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ISSUE 12 SOCAL EDITION NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2017
Can’t Catch Kaz NorCal Or Not, Tulare’s Kazmeir Allen Is New State TD Record Holder
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o who’s got the record for scoring touchdowns in one season in Northern California high school football? I was headed to Tulare on Friday, Nov. 16 to see Tulare High’s Kazmeir Allen break the state record of 64 that was set in 2001 by Ventura’s Tyler Ebell and while I didn’t get there (more on that later), Allen himself wasn’t denied as he scored three touchdowns to break Ebell’s record. Allen headed into the CIF Central Section Division II final with 66 for the season, including 15 he scored in Tulare’s last regular season game and first playoff game. But does Tulare count as Northern California? Geographically, Tulare is about 30 minutes south of Fresno, and based on the number of Giants fans compared to Dodgers fans, is clearly NorCal. Bakersfield is where it gets more confusing. Down there, especially since Bakersfield was the Dodgers’ California League team for many years, there’s Dodgers fans galore and not many in orange-and-black. Since the California Interscholastic Federation has for most sports included the CIF Central Section in Southern California regionals, most of the media in the Bay Area and in the Sac-Joaquin Section don’t tend to think of Fresno/Bakersfield as NorCal. In the CIF football bowls, however, there will be three Central Section teams in the north and three in the south and for Cal-Hi Sports state record keeping purposes the Central Section (including Bakersfield) has always been in the north. Plus, just to better even out the number of schools in the north and south, it makes more sense to put the Central Section in the north. And even with those schools added in, the south is still much larger in the number of schools. If Tulare is in the north, then Kazmeir Allen is the TDs scored record holder. If it’s not, the highest on the state list (which was updated two nights after Allen put his name at the top) from NorCal would be Andrew Brown, a running back from Ripon Christian in the Sac-Joaquin Section, who scored 55 times in 2013. The next highest on the list from the Bay Area, Sac-Joaquin and Northern sections would be Onterrio Smith of Grant-Sacramento (53 TDs in 1998) followed by Ryan Robards of Elk Grove (50 TDs in 2015), Alex Laurel of Manteca (49 TDs in 2013) and then Jahvid Best of Salesian-Richmond (48 TDs in 2006). It’s always great to see a young man like Kazmeir (who has offers from 14-15 colleges, including Wisconsin) break a state record. This time, though, my drive down Highway 99 was halted when a van plowed into the back of my car in stopped traffic just outside of Madera. Luckily, the other driver hit the brakes for maybe one second and swerved slightly so the impact wasn’t direct. Still, the right rear area of my car was torn up and undrivable, although I was able to move it to the opposite shoulder. Instead of being there in person, I did see Allen’s record-breaking touchdown on the Fresno Friday night TV shows from a hotel room in Madera (my car was totaled). As they say, the show must go on. More records will be broken soon in both football and basketball, and whether they are NorCal, SoCal or state, it’ll always be an honor to keep them as updated as possible. ✪
Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Cal-Hi Sports is the authority in state rankings for football, basketball, baseball and softball, as well as the recognized state record keeper for all high school sports. Contact him at markjtennis@ gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.
Redding Complex Takes Swing At Ballpark Replicas
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ver wonder what it was like to stare down the Green Monster in left field like Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams? Or call your home run shot like Babe Ruth in the 1932 World Series? In Redding, kids and adults get to feel like they’re in the big leagues at Big League Dreams Sports Complex. The 30-acre sports park features scaled-down replicas of major league ballparks such as Boston’s Fenway Park, New York’s Yankee Stadium and Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Try to hit it over “The Green Monster” in left field, or feel the ambiance of the ivy on the outfield fence like at Wrigley. Two more fields designed after Midwest minor league parks make for five fields. Each venue contains electronic scoreboards, all-weather turf fields, lights and stadium seats to accommodate youth baseball, youth fast-pitch softball and adult slow-pitch softball. Take some swings in the batting cages and stop off for a postgame meal and a cold beverage in the Stadium Club restaurant — centered in the park so you can watch three games at once, your favorite sporting event on any of the 12 televisions, or just let the kids play in the arcade. The athletic endeavors don’t stop at baseball or softball. The park also features a brand new playground structure, sand volleyball courts and a 20,000-square foot indoor pavilion to host indoor soccer, roller hockey, dodgeball and basketball leagues and tournaments. It’s not in Iowa or heaven. It’s in Redding, the sunniest city in California, and it’s only a two-hour drive north of Sacramento and three from the Bay Area. Play big at Big League Dreams in Redding, where your vacation will be a hit! ✪ — All copy and photos provided by Visit Redding
Clark Slajchert
An Experienced & Talented Team On The Rise, Oak Park Looks At The Southern Section Open Division And Thinks — Why Not Us?
