SoCal Issue 126 December 2016 by Sport Stars Magazine

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turn The Alemany Warriors have had enough of watching league foes win state titles. This year, they’re determined to get something for themselves. Page 20

16 18 28

Editor Chace Bryson releases his wishlist for 2017 high school sports

Football bowl season is upon us. Take note. Also, state Top 20

The west’s best girls hoops tourney is back for another year

Lots happening in girls hoops in December. What’s it mean?

Central Catholic are state champs in volleyball once more

ACL injuries are all too common in female athletes

in the network

a look at the biggest stories from the Cal-Hi SportStars Network

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CalHiSports.com

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Dec. 21 we drop our latest Digital Weekly featuring the state bowls roundup.

Cal-Hi Sports has the latest state basketball Top 20 rankings live now!

Stay up-to-date with the West Coast Jamboree on our website and via social.

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Li'Angelo Ball Chino Hills - Basketball - Senior If there was any doubt whose team Chino HIlls was now that Lonzo Ball is at UCLA, his younger brother answered that in a hurry. He scored 56 points in a 121-89 win over Orange Lutheran-Orange as part of the Centennial BattleZone Tournament in Corona on Nov. 29. One night later, he dropped 72 on Rancho Christian-Temecula as the Huskies cruised to a 128-108 win. The 72-point night landed him at No. 10 on the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time list of single-game scoring marks. Chino Hills has opened the season 7-0 through Dec. 13 and has now won 45 straight dating back to March 27, 2015, when it lost to the CIF Div. I State Championship game to San Ramon Valley-Danville at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley.

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Got Send your nominations to: Next? Editor@SportStarsOnline.com or tweet us using #SSOTW Like us on Facebook

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December 2016

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Making Our List Checking It

TWICE W

e’ve almost reached the end to another calendar year. Which is always a little weird in the world of high school sports because we’re only through a third of the academic year. So when it’s naturally a time to reflect back, it feels off because you’re considering two different interscholastic seasons. I always prefer to write my in-depth year-in-review columns in June, and keep things simple. So instead, I’m going to borrow a theme from our Top 5 writer, Bill Kolb, and build a high school sports wish list for 2017. Here’s a few things I’d like Santa to bring to high school sports in California. ›› A plan to give soccer as well as baseball/softball their own CIF state championships. The fact that soccer has transitioned almost fully to a winter sport throughout the state now, with the Sac-Joaquin Section coming on board this season, it feels like we’re getting close on this one. At the very least, it seems like the a Northern Regional could begin happening as soon as next year. As for baseball and softball, I’d imagine there are still some hurdles, but we need to get this figured out. With California perhaps having the richest baseball history of any state, it’s a travesty that there isn’t a stage for our high school talent to be showcased. The same can be said for softball, really. If we can get something going on that, SportStars would be in the front row with a scorebook and sunflower seeds. We imagine, CalHiSports.com editor Mark Tennis — a fellow diamond enthusiast — would be right there with us. ›› More competitive equity. The Southern Section has led the way on this — building its playoff brackets purely on what section officials believe to be evenly paired teams, rather than on enrollment numbers and geographic proximity — and it’s clearly the way to go. If the sections in the north can catch up, we might avoid so many of the stomach-churning, first-round playoff blowouts that have become all too commonplace. ›› A tweak to the North Coast Section Football Open Division. The four-team playoff was the right way to go this year, and it was refreshing to see Freedom-Oakley have its shot at a CIF State Bowl appearance. And the Falcons went down swinging too, going toe-to-toe with St. Mary’s-Stockton in a 49-40 loss that showcased the caliber of NCS Div. I teams that have been held back for so many years by the greatness of De La Salle. The tweak we heard suggested — and like very much — is to eliminate the extra bye between semifinals and final and complete the Open Division a week earlier. Then have the Open runner-up and the Division I champion play for the second regional berth. This year, that would’ve meant a doozy of a game between Freedom and Monte Vista-Danville. That’s a start. See what you can do, Santa. Happy Holidays to all of our readers and we’ll see you in the new year. ✪

join our team PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Dave Kiefer, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • JustAGameEvents@gmail.com Reader Resources/Administration Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Info@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution/Delivery Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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your ticket to california sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #7, December2016 Whole No. 126 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 16 issues, U.S. 3rd class $35 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy for $6 total fo bulk. 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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Top 5 wishes for bay area fans It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or so we heard. As long as you aren’t a 49ers fan, we guess. But nevermind that. In keeping with tradition (and what, after all, is the entire holiday season about, if not tradition?), we were going to offer you our top five sports fan christmasolstkwanzaakkuh wishes. But then Wish No. 1 came true, when we learned last week that the late great Bill King had received (at long merciful last) the Ford C. Frick award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. ‘Bout frickin’ time. Best baseball play-by-play guy ever for our money. And that doesn’t even touch on his basketball and football chops. Anyway. Now you get wishes nos. 2-6. But still the top 5. Oh, you know what we mean. 1. Some semblance of a plan. For the aforementioned 49ers fans. Wouldn’t it be nice to believe that someone down in Santa Clara had an inkling of what to do next? We heard Carmen Policy might have some free time. 2. Some semblance of a plan. For the Oakland A’s fans. Coliseum City? Howard Terminal? Whatever happened to Fremont? Vegas? Seriously, you guys. Can we just get a grown-up stadium now that we kicked Lew to the curb? Where did I leave my blue-ribbon panel? 3. Some semblance of a plan. For the Stanford football fans. Oh, god. Christian McCaffrey’s leaving. Can’t one of the big brains down on The Farm figure out a rule that makes him stay one more year? Somebody call Sergey Brin. Is there an app for this? 4. Some semblance of a plan. For the Cal football fans. Uh. Yeah. How’s that whole Sonny Dykes thing workin’ out? 5. Some semblance of a plan. For the Golden State Warriors fans. You know. For the parade. — Bill “Heatmiser” Kolb Damon Tarver/CSM via ZUMA Wire

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Where are they now? KEITH SMITH He was the star on March 27, 2015, when San Ramon Valley-Danville upset Chino Hills in double OT to win the CIF Div. I State Championship at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. As of Dec. 12, that was the last time the Huskies lost a basketball game. Smith had 20 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds that night to highlight an inspiring team effort by the Wolves. He wound up on the next week’s cover of SportStars as a result. Since then, Chino Hills has gone on to win 41 straight. That includes a 35-0 mythical national championship season led by brothers Lonzo, Li’Angelo and La’Melo Ball. With Lonzo now leading nationallyranked UCLA, the two younger brothers have spurred the Huskies to a 6-0 start to the 201617 campaign. Meanwhile, Smith is at Virginia Military Institute getting minutes as a freshman. (He spent last year Montverde Academy, a prep school in Florida). He’s played in all of VMI’s eight games and made his first start Dec. 10 against No. 15 West Virginia. He finished with 5 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal.

say what? “We’re the same kids, but we realized what it takes to be a Spartan team. And to really be humble, put our nose in the dirt, and just grind.”

—De La Salle senior running back Jonathan Hackett speaking on how far De La Salle has come since early October when a shaky four-game stretch ended with the Spartans barely beating San Ramon Valley-Danville 28-27. That four-game stretch also included the team’s only loss (to East-Salt Lake City) and two other wins that could’ve easily gone the other way. Hackett ran for 143 yards and two TDs in a 42-7 NCS Open Division Championship win over Freedom-Oakley.

