BA Issue 57, Dec. 6, 2012 by Sport Stars Magazine

Lucky 21: De La Salle wins another

Pg. 30

december 6, 2012

PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writers Erik Stordahl, Jim McCue Contributors Bill Kolb, Mitch Stephens, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Bryant West, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Jonathan Okanes Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler Intern Ryan Arter Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566.8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com, Tommy Enriquez • Tommy@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of advisors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law

jabari bird, top, of salesian and Marcus Lee of Deer Valley are two of the most-prized recruits in the nation. And for Bay Area Hoops in 2012-13, that’s just the beginning. Pg. 14

First Pitch...........................................6 Locker Room....................................8 Behind the Clipboard......................9 AAA SportStars of the Week......11 Red Zone.........................................30 Impulse.............................................33 Training Time...................................34 Health Watch .................................35 Training By Trucks..........................36

ho, ho, ho: Every sports fan has a wishlist and we’re no different. See what Scrooge McKolb wants this year. Pg. 9 Prevalence of AED’s could help save lives. Pg. 35 on the cover: Marcus Lee and Jabari Bird. Photos by Phillip Walton and Bob Larson.

Bob Larson

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, December 2012 Whole No. 57 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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Not-so-sweet 16 Is current CIF Bowl system asking too much of players?

e’re a little conflicted this week. On the one hand, the new wrinkle to the CIF State Football “championships” — the Northern and Southern Regional bowl games — have given us some extremely enticing matchups to watch. On the other hand, we can’t help but be a tad rankled by two things: 1) That each region is eliminating one of its best contenders for a state title by pitting them against each other in the Open Division Regional game. And 2) that some teams are nearing their 16th game of the season. Sixteen. Only NFL teams play more (when you count the meaningless exhibition games). And that feels quite excessive to us. Granted, it’s just one more game on the schedule than in previous years in which most CIF Bowl champions closed the year on their 14th or 15th game. For whatever reason, 16 feels more obscene. Five of the 10 teams suiting up for Northern Regional bowl games will be playing their 15th game. It makes us wonder if asking a player to give a statechampionship caliber effort at the end of a 16-week grind is asking too much in an extremely physical sport such as football? “It’s really only one extra game,” De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson said Dec. 4, four days before the Spartans (13-0) were to match up with Folsom (14-0) in the Northern Regional Open Division bowl. “I don’t know if it’s really unsafe. What made it dicey for us, is that if we hadn’t gotten a first-round bye in the NCS playoffs we could’ve played 15 straight games without a bye. That’s pretty hard on the kids. Physically, there is no doubt about it.” Eidson did point out that of the 160+ teams in the North Coast Section, only three teams are being affected. He also added that the amount of excitement surrounding the regional game is extremely high and that there are programs like Clayton Valley CharterConcord and McClymonds-Oakland that may not have had an opportunity play in a CIF bowl before this step was created. “These games may be better attended that the state games,” Eidson added. Chace@ We can’t argue either of those positives. But what SportStarsOnline.com if the individual sections could shorten the length of their own tournaments to reduce games at that level? (925) 566-8503 For some sections, it would be as simple as limiting qualifying teams to those with winning records. Winning records. More overall wins than losses. Period. In the meantime, in the system that exists, some good things may come from coaches who want to compete for a state championship but acknowledge the grind it will require. One such thing may be coaches figuring out better ways to rest their starters in lopsided games, or giving some a week off entirely if they feel they can do so while maintaining an advantage over an opponent. “That’s a good point because it’s an important lesson for all high school football teams,” Eidson said. “Knowing when to take your starters off the field and give them a rest is kind of a lost art in coaching, I think. Some coaches may start to think about it a little more now if they’re aiming to go beyond 13 or 14 games.” What we do know is the bowl landscape includes more teams, and we’re excited to watch. We just hope it doesn’t eventually come at a cost. ✪

First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

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Throughout the week we like to poll our Facebook fans on random things that come to our minds here at SportStars HQ. Come ‘Like’ us at www.facebook.com/sportstars to join the conversation. You just might find your comments in a future issue. FROM DEC. 3: Five of the 10 NorCal teams playing in CIF regional bowl games this week will be playing their 15th game, with a potential of playing No. 16 if they win and advance to state. We say that’s way too many games? Do you agree or disagree? ■ Agree. Agree COMPLETELY. That’s more than most college programs play, and those athletes spend a LOT more time on strength and flexibility conditioning just to withstand the rigors of a long season. ... To put high school players through the ringer like that flies in the face of any notions of player safety. Not to mention the social and academic impact such a long season has on teenage boys. Is there any wonder we don’t see 3-sport athletes anymore? — Bill K.

count’EM

■ It’s beyond crazy. Throw into the mix the fact that there are actually people out there saying “And after that, we should have a national champion! You know, we can have playoffs in the west, south, north and east, and then semifinals and then the championship game on New Year’s Day, and ... “ — Mike W.

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Number of CIF State Championships for the Archbishop Mitty-San Jose girls volleyball program after the Monarchs defeated Martin Luther King-Riverside in straight sets at Concordia University in Irvine on Dec. 1. Mitty didn’t drop a single set throughout the Division II statte tournament, a total of four matches. The nine state titles ties the Monarchs with fellow West Catholic Athletic League foe, St. Francis-Mountain View, for the most all time.

Bob Larson

sayWHAT

“The most important person in a game like this is our ball boy. I’m serious. ... Keeping the football dry is critical.” —De La Salle football coach Bob Ladouceur, above, after De La Salle won its 21st consecutive North Coast Section championship with a rain-soaked 52-7 win over James Logan-Union City.The Spartans threw four touchdown passes despite constant rainfall throughout the contest. It was career victory No. 397 for the De La Salle coach. Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Football’s many intricacies biggest reason for large coaching staffs Why do football teams have so many coaches? The soccer team has just as many players. R.J., Kentfield

Top 5 Things for the Sports Fan’s Holiday Wishlist

Baby, it’s cold outside. And you know what that means: Christmas is right around the corner. So, rather than wish for a Niners non-loss against the Rams (or a Raiders non-loss against, well, anyone), or that Clay Matthews Fathead you’ve been eyeballing (no. Not THAT one. Gross.), we here at SportStars would like to offer you a suggested wish list. Here are the top 5 things any self-respecting sports fan should be requesting from the jolly fat man (no. Not Andy Reid). 1. Replay in baseball — Feliz Navidad, Mr. Selig! To paraphrase the Six Million Dollar Man intro, we have the technology. Howzabout we get the calls right ALL THE TIME, huh? The important thing to remember about “human error” is that it ends with the word “error.” As in mistake. As in the things we seek to avoid. Pleaseohplease give us extended replay. 2. Hockey — Joyeux Noel, Messrs. Bettman and Fehr! Please get off your fat, overcompensated tuckuses and end this labor dispute. It shore don’t feel like Christmastime without somebody lighting the lamp, putting the biscuit in the basket, or standing on his head. 3. Honesty — Season’s Greetings, Warriors ownership and management group! This just in from the medical field: Arthroscopy is NOT freaking MICROFRACTURE SURGERY! You tell people that you traded one of the most exciting players in franchise history (Monta Ellis) for a big man with bad wheels (Andrew Bogut) and then you LIE THROUGH YOUR TEETH about what kind of procedure he had. Pretty good way to end up on the Naughty List. And we know from the Naughty List… 4. Bowl Game moderation — Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, NCAA! Look. We loves us some college football. Couldn’t be happier about the Tree taking its show down I5 to the Rose Bowl. And did you SEE the breakout season San Jose State just turned in? Much to be thankful for, there. But our wives and girlfriends just asked us, not unreasonably, if there was a bowl game for every team. No, dear. It only SEEMS that way. There’s such thing as too much of a good thing. And you’ve found it. 5. Fiscal responsibility — Buon Natale, Sandy Barbour! So. Cal’s football team suffers through a pretty rough 2012 season, and you axe the coach who almost singlehandedly dragged the program kicking and screaming out of the ashes. Two words for you here, Old Blues: Tom. Holmoe. How quickly we forget. ... Tedford still has a handful of millions of dollars left on his contract. And you run the athletic program at a PUBLIC UNIVERSITY in a state that is reeling through atrocious economic times. Really? Couldn’t just ride that one out? A lump of coal might Dominic Moore of the be a bit over-generous. San Jose Sharks — Scrooge McKolb, Damon Tarver/Cal Sport contributor Media/ZumaPress.com

