Hard work, dedication pay off for St. Francis’ Jordan

SEVENTH ANNUAL TRIBUNE/STAR-NEWS ALL-STAR CLASSIC
Saturday, April 24, Damien High School
Girls game:
4 p.m.
Boys game: 6 p.m.

SERIES RECORD
Boys Star-News leads series, 5-1
Girls: Star-News leads series, 4-2

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

What makes St. Francis High School’s Tommy Jordan a respected athlete goes beyond points and assists.

It’s his work ethic and relentless effort to be a better teammate that separates him from the rest. Whether that means practicing late into the night shooting 500 free throws or dissecting film and watching games every chance he gets, Jordan doesn’t let a minute pass him by without playing or thinking about basketball.

It was a tough year for the Knights (12-16, 4-10), who finished sixth in the tough, eight-team Mission League. Still, St. Francis earned an at-large berth in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs, where the Knights beat Gabrielino, 74-66, in the first round and gave Bishop Amat a good challenge before losing, 77-61.

Despite playing for a sub-.500 team his senior year, Jordan’s hard work paid off, and many noticed: He was selected first-team All-Mission League and first- team All-CIF.

He’ll get a chance to showcase his skills once again when he takes part in Saturday’s Tribune/Star-News All-Star Basketball Classic at Damien High School.

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It’s time for the Star-News streak to end

“There’s extra motivation because I want the (Star- News’ four-game win) streak to end. I know we can play with those guys and maybe even beat them. I don’t think it’s talent. I just think over in Pasadena they just think we’re softer. It’s really mental.” Tribune and Diamond Bar boys hoops standout Kacy Barlow on the outcome of Saturday’s All-Star game at Damien High School, girls game at 4 p.m., boys at 6.

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Sources: Temple City football job down to two finalists

Temple City High School is expected to fill the football coaching vacancy by Friday. According to multiple sources, Pasadena coach Mike McFarland and Whittier Christian defensive coordinator Peter Karavedes are the two finalists for the job vacated when Anthony White resigned to take the same position at Buena Park High. Temple City, which received 19 applications for the position, will hire its third coach in three years. Though the school hopes to make a decision come Friday, Temple City athletic director John VanDeVeere said it could extend into next week.

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Best friends Tia Chen and Amanda Hua now teammates

SEVENTH ANNUAL TRIBUNE/STAR-NEWS ALL-STAR CLASSIC
Saturday, April 24, Damien High School
Girls game:
4 p.m.
Boys game: 6 p.m.

SERIES RECORD
Boys Star-News leads series, 5-1
Girls: Star-News leads series, 4-2

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

It started with an innocent self-invitation to a birthday party, but little did La Caada High School’s Tia Chen know that doing so would also mean making good friends with the birthday girl, Alhambra’s Amanda Hua.

They briefly met once, had mutual friends, but about the only thing they shared in common at the time was that they both played basketball. Chen said it only felt like she invited herself because of the way she found out about the party – not through a traditional birthday card or even word of mouth, but through a mass message sent on instant messenger.

Since then, Chen and Hua have become really good friends and now find themselves almost inseparable.

Little did they know that five years later they’d be playing on the same team in Saturday’s Tribune/ Star-News All-Star Basketball Classic at Damien High School.

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