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Beware System Overload My basketball coach likes to press and run. Some players think we would be better off if we didn’t press, but my dad says we should focus on throwing the ball down to the block and trying to score from close to the basket. Then I keep hearing about Dribble Drive Motion, which I guess is what a lot of good teams run now. What’s the best system for high school basketball? G. T., Santa Cruz

imple answer: There is no perfect system, in basketball or in life. There are deeply complicated philosophical reasons why this is true, even in the most structured situations. So in a fluid, constantly changing environment such as high school basketball, no collection of Xs and Os is going to work for every team every time. There are a couple of constants, however, and no good team — or at least very few — can be without them. 1) The players must play hard. There’s no substitute for this, and Phil Jackson could come in and install the triangle at your high school, but if the players don’t play hard, it won’t matter. Even the most talented teams have to be substantially invested in success. A perfect example is last year’s CIF Division II boys state championship game, which matched Long Beach Poly and its 4,500-person student body versus Serra-San Mateo, with fewer than 1,000 boys. Poly was uninterested, and Serra thumped them pretty bad — but had you gone by talent, depth and skill, you would’ve expected Poly to win, perhaps even easily. 2) The coach must understand his system and believe in it. Sometimes high school coaches decide to adopt the flavor of the month (whether it be the triangle, flex, or any number of successful systems) without fully understanding it. The nuances of any system are the key, and it takes time to fully

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grasp them. A coach who adopts the system because he thinks it will work, and hasn’t spent a lot of time studying it, could be in for a rude awakening. 3) The players must believe. The coach must communicate his commitment to the system, and his commitment to the idea that it will be successful, to his players. However, whatever system the team runs likely won’t work against a superior opponent. So the players are faced with a choice: blame the new system, or blame themselves for the loss. It doesn’t take a Ph.D in psychology to know which way that’s going to go… If those three things are in place, any system will be successful. Granted, there are marginal advantages in one particular style of play over another, especially if personnel changes radically from year to year. Yet there’s also a lot to be said for continuity. I’ve always felt that a high school coach who installs a different system every year to take advantage of his talent runs the risk of spending so much time teaching the new system that he loses ground in other areas. If the system is the same, then players can focus on such things as making open shots, which is usually the most important factor in any game. So don’t worry about the system, try to tell your dad not to worry, and just commit yourself to the coach, the program and your teammates. If everyone plays hard, and plays together, good things will happen. On the other hand, if everyone sits around moaning about how things would be so much better if we just ran the offense they do at the school down the road, it’s not going to turn out as well as everyone hopes. ✪ Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and coached multiple sports and a handful of high schools throughout the Bay Area. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at clayk@fullcourt.com

Bowl Bits

Musings On The CIF State Bowls As Football’s Final Weekend Approaches

f anyone out there remembers some of our ancient CalHi Sports newsletters from the 1980s or 1990s, they’ll recall that founder and record book compiler Nelson Tennis (my uncle, who died in 2004) did a short series of comments he called “Random Remarks.” With that in mind, here are some random remarks heading into the CIF state football championships scheduled for Dec. 16-17: ›› It’s a great list of QBs whose alma maters are playing for titles, including Tom Brady (Serra-San Mateo), Aaron Rodgers (Pleasant Valley-Chico), Derek Carr (Bakersfield Christian) and USC’s Sam Darnold (San Clemente). ›› Carr’s former school, which is playing Campolindo for the Div. IV-AA state title, is coached by his brother, Darren. His other brother, David, the former No. 1 draft pick, is the offensive coordinator. David Carr also was an NFL QB for 12 years. ›› San Clemente’s QB this season, Jack Sears, recently switched his commitment from Duke to USC. And before Darnold, the Tritons had QB Travis Wilson, who went on to star at Utah. That’s three Pac12 QBs in a row from one high school. ›› It’s hard to argue against competitive-equity divisions when so many of the games come down to the wire. There is a fairness issue that arises, however, when teams that don’t win league titles can drop to lower divisions and can compete for state titles, especially when the league champion gets knocked out in a higher division. Del Oro in the Sierra Foothill League (Sac-Joaquin Section) and San Clemente (Southern Section) in the South Coast League are great examples. They are playing for the Div. I-A state title but in league Del Oro lost to Folsom 42-7 while San Clemente lost to Mission Viejo 41-3. Folsom and Mission Viejo both lost in higher divisions. ›› The other aspect of competitive-equity divisions that has the potential to be the most messy is when a school with a massive enrollment advantage gets to play another with small-town style enrollment in a state final. That hasn’t happened yet in California, but it could since the CIF Southern Section is now completely competitive equity while other

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December 2016

The bowl opponent for Luke Bottari and Serra-San Mateo will be Sierra CanyonChatsworth, a school that has racked up plenty of hardware over the past two years. Phillip Walton photo

sections like the Central and North Coast are not. ›› If you’re a fan of computer rankings, yes, they have their place. But sometimes they are just plain ridiculous. Entering the state finals, the MaxPreps’ computer ranks St. Mary’sStockton ahead of De La Salle-Concord even though DLS hasn’t lost to a NorCal team since 1991. Ask any FreedomOakley players who faced both teams in consecutive weeks, which one was more difficult to play. The MaxPreps’ computer also had Del Oro ahead of Folsom. Ahead of Folsom? Guess that game when the Bulldogs dominated the Golden Eagles 42-7 didn’t count for too much in that algorithm. ›› For comeback team of the year, a great candidate may be St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo. Head coach Lane Hawkins has done a remarkable job turning around a squad that went 2-8 last year and closed with a seven-game losing streak. The Bruins rolled over Brookside Christian-Stockton in the NorCal Division VI-A final 47-18 to advance to the state final Subscribe to s360 at SportStarsOnline.com

against unbeaten Strathmore. Quarterback Akil Edwards, who got the scoring started against Brookside with a 26-yard run, has been one of the reasons for the turnaround. ›› Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth, the school facing Serra-San Mateo in the Division II-A state final, has been collecting a lot of hardware in different sports lately. The Trailblazers swept CIF divisional state titles in basketball for the 2014-15 season, won a CIF Southern Section title this fall in girls volleyball and were the 2015-16 Cal-Hi Sports Division IV State School of the Year. Sierra Canyon’s boys basketball team, which features UCLA-bound Cody Riley and one of the nation’s top juniors, Marvin Bagley, was No. 1 in the state and among the top five in the nation as of December 12. ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