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Story by Devin Ugland Photos by Heston Quan
he pinnacle of high school basketball achievement in Southern California is winning an Open Division championship. It’s like an exclusive, invite-only club that only the best of the best are allowed in to, and winning it, well, that’s like being the owner of said club. The ownership of the CIF Southern Section Open Division club has switched hands a few times since its inception in the 2013-14 season, but not many. The same four teams — Bishop Montgomery-Torrance, Mater Dei-Santa Ana, Chino Hills and Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth — have been the year-in, year-out favorites. And in the four-year history of the playoff division, Bishop Montgomery has captured two of those titles, while Mater Dei and Chino Hills each have one. This season, Southern Section hoops is shaping up to be a little different. All four of the top teams suffered big losses and have some question marks waiting to be answered. Bishop Montgomery graduated its best player from last season in Ethan Thompson, but still has a solid group capable of repeating. Mater Dei is no longer the beneficiary of the services of five-star, 7-foot-2 center Bol Bol and four-star wing P.J. Fuller, both of whom transferred out. Sierra Canyon has a patchwork team with seven transfers as its main contributors and Chino Hills lost second-leading scorer and all-around spark plug LaMelo Ball, whose father pulled him out of the school in favor of homeschooling after a rift with the Huskies new coach. All of those moving parts and uncertainties might leave the door cracked just a tad for a different team to swoop in and knock off one of the “Big Four.” Oak Park High school believes that it is that team. Coach Aaron Shaw made sure to set his squad up for this opportunity over the last couple of seasons, stacking a non-league schedule with high level competition “We had a good experience last season,” Shaw said. “We had a strong schedule and
Riley Battin
then played in the Open Division and I think that will really help us this year. “We have the confidence to know that we can play with anybody, so now it’s about beating those top teams. We had some success this summer and we know if we play our best we can play with and beat anybody.” The way the Eagles will beat anybody is with an experienced and balanced roster that competed in the Open Division last season, and most important of all, they believe in each other and their ability to produce at the highest level. “Any time the opportunity is there and the door is open, anything can happen,” senior guard Wes Slajchert said. “I think what’s special about our group is we have size, we have guard play, we bring it defensively, we’re experienced, so we can come at you in different ways.” One of the biggest ways Oak Park will come at teams is with an inside-out attack centered around 6-foot-9 forward Riley Battin. When all is said and done, the University of Utah-signee will be among the most productive players in California state history in terms of scoring and rebounding, with his three-year averages of 23.7 points, 12.4 rebounds per game. Another aspect of the Eagles offense is
through the above-quoted Slajchert, the Dartmouth-bound playmaker, point guard and shotmaker. “Riley and Wes are great leaders and lead by example with their work ethic,” Shaw said of his four-year starters. “What they do off the court in terms of the decisions they make, their academics, they’re the whole package. In terms of our team, they stabilize things. They are coaches on the floor.” Oak Park is plenty stable, but it does have a firecracker who can shake things up when needed, and that’s crafty sophomore scoring guard Clark Slajchert, the younger brother of Wes. “Clark has that mentality of a scorer and he does a great job of doing that,” Shaw said. “He just keeps getting better and better and he’s a great kid too. His mentality really separates him as a killer scorer.” No Eagles player, no matter how many points they score, rebounds they grab or assists they dish, is more important to the team’s success than 6-foot-10 center Ezekiel Richards. Richards is a big time rim protector and finisher around the basket who Oak Park needs to be effective in order to reach its full potential. “Zeke didn’t play basketball until he was a fresh-
man and last year was his first on varsity,” Shaw said. “He’s been getting used to the speed and timing of things and that’s going to pay off. He’s a big key to our team. Keeping him out of foul trouble so he can protect the rim is a big key for us.” One concern surrounding this Oak Park side is just how deep they are. Battin, Wes and Clark Slajchert and Richards are a formidable quartet capable of carrying a team to a title, but at some point, every team needs a bench guy to step up. “(Freshman) Justin Ebor is an athletic kid who is still learning things, but we see big things for him in the future,” Shaw said of who he expects to contribute off the bench. “He could be that energy guy and rebounder. “Ryan Engleheardt is a sophomore and he’s just a tough-nosed kid. He plays hard, is aggressive, and we’re looking forward to him stepping into that role, too. Jack Zhao started some for us last year as a freshman and was in the rotation. He can really shoot the ball and having him out there with Clark will help.” Oak Park understands beating the Bishop Montgomery’s, Mater Dei’s, Sierra Canyon’s and Chino Hills’ of the world isn’t as easy as having the right
personnel. There are so many more factors like execution, hitting timely shots, winning the battle of 50-50 balls and not breaking under the weight of the immense pressure. The Eagles, though, think that all the time they’ve spent playing together from the youth level all the way up to high school is the edge they have on those other teams. “Honestly, I think we’re right up there with those teams,” Battin said. “We know every team is going to give us their best shot and we have a big target on our backs, but we have a different style of team than they do. Our guys know how to play together really well and I think our chemistry will really help us come playoff time.” Wes Slajchert thinks the most important factor is for Oak Park to be playing its best basketball when the postseason arrives. “It’s about accepting the highs and lows of an entire season,” he said. “I think a lot of times high school teams peak early, and since we’ve all been there before, we understand what it takes to be playing our best basketball at the right time. “The pieces are all there and it’s really just about putting it all together when and if those Open Division games come around.” ✪
Stay Warm At Concord’s Many Hoops Facilities
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s the weather turns cold and wet, the City of Concord is more than happy to invite you into its several warm and cozy gymnasiums to play some hoops — or maybe just watch some while drinking a hot cocoa. December will mark the start of three busy months for Concord’s gymnasiums. First of all, Concord is home to six prominent high school basketball teams, including Concord High, Mt. Diablo, Ygnacio Valley, Clayton Valley Charter as well as defending North Coast Section boys champion De La Salle, and defending NCS girls champion, Carondelet. Many of these programs will begin their seasons during the last week of November and first week of December. During the last week of December, from Dec. 28-30, a number of these schools will be host sites to the largest high school girls basketball tournament event in the country — the West Coast Jamboree, which in its 18th year will include more than 160 teams. In fact, Clayton Valley will play host to the tournament’s most elite bracket, the Platinum Division. The City of Concord has been a proud sponsor of the Jamboree for many years, and continues its support as the host hotel location. If your team will be traveling to the Jamboree from outside the area, be sure to check out the Host Hotel link on the event homepage, WestCoastJamboree.org. Concord’s support of the local hoops scene doesn’t stop at the high schools, either. The city is also a partner with the Ultimate Fieldhouse, a two-year old basketball haven located on the border of Concord and Walnut Creek. The facility sports four full-length state of the art basketball courts, a training center, team and study rooms. The Fieldhouse hosts tournaments, camps, leagues, training, shooting machine rentals, court rentals, birthday parties, drop-in play and more. Notably, the Ultimate Fieldhouse was selected as a Jr. NBA Flagship Facility — one of just 15 in the country. It will host the Jr. NBA 3-on-3 League for age groups 10-13 beginning in January, as well as the regional playoffs in early March. Be sure to visit UltimateFieldhouse.com to view everything going on at the facility. And once you’re exhausted from your many hoop outings these next couple months, you might just choose the couch for a night to watch the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Well, Concord is a supporting sponsor of them as well. So join us in our love of roundball and come visit our many houses of hardwood. ✪
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SPORTSTARS SOCAL BOYS PRESEASON TOP 20
RECORDSprovided FROM 2016-17 Comments by Cal-HiINCLUDED Sports
1. MATER DEI-SANTA ANA (33-3)
Spencer Freedman
For the ninth time in Cal-Hi Sports’current Top 20 format (dating back to 1988-89), Mater Dei is the preseason No. 1 ranked team in the state. The transfer loss of 7-foot-2 Bol Bol is a major blow. Mater Dei, however, has a good track record of coaching, solid players who understand the Monarchs’ system, and they’ve dealt with late player defections before and still turned in successful seasons. No top tier team has an elite big man and the Monarchs still do have experienced players, beginning with Harvard-bound point guard Spencer Freedman (6-0, Sr.), a four-year starter who is one of the state’s best at initiating offense and hitting big outside shots. Southern Utah-bound small forward Harrison Butler (6-6, Sr.) is much improved, co-captain Reagan Lundeen is an underrated talent with loads of crunch time experience and Penn commit Michael Wang (6-10, Sr.) is a good all-around forward whose production will need to take a step forward for Mater Dei to hoist its third CIF Open Division state crown. Talented newcomers include Wilhelm Breidenbach (6-9, Fr.) and Devin Askew (6-3, Fr.). Another reason to like the Monarchs is they have a loaded schedule, which includes trips to the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla., a trip to the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon, a date with nationally-ranked Gonzaga of Washington, D.C. at the Cancer Research Classic and a game with FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida at the Hoophall Classic.
