Santa Clarita Christian School

SCCS BOYS

The Coach

2022 Schedule

Nov. 14 Magnolia Science 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at Nordhoff TBA

Head Coach Thomas Lowerey. PHOTOS BY CHRIS TORRES / THE SIGNAL

2022 Roster

# Name Year Position

Rylan Starr Cy Mitchell

11 G 10 G Evan OK 10 G Joe Flanary 10 G Nolan Broyles 10 F Landon Hermanson 12 F Emmanuel Yarbor ough 12 F Will Allen 11 C Noah Phillips 9 G Nov. 18 at Sage Hill 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 St. Monica* 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Vasquez* TBA Dec. 6 Desert Christian* 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Lancaster Baptist* TBA Dec. 13 at Aerospace* TBA

Dec. 19-22

Faith Baptist Tournament TBA Dec. 26 at Valley Torah* 7 p.m. Dec. 29 Valley Torah 7 p.m. Dec. 30 Trinity* 7 p.m. Jan. 3 Palmdale Academy* 7 p.m. Jan. 5 Trinity 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at Faith Baptist 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Aerospace 7 p.m. Jan. 17 Vasquez 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at Desert Christian 7 p.m. Jan. 24 Lancaster Baptist 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at St. Monica TBD

Jan. 31 Faith Baptist 7 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

2022 Schedule

Nov. 24 Valley Torah* TBD Nov. 28 Milken Community 6 p.m. Nov. 29 St. Monica* 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Vasquez* TBD Dec. 6 Desert Christian* 3:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Lancaster Baptist* 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Aerospace* 3:30 p.m. Dec. 22 Legacy College Prep 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29 at Coastal Union TBD

The Coach

Jan. 5 Trinity* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Faith Baptist* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Aerospace* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 17 Vasquez* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Desert Christian* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 24 Lancaster Baptist* Jan. 26 at St. Monica* 3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 Faith Baptist* 3:30 p.m.

* Heritage League games SCCS Girls Head Coach Larry Sulham.

2022 Roster

# Name Year Position Sabrina Banke 11 F Savannah Banke 9 G/F Alexiss Byrd 9 G Maya Denison 9 G Evie Frields 11 G/F Rebecca Frields 9 G/F Emerson Funk 9 G Maggie Michilin 9 G Maddie Page 10 G/F Rebekah Wilson 9 G/F Reese Woodward 12 G/F

Editor’s note: Jersey numbers unavailable as of press time.

Girls’ Basketball Returns to SCCS

By Tyler Wainfeld

Signal Sports Writer

After a one-year hiatus, girls’ basketball is back at Santa Clarita Christian.

Head coach Larry Sulham is thrilled to be back in action and get the program in full swing. The head coach is a mentee of the late, great John Wooden, giving the start-up team a brilliant basketball coach.

Sulham’s first practice with the team was Oct. 24 but the actuality of fielding a team was still up in the air. Only two girls were signed up to participate but to Sulham’s surprise, about a dozen girls showed up to join the team.

“It’s been discouraging trying to find girls to play,” said Sulham. “I’ve been trying to do this since last November and even up until like this week we weren’t certain about having enough girls. So to see this number of girls actually show up is really encouraging. And they look to me like they want to play the game here.”

Some of the girls are bringing in playing experience while others may enter the season as novices. However, all the girls are athletes with competitive spirits, in which Sulham sees endless potential.

“I don’t have point guards, shooting guards. I have girls with different skills,” said Sulham. “We’ve got to be able to combine those and get the best that we can get out of it. And so I look a lot for just moving that ball down the court, getting spread out and then attacking and then hitting the open person.”

Juniors Evie Frields and Sabrina Banke will be some of the team’s leaders on the court alongside SCCS’ only senior Reese Woodward.

“I think that Sabrina is gonna be one of our best,” said Woodward. “I’ll probably just be out there for defense.”

Banke and Frields have quite a few years of playing experience already. The pair’s chemistry will provide an example for the team learning how to win.