top 25 state football rankings St. Mary’s-Stockton

After games of Saturday, Dec. 10 1. (1) — St. John Bosco-Bellflower 12-2 Braves flip-flopped with Centennial from No. 3 to No. 2 after win in CIF Southern Section Div. I semis, then flip-flopped with Mater Dei from No. 2 to No. 1 after topping Monarchs in the final. 2. (2) — Mater Dei-Santa Ana 13-1* Head coach Bruce Rollinson’s squad beat Bosco 26-21 in October, but lost 42-28 in the rematch that decided the CIFSS Div. I championship. 3. (3) — Centennial-Corona 11-2* Losses for the Huskies this year ended up being 50-49 to IMG Academy of Florida and 49-47 to St. John Bosco. They scored seven times and gave up seven in both. 4. (4) — De La Salle-Concord 11-1 Given the Spartans’ close calls early in the season to Servite and San Ramon Valley, this is as high as they could come back up in the rankings prior to facing St. John Bosco. 5. (6) ▲ Cathedral Catholic-San Diego 14-0 The Dons had a 28-7 lead at halftime over Narbonne-Harbor City but had earn a stop on the final play of the game to capture the CIF SoCal Division I-AA championship with a 35-28 win. 6. (7) ▲ St. Mary’s-Stockton 14-1 Rams followed up their 56-25 win over four-time defending champ Folsom in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 finals by beating Freedom 49-40 in NorCal Div I-AA title game. 7. (8) ▲ Rancho Cucamonga 12-1* An impressive 42-26 win over Mission Viejo in the CIFSS Div. I quarterfinals was followed up by a loss to Mater Dei in the semifinals. 8. (9) ▲ Mission Viejo 11-1* Diablos had 39-game win streak stopped in loss to Rancho Cucamonga. They also beat CIF SoCal Div. I-A champ San Clemente 41-3 in regular season. 9. (5) ▼ Narbonne-Harbor City 14-1* Junior QB Jalen Chatman finished with 52 TD passes for team that was No. 5 prior to 35-28 loss to Cathedral Catholic in CIF SoCal Div. I-AA final. 10. (12) ▲ Freedom-Oakley 11-2* Ronnie Rivers concluded an outstanding season with 24 carries for 113 yards rushing and one TD and he had an 89-yard kickoff return score in 49-40 loss to St. Mary’s.

11. (14) ▲ Folsom 12-2* Bulldogs are behind Freedom due to comparative scores involving St. Mary’s. Remember, though, they beat Del Oro-Loomis 42-7 in regular season. 12. (13) ▲ Helix-La Mesa 10-3* Helix’s two losses to No. 5 Cathedral Catholic (35-28 & 35-27) were much closer than what the Dons did to CIF SoCal Div. II-AA champ Madison-San Diego (31-7). 13. (16) ▲ San Clemente 12-3 USC-bound QB Jack Sears led Tritons to postseason surge that is continuing in Div. I-A state final vs. Del Oro. Earlier wins vs. Heritage-Menifee, Valencia, Murrieta Valley and EdisonHuntington Beach. 14. (11) ▼ Edison-Huntington Beach 13-2* Head coach Dave White ended career with CIFSS Div. III title win over La Mirada and then regional bowl loss to San Clemente. 15. (18) ▲ Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 11-3* Team that had early close loss to Rancho Cucamonga and was up to No. 10 in state before being stunned by San Clemente in CIFSS Div. II championship. 16. (17) ▲ Pittsburg 9-2* Both of Pitt’s losses were to Freedom. One of its wins was 48-25 over Serra-San Mateo, which won CIF NorCal Div. II-A title. 17. (16) ▼ La Mirada 11-3* The Matadores lost 44-24 in the CIFSS Divi. III final to No. 14 Edison. Only other losses were to St. John Bosco and Mater Dei. 18. (21) ▲ Valley Christian-San Jose 12-1 Defense for the Warriors has only allowed 10.8 points per game heading into CIF Div. II-AA state final vs. San Diego Madison. 19. (19) — Clayton Valley-Concord 9-2* Ugly Eagles have losses to De La Salle and Helix-La Mesa. One of their wins was 50-15 over CIF NorCal Div. IV-AA champ Campolindo. 20. (20) — Monte Vista-Danville 12-1* Remaining right behind the Ugly Eagles is the Mustangs, who captured the CIF NCS Div. I championship with a 42-18 win over Antioch two weeks ago. NEXT FIVE TEAMS 21. Del Oro-Loomis (13-2), 22. Vista Murrieta-Murrieta (9-3)*, 23. Madison-San Diego (12-2), 24. Serra-San Mateo (10-4) and 25. Calabasas (14-1)*. * season complete

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December 2016

SportStars™

ABCs of ATVs

Want to make ATV riding an all-inclusive activity for your family? Here are a few things to consider as you get started

TV riding can be a fun, healthy, family activity. While many experienced parents start their children on very small dirt bikes (yes, they can be equipped with training wheels), others opt to start their kids on four wheels. ATVs come in all different sizes and offer families the ability to enjoy the great outdoors, together — in a very exciting way. ATV riding is a healthy activity. Did you know that when using proper technique, you will work all your major core muscles, hips, thighs, arms, gripping muscles and even your heart? Riding an ATV is quite a workout! Unlike driving a car, you use major muscle groups to maneuver the machine and safely navigate the terrain. This is called “active riding” and is the reason why riding is such good exercise. Even more importantly, active riding is crucial to the safety of the rider. Yes, ATV riding is very fun and many children enjoy this form of recreation, but ATVs are not toys. They are heavy machines with often powerful motors. So how can you safely enjoy this sport with your child? It begins with proper training and ends with proper supervision. In the state of California, there is no age minimum to be able to ride an ATV. Rather, the law states that anyone using an off-highway vehicle must be able to reach and operate all controls. Putting a child on an ATV that is too big OR too small is a dangerous mistake (see the graphics for proper fit). Children MUST be able to comfortably reach the gas and breaks (both hand and foot) with no stretching or tip-toeing. Conversely, a child who is too big for a particular ATV will not have the proper range of motion for turning and maneuvering. Even though he or she can reach everything, they cannot do so properly and are in violation of the Reach and Operate law. Some other things to consider: ATVs can be modified in a number of ways for young children just starting 14

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December 2016

out. A kill switch can be installed so a parent walking behind the child on a track can shut the machine down as needed. Also, an ATV can be modified to only reach a minimum speed. Of course, fitting your child properly with safety gear is also very important. All riders should always wear a helmet, eye protection, over-theankle footwear, and long pants/sleeves and gloves. There is also additional riding gear available such as knee and elbow protection, chest protectors, and neck and spine protection. The most important way to ensure your child’s safety is to enroll him or her into an ATV Safety course. This is a class taught by ATV professionals who will teach your children all they need to know to begin enjoying this sport. Children are taught how to identify parts of the machine and how to safely operate it — from starting and stopping, to traversing hills and turns. They are also instructed in trail etiquette and environmental responsibility. This course provides its students with an ATV safety certificate which is required by law. Adults must supervise their children when riding ATVs and be in possession of this certificate. Children aged 14-18 may ride unsupervised, but must have their own safety certificate. The California State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Division offers these classes for children 17 years of age and younger, free of charge (and often reduced rates for adults), at many of our State Vehicular Recreation Areas. Visit www.ohv.parks.ca.gov for details. You can also sign up the entire family for free through most ATV sales locations if you buy a new machine. Finally, you can call the ATV Safety Foundation at (800) 887-2887. With proper training and supervision, OHV recreation can be an ideal way to spend quality family time together and experience the great outdoors. ✪ Subscribe to s360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Turn Out The Jam Platinum Division

As 132 Teams Prepare For The 17th West Coast Jamboree, We Take A Look At The Top Three Divisions