Louis Lopez/CSM via ZUMA wire
2. BISHOP MONTGOMERY-TORRANCE (31-2)
3. SIERRA CANYON-CHATSWORTH (27-3)
Last year’s Preseason State No. 1, and the defending CIF Open Div. champions, the Knights begin life without 2017 Mr. Basketball Ethan Thompson (Oregon State). Thompson is one of two starters coach Doug Mitchell (651-171) lost off of his state championship team. Montgomery still has a potent backcourt led by UCLA-bound David Singleton (6-4, Sr.) and Gianni Hunt (6-3, Jr.). Hunt recently broke his ankle, so Singleton will shoulder even more of the scoring load. Hunt’s injury also means more opportunities for Josh Vasquez (6-3, Jr.) and the continued development of transfer Oscar Lopez Jr. (6-4, Jr.). Boston University commit Fletcher Tynen (6-5, Sr.) can do a lot of what graduated Jordan Schakel (San Diego St.) did in terms of rebounding and the Gianni Hunt dirty work defensively. And if Lazar Nekic (6-11, Jr.) has a big season this team could be near the level of last season come playoff time. Bishop Montgomery doesn’t face the overwhelming schedule Mater Dei will endure and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the rankings move around early in the season. At the end, however, you can bet this team will be one the SoCal teams want to avoid in the quest for a CIF Open Division title.
The Trailblazers are entering a new era with Andre Chevalier taking over coaching duties from Ty Nichols, but expectations remain high at a program looking to capture its first CIF Open Division crown. Sierra Canyon actually had Chevalier as acting head coach in last year’s playoffs when the team faded down the stretch, but it’s basically a moot point since this is a totally different team with five new starters. The biggest name is Ohio State-bound Duane Washington Jr. (6-4, Sr.), a transfer from Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian who is physically strong, fundamental and a great scorer with a terrific outside stroke. Scottie Pippen Jr. (6-2, Jr.), the son of the former NBA great, is crafty and Cassius Stanley isn’t afraid to make the clutch play. Chevalier got another son of a former NBA standout when K.J. Martin (6-8, Jr.) (son of Kenyon) transferred over from Chaminade-West Hills and will provide toughness and an ability to finish with the best of them. It’s the Harvard-Westlake transfers, Terren Frank (6-8, So.) and high-flying Cassius Stanley (6-4, Jr.), which could be key because this team is as talented as any in the state.
4. FAIRFAX-LOS ANGELES (26-6)
5. OAK PARK (23-9)
6. CHINO HILLS (30-3)
In the first season under coach Steve Baik (who coached Chino Hills to the 2016 CIF open and mythical national FAB 50 crown) a season ago, the Lions started off No. 6 in the state, but the underclass-dominated unit battled injuries and finished in fourth place in the race for the coveted L.A. City Section Open Division crown. This year, the Lions are the prohibitive favorites with five starters and eight lettermen returning. Jamal Hartwell (6-0, Sr.) is one of the state’s most explosive point guards, and he’s joined in the backcourt by Ethan Anderson (6-1, Jr.) and Bobby McRae (6-3, Jr.). Anderson is one of the state’s best perimeter scorers and McRae is a team-first defender with an improving offensive repertoire. Kirk Smith (6-8, Sr.) is the glue inside and if he can stay out of foul trouble this team can play with and potentially defeat any in the state.
It’s been a steady climb for the Eagles’ program to where it’s now a bonafide contender for the CIF Southern Section Open Division crown. Oak Park began last season ranked No. 17 in the state and finished No. 15 after it went 1-2 in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs after losing to two eventual state champions in Bishop Montgomery (Open) and Roosevelt-Corona (D1). This year, Oak Park will look to win its playoff opener behind four-year veterans Riley Battin (6-9, Sr.) and Wes Slajchert (6-3, Sr.). The Utah-bound Battin averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds and 3.6 assists and is easily one of the most productive players in the state. Slajchert, headed to Dartmouth, is smart (3.9 GPA), experienced and productive (13 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 6.6 apg). Wes’ younger brother Clark Slajchert (16.7 ppg) is a fearless shooter who was arguably the best freshman in the SoCal basin last season.
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for this program since it won the 2016 mythical national title with Lonzo Ball (current L.A. Laker rookie) spearheading the attack. Another big story along with the big men leaving the CIF ranks is that last year’s state sophomore of the year, La’Melo Ball, won’t be on the Huskies’ roster this season. And though the program is on its third coach in three years and won’t have Melo in the fold, there is still a lot to like about this team. Ball’s good friend and the other freshman starter on that 35-0 title team, Onyeka Okongwu (6-9, Jr.), is back and will be more of an offensive focal point. New coach Dennis Latimore will work on getting his big man accustomed to being an aggressive offensive threat. Melo’s older cousin Andre Ball (6-8, Sr.), who battled injuries, is oozing with potential and if he has a break-through senior campaign this team could remain among the state’s elite.
7. SANTA MARGARITARANCHO SANTA MARGARITA (21-9) Coach Jeff Reinert feels this should be his best team since taking over the program for Jerry DeBusk in 2012-13. When you realize this team has three starters back from a team that beat clubs such as Fairfax, Oak Park, CentennialCorona and eventual state champs Roosevelt-Eastvale (Div. I) and Esperanza (Div. II), the high optimism seems justifiable. Reinert did lose all-CIFSS pick Adrease Jackson to graduation but returns second team all-CIFSS choice Jake Kyman (6-7, Sr.), rugged Jordan Guest (6-8, Sr.) and point guard Pearson Parker (6-1, Sr.).
