Gerry Gittelson: February 2012 Archives

The official Daily News High School Baseball preview is set for Thursday. Includes a big feature on Lucas Giolito and Harvard-Westlake, plus the All-Daily News preseason team with team photo, plus rankings, top games to watch and lots of other stuff.

Terrell Newby, a top junior running back at Chaminade, has been offered by Arizona State.

What a basketball turnaround for Royal High. Four years ago, the Highlanders went 3-23, but this season Royal (23-6) is among the few area teams still alive heading into a Div. II-AA semifinal at 7 p.m. today against visiting Sunny Hills (25-6) - the furthest the Highlanders have ever advanced in the Simi Valley school's 44-year history.

"We're in unchartered waters for Royal basketball right now," 10th-year coach Craig Griffin said. "We play hard and we compete on a daily basis, and that's what I like about this team. It's been an exciting run."

Max McCoy, J.R. Powell, Scott Woods and Nick Creber are among the key players.

"We've got four guys all scoring in double digits, and that's good balance," Griffin said.

Royal has won eight in a row and 13 of the past 14.

Crescenta Valley (26-4) plays tonight at top-seeded Mission Viejo (26-3) in a Div. I-A semifinal, and the host Diablos are a familiar playoff opponent for Crescenta Valley coach Shawn Zargarian.

"In 1995, we had gotten to the final the year before, and then my senior year we lost to Mission Viejo in the second round," Zargarian said.

That was Zargarian's last high school game. The coach and his players get a chance to make amends tonight.

"They're the No. 1 seed, but we're excited to play them," Zargarian said. "We've been playing really well, and we have confidence.

Crescenta Valley's Christian Misi, the returning Pacific League Player of the Year, is averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Cole Currie is averaging 16 points and five assists. The Falcons have won 20 games or more three years in a row.

It's been an emotional year for Calabasas (26-3), as the Coyotes have dedicated the season to fallen assistant coach Joe Frazier, still in a coma following an August motorcycle crash.

With the Div. III-A championship against South Torrance (19-11) set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Anaheim Arena, Calabasas held a prayer service Sunday in Frazier's honor.

"I told Joe's mother at the service that when Joe comes out of a coma, we're going to have a big, beautiful championship ring waiting for him," Calabasas forward Josh Cohan said. "Nobody has forgotten."

Top-seeded Calabasas has won 11 in a row, as the Coyotes are hoping to win a basketball championship for the first time in school history.

"We started with one goal in mind - every day, every practice, every second," guard Spencer Levy said. "We've put in the time, we've sacrificed, and we have the opportunity to seize the moment and capture a memory. We're absolutely hyped."

Added coach Jon Palarz: "We're thrilled to be playing for the championship. We're trying to take care of the wear and tear everyone faces at this time of the year. South Torrance has won some big games. They beat Harvard-Westlake and No. 2 seed La Canada."

Renaissance Academy (23-6) has won four playoff games by an average of more than 53 points heading into the Div. VI champion against California Lutheran (20-3) at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dei High.

After coming up empty in three previous section championships, Renaissance Academy is taking nothing for granted.

"The kids are very excited to be in the final but realize that there is still a championship game that we need to be focused on," Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke said.

As soon as the City Section playoff pairings were drawn, defending champion Taft was on one side and Westchester on the other, so most observers assumed an inevitable rematch of last year's final.

Taft (28-3) has taken care of business but faces Dorsey, not Westchester, in the championship at 8 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"We were expecting Westchester but Dorsey got the upset, and we're not going to take them lightly," Taft guard Kris Yanku said. "Our team is playing well, the best we've been playing all year. ... We're ready for another title."

Added forward Brandon Perry: "The team is looking good. We are playing well as one unit. We're looking forward to playing for a championship. We know what we need to do to get it done."

London Perrantes, a guard from Crespi, has been offered by Arizona State -- not bad considering he is only a junior.

"I am blessed to receive the offer," Perrantes said.

LA VERNE - Crespi High's bid to qualify for a Southern Section Div. IV-AA final is over after a 51-49 loss at top-seeded La Verne Lutheran on Friday in a semifinal at University of La Verne.

But the visiting Celts have nothing to be ashamed of after clawing back from a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter, outscoring the two-time state champion Trojans 10-3 over the final 90 seconds.

In defeating a San Fernando Valley-area opponent for the 11th time in a row since 2006, La Verne Lutheran (24-6) could not breathe easy until Crespi's Michael Milligan's last-second 10-footer in traffic bounced off the rim.

"I'm very proud of my team," Crespi junior Tyler Foreman said. "We did a good job. I just wish we played with the same intensity in the first half as we did in the second half."

