Today’s flashback is the top single game-match performances of the school year. No it’s not easy trying to recall everything that happened in the last 10 or so months. So let us know if you think someone else should be included.
1. Joseph Anderson, Upland track – So we don’t give an All-Sports Male Athlete of the Year but if we did, Anderson gets it hands down. He definitely saved his best for last, taking first place in both the 110 and 300 hurdles at the state meet. In the 110, which he also won as a junior, he set a record time of 13.33 seconds. That 13.33 broke the meet record and his 36.06 in the 300’s was the fastest at the state final since 2007.
2. LaMelo Ball, Chino Hills basketball – The youngest of the Ball siblings made national news when he scored 92 point in a 146-123 Baseline League win over Los Osos. The sophomore had 63 points in the second half alone and made 37 of 61 shots in the entire game. It was second best scoring performance in California history. I don’t care if he didn’t play any defense, 92 points is 92 points. People may or may not like the style of play but Melo and the Huskies are still the most entertaining team to watch, hands down.
3. Steven Rivas, Etiwanda baseball – Rivas was smacking around the ball around every field all season but no doubt his best game came in a 23-3 win over Baseline League foe Chino Hills. Rivas, who has signed with Long Beach State, went 4 for 6 with 4 runs scored and 11 RBI. He slugged two three-run home runs, had a two-run triple and a three-run double. He hit .477 on the season.
4. Jaylon Redd, Rancho Cucamonga football – He is another athlete who gave highlight performances every time he stepped on the field. Perhaps his best game came when he scored five touchdowns against the Cougars biggest league rival Upland in a 47-10 win. He scored on a 48-yard punt return and returned the second-half kickoff 99 yards for another score. His other touchdowns came on runs of 3 and 75 yards, as well as an 8-yard reception. He finished with 366 all-purpose yards including 170 yards on 15 carries on the ground
5. LiAngelo Ball, Chino Hills – Let’s add a second ball to the list. Before the younger brother went off the middle sibling was doing quite well. He had 72 in the third game of the season against Rancho Christian. That was part of a three-game stretch in which he had 154 with the 72 point game preceded by a 56-point showing. He would go on to earn Inland Valley Player of the Year honors.
6. Kenzie Koerber, Chino Hills volleyball – The Utah-bound standout had 25 kills,11 digs, 2 blocks in the last match of the season against Rancho Cucamonga, the dominant team in the league in recent years. That showing enabled the Huskies to claim a share of the Baseline title. Those numbers came in just three sets as Chino Hills swept Rancho.
7. Nathan Tilford, Colony football – Tilford had a huge hand in the Titans rallying from a 42-20 deficit against Corona del Mar in a CIF Division 4 quarterfinal. Colony came up short 49-48 but the Arizona bound prospect was a hug force. He rushed for 141 yards on just 16 carries and had sixc receptions for 189 yards,
8. Owen Bishop, Claremont cross country – Bishop helped the Wolfpack win the Division 2 state cross country title in the fall. He also took individual honors in the 5,000-meter race, becoming the school’s first individual state champion.
9. Ashley Anumba, Los Osos track – 1. She didn’t just win a CIF Southern Section title, she won a state title in discus with a throw of 171 feet. She also placed 12th in shot put. She pretty much obliterated county records in the throwing events.
10. Audrey Sellers, St. Lucy’s softball – The sophomore catcher led the Regents to a 17-8 Baseline League win over Chino Hills. She went 3-3 with three home runs – two three-run shots and a two-run shot which came her first three times up. Pitchers then walked her twice.