8. ALEMANY-MISSION HILLS (24-9)
9. RANCHO CHRISTIANTEMECULA (20-12)
10. CENTENNIALCORONA (27-10)
Alemany is the prohibitive favorite in the traditionally tough Mission League, as it has won the outright league title for three consecutive seasons. Despite some concern about depth, the team possesses quality size and quickness on the perimeter. Returning all-state underclass pick D.J. McDonald (5-11, Sr.) and center Fred Odhiambo (6-11, Sr.) form one of the best inside-outside combos in the state. McDonald, bound for UCRiverside, can score or run a team equally well while Odhiambo is the best shot blocker in the CIF ranks and runs the floor similar to a JV player looking for playing time.
The Eagles have two legitimate big men and under-appreciated perimeter players. Isaiah Mobley (6-9, Jr.) is one of the most versatile forwards in the state regardless of class. His younger brother Evan Mobley (6-10, So.) is primed to make a big jump in production after suffering from nagging injuries and growing pains last season. Stephen Park (6-0, Sr.) is an ultra-quick guard, and the maturity of Jordan Montgomery (6-0, So.) will be key to this team’s fortunes against CIFSS Open Division teams that can apply heavy defensive pressure.
The Huskies are one of six programs to participate in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs in each of the four seasons of its existence. With a smallish, perimeter-oriented roster, Centennial will vie for a spot in the state’s premier section playoff bracket. D.J. Davis (5-11, So.) made a late-season move to Centennial from Poly-Riverside and is an absolutely fearless offensive player. Newcomer Paris Dawson (6-1, So.) joins Davis in the backcourt, and Jaylen Clark (6-5, So.) is one of the state’s best young wing players. Allen McBride’s (6-4, So.) will play a key blue-collar role.
@JSerra_Hoops/Twitter.com
11. JSerra-San Juan Capistrano (18-12) 12. Damien-La Verne (31-5) 13. Pasadena (27-7) 14. Foothills Christian-El Cajon (24-7) 15. San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno (26-7) 16. Westchester-L.A. (24-10) 17. Etiwanda (21-12) 18. Taft-Woodland Hills (27-11) 19. Vista (28-5) 20. Maranatha-Pasadena (19-11)
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SPORTSTARS SOCAL BOYS STARTING 5 RILEY BATTIN
Louis Lopez/CSM via ZUMA wire
Oak Park, Senior POSITION: Power Forward HEIGHT: 6’9” COLLEGE DESTINATION: Utah 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 24.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists THE RUNDOWN: Battin is on pace to become one of the most statistically productive players the state has ever seen. The 6-foot-9 power forward is heading into his fourth year as a varsity starter and has posted double-double averages in each of his first three high school campaigns, and his fourth should be no different. Battin leads a veteranladen Oak Park squad that certainly projects as one of the eight teams to be selected to the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoff grouping.
DAVID SINGLETON ONYEKA OKONGWU Chino Hills, Junior POSITION: Center HEIGHT: 6’8” COLLEGE DESTINATION: Undecided 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.4 blocks THE RUNDOWN: The Chino Hills basketball team is officially Okongwu’s. The widely-covered departure of LaMelo Ball from the Huskies roster, and addition of new coach Dennis Latimore, heaps a hefty amount of responsibility — especially on the offensive end — on the shoulders of the sure-handed 6-foot-8 center. Latimore still has Chino Hills playing at an uptempo pace, but you’ll hear him on the sidelines imploring his team to feed the ball to Okongwu and work the ball inside-out. Chino Hills is a fringe Open Division team at this point, but a dominant season from Okongwu could get them in.
Bishop Montgomery-Torrance, Senior POSITION: Shooting Guard HEIGHT: 6’4” COLLEGE DESTINATION: UCLA 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 16.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists THE RUNDOWN: Singleton is one of six returners from last season’s CIF Open Division championship squad, and with the graduation of Ethan Thompson (Oregon State) is expected to take on more of a leadership role in addition to his scoring and defensive duties. The 6-foot-4 wing is an elite scorer who can knock down the 3-point shot with range and get to the basket off the dribble where he can finish above the rim with authority. Singleton will also be called upon to lock down the opponent’s best perimeter scorer on a nightly basis, which should go a long way for the state’s preseason No. 2-ranked Knights.
JULES BERNARD Windward-Los Angeles, Senior POSITION: Small Forward HEIGHT: 6’5” COLLEGE DESTINATION: UCLA 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 25.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists THE RUNDOWN: Bernard earned a lot of respect as he stayed the course at Windward through a coaching change and the mass exodus of talented players that followed soon after. The 6-5 wing has gotten better each and every year individually, but more importantly, Bernard has evolved as a leader and helped the Wildcats overachieve compared to expectations. The UCLA-bound senior is a physical three-level scorer who has improved his 3-point stroke by leaps and bounds.
BOYS SECOND 5
TAESHON CHERRY
DUANE WASHINGTON Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth, Senior POSITION: Point Guard HEIGHT: 6’3” COLLEGE DESTINATION: Ohio State 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 13.0 points, 5.0 assists (at Grand Rapids Christian in Michigan) THE RUNDOWN: Washington was easily the best coup of the high school basketball transfer market as he made the move from Grand Rapids (MI) Christian to Sierra Canyon to fortify an already strong roster. Washington, who is the nephew of former Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher, has a throwback feel to his game with his ability to control pace, make high IQ decisions and get teammates involved while also finding scoring opportunities for himself. The Trailblazers were in desperate need of a veteran influence who has competed at the highest levels, and the 6-foot-3 Washington fits that bill.
Foothills Christian-El Cajon | Power Forward 6’7” | Senior Comment: The athletic, high motor USC-bound forward shocked local hoop heads with his decision to leave St. Augustine-San Diego just weeks before the season began.
DEVONAIRE DOUTRIVE Birmingham-Lake Balboa | Shooting Guard 6’4” | Senior Comment: The rangy and smooth Doutrive is one of the more creative and explosive scorers. Look for him to be in the running for L.A. City Section Player of the Year.