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December 2016

After a one-year hiatus, St. Mary’s-Stockton is back and looking to add a fourth Jamboree title to its 2001, 2007 and 2014 crowns. Besides St. Mary’s, this year’s Platinum field includes three defending CIF state champions, Open Division champion Chaminade-West Hills, Division III champion Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco and Division IV winner Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa. St. Mary’s will be the favorite and as of December they were No. 4 in the Cal-Hi Sports State Top 20 and sporting a 5-0 record that included 74-55 and 69-63 victories over Cardinal Newman and Sacred Heart Cathedral, respectively. The Rams are led by Cal-Hi Sports’ reigning State Sophomore of the Year, Aquira DeCosta. After five games, DeCosta was averaging 18.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. Injuries have some St. Mary’s stars sidelined, but others have stepped up as three other players have joined DeCosta in double figures. Junior guard Neenah Young was at a 16.4 ppg pace, fellow junior guard Ariel Johnson was averaging 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and 6-1 freshman wing Amaya Oliver posted 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. Analysts are really talking up Oliver as the next force in Stockton. Sacred Heart Cathedral was No. 5 at press time in the Cal-Hi Sports rankings and playing very well. They won the La Jolla Country Day Sweet 16 Invitational with a 78-75 OT victory over state-ranked Mis-

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sion Hills-San Marcos and gave St. Mary’s all it could handle. Cincinnati-bound 6-1 senior IImar’I Thomas was averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds a game through Dec. 12. Head coach LyRyan Russell has just about everyone back and has been getting excellent play from senior guard Edina del Rosario. Cardinal Newman was 4-1 through Dec. 12, and although they have the 19-point loss to St. Mary’s, the Cardinals moved up in the Cal-Hi Sports rankings after a 60-29 win over Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills. Head coach Monica Mertle has a lot of talent led by Boise State-bound 6-3 senior forward Hailey Vice-Neat and University of Portland-bound 6-5 center Lauren Walker. Chaminade lost two All-Americans off the 2016 Open Division champions and has struggled a bit to start the season. However, the 2012 Platinum Division champions still are formidable and are led by the senior duo of Isabel Newman and Melissa Wright. Salesian-Richmond lost two games at the Iolani Classic but they will come into the Jamboree well rested and should be a force. Sophomore 6-5 post Angel Jackson (11.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg), sophomore forward Makayla Edwards (9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and senior guard and transfer Sierra Smith (7.8 ppg, 2.7 assists) are the Pride’s top players. Three Sacramento-area teams round out the Platinum field led by state-ranked McClatchySacramento which got off to a 5-0 start. The Lions are the top team in the Sacramento metro and feature Utah-bound guard Jordan Cruz. Antelope, led by senior Bailey Hawkins (12.8 ppg) opened the year 5-1. Sacramento High will be looking for momentum after a slow start. ✪

Diamond Division This field features a slate of compelling matchups with teams from the East Bay, North Bay, Sacramento area and one team from out of state. Elk Grove features Sacramento Bee Player of the Year Mira Shulman, who through six games was averaging 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 2.3 blocks. Paiton Demps provides an additional threat for the CIF Div. II state runners-up. St. Mary’s-Berkeley counts on Carolyn Gill and Da’janae Evans to lead the squad, but also be on the lookout for freshman Kayla Roseman, who averaged 11.6 points per game over her first five games. Another team from St. Mary’s league, St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda breezed through the Eagle Eye Classic to begin its season. The 2016 Division V NorCal runner-ups feature a strong post presence in Kayla Nunn and Aiyanna Dueberry. Prairie, hailing from Washington state, returns to the Jamboree after a one-year absence. Jozie Tangeman and Grace Prom were all-league selections last year, while sophomores Cassidy Gardner and 6-foot, 3-inch Brook Walling are players to watch. Defending CIF NorCal Open Champion, Miramonte-Orinda, is counting on Elle Louie, Clair Steele and Jordyn Bryant to lead things following the graduation of USA Today and MaxPreps National Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu (now at Oregon), as well as Keanna Delos Santos and Uriah Howard. Janae Fairbrook averaged 11 points and 4.5 assists per game for St. Francis-Sacramento a season ago, and returns to lead the CIF Div. I state runners-up. Arcata opened its season strong behind a trio of players (Vanessa Holland, Kaylie McCracken and Ashley Quigley) each averaging over 14 points per game. Inderkum-Sacramento opened the year slow, but does feature one of the Sacramento region’s top freshmen in Maile Williams.✪

Gold Division This bracket includes the reigning Gold champion Antelope, which totaled 56 wins over the past two seasons. Arianna Spann, Bailey Hawkins, Azanna Sands and freshman Jordan Goodwin are each averaging at least 10 points through the first six games of the new season. The Titans open with HeritageBrentwood, a North Coast Section Div. I runner-up which returns plenty of talent, including Mikaila Wegenke and Jordan Sweeney. This field also features the defending CIF Div. I state champion Brea Olinda-Brea. The Wildcats feature Tyiona Watkins, who scored 22 in the state title game and averaged 16 for the season. Jeff Sink, the L.A. Times’ Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for 2015-16, is back at the helm. Woodside Priory opens against Brea Olinda. The Panthers return a trio of stars in Tatiana Reese, Ila Lane and Gabby Ruiz and already grabbed hardware at the Robert Louis Stevenson Tournament. Vanden-Fairfield has a superstar in Julia Blackshell-Fair. She’s currently ranked the #92 overall prospect by ESPN, and while it hurt to lose Kiana Moore to graduation, the Vikings figure to be a strong presence once again. Vanden took third in the Diamond Division a year ago. They open against a Narbonne-Harbor City team looking to take off after a 14-14 rebuilding year. Manteca fields Loretta Kakala and Sydney Fryer, both of whom averaged double digits scoring last year, when the Buffaloes made the section playoffs. Kakala is committed to Louisville. Manteca faces Campolindo-Moraga in the first round, a team with high hopes behind junior Haley Van Dyke who averaged 19.2 points, 15.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 4.7 steals and 3 blocks in her first six games. She has matured along with fellow juniors Ashley Thoms, Aubrey Wagner and Jessi O’Reilly. ✪ — Harlold Abend and Scott Giorgianni

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Decoding December M uch has been revealed in the early going of what will be a long basketball season, but there’s still a lot left to figure out. The No. 2 girls basketball team in the nation, Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, lived up to notices by outlasting Clovis WestFresno in the finals of the ‘Iolani tournament — but Clovis West took down previous No. 7 in the nation Long Beach Poly in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Salesian-Richmond stumbled twice against Hawaiian teams, a major surprise that may wind up keeping Salesian out of the Open Division in March. St. Mary’s-Stockton’s demise has been somewhat exaggerated, as the Rams knocked off a strong Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. team by six on Dec. 10. Freshman Amaya Oliver and junior Aquira DeCosta are a tall, long, athletic front of a 2-2-1 full court press that, as usual, will put St. Mary’s near the top of the state rankings all year, and given a good performance at the Nike TOC, into the national rankings as well. Carondelet-Concord and Brookside Christian-Stockton have both played well, though both have lopsided losses at the hands of Clovis West, a team many expect to be moved to the NorCal half of the CIF Open Division once section championships have been decided. If that happens, teams like Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa and Miramonte-Orinda may not qualify for the Open — which would make Division II and Division IV

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NorCal championships much tougher to win for other teams. An early surprise is California-San Ramon, which has rolled to seven straight wins and two tournament championships. They have two more tournaments on tap — the Acalanes Tournament and the West Coast Jamboree — and should they win both of those as well, they will have clearly marked themselves as a team to take seriously. But the big tournament for NorCal teams will, oddly enough, be in Arizona. The Nike TOC, as always, is chock full of nationally ranked and California teams. The Joe Smith Bracket, the top 16, has Mitty, St. Mary’s and Clovis West, plus an assortment of national powers from as far away as Maryland, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The John Anderson Bracket, the next one down, features Carondelet, which will open against one of Tennessee’s best teams, Brentwood Academy. Vanden-Fairfield is also in that bracket, along with Southern California heavyweights such as Brea-Olinda-Brea, Mater Dei-Santa Ana and La Jolla Country Day. Miramonte and Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland are in the third bracket, which also features teams from all over the country. One or both could wind up as section champions and be assigned to the Open Division. Sacramento and St. Francis-Sacramento are in the Derrill Kipp Bracket, and could conceivably play each other in the second round.