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t does seem like there are a lot of broad-necked men decked out in full Nike apparel on the sidelines of every high school game, but there are reasons that go above and beyond mere money — though of course that’s big part of it. To get the financial aspect out of the way, football generates more income than any other sport, and winning football teams generate more income than losing ones — so investing in the coaching staff can deliver a solid return on investment. That assumes, of course, that the coaches are worth investing in, but in general, the more coaches any team in any sport has, the better off the players are, and the better the win-loss record will be. But a lot of those manly men screaming out incomprehensible strings of words on the sidelines are volunteers, because football is the great American sport, and people love to be involved. Getting volunteers to commit the time and energy to the soccer team is much harder, especially given the huge number of club teams and programs that require soccer coaches. In football, there’s only Pop Warner and other youth football, and the only high school-age game in town is, well, high school. More important, football is a complicated game, both in terms of conception and execution. The head coach and coordinators can do more strategically to win games than can, say, basketball coaches, who must rely much more on talent. Schemes, scouting and specific plays can have a much bigger impact on the outcome of a football game than in other sports. At the same time, though, the techniques required for the various positions in football are varied and complex. Soccer players, for example, pretty much all do the same thing — but a defensive back must have a completely different skill set than a defensive tackle, and those skills need to be taught. Even baseball, with its distinct positional demands, has more common ground from player to player than football, both technically and strategically. Of course, no matter what the sport, the more coaching the better (assuming the coaches are organized enough not to contradict each other). Look at De La Salle basketball, where Frank Allocco seems to bring out a suit-clad coach for every player on his varsity come postseason — and his success speaks for itself. All in all, though, football is king, and in more than the size of coaching staffs. It’s a difficult, complicated, brutal, challenging and yes, cerebral game. And to be played as safely as possible, it requires more instruction than any other sport. And the fact that it makes more money than any other sport doesn’t hurt when it comes to the coaching payroll either. ✪

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com

December 6, 2012

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If people didn’t know who Smith was a couple weeks ago, they definitely do now. He set a NorCal Tipoff Classic record with 48 points as he led the Wolverines to a thrilling 97-96 Double OT victory over Sacramento on Nov. 25. He followed that up with 35 points against Bishop O’Dowd on Dec. 1. SportStars Magazine: You quietly had a 48-point game. Did you have that mindset of putting up big numbers going into it? Kendall Smith: Honestly at this point I just go in to games looking for the win. Points, assists, rebounds — none of that really means anything to me. … It was more so, ‘I’m gonna do whatever my coaches need me to do to win.’ SSM: Does being (Kentuckybound recruit) Marcus Lee’s teammate take the pressure off? KS: Not at all. It increases the pressure on me. A lot of players and people know I’m a good player. … I get so much attention on the back end. … I just feel like a lot of teams are gonna put pressure on me now that I had that good game. I’m just taking it day by day. SSM: How have you grown from last season? KS: I’ve grown a lot. Over the summer I worked out at 6 a.m. every morning. A lot of work in the gym and it’s paying off. ... I was more of a stats guy last year, this year I feel like it’s more about the win. SSM: You’re playing a lot of

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kendall smith deer valley . basketball . senior

honorable mention

julia maxwell The junior from Branson-Ross defended her CIF Div. V cross country state crown winning by more than a minute clocking in at 17:26.

aidan goltra The Campolindo junior won the CIF Div. III cross country state championship on Nov. 24 with a 3.1 mile time of 15:18 in Fresno.

allie wheeler Phillip Walton tough opponents to open the season. What’s the goal for you and your team during this time? KS: We’re just trying to win. I got a great group of guys. … We just want to be a great group of kids. We’re trying to be more of a family this season. KENDALL’S QUICK HITS Favorite athlete: Russell Westbrook Favorite team: Oklahoma City Thunder Who are you listening to right now: Kirk Franklin, Meek Mill, Lil Boosie

The USC-bound senior helped Archbishop Mitty volleyball cap off an undefeated season (38-0) with a team-high 14 kills against Martin Luther King-Riverside on Dec. 1.

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After landing a scholarship to Kentucky upon unlimited potential, Marcus Lee hopes to leave Deer Valley as a state champ

t 6 feet, 10 inches, Deer Valley High School senior basketball star Marcus Lee broke out of the mold long ago. He’s grown at a higher and faster rate than most as a teen, going from 6-2 as a freshman, to 6-4 as a sophomore to 6-8 last season to his current slender size. Lee’s basketball skills and national recruiting ranking has climbed exponentially — perhaps greater — with his height. He was well under the radar through his sophomore season then climbed to 160 before his junior year, to 56 after it, and now he’s as high as No. 10 by 247Sports.com. ESPN has him at No. 30, MaxPreps No. 24 and Rivals at 18. On Nov. 14, he hit the pinnacle, signing a letter of intent with the defending national champion Kentucky Wildcats, a program not only enriched with great tradition under Adolph Rupp, but now, under John Calipari, the poster child of high profile, fast talking, seven-figure-a-year college coaches. In June 2010, five Kentucky players, led by No. 1 pick John Wall, were picked in the first round of the NBA draft. In 2011, four went in both rounds. In 2012, six were drafted, four in the first round including the first selection, Anthony Davis. Of those 15 picks, seven left after their freshman seasons, two as sophomores and one never even played a full season. For a Kentucky recruit, Lee breaks the mold once more. His vision and focus isn’t simply on the NBA. A 3.3 student, he sees a bigger picture and is refreshingly oblivious to the elite basketball culture.