SPENCER FREEDMAN Mater Dei-Santa Ana | Point Guard | 6’0” | Senior Comment: The Harvard-commit is one of the highest IQ players and best passers to come through the area in quite some time.
BRYCE HAMILTON Pasadena | Shooting Guard | 6’4” | Senior Comment: Headed to UNLV, Hamilton is an unabashed and fiery scorer who isn’t afraid to shoot from anywhere.
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Taft-Woodland Hills | Point Guard | 5’10” | Senior Comment: The Virginia-bound point guard is a toughminded player who digs in on both ends and balances scoring and distributing like few others can.
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SPORTSTARS SOCAL GIRLS PRESEASON TOP 20 ETIWANDA-RANCHO CUCAMONGA (26-3) The Eagles lost their last two games last season and thus dropped to No. 14 in the final Cal-Hi Sports rankings, but in Cal-Hi Sports preseason rankings Etiwanda opens on top in in SoCal and No. 5 overall. With what first-year coach Stan Delus has in his arsenal, they open on top here as well. The consensus among the many top coaches queried in Southern California was unanimous — that Delus, who was an assistant to retired veteran coach Anders Anderson — has the top team to start the season. The team leader is Nevada-bound senior combo guard Da’Ja Hamilton. One of the SoCal Girls Starting Five Players to Watch, she returns after averaging 15.5 points, five rebounds and four assists last season. Another flashy guard is Evanne Turner (13 ppg, six rpg). Delus is looking for big things from 6-foot-3 Cal State Northridge-bound transfer Daniela Popa. She averaged 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds last season at Redlands East Valley. Delus has “big expectations” for last year’s sixth girl and 6-foot forward Kimore Sykes. Sophomore 6-foot-2 post Nnenna Orji, whose sister, Leilia, was one of last year’s stars and is now at Seattle University, has looked great this fall along with senior point guard Aujane Mayes. In fall ball, where Etiwanda impressed the coaches they defeated, Etiwanda beat Long Beach Poly, Mater Dei-Santa Ana, Bishop Alemany-Mission Hills, and La Jolla Country Day twice, all by double digits. They were tested by new-kid-on-the-block Ribet Academy-Los Angeles, but with what they showed in the fall and the deep roster at Delus’ disposal, that could take Etiwanda a long way toward Southern Regional Open Division title.
2. WINDWARD-LOS ANGELES (30-4) By getting upset in the first round of the Southern Section Open Division playoffs the Wildcats didn’t make it into the Southern Regional Open Division field and instead were placed in Division I, where they won a SoCal title and then defeated McClatchy-Sacramento for the CIF Division I state championship. Windward junior guard Charisma Osborne starts the season as the top player in Southern California after finishing in that position last season in the Cal-Hi Sports Ms. Basketball pecking order. Osborne (19.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.4 assists, 2.5 steals), a member of the SoCal Girls Starting Five Players to Watch, at times can be a one-girl team but she does have a solid supporting cast. Rugged post Myrrah Joseph has transferred, but junior wing Kaiyah Corona (8.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and senior point guard Sela Kay (7.5 ppg, 2.9 assists) are the top returners besides Osborne. Windward already has a 68-67 overtime win over No. 3 Harvard-Westlake and it wasn’t even Osborne that led the way. Windward fell behind by as many as 18 points, rallied to tie the game in regulation and won it in overtime when Selena McLurkin made a driving layup with two seconds left. McLurkin, who finished with 15 points, missed all of last season with a knee injury. Corona led Windward with 20 points. Now they face No. 6 Long Beach Poly to open the Redondo tournament.
3. HARVARD-WESTLAKE-STUDIO CITY (23-5)
Jayda Ruffus-Milner
Ella Price
Harvard-Westlake Athletics
A feather in the caps of coach Melissa Hearlihy and her girls is they had some solid wins last season. The week after Lakeside knocked off Windward the Wolverines knocked off Lakeside and then beat Etiwanda before losing to Long Beach Poly in the CIF-SS Open title game, and then to Bishop’s SchoolLa Jolla in the first round of the Southern Regional Open playoffs. Hearlihy doesn’t appear to have a lot of depth but what she has are 5-foot-11 twins, Jayla and Jayda Ruffus-Milner. Last season Jayla, a member of the SoCal Girls Starting Five Players to Watch, averaged a double-double 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds a game with 2.3 assists and 2.4 steals. Jayda went for 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. Senior 5-foot-10 forward Melanie Hirsch (7.8 ppg) and senior guard Ashlee Wong (5.9 ppg) are the top two returners after the twins, however in Harvard-Westlake’s season-opening one-point overtime loss to Windward, it was freshman Kiki Iriafen leading the way with 22 points.
4. LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY-SAN DIEGO (18-12)
Te-Hina Paopao
With as many games as they lost and with Alaysia Styles graduated and now at Cal, some may ask how can coach Terri Bamford and her Torreys be ranked so high. The answer is one word: Paopao, as in Te-Hina Paopao. Before missing almost all of last season with a knee injury, the 5-9 sophomore was one of the hottest underclass commodities in the nation and a strong favorite for the Cal-Hi Sports State Freshman of the Year. Although she was a reserve on the SoCal Players to Watch Next Five, Paopao is a star waiting to be born and this season will begin the saga. She looked great in workouts over the summer and she was back for fall ball. Her supporting cast is good as well. Senior San Diego-bound wing Kiera Oakry (10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Cal Poly-Pomona-bound senior sharpshooter Jayda Villareal (10.0 ppg, 2.9 assists), Washington-St. Louis-bound 6-foot senior Bianca Notarainni (8.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg), and 5-foot-11 senior power forward and UC San Diego-bound Kendal Ellenbeck (5.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg) all return
5. MATER DEI-SANTA ANA (24-9) The Monarchs lost some talent off a Southern Regional Division II championship team but No. 2 all-time winningest girls basketball coach Kevin Kiernan (724 wins at La QuintaWestminster, Troy-Fullerton and Mater Dei) returns four college-bound seniors in Nevadabound 6-2 power forward/post Emma Torbert (8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg), guard Nicole Freeman (Cal State-Northridge) (7.3 ppg), guard Sarah Rahon (Seattle University) (4.9 ppg), 6-foot forward Madison Johnson (Xavier). Kiernan also has some incoming freshmen he really likes. His top newcomer is 6-foot-2 Brooke Demetre, who made some huge impressions this summer, and very well could be the next big Monarchs star. The other two are 6-foot-1 forward Khylee Pepe and guard Alyssa Frescas. Cailyn Crocker, a 5-foot-10 junior wing has transferred from Los Alamitos where she was one of the top players last season. She hurt her foot at the USA Trials and had surgery, and is rehabbing and won’t be available until at least January.