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A Lot Will Be Learned This Girls Tournament Season All of these results will be critical when the newly formed CIF girls basketball committee sits down at the end of the section playoffs and determines which teams go in to the Open Division. Sacramento, say, which battled Oregon favorite Southridge and its 6-4 freshman center, Cameron Brink, to within six points on Dec. 10, could use the TOC as a springboard to a solid postseason seeding or even a berth in the open division. (Brink, by the way, drew college coaches from all over the country in her two-day sojourn to Northern California. Tara VanDerveer, in fact, came to Laney College Saturday just two days after knee surgery to watch Brink display speed, skill, good hands and a shot-blocking ability at near-Brittney Griner level.) Of course, the worst thing that can happen in postseason is to be the number eight seed in the Open, and draw Mitty, Clovis West or St. Mary’s-Stockton in the first round. The way the system is structured, the best outcome is to be the ninth best team in Northern California — unless you happen to Mitty or Clovis West or St. Mary’s — drop down to your assigned section division, and be the favorite to hang a banner on the gym wall. Even though these early December results will be overshadowed by what happens later, the committee won’t forget. A big win in December is going to count for a lot, though a big win in the section playoffs will probably count for more. ✪ — Clay Kallam

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After A Pair Of League Foes Won State Titles A Year Ago, The Warriors Of Alemany Are Determined Not To Be Spectators This Spring

Brandon Davis (facing page) and D.J. McDonald are hoping to lead Alemany to the promised land this year.

t the 2016 boys basketball CIF State Championships at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, most of the attention focused on the Open Division and national championship run of Chino Hills. In the other five CIF divisions, NorCal programs won three titles and the two SoCal programs to take home the hardware have two peculiar things in common. Crespi-Encino captured the Division I title with a 68-53 victory over Berkeley, and Harvard-Westlake-North Hollywood downed Palma-Salinas 66-49 to take the hardware in Division IV. So what do the two successful programs have in common? Crespi and Harvard-Westlake are both part of the CIF Southern Section’s seven-team Mission League – and neither won the league title last season. That distinction belonged to Tray Meeks’ program at Alemany-Mission Hills, which split with Crespi in league play en route to an 11-1 record. Crespi and Alemany both participated in the ultra-competitive CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs, as Alemany dropped a close first round game to Inglewood, 76-74. Ironically, in the consolation bracket, Alemany defeated the Damien-La Verne club Crespi lost to in the opening round before the latter bounced back and advanced through the SoCal Division I regional bracket on its way to the state title. How did Meeks and his players feel about two teams from its league advancing further in the playoff and taking home the trophy? The answer matches Meeks’ approach to success: A yearn to learn and improve. “We were happy for them,” said Meeks, who has parlayed a solid playing career into an even more successful coaching tenure at the North San Fernando Valley school. “We battle, but at the end of the day, we are rooting for each other. Another thing we learned is to be us; we’re not mad at them. It was motivating to use because we should have been there as well.” The competitive league has produced five CIF state champions in the past five years and Meeks enjoys the camaraderie and competition. Meeks has built a 192-141 won-loss record entering his twelfth season and has experienced the thrill of winning a season’s final game. In 2011-12, the backcourt of Max Guercy (Rice) and Marqueze Coleman (Nevada) led the Warriors to the Division III state crown over Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco. Alemany finished 10-2 in league play that season after compiling its first overall winning season under Meeks in 2010-11 (20-11, 7-5). Meeks, a 1994 Morningside-Inglewood graduate, is not afraid to pick the brains of SoCal’s coaching mainstays such as Ed Azzam (Westchester-L.A.), Harvey Kitani (Rolling Hills Prep-San Pedro) and Gary McKnight (Mater Dei-Santa Ana), and the mentorship had paid off. Alemany has actually finished 11-1 in the Mission League the past two seasons, but the stakes are higher now than

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“That team set high expectations in the program … the week after the season ended the year before, they were locked in and united. There is the same ‘us against the world’ mentality, but the tallest player on that team was Bear (Henderson) at 6-4, 6-5. This team, we still have to prove ourselves and have to get it done together.” — Alemeny coach Tray Meeks

Fred Odhiambo 22

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when Alemany won the program’s first section and state title five years ago. The CIF Southern Section implemented its open division in 2013-14 and its bracket has been filled with teams that appear in the weekly Cal-Hi Sports State Top 20 rankings. The four open semifinalists are slotted in the SoCal Open regional playoffs. The other 12 teams are then placed in the lower divisions using the CIF’s competitive equity model. Crespi won its state title in Division I under that format last season and won in Division IV when teams were automatically slotted to their original CIF Divisions. After losing in the first round of the CIFSS Open Division playoffs the past two seasons, Meeks is optimistic about this team’s ability to win games in the open bracket, and his players are extremely motivated to experience what Crespi, Harvard-Westlake and Chaminade-West Hills (2014) experienced in recent seasons. “Seeing them win definitely sparked a fire for us,” said D.J. McDonald, a 5-foot-11 guard who had a breakout sophomore campaign for last year’s 24-9 team. McDonald teams up with UCSB signee Brandon Dante Davis (6-1) and returning Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass pick Ernie Sears (6-4) to form one of the state’s best backcourts. There are similarities between the Coleman-Guercy unit and this one, but Meeks likes to let each team blaze its own path. “Coach honestly doesn’t bring up that team much,” McDonald said. “He has a lot of confidence in us and believes we can get it done our own way.” Added Meeks: “That team set high expectations in the program … the week after the season ended the year before, they were locked in and united. There is the same ‘us against the world’ mentality, but the tallest player on that team was Bear (Henderson) at 6-4, 6-5. This team, we still have to prove ourselves and have to get it done together.” That is the one big difference between that championship group and this Alemany unit: height. With the arrival of 6-foot-10 junior Fred Odhiambo, the Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