Story by Mitch Stephens Photos by Bob Larson

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According to Lee’s older brother and mentor Bryan Lee, Marcus didn’t even watch college basketball until a few seasons ago and he didn’t know who Calipari was until he was recruited by him. Bryan, 27, a former Deer Valley standout and Division II All-American at Grand Canyon University, said Marcus’ personality is more befitting of volleyball, the second sport in which his younger brother excels, than basketball. Marcus has started three seasons at Deer Valley in volleyball, a sport that not only accentuates Lee’s athleticism — quickness, timing and length — but also his makeup: mellow, fun and humble. Whether he flyswats a shot out of bounds or smashes down a kill, Marcus is grounded to the core and lacks an over-inflated ego. “He doesn’t understand all the (media) attention he’s getting from basketball,” Bryan Lee said. “He doesn’t expect all the calls he gets. None of that is why he plays or what excites him (about basketball). “His attraction to Kentucky wasn’t so he could go to the NBA or play on ESPN every week. The most important thing to him was the school spirit and the camaraderie between the players. He likes coach Calipari not because he gets players to the NBA but because he’s engaging and energetic and his teams

December 6, 2012

like to run.” When asked about his trip to Lexington, Marcus Lee didn’t mention championship banners or the Fab 15 to the NBA. He said he felt a sense of family and enthusiasm. It felt more like a fun, warm Holiday gathering with cousins than a cold assembly line. “The whole team did everything together,” he said. “You could really tell they were comfortable together. It wasn’t forced. It was real. The players ate together and joked together. I’m really excited to get there.” Opening doors, closing lanes

In the meantime, says his volleyball coach Lou Panzella, Marcus will be the same friendly kid he first saw play as an eighth grader at Black Diamond middle school. “If you talked to him on the telephone or anywhere for the first time, you’d never have a clue he’s one of the top athletes in the country going to the top schools in the country,” Panzella said. “You’d have to drag it out of him. “He’s a real easy person to root for not because he’s from our school or he’s ultra talented, but who he is. He just

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6-10 13.9

points

1reb3ou.n9ds

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gives it his all in everything he does and that, plus his Godgiven gifts, has opened many doors for him.” Many didn’t see the door to Kentucky for Marcus, not only because of his personality but because he’s not yet a polished commodity. Deer Valley boys basketball coach LeChet Phillips, however, said people have simply been looking at the wrong places. Sure, Lee hasn’t been a huge offensive threat during his prep career — he averaged 13.9 points per game and shot 49 percent from the line last season — and the slender senior won’t move more physical big men out of the paint. But Lee can sprint down the court with any wing and with long arms and superb leaping ability, he can touch both palms to the top of the square. He also averaged 13.9 rebounds last season and 9.1 blocks, third best in the country. Add an unusual skill set — he played point guard growing up — unselfishness and a Zen-like cerebral approach, and all signs attracted arguably the country’s top basketball program. “If you watched his progression, this all makes sense,” Phillips said.

Family matters One other key component outsiders don’t see but recruiters have, is Lee’s family. He’s the youngest of four boys to a strong and supportive two-parent household. “As far as support systems go, I can’t imagine there being a better one for any kid in America,” Phillips said. “You hear about kids being raised right. It’s almost a cliché. But everything about Marcus and his family is right. I think recruiters recognized that.” Marcus’ father Ronnie, a 6-2 guard, played at Wilson High School in San Francisco and at Portland State. His mother Sheri wasn’t athletic, Bryan Lee said, “but she’s 6-2. That’s

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where he got all the height.” Two older brothers Christopher and Robert, now 31 and 30, were also tall but not like Bryan, who is 6-8, and Marcus. Bryan felt a special obligation to watch over Marcus, who came nine years after him. “I dragged him out to all my practices and games,” Bryan said. Said Marcus: “I remember sitting and watching my brother practice (at Deer Valley). I was like a little coach on the floor. I remember yelling at (Bryan) when he didn’t get the play right.” Marcus actually played shooting guard his freshman season on varsity and a little point guard as a sophomore. When he began to sprout it took time for him to learn the post game. Bryan has helped develop that. “He’s come so far so fast and can do about anything on the court now,” Bryan said. “But he still can’t beat me.” Marcus confirmed, he still hasn’t beat big brother in oneon-one. “I’m sure it won’t be long,” Bryan said.

Growth and upside Marcus was largely new to the AAU scene in California — he played with a Houston (Texas) team as a sophomore near extended family — until the spring when he joined the California Supreme. Though somewhat in awe — “At first I was scared to death,” he said — Lee fit in and impressed quickly with his length, quickness, shot-blocking and improving offensive game. At his first Elite Basketball Youth League (EBYL) tournament, Duke and Kansas offered full rides. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Marcus was one of the best big men he’d seen

in years. Gerry Freitas, a former college assistant who runs a recruiting service, said Lee’s potential is another big reason Kentucky went after him. “He’s an impressive physical specimen with a very nice upside,” Freitas said. “He chose Kentucky because he wanted the highest possible challenge. That is what he will be getting going there.” He’s started his senior season with big productive numbers in two games, averaging 19.0 points, 20.5 rebounds, 7.0 blocks and 6.0 assists per game. A minor concern is that he’s made 31 percent of his shots (14 of 45) and free throws 10 of 32. His teammate Kendall Smith, a 6-1 point guard who is uncommitted, has been even more spectacular, averaging 29.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game. Smith had 48 points in a 97-96 double overtime win over Sacramento and is shooting 63 percent from the floor. Marcus and Smith were co-MVPs of the Bay Valley Athletic League last year and figure to lead the Wolverines to the Northern California regional playoffs and perhaps beyond. With many of the elite squads heading to the Open Division, the door might swing wide for the Wolverines to head into the state Division I title game. It’s possible. Marcus has proved that. “We’ve been playing together since we were kids,” Marcus said of Smith. “He’s a great player. I love playing with him. He understands everything about the game. We don’t even need to talk to each other on the floor. “He and I are like running water. It’s constant and it flows.” ✪ Mitch Stephens is a national columnist for MaxPreps.com.

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2. Salesian-Richmond (34-2) Jabari Bird and Co. didn’t lose a single game to a CA opponent a year ago.

3. Sheldon-Sacramento (29-6) Huskies return their nucleus after finishing as CIF DIv. I runners-up last March.

4. De La Salle-Concord (28-3) Some new faces join Arizona-bound Elliott Pitts, but the Spartans’ staple intensity won’t change

5. Deer Valley-Antioch (22-9) Marcus Lee and Kendall Smith are about as good a 1-2 punch as you’ll find.

Archbishop Mitty senior center Aaron Gordon

James K. Leash photo

1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (31-3)

