was a factor in the game. Junior center defender Kendal Buckley could not continue after a severe ankle injury seven minutes into the game. “Losing Kendal so early really left us scrambling to get our defense straight,” Spangler explained. “She’s very important to what we do as the center back.” Ponderosa’s season isn’t over. They have qualified for the CIF Northern California Regional girls soccer championships and were expected to play Tuesday, hosting Cardinal Newman High School from Santa Rosa. Oak Ridge High School senior guard Lauren Helwig makes a drive with St. Mary’s on her heels in the Trojans’ loss to St. Mary’s of Stockton at Golden 1 Center Friday.
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Valiant Oak Ridge drops to basketball dynasty Kevin Christensen Staff writer
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resilient Oak Ridge High School girls basketball team showed grit on the court Friday night in the capital city, but in the end could not topple a dynasty from Stockton. The No. 3-ranked Lady Trojans lost to the No. 1-ranked St. Mary’s Lady Rams 56-45 in the Division I Sac-Joaquin Section championship game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Coming into the anticipated contest Oak Ridge was ranked No. 17 in California (59th in the nation). St. Mary’s entered the title game with a gaudy No. 2 ranking in the Golden State (8th in the nation). The win gives the Rams their 13th consecutive championship in Division I, II and III as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section. Tied 12-12 after the first period and trailing by 10 points at half, the Trojans were well within striking distance the entire game. In the end overcoming a second period drought that saw the Rams outscore Oak Ridge 16-6 and the championship pedigree of St. Mary’s proved to be too much for the Trojans on this night. “We kept the game within reach and were just not able to get the run and punch we needed,” Trojans head coach Steve White said. “They play tough defense and contest shots.” The Rams shot 49 percent from the field to the Trojans 34 percent and hit 4-of-11 (36%) from beyond the arc while Oak Ridge went just 2-of16 (13%) from the three point mark. The Trojans turned the ball over 19 times to 15 for the Rams. St. Mary’s bothered Trojan shots all night recording six blocked shots. Trojans sophomore guard Teagan Brown led Oak Ridge with a double-double recording 18 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore forward Kamryn Mangels added 10 points for the Trojans.
Standout center Amaya Oliver patrolled the paint and went 8-of-11 from the charity strike, totaling 18 points for the Lady Rams. Nia Anderson controlled the tempo at point guard, giving St. Mary’s 10 points. White said a key injury was a factor and foul trouble plagued the Trojans in the title game. Oak Ridge had multiple players with four fouls entering the fourth quarter and senior forward Erica Ingram was playing through a serious ankle sprain. “Erica was on crutches all week and we did not know if she could go tonight,” White commented. “She really gutted it out tonight.” The underdog Trojans finished the regular season 24-5, winning the Sierra Valley League with a 9-1 record entering Friday night’s game. St. Mary’s came into the evening as favorites going 22-4 overall with an unblemished 10-0 record in the Tri-City Athletic League. Led by seniors McConnell, Lauren Helwig (guard) and Erika Ingram (forward) all year, the Trojans lost this battle, but the war is not over. Oak Ridge will continue its season at the California Interscholastic Federation State Basketball Championships in the upcoming week in the Northern California region. “I am proud of how the team came together this season,” White added. “Megan (McConnell) all season was the epitome of how we want to play and never gives up. Lauren (Helwig) was a leader for us all year.” Oak Ridge, who lost to St. Mary’s in the Division I title game in 2014, will have to wait another year to take down the St. Mary’s dynasty — unless they meet again in the state championships. St. Mary’s now has 21 blue banners, the most in Sac-Joaquin Section history. The Lady Trojans have one more shot at a title. They were to host Menlo School in the first round of the CIF Northern California Regional girls basketball championships Tuesday.
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