The Cards are in the right mindset already of a team rebuilding its program. They possess the mentality of having fun no matter what while competing.

“I think we’re probably going to be pretty good,” said Banke. “We just need to have a good mindset for it.”

Sulham will welcome assistant coaches Amber Lockhart, Christina Patterson and Jennifer Canning to the bench as well. The former players have a ton of insight that their head coach believes will be valuable for the girls.

The team has a handful of outside shooters but will likely find the bulk of its scoring within 10 feet of the hoop. The head coach will want his offense fast and moving the ball as much as possible as they look for the best shot.

On the defensive side, Sulham sees a ton of upside in his young and athletic team.

“What I like about them is there’s some aggressive girls that I think I can teach to play really hard defense,” said Sulham. “I like to play pressure defense. That’s what we played before.”

Expect plenty of full-court and halfcourt pressure as Sulham will mix up looks throughout the season.

The leaders of the team will be tasked with leading and bringing together the mostly underclassmen team but they seem to be ahead of schedule.

“In basketball you do become a really big family. Not just a team but a family,” said Banke. “So I think he’s just really pushing to get girls out and to encourage them.”

One of the girls encouraged to join was freshman Rebecca Frields. The young guard has felt welcomed by the team and will likely be an impact player in her first year of high school. More than anything, Frields has her priorities straight.

“It’s not about winning,” said Frields. “It’s about having fun and spending your high school years in a good environment.”

Frields is one seven freshmen looking to make an impact for the Cardinals. Maggie Michilin is another freshman who believes in the team’s camaraderie and defense.

“A lot of the girls are very competitive so they will do a lot to win,” said Michilin. “Our defense [will stand out] because we’re aggressive.”

SCCS will reenter the Heritage League, long locked down by the school’s crosstown rival Trinity. The Cards may not be aiming for CIF championships, league titles and tournaments this season, but the program is well on its way to returning to the height of SCCS girls’ basketball. 

New-Look SCCS Ready to Play

By Justin Vigil-Zuniga

Signal Sports Writer

Santa Clarita Christian boys’ basketball may look a lot different this year but there will be no rebranding.

Head coach Thomas Lowerey will still have his group of young men ready to compete and play up to the SCCS standards that the school has built over the last two decades.

Longtime coach James Mosley left the position this spring for another local up and coming Christian school. The open coaching position also cleared the roster as several players transferred out of SCCS to play for various schools.

The team still retained a core of talented players ready to compete.

Lowerey brings plenty of years of experience to his young Cardinal team. The first-year Cardinal head coach has been an assistant in the SCCS program as well as an assistant for The Master’s University men’s basketball team.

“They’re here for the school and to represent the school,” said Lowerey. “They love the [high] level. They want to get better and that’s really my goal. My goal is to help these young men grow up and in that same time, play basketball.”

One of the Cardinals’ top returners is junior Ryland Starr. The guard is one of the team’s best sharpshooters with range and shouldn’t be left open anywhere in the halfcourt. Starr has remained loyal to the school but has also found a great admiration for his new head coach.

“He’s one of the best men I know,” said Starr. “I think that’s really important and not only does he know basketball but he’s a great guy. He was in the Marines. He’s a hard worker.”

Fellow returner Sy Mitchell has also established a great rapport with his new head coach.

Lowerey knows his team can shoot the ball among the best of teams but wants his team to find a defensive groove, too.

“Coach Lowerey always talks about how we’re going to identify ourselves,” said Mitchell. “He said he wants us to identify ourselves as a defensive team. We want to be identified as a defensive team. So, I think mainly we’re going to have to make sure we get there because we have the talent to score.”

Mitchell is only a sophomore but will be asked a lot from the team. Lowerey recognized his young guard will be asked to play a new position while needing to provide more on the offensive side of the court. Mitchell, a great ball handler and shooter, has shown few setbacks on his way into the season.