6. LONG BEACH POLY (27-4) Starting at No. 6 is very low for coach Carl Buggs and his girls but the Jackrabbits graduated all their scoring punch. But if not for Buggs’ history of reloading and an enrollment of 4,500, plus the fact with open enrollment in Long Beach the girls basketball players gravitate to Poly, they could be lower. Buggs has eight players returning who combined for 24.1 points a game so either those eight players will step up and Buggs will have some freshman talent emerge, or it could be a long season for Poly outside the Moore League. We’ll find out soon as Buggs and his girls play Windward this week. Nicole Freeman
7. SIERRA CANYON-CHATSWORTH (23-6) Protégé of Mater Dei’s Kevin Kiernan, upcoming bright young coach Alicia Komaki lost a Div. 1 player in Alexis Griggsby but everyone queried put Sierra Canyon in this spot in the Southern California pecking order. The top returner is senior Ryann Payne, who averaged 16 points as four assists last season. Junior Amanda Oliver is back after going for eight points and rebounds a game last season. Two sophomore transfers join sophomore budding star Ashley Chevalier: Vanessa De Jesus comes over from Marlborough-Los Angeles and Alexis Mark transfers from Village Christian-Sun Valley, but they will not be eligible until January.
8. ROSARY ACADEMY-FULLERTON (30-5) The bottom line is the CIF Division III state champs may not have the depth of the larger schools, but coach Richard Yoon returns just about every major contributor, including Cal-Hi Sports All-State first-team freshman selection guard Katherine Goostrey. Another top returner is 6-foot-1 senior post Rebekah Obinma. She had a triple-double 12 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in the 62-45 victory over Campolindo in the CIF state Div. 3 title game. We will see right off the bat if Yoon’s girls are legitimate again this season as they have early road games against Ventura, Sierra Canyon and Serra-Gardena before opening with Troy in the SoCal Holiday Classic.
9. SERRA-GARDENA (22-9) Coach McKinsey Hadley has everyone back from a team that lost in the Southern Regional Div. 1 first round to Ventura, except one senior contributor. Back are Serra’s top three scorers, led by ESPNW No. 9 ranked 5-11 wing Alexis Tucker. She averaged 16.8 points and 10.5 rebounds last season. Tucker is joined by senior guard Cheyenne Givens (11.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and senior forward Rachel Duru (8.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Others who should help make Serra formidable are seniors Dashelle Gleissner and Lauryn Pointer, plus others. The Cavaliers play Harvard-Westlake on Dec. 1 in the Redondo tournament and then face Sierra Canyon, Ventura and Rosary Academy the following week in Sierra Canyon’s tourney.
10. BISHOP ALEMANY-MISSION HILLS (25-9) Based on returning players, first-year coach Johnny Garcia and his Warriors girls will be solid. Bishop Alemany returns second-leading scorer and USCbound 6-foot-2 forward Jillian Archer. The ESPNW No. 7 ranked senior forward went for 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds last season. Leading scorer and 6-foot-1 wing Jasmine Hardy (13.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Archer give the Warriors a formidable front line, but guard play and ball handling was what prevented Alemany from going deep in the playoffs. Garcia may get help from 6-foot wing Malia Bambrick (6.6 ppg) but the question is who is going to step up as a ball handler. After the Burroughs tournament there’s a very interesting game on Dec. 15 at Ribet Academy and its new addition, 6-9 Andrea Aquino from Paraguay . 11. Ribet Academy-Los Angeles (21-6) 12. Brea-Olinda-Brea (24-8) 13. Clovis West-Fresno (34-2) 14. Central-Fresno (18-12) 15. Fairmont Prep-Anaheim (21-9) 16. Lakeside-Lake Elsinore (24-6) 17. Mission Hills-San Marcos (30-3) 18. Orangewood Academy-Garden Grove 22-10 19. Chaminade-West Hills (17-12) T20. Bishop’s School-La Jolla (30-4) T20. Esperanza-Anaheim (26-4)
SPORTSTARS SOCAL GIRLS STARTING 5 ANDREA AQUINO Ribet Academy-Los Angeles, senior POSITION: Center HEIGHT: 6-9 COLLEGE DESTINATION: Oregon State 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 17 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 blocked shots THE RUNDOWN: Aquino, a Paraguay native, might be closer to 6-10, like some recruiting services say. The bottom line is Aquino, the ESPNW No. 12-ranked senior center in the nation, is the tallest girl known to take the court in California, and every college coach and analysts agree she is the real deal. She averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and 6.5 blocks at Eastside-Paterson (New Jersey) but once Aquino decided she was going to transfer she needed to enroll in a school that qualified for her I-20 student visa. On a recruiting trip to Oregon State her mother heard about Ribet and its affirmative I-20 status and the rest is history. Because of Aquino (and another international student from Canada), and a strong returning group, Ribet is No. 20 in the Cal-Hi Sports Preseason rankings.
JILLIAN ARCHER
California Storm
Bishop Alemany-Mission Hills, senior POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-2 COLLEGE DESTINATION: Southern California 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 11.4 points, 10.3 rebounds THE RUNDOWN: This long and very athletic forward who can also handle the ball on the fly was signed by the USC Trojans. Her size and game, together with her ability to run the floor and finish are exactly what college coaches crave, plus she’s in great shape and that’s something college coaches like as well. Archer is joined by 6-1 Div. 1 prospect Jasmine Hardy to give the Warriors a very solid front line. But the problem has been ball-handling and Archer has been asked to do too much of it in the past, and that’s part of why Alemany has not gone deeper in the playoffs.