With back-to-back CIF Div. II state championships in their pocket, Aaron Gordon and the Archbishop Mitty-San Jose basketball team know a thing or two about finishing a season the right way. In the coming days, as they embark on quest for a third straight title, they’ll aim to start the season the right way by facing a murderer’s row of opponents. It really can’t get more difficult. Right out of the gate they face the two CIF Div. I NorCal finalists from last season, Jesuit-Carmichael and Sheldon-Sacramento. It doesn’t get any easier when they take on Fort Bend Travis (Texas), considered one of the best teams in the country, nor does it let up when they play Lincoln-San Diego, the 2012 Div. II SoCal runner-up, at the Drew Gooden Invitational Showcase at El Cerrito High on Dec. 15. But if anyone’s worried, it’s not the Monarchs. And it’s definitely not their senior big man. “We just prepare like we always prepare,” said Gordon, a five-star recruit who’s narrowed his college choices down to Washington, Arizona and Kentucky. “We go through practice knowing we have a target on our back. But we’re out to get a few targets ourselves.” Of all the games on the schedule, the two that Gordon is circling are defending-Div. IV state champs Salesian-Richmond on Dec. 22 and Prestonwood Christian (Texas) on Jan. 21 at the 2013 Spalding Hoophall Classic. The latter will be televised by ESPNU. Could Mitty get stage fright in the national spotlight? “I mean the exposure, to me, it means a little bit,” said Gordon, no stranger to the national media. “But for the other guys on my team, they get to show everyone in the nation what they do.” Some of those teammates Gordon mentioned are 6-2 combo guard Connor Peterson, point guard Matt McAndrews and 6-3 forward Brandon Abajelo. What do they all have in common? They all played on Mitty’s two previous state championship teams with Gordon. That experience and depth is the reason why they can play these tough schools and establish themselves as the team to beat for 2013. Make no mistake, if Mitty wants to dominate they’ll need their 6-8 leader to do it all. Lucky for them, that’s exactly what he worked on over the summer. “My basketball IQ, understanding the game from different aspects, my ball handling has gotten better, my jump shooting has progressed. As just an all-around basketball player, I’ve progressed,” Gordon said. It’s the sign of a player who has aspirations beyond winning three consecutive state titles. And as a top recruit, he gets flooded with phone calls and text messages from college coaches and scouts daily. It’s enough to make him want a second cell phone. In the mean time Gordon and his teammates have just one thing on their holiday wish list: another state championship. Maybe for starters, they’ll settle for a winning streak to open the season. — Erik Stordahl

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December 6, 2012

6. Modesto Christian (28-6) Crusaders with plenty of firepower behind Raymond Bowles and others TJ Wallace

7. Newark Memorial-Newark (28-5) Coach Craig Ashmore still has plenty of talent left over from last year’s NorCal Div. II runner-up

8. Antelope (30-2) Few Sacramento Area frontcourts are more imposing than Gabe Bealer and Isaiah Ellis.

9. Sacramento (23-6) A talented mix of veteran leadership, young talent gives Dragons some serious upside.

10. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (24-7) Proven scorer Malik Thames returns along with a strong frontcourt. 11. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (26-6) 12. Serra-San Mateo (24-7) 13. El Cerrito (21-9) 14. Palma (17-9) 15. St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo (21-12) 16. Weston Ranch-Stockton (19-9) 17. Castro Valley (23-8) 18. Heritage-Brentwood (17-11) 19. Skyline-Oakland (18-10) 20. Dublin (17-12)

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Jabari Bird

SCHOOL: Salesian-Richmond YEAR: Senior HT./POS.: 6-3 / Guard THE DETAILS: It was a banner year for Bird a year ago, capped by a 24-point performance that lifted the Pride to its second CIF Div. IV state title in three years. Bird finished 2011-12 averaging 18.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. He committed to California in September.

Noah Allen

SCHOOL: Palma YEAR: Senior HT./POS.: 6-7 / Forward THE DETAILS: The UCLA-bound Allen has a smooth jump shot that allows him to be a threat both in the paint and beyond the arc. He averaged more than 18 points per game last season, and ramped it up to 23 a game during the postseason.

Aaron Gordon

Pitts: Bob Larson. Bird, Lee: Phillip Walton, Gordon: James K. Leash

SCHOOL: Archbishop Mitty-San Jose YEAR: Senior HT./POS.: 6-9 / Center THE DETAILS: Gordon enters the season as the most sought-after recruit in the Bay Area. He remains unsigned but has narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Washington and Arizona. Behind Gordon, the Monarchs have won back-to-back Division II state titles.

Marcus Lee

SCHOOL: Deer Valley-Antioch YEAR: Senior HT./POS.: 6-10 / Center THE DETAILS: Lee’s stats from 2011-12 were video game-like, nearly averaging a triple-double of 13.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 9.1 blocks. He signed his letter of intent to Kentucky in early November, easily making him the Deer Valley progam’s highest profile recruit ever.

Elliott Pitts

SCHOOL: De La Salle-Concord YEAR: Senior HT./POS.: 6-5 / Guard THE DETAILS: Two years ago, Pitts was the first sophomore during coach Frank Allocco’s decade-plus tenure at De La Salle to obtain a scholarship offer. Now, after averaging near 18 points a game a year ago, he’s a nationally-ranked recruit signed to play at Arizona.

Jabari Bird, left Aaron Gordon, above marcus Lee, right

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{

THEY’VE GOT NEXT ● ivan rabb (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland), So, 6-9, Forward

● Henry Caruso (Serra-San Mateo), Sr., 6-4, Guard/Forward

● Joey Frenchwood (Newark Memorial-Newark), Jr., 6-0, Guard ● Kendall Smith (Deer Valley-Antioch), Sr., 6-2, Guard

● Temidayo Yussuf (St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda), Jr., 6-6, Forward

December 6, 2012

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With relentless determination, Jabari Bird takes aim at getting nationally-ranked Salesian a 2nd straight title Story by Chace Bryson | Photos by Phillip Walton 20

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December 6, 2012

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lashback: Early December 2010. Boys basketball coach Bill Mellis is participating in the standard preseason interview about his Salesian basketball team. The early buzz surrounding the team prior to that 2010-11 season centered on a few key players from the Pride’s 2008-09 California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state championship team who had transferred out of the program. On this day, though, Mellis was much more interested in talking about a player who had transferred in. “He leaps through the gym,” Mellis said of the sophomore transfer from Benicia. “He’s really a great kid. He’s been a joy to coach so far. He’s super coachable. He recognizes that he has flaws and he genuinely wants to get better. ... He’s meshed in so easily. It’s been really a lot of fun so far.” He was, of course, referring to Jabari Bird. Two years later, Bird is ranked among ESPN’s Top 25 recruits in the nation and a big reason why Salesian begins this season as a nationallyranked team seeking a second consecutive state championship. And despite already owning a state championship ring — from a 70-56 defeat of Price-Los Angeles in which he scored a game-high 24 points and added four rebounds — and a scholarship to play for Mike Montgomery at Cal, Bird has never appeared more driven. “The biggest difference with him (from a year ago) is that he’s practicing really really hard,” Mellis said. “In the past, he would have some good practices and then there were some where he would just go through the motions. He’s really really practiced hard this season, and it goes hand in hand with a leadership role. ... He’s kicking people’s butts in practice and it’s making him better, and the other guys better too.” And when you ask what’s driving him, he gives an answer one might not expect. “What drives me as a player is trying to become so successful at the sport to the point that I can provide for others that aren’t as privileged as I’ve been,” he said. “I want to make it, so that I can give back to the community and provide for my family.” Bird’s nature is a quiet one. “He gets along with everybody,” Mellis said. “He’s not the kid who thinks he’s better than anyone.” Bird can be fiery at times, but more often than not he lets his performance do the talking. And, in so doing, comes off extraordinarily eloquent. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound swingman can score in a variety of ways — whether it’s slashing to the basket, posting smaller guards up, or simply pulling up for a jumper from as far out as 22-feet. His dad, Carl, played in a similar style as a 6-8 small forward for Cal in the mid-70’s. Carl Bird actually led the Golden Bears in scoring (15.2 points/game) and was named