DIV IV-AA
La Verne Luth 51, Crespi 49
CR 8-9-6-26-49
LAL 9-15-11-16-51
C - Ephriam 2, Avery 9, Johnson 3, Foreman 1, Carter Gallo 10, Perrantes 8, Michael Milligan 16.
LVL - Beard 7, Osorno 7, Anderson 4, Cooper 9, Miller 7, Grant Jerrett 17.
RECORDS: C 23-7; LVL 24-6.

Crespi is missing a lot of shot, and the Celts trail La Verne Lutheran 35-23 after three quarters.

Enduring a four-minute scoreless streak, Crespi trails La Verne Lutheran 24-17.

Crespi's Michael Milligan has 10 points, but the rest of the Celts are not shooting well, thought they're playing good defense. La Verne Lutheran All-American Grant Jerrett has five points.

The Celts are playing good defense, as LVL's Grant Jerrett has just two points.

After losing five of six games in a frustrating late-season stretch to go from first place to third in the Mission League, Crespi High is catching on in the Southern Section boys' basketball playoffs.

With no frontcourt starter taller than 6 feet 3, the Celts (23-6) have advanced to the Div. IV-AA semifinals at 7 p.m. today at second-seeded La Verne Lutheran (23-6).

La Verne Lutheran, the defending state champion, is led by McDonalds All-American Grant Jerrett, a 6-9 center who figures to be a head taller than everyone around him. The showdown is a tough one for the underdog Celts, who want to extend their Cinderella season past midnight.

"La Verne Lutheran is a quality opponent. Grant Jerrett is an All-American, but they have other pieces, too," Crespi coach Russell White said. "We expect to compete, and we're definitely excited and ready for the challenge."

Crespi, a scrappy team known for its defense and hustle, probably needs to hit a lot of 3-pointers, and that means the Celts could look to London Perrantes, Michael Avery and Justin Rubia, the team's top outside shooters.

Overall, 14 area Southern Section teams are alive, including top seeds Calabasas in Div. III-AA, Alemany in Div. III-A, Providence in Div. V-A and Renaissance Academy in Div. VI.
Calabasas (25-3) has won 10 in a row heading into a semifinal tonight at Torrance (16-13), as the visiting Coyotes are hoping to win a section championship for the first time in the school's 37-year history. In 2004, Calabasas lost in the Div. III-A championship to Santa Margarita.

"We're one game away from a championship, and this is what we've all been working for since we were little kids," Calabasas guard Spencer Levy said. "We've worked too hard and too long for this opportunity, and no one is going to stand in our way."

Alemany (26-4), having outscored three playoff opponents by an average margin of 34 points, plays host to Santa Margarita (17-13) tonight.

"We're excited, and we're ready to perform our best," Alemany guard Max Guercy said. "We have a five-game goal to the CIF championship, and we're on step four."'

Providence, founded in 1955, is hoping to qualify for the championship game for the first time, as the Pioneers (25-4), led by high-scoring Marcus LoVett, play host to Kilpatrick (13-11) tonight in a Div. V-A semifinal.

"We're looking forward to the game. This is the time when teams need to buckle down," Providence coach Ernest Baskerville said.

Renaissance Academy (22-6), having advanced to a section final three times without winning a championship, plays at L.A. Adventist (16-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Div. VI semifinals, as the visiting Wildcats look to hand L.A. Adventist its first home loss of the season.

"They have size and some good athletes, and they have a lot of fans, so we expect a tough game," Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke said.

Enjoying its best postseason performance since the Jrue Holiday era, Campbell Hall has surprised after entering the playoffs with a total of nine wins, including three consecutive losses to finish the regular season. The Vikings (12-17) have made it to the Div. IV-A semifinals Friday at top-seeded Pacific Hills (26-4).

"We're looking forward to playing the No. 1 seed in the division," Campbell Hall coach Steve Wachs said. "We must limit our turnovers in order to give ourselves a chance."

Another school making basketball history is Village Christian, established in 1949. Village Christian has qualified for the Div. V-AA semifinals tonight against visiting Ribet Academy - the furthest the Crusaders have ever gone in the playoffs.

"We're just going to come out and play the hardest we've ever played," Village Christian forward Marquis Salmon said. "We're ready to go, and the whole school is behind us, so we're going to make them proud."

Village Christian is 35-56 since coach Matt Whisenant signed on four years ago, but the coach is hoping the Crusaders can turn things around this season beginning at 3 p.m. Friday in an opener at Verdugo Hills.

"I'm very optimistic about this season. I believe we can compete for a the Olympic League title this year," said Whisenant, whose team was 8-15 last season.

Josh Rolls, a pitcher/infielder, is a key returnee after hitting .343 last year. Plus, Village Christian has welcomed transfers Mitch Williams from Eagle Rock and Gino Botticella from Montclair Prep.