CJ Sears

Warriors have the necessary size to compete with potential CIF Open Division finalists such as Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth, Mater Dei and Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, the latter who defeated preseason state No. 1 Bishop Montgomery-Torrance in its opener. His arrival from Pennsylvania via Kenya also opens up the game for his new perimeter teammates and allows athletes such as Sears, who was forced to compete inside last year, to play their natural positions. Sears, whose father Ernie played at Cal and uncle Bobby at Long Beach St., is being under recruited, according to Meeks. Sears won’t make any excuses about the situation and is using previous playing experiences to gear up for a big senior campaign. “As a sophomore I was being recruited, but my junior year I stopped playing on the perimeter and I didn’t have a good summer,” Sears said. “I’m not going to mope about it and not going to worry about it because I know I can play. “Seeing those other teams win (state), it sucks to be honest. Both my years here we were 11-1 and capable of a ring. This year we are bigger, more athletic and it changes the dynamic of the team now that I’m on the perimeter.” Alemany was ranked No. 11 in the state in the preseason and tested its wares right way at the NorCal Tip-Off Classic at Newark High School against No. 18 Capital Christian-Sacramento on Thanksgiving weekend. Odhiambo was coined “Bambi” at the event because of his shot blocking and ability to run the floor. His presence (12 rebounds, six blocks) along with McDonald’s shooting (31 points), helped the Warriors build a 17-point lead before the team learned there is still work to do in order to meet its goals of holding some hardware at the end of the season. Capital Christian, inspired by the infectious play of junior guard Zach Chappell, made a spirited comeback to force overtime. It was all Capital in the extra period, as it raced to an 82-71 victory. “We learned we cannot be content; we need to keep pushing,” McDonald said. “I do feel all three of us are more vocal and have stepped up to the plate to lead this team. In that game, we didn’t calm down and keep our composure. … We let off the gas. That comes with the leadership role I’m talking about. “Like coach says, ‘the little things make big things happen.”’ ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

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go the dis A Pair Of Scenic And Fun Running Events Highlight The Onset Of 2017 In The Redding And Shasta Lake Region

ffectionately referred to as “26.2 With A View,” the Redding Marathon returns for another year of distance running among some of Northern California’s most scenic landscapes and landmarks. January 15 is the date circled by several distance running enthusiasts who will line up near the Shasta Dam for the start of the Redding Marathon, an event that features a breathtaking 26.2 mile jaunt across some of Northern California’s finest landscape. Competitors can take a free bus to the start of the Redding Marathon. Enjoy the warmth of the Visitor‘s Center located near the start of the race and be ready for an 8 a.m. start. Runners enjoy a scenic journey downstream along the Sacramento River on paved running trails. Watch for bald eagles, osprey and other wildlife. Athletes competing in the Redding Marathon will cross over the Shasta Dam, through an old railroad tunnel and across the historic Diestelhorst Bridge, the Ribbon Suspension Bridge and to the finish line located on the famous Sundial Bridge. The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding. Opened on July 4, 2004, the bridge links the north and south campuses of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as access to Redding‘s Sacramento River Trail system. Not quite prepared for marathon distance? That’s fine. Take part in the three-leg marathon relay, or participate in the Sundial 5K which begins at 9 a.m. Also, for those serious runners, it’s worth noting that the Redding Marathon is an official qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Competitors can register online right now at reddingmarathon.org

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CLIKAPUDI TRAIL RUNS Just two weeks before the Redding Marathon takes place, outdoor enthusiasts can spend New Year’s Day taking part in the Clikapudi Trail Runs which occurs along the shores of Shasta Lake. The Trail Runs offer a variety of distances: a 5K, 10K and half-marathon. Races begin at 10 a.m. at the the Jones Valley Boat Ramp approximately 10 miles north of Bella Vista. The trail is a seven-mile loop on the south shore of the lake. Runners begin on a one-mile stretch of road to the trail crossing where 5K runners turn right, and 10K and half-marathon runners go left. The road portions of the race feature gently rolling hills. The 5K portion of trail is relatively flat single track and the 10K portion is mostly flat with three medium climbs along the way. All races have a 1:30 p.m. cut-off time and half-marathon participants must finish the first lap by noon or they will only be given credit for a 10K. Walkers and hikers are each welcome in the 5K and 10K. Registration is open and greatly favors those who sign up early. Competitors who register before Dec. 1 will receive the greatest discount ($17 for 5K, $22 for 10K and $33 for half-marathon). Registering between Dec. 1-30 will still save you some money ($24/$33/$44). Prices will be $30/$40/$50 on Dec. 31 and race day. Visit shastatrailruns.com/clikapudi/ to sign up now. ✪

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stance ›››› Sacramento River Trail Turtle Bay East Trail Sacramento River-Rail Trail Fisherman’s Trail Hilltop to Sundial Bridge Trail Arboretum Loop Trail Buenaventura Trail

Hiking & Biking Trails

Upper Sacramento Ditch Trail Lower Sacramento Ditch Trail Chamise Peak Trail Flanagan Trail Hornbeck Trail Francis Berg Trail (FB) Whiskeytown Area Trails

Mule Ridge & Swasey Trails Cloverdale Loop Piety Hill Loop Clear Creek Greenway Trail Parkview Trail John Reginato River Access

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Salt Creek Trail Middle Creek Trail Blue Gravel Mine Trail Westside Trails Lema Ranch Trails Churn Creek Trails Clover Creek Trail

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With Intimidating Height And Burgeoning Young Talent, Cathedral Catholic Is A State Champion One Again

At left, Members of Cathedral Catholic celebrate the final point of their state championship victory on Dec. 3. Above, Megan Faraimo, a UCLA softball commit as a pitcher, led the Dons with 13 kills in the state final.

pproximately 20 minutes had passed since the conclusion of the California Interscholastic Federation Division II Girls Volleyball State Championship match. Twenty minutes since a freshman, Lindsey Miller, delivered a kill that gave Cathedral Catholic-San Diego its fifth state title with a 25-23, 26-24, 25-22 win over Valley Christian-San Jose at Santiago Canyon College in Orange. However, now the seniors were holding court. With the entire 16-player roster and coaches huddled into a small conference room on the second floor of the Santiago Canyon College gymnasium complex for the team’s postmatch media session, it was the five seniors who spoke up the most. The Dons’ up-and-down journey back to state glory had been a revealing one. “I never thought about it too much until now, but we’re so lucky to have the group of girls that we have,” senior hitter Abby Stordahl said. “I’ve played volleyball forever. I’ve never felt this.” Neither had many others. “I think it really boosts everyone’s confidence to see how much heart, drive and hustle we have as a team,” remarked fellow senior hitter Tinei Suitono, who had a match-high four aces to go along with two kills and six digs. “Whether you’re a starter or subbed in, no matter what, everyone played a role on this team.” The stats from the final certainly corroborated that statement. Seven different Dons players had kills in the match. Eight players recorded at least one dig, four players had at least one assist and six different players combined for 20 blocks. Valley Christian, competing in Div. II after winning two of the past three Div. III state titles, mounted challenge after challenge against Cathedral Catholic. And each time, the Dons turned them away with timely hitting and a menacing net game. “Cathedral Catholic played really well,” Warriors coach Ron Whitmill said after the match. “They’re a very good team. I’m disappointed in the result; I’m not disappointed that we lost to them. I think they’re a very worthy team to win the title this year.” Hanging a new state banner in the CCHS gymnasium probably seemed a tad far-fetched two weeks into the season when the Dons headed to Las Vegas for the Durango Tournament with a 2-2 record and back-to-back

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A-OK IN THE OC The six newest CIF State Girls Volleyball Champions along with opponent, scores and kills leader from the state finals match. DIV. CHAMPION, RUNNER-UP, SCORES

KILLS LEADER

Open Archbishop Mitty-Sans Jose, Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita 25-19, 25-22. 25-18 Candice Denny (17) I

Edison-Huntington Beach, Menlo Atherton-Atherton, 25-20, 25-21, 25-18

Hannah Phair (13)

Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, Valley Christian-San Jose, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22

Megan Faraimo (13)

III

Acalanes-Lafayette, Crossroads-Santa Monica, 25-13, 28-26, 22-25, 17-25, 16-14

Parker Jones (18)