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the team’s co-MVP in 1976. Jabari’s game continues to evolve, though. After a junior season in which he averaged close to 19 points and five rebounds a game, he said his biggest point of emphasis over the summer was his ball-handling. However, Mellis thinks his biggest strides might have come in his shooting. “He’s always been able to shoot, but he’s really shooting the ball right now,” the coach said. “Quite honestly, he’s been making plays in the open court where he’s delivered passes that we haven’t really seen before. He’s really made some good unselfish plays in practice. “We keep telling him, ‘Whoever you are, we like it.’” Bird’s sole focus in the early going is to work with with fellow seniors Mario Dunn (a Montana-commit) and Markel Leonard (Cal Poly) to build cohesion of a roster that includes a couple of transfers and three freshmen. “Coming into this year I thought I had to be a little more vocal and lead by example,” Bird said. “I want to be a teacher of the game and teach some of these young guys and get them to learn our system a little bit better. ... I like the fact that we have a lot of potential. We’re still working on our chemistry and trying to get a little bit closer, but I like what we’re working with.” And so does Mellis. “It’s a good mix,” the coach said. It will have to be. Part of being a nationally-ranked team — Salesian began the week of Dec. 3 at No. 8 in the MaxPreps. com Xcellent 25 — means being a constant target and shouldering a lot of expectations. And for Salesian, it also means tackling a grueling schedule. The Pride’s list of challenges include a game with two-time defending state champion Archbishop Mitty-San Jose on Dec. 22, the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Tournament in Torrey

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December 6, 2012

Pines from Dec. 26-29, a trip to West Virginia for an ESPNUtelevised matchup with Gonzaga-Washington D.C. on Jan. 5, a Martin Luther King Day showdown with De La Salle-Concord on Jan. 21, and finally a nonleague matchup with defending CIF Div.-I NorCal champion Sheldon-Sacramento on Feb. 2. “The team has a good perspective in that it’s not going to

be a thing where we run the table,” Mellis said. “They have a good understanding of that we’re everybody’s big game, and that we’ll have to work hard and play well. They just know that they have to work this year.” Joining Bird, Dunn and Leonard among the core seniors is Jermaine Edmonds, a 6-foot-4 forward who Mellis says is every bit the Division-I talent as Bird and the others. Transfers Jonathan Galloway (6-10), and Lance Coleman (6-6) will each make big contributions as well. Galloway, a junior, is subject to the transfer sit-out rule and won’t be available until January. Mellis also expects contributions from sophomores DeMar Dunn (Mario’s younger brother) and Bernard Ward, as well as freshmen Ben Kone, Nakota Shepard-Creer and Mustafa Ali. As he learns more about his new teammates, Bird is confident that this year’s team won’t be one that will buckle to the pressures of expectations to remain in the national rankings or repeat as state champs. “It’s real easy with a coach like Coach Mellis because he reminds us every day that rankings don’t mean anything. The only thing that matters is what you do on the court when the lights are on.” Bird knows that the lights are pointed squarely at him, too. But he’s been there before, and life on the big stage has suited him just fine. In fact, it was his performance in the state championship as a sophomore — a 63-57 loss to Windward-Los Angeles — that convinced him he could play at the next level. He had a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in the game, and also had two blocked shots. “I remember going away from that game disappointed about the loss, but happy with how I performed,” Bird said. “I knew then that if I kept working at this I could go somewhere.” That somewhere has arrived. And Bird is ready to show he and his teammates belong. ✪

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2. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (28-5) Junior Kelli Hayes leads the usual deep and skilled Monarchs’ lineup — which is as well-coached as any team in the country.

3. St. Mary’s-Berkeley (27-8) Gabby Green and Mikayla Cowling are the best onetwo perimeter punch in Northern California.

4. St Mary’s-Stockton (32-4) Even losing Courtney Range to transfer won’t slow the Rams’ express.

5. Sacramento (27-7) 6-foot-4 Ayanna Edwards and wing Allie Green are just the tip of the talent iceberg.

6. Carondelet-Concord (27-4)

Oderah Chidom, left, and the Dragons.

Natalie Romeo will have to bear the bulk of the burden for the Cougars.

7. Miramonte-Orinda (31-2)

Jonathan Hawthorne photo

1. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

The Matadors only lost twice last year, both times to O’Dowd — and their freshman class is exceptional.

A year ago at this time, Bishop O’Dowd was thinking about what might’ve been. The program had reached the state championship for the first time in March 2011, and had come up short. With nearly all of its roster intact, the Dragons’ 2011-12 season became a mission to win the California Interscholastic Federation Division III final. And so it came to pass — in grand and dominating fashion. Bishop O’Dowd didn’t just win the state title last year, they marched into Sacramento and took it with a 62-24 victory over Laguna Hills. So what now? What does coach Malik McCord have planned for keeping the 2012-13 team hungry? “We haven’t been national champs yet,” the coach said wryly. Seeing as how the Dragons entered the season as the No. 1 team in the nation (by MaxPreps.com), Bishop O’Dowd has a very real shot at accomplishing the feat. “They have a chance to have a perfect season,” McCord said. “That’s their push right now. We started ranked no. 1, and it’s still a dream to be No. 1 at the end of the season, but every year we have our goals mapped up. And they are totally motivated for this one and focused toward it. So the hunger isn’t gone at all.” McCord has put together a schedule befitting a national-caliber program. The Dragons face three of four defending state champions, as well as playing in the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in mid-December. If any roster can sustain that type of grind, it’s this one. The senior class features four legitimate D1 college talents, beginning with the Duke-bound Oderah Chidom and Cal-bound K.C. Waters. Point guard Ariell Bostick and post Breanna Brown round out the Fab Four. Mix in sophomore guards Asha Thomas and Aisia Robertson — both of whom made significant contributions a year ago — and freshman phenom Daniela Wiliams, and it’s more talent then most programs see in 10 years. The season in NorCal won’t be defined by Bishop O’Dowd, however. It may be a watershed year across the board, and preparing these preseason rankings were a testament to that. Who’s to say that defending Division II state champion Archbishop Mitty is better than nowhealthy Division IV title contender St. Mary’s of Berkeley? Then there’s St. Mary’s of Stockton, unusually low at No. 4. How can Sacramento, with at least six D-1 prospects, be put at No. 5? We haven’t gotten to perennial powers like Oak Ridge (No. 15) and Berkeley (way down at No. 17), not to mention up-and-comers such as Heritage (No. 16) and McNair (No. 19). Finally, don’t forget that other defending state champion, Brookside Christian (No. 10). Sure, the Knights are Division V, but they return everyone from a 30-4 team. In short, this could be one of those very special seasons in girls basketball — and one well worth paying close attention to. —Chace Bryson/Clay Kallam

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December 6, 2012

8. St. Ignatius-S.F. (26-6) The rich get richer: Guard Quinci Mann transfers in to bolster an already excellent lineup.

9. Salesian-Richmond (31-5) Defections have hurt the Division IV NorCal champs, but the Pride still have the marvelous Mariya Moore.