The Cards typically put together a gritty and seasoned team but will roster just one senior this year. Manny Yarborough will be the lone graduating Cardinal by the end of the year. Yarborough brings strong ball-handling skills as well as great inside and outside scoring. The senior has taken a back seat to other key players in previous years, but Lowerey has made it clear that Yarborough is in the driver’s seat now.

The team won’t be as big as some of their star-studded teams of the past but the Cards have a few bigs rostered. Will Allen and Landon Hermanson present some size down low for SCCS. The two will be tasked with anchoring the middle of the floor while the numerous quick and crafty guards fight through screens and guard the perimeter.

It’s been an up and down summer for the team. The offensive output has shown little hiccups but the team wishes to see its defense improve before the season starts. For Lowerey, as long as his players are in the gym and classroom giving their all, he’ll be content.

“If they are out there giving me their best, who am I not to appreciate that?” said Lowerey. “Now I can always push for more but I just want their best. Once I see their best, I’ll know how far I can push it. But until they give me their best, I’m still waiting.”

The team will also work to improve its physicality.

“I think that if we get in shape [we’ll be fine],” said Starr. “We can shoot the ball well, and I think Coach wants us to move the ball and play unselfish and I think that’s important.”

SCCS will feature some younger players but Mitchell has already seen flashes of greatness. “A lot of the guys have great potential,” he said. “They just need to put in the work. Once they put in the work, I think they’ll have a fantastic year.”

The Cardinals may also have a new sense of camaraderie.

“I’m just excited for my friends,” said Starr. “The years before, I didn’t have very many friends on the team and it was just a lot of people from different places and it was just more basketball focused. I love basketball, obviously but I’m glad that we have people on the team that I want to hang out with outside of the team. We have good guys on the team.” 

CASTAIC

Continued from page 13 shooters from outside the arc.

Another spark plug is junior Tashaun Barron. The junior guard adds excellent hands and intense on-ball defense to the team.

“Our team takes pride in our defense,” said Barron. “Our coach pushes to give 110% on defense all the time and if it’s not there, he makes sure we get there.”

The team technically got its first Foothill League win through a forfeit but will look for some wins on the court this year. Castaic has embraced the underdog role as the seventh member of the top-heavy Foothill League.

“I like being the underdog,” said Butler. “Keep looking at the MaxPreps from last year and you’re

HART

Continued from page 21

Kelly also believes his team has better camaraderie than some of his other teams. The head coach knows this will be vital to his team’s success.

“They’re like a pack of wolves and the chemistry is awesome,” said Kelly. “When you see that, that gives you a better chance on the floor because they’ll play hard for each other. The off-the-court activities are just as important.”

Hart isn’t a small team by any means but with opposing teams getting larger and larger, Kelly recognizes the challenges his team will be ready to face.

“We’ll shoot the ball well, and I think we’re going to be a good halfcourt defensive team,” said Kelly. “We’re not as big as some of the other teams. We’re not small but going to be pleasantly surprised at the end of the game when you play us.”

Butler still addressed the most important goal for his team: success in the classroom.

“If we’re not going to be the best scorers or have the best record, let’s lead the league in GPA and graduate everybody,” said Butler. “That’s the greatest statistics you could have as a person trying to get to college. They want to make CIF playoffs and I want that for them. But more than anything else I want to make sure all my kids graduate and go to college.”

The Coyotes understand the path ahead of them will be challenging and filled with adversity. The team remains confident and will consistently put in the work until the last whistle of the season.

we’re not big. So, I think if we can switch up some things on defense and then rebound the ball, we should be able to score well. We just got to get stops and get rebounds.”

A winning season would mean the most to Hart, which has hit speed bump after speed bump in the past few seasons. The group is athletic, can drive, shoot, handle the ball and pass. The absence of Okonowski will be felt early in the year but the team will adapt. The Indians’ ball movement and defense will be the biggest factors for success. The team isn’t overwhelmed by anyone in the Foothill League and is ready to compete for a league title.

“Everybody’s beatable on every night,” said Kelly. “It’s going to make it fun. Everybody’s going to have to bring their best effort every game.” 