Menlo School-Atherton, Point Loma-San Diego, 25-18, 25-13, 25-21

Selena Xu/Ashley Dreyer (10)

Head-Royce-Oakland, Immanuel-Reedley, 25-9, 25-22, 25-14

Jessica Almagren-Bell (15)

3-0 losses to Torrey Pines-San Diego and La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad. The idea may have seemed fleeting again in early November after back-to-back San Diego Section postseason losses to Sante Fe Christian-Solana Beach and Eastlake-Chula Vista. “As soon as that match (with Eastlake) was over, it was like ‘Hey, that’s over. We played as well as we could play today,’” Cathedral Catholic coach Juliana Evens said. “It wasn’t enough to beat Eastlake, but we knew Div. II was a great division to be in. “The way our team was progressing with the season, it was the right place for us to be. We didn’t have easy matches. The whole road to (the final) was really good competition. We were where we were supposed to be and we grew as a team mainly in this playoffs” The Dons were the No. 1 seed in the 16-team Div. II Southern Regional field and had relatively easy 3-0 wins in their first two matches. Then came a 3-1 grinder in which they knocked off No. 4 Glendora 25-10, 25-19, 23-25, 28-26. In the regional championship, they would outlast St. Joseph-Lakewood in five sets. The 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11 back-and-forth battle with the Jesters saw three different Dons reach double figures in kills. led by Miller’s 13. Fellow freshman Kylie Adams delivered 46 assists, six digs 30

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Above, from left, Abby Stordahl, Peyton Wilhite and Lindsey Miller talk at the net before preparing for the next serve. At right, Peyton Wilhite prepares to serve.

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and two aces in the win. “I think if everyone gives what they’re good at, we’re really good,” Evens said. “The team suffers a little bit in serve and pass because we’re really tall. We knew throughout the whole season, if we just stay steady on the passing, we have the guns. We have really heavy hitting. We knew if we can get the ball to the setter, we’re going to be good.” Brennan Wilhite, another senior, closed her Dons career with six kills and nine blocks in the state final. Four of her blocks came in the third and final set. There were eight ties and five lead changes in the set before Cathedral Catholic pulled away for its crowning moment. “To finish on such a high note was just like the best feeling ever,” Wilhite said as she fought back tears. “I think it also gives the future girls (in the program) the experience, and they know they can do it again.” Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

The Dons will certainly go into next season with that expectation. Miller and Adams will obviously return, along with 6-foot, 4-inch sophomore Peyton Wilhite (7 kills against Valley Christian) and twosport star junior Megan Faraimo. She’s committed to UCLA as a softball pitcher, but she also has a thunderous swing as an outside hitter. Faraimo actually led all players with 13 kills in the state final. “Every time we step in (our) gym, there’s a banner there for every time they won state,” Evens said. “We always talk about it, how nice it would be to hang another banner. Once you do that, it becomes a tradition at that school. It becomes something that the next kid who walks in there looks forward to doing it again. I think this team wanted it.” Make no mistake, next year’s team will want it too. ✪ — Story and Photos by Chace Bryson

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Sierra College’s Renown Duals Wrestling Tourney Gets A New Name And Home For 2017 Sierra College Wrestling and Placer Valley Tourism are partnering to bring the Capital City Classic Wrestling Tournament to Rocklin on Jan. 7. For the last three years, this high school varsity tournament was held in Sacramento and known as the Dragon Duals. It has not only changed its name but the location too. This year Hardwood Palace has the honors of hosting this successful and growing event. This incredible venue will allow ample space for the 10 mats that will showcase up to 32 teams on a rotational format. Don Martinez, head coach at Sierra College, is looking forward to bringing this event to Placer Valley and is expecting top- notch competitors. “Top wrestlers from Northern and Central California high schools will be competing,” Martinez said. “And as a dual tour32

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nament, every team is guaranteed five matches. “We are excited to have it at Hardwood Palace this year. It’s a great facility that has a nice hospitality room for the coaches and everyone will enjoy the snack bar that is open all day!” Medals will be given to undefeated wrestlers and trophies will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place teams as well as a hard luck champion. According to Martinez, a hard luck champion is someone who loses their first match and subsequently gets put in a loser bracket before going on to win that bracket. Weigh-ins will begin at 7 a.m. with wrestling matches starting at 9 a.m. It’s not too late to sign up your team! For more information or to download the event flyer, simply go to: placertourism.com/events/2017CapitalCityDuals. ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

CalNASP puts a bull’s-eye on youth archery Placer Valley Tourism is thrilled to announce — in conjunction with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — the first-ever land-based tournament for schools participating in the California State National Archery Schools Program (CalNASP) is coming to Placer Valley on Saturday, Feb. 4. This exciting archery competition will be held at Sierra College’s gymnasium in Rocklin and is open to students in grades 4-12 who are enrolled in CalNASP. Lesa Johnston, CalNASP State Coordinator and Education Specialist for the Calif. Department of Fish and Wildlife, explained that archery is beneficial to students in a variety of ways and can help them achieve goals because of the skills it instills. “To be a great archer requires mental concentration, focus and practice, but the playing field is level for all.” Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

There are nearly 100 schools throughout the state that are active in CalNASP and they are expecting up to 300 students to compete at the February tournament. Students will have the option to compete as an individual or on a team; both methods provide positives for these young athletes. Students competing as an individual can set specific goals and learn from those, whereas competing as a team allows students the opportunity to learn team building, camaraderie and cooperation skills. “Target archery is an inclusive sport,” Johnson said. “Students of all athletic and physical abilities can participate.” If you are interested in more information about this event and this incredible program please check out the website: www.wildlife.ca.gov/Learning/CALNASP. ✪ — All copy and photos provided by Placer Valley Tourism. Subscribe to s360 at SportStarsOnline.com

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Don’t Be An ACL Statistic Detailing The Primary Elements To An Effective ACL Injury Reduction Strategy In Female Athletes

training time: tim rudd It’s now been over five years since the release of my book “The Definitive Guide to Youth Athletic Strength, Conditioning and Performance.” This book was a compilation of some the best strength and conditioning strategies from 22 of the worlds leading experts in the industry. My chapter was specifically written on ACL reduction strategies for the high school-aged female athlete. In celebration of the five-year anniversary and Christmas, I’m not only going to share an excerpt from my chapter, but I’m also going to give 30 free copies to the first 30 readers who email me a request for this Amazon best selling book. Just email me with your address at tim@fit2thecore.com and I will personally send you a free copy of this book. When it comes to ACL injuries, both genders can be injured; this isn’t just a female thing. However, female ACL injuries do occur at a greater degree, especially at the high school level. The fact is that there are over 100,000 ACL injuries per year just in the United States alone and 30,000 of these are females at the high school age. That’s 30% of all ACL injuries across the country! This is a scary stat that can’t be ignored, and as a parent

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December 2016

or coach, this should be of great concern to you. So why are young female athletes so prone to ACL injuries? And what prevention strategies must be taken to ensure your young athlete doesn’t become another ACL statistic? Let me quickly cover the gender factor, something that is God given and can’t be changed. Female athletes have wider hips, putting a more valgus stress angle on their knees (knees inward) — a stress that is the major factor of most non-contact ACL injuries. Now without an appropriate training program, this genetic issue can be a major factor in the unusual high number of ACL injuries among this population. Females who may be weak due to bad training programs tend to be more quad-dominant, something we don’t want when talking about protecting the knee. So basically the front leg muscles (quad muscles) of the leg are much stronger than the back muscles of the legs and hips (hamstring and butt muscles), which are important for knee stability and also the ability to safely and efficiently change direction. When we’re talking ACL reduction strategies, all of the components below must be integrated into a young athletes’ training program. You will find that a great training program is a great ACL prevention and rehab program — and one that I use with all my young athletes, male or female…