10. Brookside Christian-Stockton (30-4) The defending Division V champion returns everyone — and will take on all comers in a brutal schedule. 11. Monte Vista-Danville (22-6) 12. Kennedy-Sacramento (26-9) 13. Modesto Christian (27-7) 14. Deer Valley-Antioch (22-9) 15. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (25-9) 16. Heritage-Brentwood (25-6) 17. Berkeley (27-3) 18. Montgomery-Santa Rosa (22-8) 19. McNair-Stockton (28-5) 20. Pleasant Valley-Chico (26-4)

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Oderah Chidom

Waters, Chidom: Jonathan Hawthorne. Moore: Contributed. Cowling: Phillip Walton. Hayes: James K. Leash

SCHOOL: Bishop O’Dowd GRADE: Senior HT./POS: 6-3 / Forward THE DETAILS: Chidom won a gold medal with USA Basketball this past summer and will play for perennial top five program Duke next year. In the meantime, she’s out to help the Dragons win a second straight state title.

Mariya Moore

SCHOOL: Salesian GRADE: Junior HT./POS.: 6-0 / Forward THE DETAILS: Moore is too big for guards and too quick for forwards, which means she’s the classic matchup nightmare. She also comes up big in pressure situations, and led the Pride to the state title game last year.

Kelli Hayes

SCHOOL: Archbishop Mitty-San Jose GRADE: Junior HT./POS.: 6-1 / Wing THE DETAILS: Hayes is a smooth and skilled wing for defending state champion Mitty, and the combination of her size, athleticism and ability make her another elite national-level player.

K.C. Waters

SCHOOL: Bishop O’Dowd GRADE: Senior HT./POS.: 6-1 / Forward THE DETAILS: Waters has been a force in the paint since her freshman year, and her strength and skill make her all but impossible to guard. Like Range, she’ll be a Golden Bear next season.

Mikayla Cowling

SCHOOL: St. Mary’s-Berkeley GRADE: Junior HT./POS.: 6-1 / Wing THE DETAILS: Cowling has already committed to Cal, and like Hayes, she’s long and athletic and is very skilled. Her older sister, Alex, was a star at St. Patrick St. Vincent and is the leading scorer for Loyola Marymount.

K.c. Waters, left Mariya Moore, above Oderah Chidom, right

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{

THEY’VE GOT NEXT ● Ariell Bostick (Bishop O’Dowd), Sr., 5-6, Guard

● Breanna Brown (Bishop O’Dowd), Sr., 6-4, Center

● Drew Edelman (Menlo School-Atherton), Sr., 6-4, Center ● Gabby Green (St. Mary’s-Berkeley), Jr., 6-2, Wing ● Natalie Romeo (Carondelet), Jr., 5-8, Guardt

December 6, 2012

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By clay kallam | Contributor

o recap: In 2010, St. Mary’s-Berkeley played for the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state championship in Bakersfield. There, they ran into 33-1 Harvard-Westlake, which was powered by two superb senior guards, Nicole Nesbit and Nicole Hung. But less-heralded Sydney Haydel went off, scoring 20 points, and Harvard-Westlake rolled to a 58-44 victory. In 2011, St. Mary’s returned to the Division IV state title game, and this time, the Panthers faced nationally-ranked Windward, with 6-7 post Imani Stafford (now at Texas) and elite point guard Jordin Canada. In state title try number two, the loss hurt even worse, as underdog St. Mary’s trailed almost the entire game, but battled back to take a 45-44 lead on a Danielle Mauldin basket with 5:55 left. Stafford and Canada countered, giving Windward a three-point lead with 4:23 left. Again, the Panthers rallied, getting a free throw from Emily Vann and another basket from Mauldin to tie the game with just 1:11 remaining. But Canada buried a three from the top of the key 10 seconds later, and Stafford blocked St. Mary’s last gasp shot, and the Panthers were denied again. Last season, it was clear that the path to a third straight trip to the cham-

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December 6, 2012

pionship game was going to have to go through league rival Salesian. The first two times the teams met, the Panthers handled the Pride. The third game, in the North Coast Section title game, was a seven-point win for Salesian, but not surprisingly, the two teams met again in the NorCal finals — and Salesian eked out a 47-44 win and moved on to Sacramento to shoot for a state championship. It was small consolation to coach Nate Fripp and the Panthers that Salesian then got hammered by nationally-ranked La Jolla Country Day 72-41, because after all, you don’t have a chance to win a California title if you don’t play for one. So this year, it will come as no surprise that St. Mary’s has a to-the-point motto: “Unfinished business.” “Plain and simple,” said Panthers’ junior wing Mikayla Cowling. “We have set our goal to win state.” But how did a small school on the border of Albany and Berkeley, competing for talent with Bishop O’Dowd, Salesian, Berkeley, St. Joseph Notre Dame and all the Oakland Athletic League schools, get to this point? After all, most schools would be ecstatic to win a NorCal title once, and get to experience just playing for a state title. But for the last three years, the Panthers have been this close to winning the big one. Naturally, it didn’t happen overnight, and the process began even beUpload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Mikayla Cowling

Photos by Phillip Walton

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fore Fripp took over nine years ago. “When I got there, we were pretty good,” said Fripp, but there were still issues. The previous coach had been fired just before the season started, and Fripp had never coached girls before. He adjusted quickly, however, and he’s won more than 200 games since he got the job. His secret, from his point of view? “If you don’t have good players, it’s hard to be good,” he said. “We try to play a style that’s entertaining, and I’m not the yeller-screamer guy. I’m more a player’s coach. We play uptempo — get up in your face, run and push. We try to have some structure, but we give the kids freedom to play.” That combination makes it easy for talented players to choose St. Mary’s, and over time, talent follows talent. “You get a kid who’s good,” said Fripp, “and kids see that you’re good, and they want to come.” Of course, it’s more than that. “Nate is able to relate to us in a positive way,” said Cowling, who is one of the nation’s top-ranked players in the Class of 2014. “He understands his athletes and is able to relate to us as athletes due to his own experience. “He definitely knows how to get the maximum out of all his players.” Kelly Sopak, who has had success at both Northgate and Miramonte, appreciates Fripp’s achievements from a different perspective. “He gets the players he has to buy into his system,” said Sopak. “Even when there are injuries, like last year, he figures out a way.” And Sopak also sees how Fripp structures his program. “Year in and year out, he gets his teams prepared for postseason,” said Sopak. “Nate has a good understanding that the season is a marathon, not a sprint — and that’s why his teams are often playing on the last day.”

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December 6, 2012

Gabby Green “The last day,” of course, is the state championship, and Fripp and the Panthers definitely want to get back there again. Making the task somewhat easier are the return of eight players, though league MVP Shannon Mauldin is now playing with her sister Danielle at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. The list of returners begins with Cowling, a 6-1 wing who’s already committed to Cal. “She’s still slender,” Fripp said, but the smoothly athletic Cowling has improved over last year. “She’s starting to really understand what she’s got to do.” Teaming with her on the perimeter is Gabby Green, who’s now close to 6-2, and who is also one of the premier players in the Class of 2014. Green was hurt for much of last season, but is ready to go now. “She’s significantly better,” said Fripp. “She’s more explosive and she’s taller” – and yet, at 6-2, she’ll still play the point on occasion.