Butler’s CAB mentality will keep the team grinding toward the top of the Foothill League. He is confident their basketball IQ and play on the court will be able to keep them in games with any opponent. The team has had a strong summer and fall exhibition. They’ll look forward to seeing that pay dividends in the winter.

“I think collectively we’re in a great position to compete with anybody,” said Butler. “They shoot well, run well and they work hard.”

The team will feature seniors for the first time as Castaic will have its first graduating class in 2023. The Coyotes embark on year two with coach No. 2 in November.

“We’re definitely going to put the team on the map,” said Barron. “This is just the beginning, page one.” 

GV

Continued from page 17 teams can put it together as long as you have that love, that passion, that hard work and effort.”

Hall has also been able to bring in junior Adonijah Currie, a fifth-place medalist in the 200-meter dash for Golden Valley’s track team in the spring, to bring more dynamism to the team. Add in a renewed work ethic, and Taufaasau can’t wait to see where things land for the Grizzlies.

“The work ethic, I wasn’t here last year, but it’s a lot different from what I’ve heard,” Taufaasau said. “And I just think we’re gonna be a whole different team this year. I’m excited. It’s gonna be the worst surprise anyone’s ever seen.” 

TRINITY

Continued from page 37 but it was the right decision for our team and our league,” said De Monbrun. “I’m grateful that we all are able to use those open slots to schedule games for our teams that will be mutually beneficial.”

Some of those games may even be local. De Monbrun, a former Valencia Viking, knows all about the Foothill League and the level of competition entailed.

“I love the Foothill League,” said De Monbrun. “I was part of it for a long time. I really do consider each coach in that league a friend. I have great relationships with them and they’ve been a great resource for us. This year we have a scrimmage set up with Valencia and a regular season game with West Ranch. I have a couple game openings, so I may have to make a few more phone calls.”

The Knights are poised for another big season. They were turned away in the CIF Division 3A semifinals and sent home in the state Division 4 semifinals. Trinity lost to the eventual runner up in each tournament but is ready to push further this season.

Trinity has since moved into Division 3AA and will again play tougher postseason opponents than the year before. Winning aside, the head coach hopes to see his team continuously improve and work hard all season. The wins and losses won’t matter as much as the growth of the players, but there’s sure to be plenty of winning at Trinity Classical Academy.

“Our goal always is to get better every day,” said De Monbrun. “If our kids show up with a great attitude, and they give their best effort, we will do that.” 

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

VALENCIA

Continued from page 29 defensive rebounding.”

The goals remain the same regardless of what teams lay in their way. The Vikings will be aiming for their first league title in three years.

“Our goal as a unit is we want to win the Foothill League,” said Davis. “We also want to make a long run in CIF and hopefully we can play in state.”

The depth will play a big role in a grueling marathon of a season if the team wishes to play from November into late February.

Coach Bedgood has a team ready to win but still wants to see them keep moving the ball around as much they can. That ball movement was one of the biggest reasons for their success over the summer and will be vital in a tough Foothill League.

“I think this team can be as successful as any other Valencia team of the past,” said Bill. “I fully expect us to compete for a league, CIF and state championship. Our expectations are higher than they’ve ever been at Valencia.” 

HART GIRLS

Continued from page 20 the usual full-court press but with the Indians’ speed, they’re due to force some quick turnovers.

Mike hasn’t laid out any goals or expectations for his team just yet, but one thing is definitely on the coach’s and most of the players’ minds.

“I think we have a really well-rounded team,” said Arleigh. “I think we have a lot of speed, too. I think we all want it all this year. We just want to win league.”

The team came up just a smidge short of a Foothill League title last year but lost out to Canyon.

The Indians know the league runs through the Cowboys and will be ready on Jan. 6 for their home matchup with Canyon.

Hart may finally have the pieces in play to win their first Foothill League championship in 16 years. The season is right around the corner and the Indians are ready to go.

“I’m so excited,” said Zavala. “I talk about it in our group chat every day reminding them that the season is coming up. We’re going to get far this season. We’re going to win; first place.” 