DA’JA HAMILTON Etiwanda-Rancho Cucamonga, senior POSITION: Point guard HEIGHT: 5-7 COLLEGE DESTINATION: Nevada-Reno 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 15.5 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals THE RUNDOWN: It came down to Hamilton, TCU-bound Ryann Payne of Sierra CanyonChatsworth and Alexis Tucker of Serra-Gardena for the fifth spot, but the team leader on a team with more depth than anyone in SoCal gets the nod as the flat-out top player on Cal-Hi Sports’ top team in SoCal and No. 5 overall in the state. The Eagles’ floor general from last season plays with lots of flash and slash in her game and will have even more talent surrounding her. It would not be a huge surprise if Hamilton helped first-year coach Stan Delus lead Etiwanda all the way to a Southern Regional Open Division title.
Harvard-Westlake Athletics
JAYLA RUFFUS-MILNER
CHARISMA OSBORNE Windward-Los Angeles, junior POSITION: Combo guard HEIGHT: 5-9 COLLEGE DESTINATION: Major D1 offers but undecided 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.5 steals THE RUNDOWN: Osborne didn’t make the Starting 5 or even the Second 5 last season, but she probably should have despite it being a senior-heavy year and she was coming off a stellar freshman season. By the time Osborne was done as a sophomore, she ended up as a Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year finalist and the No. 3 ranked Cal-Hi Sports player in the state regardless of her class after leading Windward to the CIF Division I state championship. There is no question that Osborne starts the season as the top player in Southern California and ESPNW confirms it by making her the top junior guard and player from the Class of 2019 and the No. 5 guard and No. 22 overall ranked player in the nation.
Harvard-Westlake-Studio City, senior POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 5-11 COLLEGE DESTINATION: Pepperdine 2016-17 STAT AVERAGES: 15.0 points, 104, rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.4 steals THE RUNDOWN: Along with her twin sister, Jayda (12.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg), the duo make up a formidable front line, and with their teammates and role players make the Wolverines the No. 3 team from Southern California and No. 8 overall in the Cal-Hi Sports Preseason rankings. The long and athletic Ruffus-Milner is at her best attacking the basket and being an aggressive defender. Some analysts stated if she was more of an outside threat she could have gone higher than Pepperdine, but the Waves took the twins as a package and that sealed the deal.
GIRLS SECOND 5 REBEKAH OBINMA
SEMAJ SMITH
ALEXIS TUCKER
Rosary Academy-Fullerton / Center / 6-1 / Senior
St. Anthony’s / Post / 6-5 / Senior
Serra-Gardena / Wing / 5-11 / Junior
RYANN PAYNE
EMMA TORBERT
Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth / Guard / 5-8 / Senior
Mater Dei-Santa Ana / Forward / 6-2 / Senior
Tips On Making Yourself More Recruitable — And Just In Time
T
he fall season can be an emotional rollercoaster for an unsigned/uncommitted senior volleyball athlete (and for juniors in the same situation). As the author of CollegeVolleyballCoach.com, I receive numerous emails from volleyball families who are a bit panicked because college coaches are telling
them they are done recruiting, or not responding at all. Families must remember that this is the most important time of the year for college volleyball coaches; the collegiate playing season. College coaches are trying to not get fired, to secure a raise, get a contract, or pushing for a great record so they have the opportunity to move up the job ranks, etc. While recruiting never ends, the coach’s focus is almost exclusively on the players in the gym and achieving the best pos-
sible season right now. As the collegiate playing season comes to a close, the collegiate recruiting season starts. College volleyball programs will have immediate roster spots and scholarship positions to fill for seniors and juniors. From NCAA Division I to junior colleges, injuries, academics, homesickness, playing-time issues or job changes can all create immediate roster spots and scholarship opportunities which may not have been available one month ago. The active collegiate recruiting season begins in late November, when the collegiate seasons come to a close. Make sure you are ready to be recruited. ›› Be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and have your NCAA ID number listed on all your recruiting literature/profile. ›› If you are a junior or a senior, have a current copy of your high school transcript and ACT/SAT test score ready to send to colleges. ›› Use the small window of time between the end of high school volleyball and the start of club volleyball to address any injuries or physical issues. Rest does not fix problems, it only masks them. ›› As a senior, you need to be at the top of your game early in the club season. College coaches are looking to make immediate recruiting decisions on seniors, so you don’t have time to play your way into shape. ›› Use practice to improve your weaknesses, but always play to your strengths in early tournaments: Show your best skills to watching college coaches. ›› Re-examine your list of outreach schools. If you have been contacting a certain level of program and no school is getting back to you, then it is time to adjust. Responses or lack of responses from a grouping of schools, provides valuable feedback. ›› Create a five-minute highlight or skills video of your most recent court time to have available for collegiate coaches. Don’t show clips/repetitions from September of your high school season, as it will be too old. Film the last matches of high school, or better yet, film the first few club volleyball practices. ›› Stay active in your outreach to colleges and communication. Roster openings will be occurring all through the holidays. Even though you may have already written a school, college coaches don’t go back through all of their emails when they have an opening, they respond to the next incoming email. There is still time on the recruiting clock for seniors (and definitely juniors), but no more time to let slip by. Use these next couple of weeks to prepare for the opening of the collegiate recruiting season. ✪ — Matt Sonnichsen for NCVA
Escape The
FOOD POLICE
Reasons Dieting Shouldn’t Be Among Those 2018 Goals nutrition: jill daniels The beginning of the year brings many new things: New outlook, a fresh start and new year resolutions. Many people set resolutions concerning their weight, eating habits or workout routine. Commercials and advertisements abound for quick fixes, promising excellent results and a thinner body. Family or friends or teammates can also contribute to this temptation to diet, as they flaunt their success with the latest, greatest program. But before you go jumping on the bandwagon, take a look at the facts about dieting and the consequences it brings. Dieting has a 97 percent failure rate. Yes, 97 percent. That’s really high. Dieters usually blame themselves when they can’t stick with their diet, but in reality it’s the diet that has failed them. If your mechanic failed to fix your car 97 percent of the time, would you blame yourself? Or keep going back to the same mechanic? Of course not! We need to stop blaming ourselves, and we need to ditch the diets. They don’t work. Dieting is like holding your breath. You’ll eventually gasp for air. Our bodies are control freaks, so if something dramatically changes in a short period of time (for example, your calorie intake) then your body will fight to maintain balance to prevent drastic weight loss. Your metabolism will slow down, your energy levels will decrease and your cravings will increase. Nobody I know wants to experience these consequences. If that’s