Most of the time, however, senior Kwele Serrell will run the show, though Fripp now has the option of calling on sophomore MaAne’ Mosely, who played point guard for Salesian a year ago. Mosely took advantage of a now-discarded CIF rule that allowed her to transfer after her freshman season and be immediately eligible, and so she won’t have to sit out until Jan. 1 like many other transfers. “I had heard rumblings she was coming,” said Fripp. “I said ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ – and then I saw her at school.” Also look for 5-11 wing Taylor Berry to see lots of action. Berry missed almost all of last season with foot injuries after transferring from Alhambra, and she will do more than score. “She’s a real good perimeter defender,” said Fripp. With all these wings on the roster, Elexis Goodwin is going to have to doa lot of heavy lifting in the paint, but she played very well down the stretch last year and even at 5-10, she’ll give the Panthers an inside presence. The injuries to Green and Berry took a toll on the team last year in more ways than just a loss of talent. “Last year was so weird,” said Fripp. “I was juggling lineups. The chemistry right now is better – the girls know what their roles are.” They also know they must deal with expectations, and not just their own. “Everybody’s going to put expectations on us,” said Fripp, “so I don’t need to. I try not to make specific goals. We’re going to work on what we need to do, not where we want to go.” But no matter what Fripp says or does, his players aren’t going to forget about what they see as unfinished business — and they are focused on making the third time the charm in the Division IV championship game March 23 in Sacramento. ✪

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ncs division i championship

Spartans’ 21st straight NCS title fueled by unlikely source By Chace Bryson | Editor

Bob Larson photos

De La Salle QB Chris Williams scrambles during the NCS Div. I final against James Logan.

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December 6, 2012

In the aftermath of a lopsided Sept. 7 shutout of San Ramon ValleyDanville, the confidence that was already oozing through the James Logan-Union City football team was beyond evident. The Colts star running back and linebacker Warren Miles-Long couldn’t help it. Unsolicited, he finished his postgame interview by saying, “you mark my words, De La Salle we’re coming.” It was only Week 3. It was the perfect glimpse at the focus and bravado that James Logan brought to the field in 2012. And the Colts had the talent to back it up, lead by the Northwestern-bound Miles-Long who was part of a senior class that had wanted its chance at De La Salle long before its Week 3 victory. And after a 40-7 blowout of California-San Ramon on Nov. 24, they would get their chance with the program’s first trip to the North Coast Section Division I championship since 1997.

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“Obviously, De La Salle is a formidable opponent, but these

guys have been thinking about this game for probably two

years now,” James Logan coach George Zuber said after the

semifinal win. “We knew we had something special, and these guys hit the weight room in January after we lost (in the 2011

playoffs), and (De La Salle) was just the mark they put up. Be-

Feeling Bowlish! Following are the CIF Northern and Southern Regional Bowl matchups set for Dec. 7-8. Winners play for the CIF State Bowl Championship in Carson on Dec. 14-15. OPEN DIVISION (Dec. 8) ■ NORTH: Folsom (14-0) vs. De La Salle-Concord (13-0) ■ SOUTH: Narbonne-Harbor City (14-0) vs. Centennial-Corona (13-1) DIVISION I (Dec. 7) ■ NORTH: St. Ignatius-San Francisco (10-3) vs. Granite Bay (11-3) ■ SOUTH: Long Beach Poly (11-3) vs. Clovis North-Fresno (12-1) DIVISION II (Dec. 8) ■ NORTH: Clayton Valley Charter-Concord (12-1) vs. Oakdale (13-1) ■ SOUTH: Serra-Gardena (12-2) vs. Edison-Huntington Beach (13-1) DIVISION III (Dec. 8) ■ NORTH: Marin Catholic-Kentfield (13-1) vs. Sutter (13-0) ■ SOUTH: Madison-San Diego (12-1) vs. Monrovia (12-2) DIVISION IV (Dec. 7) ■ NORTH: McClymonds-Oakland (9-3) vs. Central Catholic-Modesto (12-2) ■ SOUTH: Santa Fe Christian-Solana Beach (10-3) vs. Rio Hondo Prep-Arcadia (12-1)

lieving that you can play with anybody is what it takes to play with anybody. You gotta believe. And this team believes.” However, after a week of meticulous film study and preparation, there was probably one thing the Colts players didn’t believe: that De La Salle would beat them through the air. Despite 15 rushing touchdowns through the Spartans’ first 12 games, it’s fair to say that junior quarterback Chris Williams has had a season of ups and downs. Williams — who had the unenviable task of replacing three-year starter, and current Wisconsin freshman, Bart Houston — had taken some criticism for his fumble tendencies (he had nine on the season heading into the champion-

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ship game), and what appeared to be a lack of flow to the Spartans offense in games that ended up being much closer margins of victory than expected for the top-ranked team in the state. James Logan came into the Dec. 1 championship game geared to top a Spartans offense which averaged 288 rushing yards per game and had 52 rushing scores on the season. And under a relentless rainfall at Dublin High, the Colts were determined to make Williams beat them by passing the ball. And that’s what he did. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound southpaw was about as crisp as anybody could be under the conditions. He completed 9 of

December 6, 2012

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Spartans wide receiver Andrew Buckley, left, and teammate Austin Lonestar celebrate Buckley’s 44-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of the NCS championship.

12 passes for 148 yards and four touchdown passes. He’d only thrown seven touchdown passes over the team’s first 12 games. “He was critical tonight,” De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur said following the 52-7 dismantling of the Colts, a win that brought the program its 21st consecutive NCS championship. “We’ve told him, and the team too, that when you get into games like these you have to throw the ball and take advantage. Those guys tried to stop our run, and (Chris) did a good job tonight. He threw the ball real well.” Williams opened the scoring when he hit wide receiver Andrew Buckley on a crossing route 20 yards down field before Buckley broke a tackle and turned it into a 44-yard touchdown pass. Later in the first quarter, Williams put the Spartans ahead 14-0 when he escaped pressure and found tight end Austin Hooper for a 10-yard scoring strike. It was the first of two TD connections with Hooper on the night, and the pass Williams said he was most proud of from the game. “Coach made a great call,” Hooper said. “The only thing I remember seeing was that I had to dodge the referee, and then chris put it in such a great spot that I didn’t have to do any work for it.” Williams found Hooper for his third touchdown pass of the half late in the second quarter from three yards out. De La Salle led 21-7 at the break. De La Salle put the game away quickly in the opening minutes of the third quarter as they turned a pair of turnovers into 14 points — one on a 3-yard run by running back Tiapepe Vitale (his 26th rushing score of the year) and another on a 10-yard interception return by Cal-bound defensive end Victor Egu. By the time Williams found Buckley on a

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December 6, 2012

high-arcing 37-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, the game was out of reach. “I came out and it was raining and I didn’t think I was going to throw that much,” Williams admitted. “Fortunately I got to throw. ... It definitely feels good. It makes the coaches believe in me more, and want to throw more passes, and that will help. Williams’ teammates were extremely happy for him. “I was very proud of him,” Hooper said. ‘He’s been getting better each and every game as the starting quarterback and I love how he just put it all together tonight.” Said USC-bound linebacker Michael Hutchings: “It wasn’t a surprise. ... It’s a great sight to see to see him come along each and every week and we’re completely behind him for these next few weeks.” De La Salle advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division Northern Regional bowl game on Dec. 8 against undefeated Folsom at Sacramento State. Winning would put the Spartans in the CIF Open Division State Championship bowl game on Dec. 15. They have won each of the past three Open Division championships. They go into the Folsom game having not lost to a California opponent since 2008 (51 games) or a Northern California opponent since 1991 (235 games). As he worked his way off the field and out of the rain, Ladouceur was cautiously confident. “James Logan had a great season and had a good defense,” the coach said. “They had two fantastic runners in their backfield. And I thought if our guys did a good job against them, we have a chance at a state title. We’ll see. But I like where we are.” ✪

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Core training, part II: Goals and progression The fact is that core and lumbar stability are vital for both performance and injury prevention in your athletes, and it’s more than just training your abs.