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ACL Prevention Strategies: 1) Active Warm-up 2) Landing Skills 3) Strength 4) Change of Direction Concepts 5) Change of Direction Conditioning 6) Nutrition Basically, it comes down to functional training — a much misunderstood term. Trainers must understand how the body works and apply that knowledge to their young female athletic training program. Sports are played on a single leg, and a trainer must understand the functional anatomy on a single leg and the needed pelvic stability to properly prepare a young athlete for the demands of his or her sport. Power is not gender specific; trainers lower the bar for female athletes resulting in bad eccentric strength, making them bad decelerators and greatly increasing their potential for ACL injury. We need to stop lowering the bar for female athletes. They would be surprised what female athletes are capable of by empowering them to get stronger. By implementing these strategies, you can be confident your athlete won’t become another ACL statistic. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

Guide To Guidance Sports Parenting Isn’t Easy, So Here Are Some Simple Success Strategies

get mental: erika carlson Being a youth sport parent is more stressful than it’s ever been. As parents, we have great vision for what our children can achieve and it can feel as though there’s a daunting path between where they are and where they want to be. Therefore, many parents, often with the best of intentions, begin to fill in as “manager”, “coach” and even “agent.” Unfortunately, this approach can cause a lot of friction between parent and athlete, making the whole experience incredibly stressful for all parties. This stress can impact parent-child relationships, game-time performance and even contribute to burn-out and eventual quitting. Because we don’t have a “sport parent playbook,” it can be difficult to navigate these waters with so much at stake. With that in mind, here are some research-based best practices for sport parents.

1. Let your child’s motivation lead the way. A 2011 study found that perceived parental pressure was a significant factor in increasing anxiety in young players. Allowing your child’s drive (motivation) to set and pursue goals, gives them a sense of control, improves commitment and gives them the life experience to navigate the inevitable ebb and flow of motivation. It will be a bumpy ride, but will allow them to grow into the athlete they want to be. 2. Prioritize fun over winning. The same study found that the more emphasis that was put on learning and enjoyment (vs. winning and outcomes) athletes experienced less anxiety and they actually performed better. It’s easy to forget that fun should be the #1 reason to invest your time, energy and money into your sport. This is such a simple idea, but so hard to put into practice in today’s professional model of youth sports. Key questions to ask your athlete, “What did you learn today?” “What was the best part of practice (or the game) today?”“What did you do well today?” 3. Let the coach do the coaching. The role of the coach and the role of the parent are, and should be, very different. Several studies have revealed that one of the most stressful times for young athletes is the car ride home after the game. Play-by-play performance analysis by the parent is often dreaded and even confusing for the player. A great question for the ride home is simply, “Are you hungry?” This question keeps you, the parent, in your supportive role and allows the player to decompress from their game experience and start the recovery process. This journey is not easy. For parents or athletes. Never forget that the ultimate goal is to raise confident, independent kids who are ready to navigate the world on their own. Giving them some freedom to navigate their sport experience is an excellent opportunity to

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practice decision-making, self-care and learning how to stay committed to goals. All behaviors that will pay long term dividends. ✪ Erika Carlson is a CEO and certified mental trainer at Mental Training, Inc. in Pleasanton.

December 2016

SportStars™

training

save your shoulders

Build Your Back Stability And Relief For Overhead Athletes Can Most Always Be Found By Strengthening The Back Muscles

health watch: carleen Baldwin It’s the most wonderful time of the year — winter break! For many overhead athletes, winter marks a well-deserved rest following fall sports and prior to the start of spring baseball, swimming, rowing, tennis and lacrosse. With the growing trend of single-sport athletes, a short break may be an indicator for shoulder overuse and injuries. Winter marks an opportunity to optimize mechanics, strengthen weak muscles and improve movement patterns. Overuse and poor mechanics are the main culprits for shoulder injuries plaguing overhead athletes. The shoulder is comprised of four different joints with nineteen muscles crossing them. During a throw or pull, muscles along the thoracic spine (mid-back) should stabilize the scapula (shoulder blade) allowing the arm to propel the ball or body. Ideally, force is generated through the legs and trunk to produce power. Weakness in these areas can lead to fatigue, tissue microtrauma and overuse. Adaptive changes can occur to accommodate the repetitive stress to the joint, affecting the scapula’s resting position and ability to efficiently rotate upward. To help strengthen these weaknesses, here are ways to improve mechanics and movement patterns: ›› Invest in a foam roller to improve thoracic mobility and soft tissue restrictions: Lie on your back with the head supported lengthwise. From here add different arm movement variations including bringing the arms through the full range of motion overhead in a backstroke motion or out to the side like a jumping jack. ›› Strengthen the hips and core to stabilize the spine: Add air squats, resisted side steps, step ups, single-leg squats and plank variations into workouts. ›› Strengthen the scapula stabilizers that control upward rotation: Lying on the stomach, keep the chest and stomach flat with a towel supporting the forehead. Lift the arms in three different positions with the thumbs up; the letter “Y” with arms overhead, the letter “W” with elbows planted on the ground and wrists up, and the letter “T” with arms horizontal. Repeat ten reps with five-second holds. These exercises can be progressed with an unstable surface (swiss ball), adding weight, or increasing sets, holds and/or reps. If it is difficult to get into a position or there is a concern for form with these drills, a physical therapist can be contacted at the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes for a thorough evaluation. Lastly, an athlete should seek out further assessment from a physician when there is painful movement or dysfunction. ✪

TIRED Wondering If You Need To Drag Your Fatigued Self To The Gym? Let Your Goals Be Your Guide

powered by trucks: anthony trucks Have you ever felt that feeling where you KNOW you need to go to the gym and train, but your body just doesn’t feel like moving? Yeah, me too. In fact, I get that feeling more times throughout a month than I’d like nowadays. The big question that we all have to answer in that moment is, “What should I do?” Well the answer is both simple and complicated. Why? Because it depends on your goal and the reason why you’re training. When you train tired you put yourself at a little more of an increased risk, not to mention that you may not get the most out of your workout if you’re unable to perform at the level you need or want to. If your goal is to be an elite level athlete like I was in the NFL, then you will need to learn to prime your system and “turn on” even when you’re tired — because working when tired is an opportunity to get an edge on your competition. When they’re sleeping, you can still be working. On the flip side, if you’re just looking to be healthy then you may not have an immediate need to push through the fatigue and tiredness. Overall, the goal should be to avoid injury at all cost so you will want to look into taking time to recover properly so you don’t put yourself at risk. It’s not going to kill you to take a day off and get a moment to rest. When you do, you may in fact come back stronger than before. Make sure you listen to, and take care of, the one tool you can’t replace by giving it rest when needed. ✪ Anthony Trucks is an IYCA-certified trainer who covers weight training for SportStars.

Carleen Baldwin is a physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist for the Sports Medicine for Young Athletes department of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

SportStars™

December 2016

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