true for you too, the solution is simple: don’t diet. Dieting increases the likelihood of eating disorders, disordered eating and body hatred. Some of my clients innocently entered into the world of dieting, only to find themselves years and years later with a continually confusing and rocky relationship with both food and their bodies. Weighing and measuring foods, counting points or calories, or following a restrictive meal plan are not needed for good health or a healthy weight. These are tools of the Food Police, which imposes lots of external rules, restriction and rigidity. Instead of dieting, we can tune in to our bodies and the wisdom we have there. We’ve been born with an intuitive eating system, so that our bodies know how to eat in order for us to reach and maintain a weight that is just right for our bodies. Tune in to your body and note your hunger and fullness levels throughout the day. You can even write down information about your eating experiences, such as what you ate, when you ate, why (hunger, boredom, happiness, stress, etc.), where and how much. Notice how you felt afterwards and make a mental note if you would change anything. Was it satisfying and energizing? Or was it miserable and stressful? Did it leave you comfortable? Or are you still hungry and unsatisfied? Noticing what works and what doesn’t work can help you know where adjustments can be made for next time. This year, make a resolution to NOT diet. Instead, choose to follow your intuitive wisdom, so that you’ll be able to experience a more peaceful relationship with food, improved self-esteem and body image, and better physical and emotional health. Now THAT sounds like it will bring you a much happier new year! ✪ Maximize your performance by seeking out personalized advice from Nutrition Coach Jill Daniels, MS, RD, CSSD, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. www.JillDanielsRD.com
Angst Over
ANXIETY get mental: erika carlson We’ve all been there. Feeling tight. Jittery. Nauseous. Overwhelmed. Lack of control of your muscles. Confidence is nowhere to be found. Pre-game nerves. Getting nervous is nothing new. It’s a function that’s embedded in our DNA and is designed to keep us alert and safe from potential danger. I often tell excessively nervous young athletes that if it were a different time in history, all that anxiety could be put to good use as a look out for the family cave or castle. The highly anxious person was ready for battle at any moment. But today, our nerves don’t always have such an obvious benefit. Today’s “threats” tend to be those to our egos, situations where we may be perceived as not good enough. We tend to fear mistakes and failure. To be clear, I am in no way making light of this. The fear that we feel is as strong as our ancestors’. The context is different, but the fear is real. Let’s break it down to examine what’s going on when nerves strike before a game or a key moment. WE ANTICIPATE A SITUATION — The fear center of our brain sends messages which trigger our adrenal glands. Adrenal glands send a burst of adrenaline racing through our body. This causes the following symptoms: ›› Jitters (combination of increased heart rate, muscle tension) ›› Shallow breathing ›› Tightness ›› Excessive thinking about what might happen ›› Feel sick to our stomach ›› We feel helplessly stuck in our nerves, unable to shake the feeling, which causes more worry, and so the problem builds on itself. Stress levels are very high. ›› Performance suffers and we often find ourselves performing significantly worse in games, than in practices. What can you do to get in control? A few simple strategies can make a big difference in your pre-game nerves: BE PREPARED — There’s no better source of confidence than being fit, technically sound and properly fueled. This will help you anticipate the game differently. Rather than fear what might happen, you can feel excited about the opportunity to compete. BREATHE — This is the fastest, easiest and most reliable way to stay present, fight the adrenaline rush, lower your heart rate and feel a sense of control. Long slow breaths force you to slow down. Breathe early and often to get and stay in control. EMBRACE YOUR NERVES — Feeling nervous is OK. What you’re feeling is your brain and body preparing for battle. The battle just happens to be in your sport. Adrenaline acts like rocket fuel for your muscles to allow you to spring into action. This is your moment, use that to fuel your game. Use it as an advantage. Simple solutions can go a long way to manage nerves. Focus on these strategies, and remember, like any new skill it will take a lot of quality reps to hold up under pressure. ✪ Erika Carlson is a CEO and certified mental trainer at Mental Training, Inc. in Pleasanton.
greatness
&GRIT Pacific Region’s Best Youth Football Teams Will Visit Rocklin To Play For National Championships Berth
NorCal Tip-Off Takes Flight
R
P
lacer Valley Tourism is thrilled to announce it’s teaming up with All-American Games for the second straight year to bring the Football University Pacific Region West Championship games to Placer Valley. Twelve youth football teams will take the fields on Dec. 2-3 at Rocklin High in hopes of moving on to the National Championships in Naples, Fla., starting on Dec. 18. All-American Games Operations Manager Joe Hale explained that this regional championship will showcase players from sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Four all-star teams from each grade level will compete with one champion from each grade. Teams will be traveling from Seattle, Columbia Basin and the Bay Area as well as Sacramento to compete. “This is the last step before they go on to Naples and only three of the 12 teams competing will have a chance to play for the National Championship,” Hale said. “Last year from each grade level at the Pacific regionals it was the Seattle teams that advanced on to Naples, and the eighth grade game was one of the most talented finals of all-time.” You can learn more about this incredible program that celebrates youth football all-star athletes across the nation by going to their website: www.fbunc.com. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the first weekend of December to see these talented and tough middle schoolers live as they take it to the fields. Rocklin High is located at 5301 Victory Lane in Rocklin. ✪
ocklin and Whitney high schools have joined forces to kick-off the high school basketball season in an exciting way with the NorCal Tip-Off Tournament. This four-day event takes place Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 and Placer Valley Tourism is thrilled to be teaming up with these two top-notch high schools to bring this inaugural event to Placer Valley. The tournament will primarily take place at Rocklin and Whitney high schools, where 16 boys varsity teams will be competing and all will have a four-game minimum. Adding an extra element of excitement, the final four games will be played at William Jessup University. “We are looking forward to the first year for this tournament and excited about the level of competition it will bring to our area,” Rocklin High coach Stephen Taylor said. “We have teams coming from Reno, Chico, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno and both Central and Southern California as well as Roseville’s Oakmont High School. Looking ahead, we plan to build this up to the top tournament in Northern California.” Whitney High School is located at 701 Wildcat Blvd. in Rocklin and Rocklin High School is located at 5301 Victory Lane in Rocklin, so come watch these student-athletes leave it all on the courts. To see who is crowned the NorCal Tip-Off champion, head to William Jessup University on Saturday, Dec. 2. ✪ — All copy and photos provided by Placer Valley Tourism