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n my last article I discussed the a foundation the athlete can build importance of core stability and from going forward from the inside how vital it is for optimal force out. The goal is to develop and restore generation in sport performance and inner/deep core function. Teach them injury reduction. This week we’ll take to re-engage the diaphragm (breatha closer look at core training. ing patterns) in the anterior (front), Core training is more than just lateral (side) and posterior (back) training the abdominals, it involves a for creating stability all around the systematic and progressive approach spine. Then integrate these breathing for maximizing on-field perforpatterns into planks teaching neutral mance and the long term health of spine. athletes. So even though my focus 2. Isolated Stability: Tim Rudd for IYCA is more on the trunk muscles in this Increase isolative core stability relaarticle, an athlete’s loss of mobility tive to hip stiffness. In other words, in ankles, hips and thoracic spine (upper-back) we want stability to come from the core not the will negatively affect their stability and ability hips. This is where we start to integrate moveto produce and transfer force for optimal sports ments where your athletes are learning to preperformance. This should hammer home the vent or resist extension, flexion, lateral flexion, importance of coaches and trainers properly flexion and rotation of the spine. assessing athletes before throwing them through 3.Integrated Stability: The goal here movements that can do little in the way of sports is to improve stability in all planes of movement enhancement and injury prevention. and all movement patterns. This is where we put This is how I progress my athletes and the all the pieces together to rebuild and re-groove movements such as the squat, dead lift and specific goals of each phase. Examples for each pressing, etc. of these phases can be found in the online ver4. Sport performance-specific: sion of this column at SportStarsOnline.com Improve stability in sport-specific conditions 1. Foundational Stability: Develop

December 6, 2012

Training Time

that will ensure maximal performance. This is where we separate sporting movement from weight room movement (speed, power and fatigue). At this point the athlete is proficient at creating stability through accelerative movements more specific to sporting movements. In this phase it’s important to assess the demands of your athletes’ sport (movement patterns, speed, power and fatigue) when it comes to training the qualities that will result in optimal performance transfer from the gym. The fact is that core and lumbar stability are vital for both performance and injury prevention in your athletes, and it’s more than just training your abs. Your athletes need to be assessed first and then properly progressed through a program that takes them from general preparation to sport-specific situations. This is key for optimal performance and long-term success in their respective sports. ✪ Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@fit2thecore.com.

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Kick start heart safety: Promote AED availability

udden Cardiac Failure in the young athlete is not common, but when this occurs the consequences are devastating. The rate of occurrence is about 1/200,000 per year in the U.S. athletic population. The underlying factors are difficult to screen for, and the most common first symptom is sudden death. The American Heart Association recommends a 12-element screen to help determine who is most at risk. This involves a detailed personal health history of heart murmur or symptoms with exercise, family history of any heart condition or sudden death at younger than 50 years of age, and physical examination for vital signs of resting heart rate/blood pressure/and listening for a heart murmur. If red flags are raised during this health screen, further diagnostic methods are warranted including EKG, ECHO cardiogram, and even a CT scan; all very expensive procedures. Still, there is not a foolproof method of preventing catastrophe. That being the case, there is one device that can avert this disaster — and unfortunately it is not yet as common a sight as the fire extinguisher or exit sign. Automatic External Defibrilators (AEDs) are important

lifesaving devices that should be readily available in all public places where athletics occur. It is the one item that no one ever wants to use, yet everyone should have access to. The AED is designed for simplicity, with verbal instruction and pictures to guide the user through the action of saving a life. All CPR instruction includes familiarizing with the AED. There is not one single proven method of saving a life that equals the early use of an AED during a cardiac event. Nearly all young athletes who suffer a sudden cardiac event can be saved with the AED. The problem remains, however, that we as a society have not yet reached the tipping point of having the expectation of finding an AED in any building, field of play, or sporting venue we may find ourselves in. The good news is we are not very far off. The public’s awareness is rising, with CPR classes covering its use, news and print media covering the issues, and the universal sign of a heart with a lightning bolt becoming more common place. Still, more advocacies are needed and it is the public’s pressure on institutions that wins the money to make the AED a pervasive sight. ✪

have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsOnline.com

Health Watch Bruce Valentine

Bruce Valentine is a physical therapist assistant for the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you

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December 6, 2012

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Time to eat up: It’s bulking season

t’s finally the holidays, and if you’re anything like me, you’re bundled up to avoid the cold weather, and you just can’t help but want to eat everything in sight. So you’re gaining a little weight? Who cares? Unless you have a figure competition coming up or you’re going to the beach any time soon, this is the perfect time to start adding that muscle without the fear of adding a little

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December 6, 2012

fat. When summertime comes you most likely want those big muscles that lay under the fat. The problem is that it’s hard to gain good muscle without adding some unwanted fat. So I like to gain the muscle in the winter, and then cut the fat off in the spring and summer when I want to spend some time with my shirt off selling tickets to the gun show. Does this mean to gorge yourself like a stuffed pig? No. But it means that you can use those extra calories to help build some great lean muscle. Below are some simple pointers you can use this holiday season to start the process of gaining some good lean muscle for showing off later in the year. EAT FOOD!: Most people want to spend umpteen hours at their local supplement store looking for the holy grail of products. All supplements have their ups and downs, but the problem is that most people use them as their sole source of good nutrient intake. I am not a huge proponent of supplements unless you have an already sound nutritional program. This way you can take supplements out of convenience, not because you think they are a necessity.

Go to the grocery store and buy the foods you know you should eat, and then go home and cook. In the long run it will save you hundreds of dollars in supplements and, as long as you eat the same way, you’ll maintain your results longer than if you were on supplements alone and stopped because you couldn’t afford them. I am for supplements, but only if they are taken correctly with a sound diet. TRAIN FOR SIZE, NOT JUST STRENGTH: Most guys try to be the one to move the most weight (believe me I get it) but you’re going to end up simply getting strong instead of big and strong. The goal is to do 4-6 sets of 8-15 reps using weights around 65-80 percent of your one-rep max. Make sure to go through the full range of motion in each exercise to get the big long muscle that looks good when you cut the fat later. FEEL THE BURN: When training for size you’re likely going to get into the range where you get the muscle burn mid lift, that’s a good thing for the goal of bulking. Just make sure to take adequate rest in between each set to maximize the ability to get every rep on your own without a spotter to do all

your work. RECOVER: Listen to your body. No one climbs Mt. Everest in one straight shot; they take breaks at base camps to recover their energy. So when you hit those walls take the time to recover and de-load your body so that you can push past your plateaus and have some great muscle gains. Now go enjoy stuffing your face this holiday season, just make sure to train the right way so that you use that fuel to gain some good winter muscle. ✪

Anthony Trucks

Anthony Trucks was a decorated football player for Antioch High and the University of Oregon before spending time on multiple NFL rosters. His Trucks Training facility has been operating since 2008. Send your weight training questions to Anthony at Contact@ TrucksTraining.com.

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