"Williams has been having a lot of success on the mound in the winter, and we're counting him to anchor the squad," Whisenant said. "Botticella lacks experience but has the tools to be an impact player."

The final score Wednesday made it look like Taft High's 78-56 win over visiting Birmingham was an easy one in a City Section Div. I quarterfinal.

But top-seeded Taft (26-3) having twice defeated Birmingham in the regular season during West Valley League competition, had to work a lot harder than expected.

For nearly the entire evening, Taft tried to put the pesky Patriots away, but every time the host Toreadors would jump to a 10- or 12-point lead, Birmingham (13-14) would make another little comeback to keep it interesting.

The lead was seven with five minutes remaining before Taft finally pulled away, as the Toreadors advanced to play either Crenshaw or Palisades at 8 p.m. Saturday in the City semifinals at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"I respect Birmingham 100 percent. They played a great game and shot the ball well," Taft forward Anthony January said. "We kind of got off to a slow start.

Taft had all the style points, including six dunks - five by January including two way-above-the-rim alley oops - but Birmingham earned the hustle points in a moral victory, and the Patriots have the floor burns to prove it.

January scored 23 points, Brandon Perry added 21 and Kris Yanku chipped in 17.

Mitchell Dergazarian of El Camino Real has committed to Azusa Pacific, which is moving up to D2 next season.

For a high school basketball program like Harvard-Westlake, a school that has won nine league titles, eight section championships and two state tites over the past 17 years, a loss in the Southern Section Div. IV-AA quarterfinals seems too soon.

When spectators walk into the school gymnasium that's covered from wall to wall with championship banners, there's a natural expectation for the mighty Wolverines to win.

That's what made a 62-50 loss Tuesday to visiting Serra so hard to take. Even though the visiting Cavaliers were the top-seed against a rebuilding Harvard-Westlake team that is the defending Div. III-A champion but finished third in the Mission League.

Whenever the Wolverines (20-10) are at home - or even on the road - it feels like they should be the favorite, and sure enough Harvard-Westlake jumped to a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter to the delight of a near-capacity crowd that proved increasingly loud and enthusiastic every time the home team did something good.

Yet Serra's suffocating full-court pressure eventually began to wear on Harvard-Westlake. The advantage slipped away, as Serra (27-2) went on a 25-6 run to lead by as much as 13 before making seven free throws down the stretch to stave off a comeback.

The gymnasium here at Harvard-Westlake is filled with championship banners -- eight section titles, two state titles and a bunch of league titles -- but there is always room for one more, right?

The Wolverines can take a big step tonight with a win over top-seeded Serra in a Southern Section Div. IV-AA quarterfinal set to tip off in just a few minutes.

Stay tuned.

Portland senior shortstop Kris Kauppila, a Crescenta Valley grad, was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after helping the Pilots open the season with two wins over Stephen F. Austin.

Kauppila went 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate during the weekend with four RBIs, a double, a home run and six runs scored. He also stole one base and was errorless in the field.

During UP's season-opening 11-0 win over the Lumberjacks in Beaumont, Texas, on Friday, Kauppila had three hits, three RBIs, three runs, a double and a stolen base. He led off Sunday's 10-5 win with a solo home run. He'd add another hit and a walk, while scoring three times.

Josh Ross, a receiver for Campbell Hall, has signed with Minnesota Crookston, a D2 college.

After winning 25 games or more in each of the past three seasons, including a Southern Section Div. III-A championship last year, Harvard-Westlake High finds itself in the unfamiliar role of underdog.

The Wolverines (20-9) finished third in the Mission League, and overall they've lost four times at home - unheard of for the program that has won eight section titles and two state championships since 1995 - but Harvard-Westlake can take a huge step in the Div. IV quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday against top-seeded Serra (26-2) of Gardena.

Serra has won 11 in a row, including victories of such top programs Bishop Montgomery, Fairfax and Santa Monica, all of which are still alive in the playoffs.

"We're playing against a very talented and good Serra team. It's important we play smart and to not turn the ball over," Harvard-Westlake center Zena Edosomwan said. "We really have to focus and play our hearts out in order to win."

Edosomwan, a 6-foot-8, 240-pounder with 42 scholarship offers including UCLA and USC, goes against Serra's Emmanual Ndumanya, a 6-10, 240-pounder who is among California's top juniors.

With a lineup featuring 6-7 Marquis Salmon, 6-7 Marsalis Johnson, 6-6 Andrew English and 6-5 point guard Bryan Alberts, Village Christian, the No. 2 seed in Div. V-AA, is taller than most opponents.

But on Tuesday, Village Christian is forced to contend with Brethren Christian's 7-5 Mamadou Ndiaye, perhaps the nation's biggest player. Ndiaye has skills, too, averaging 23.3 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.0 blocks.

The teams played on Dec. 6, as Ndiaye scored 27 points but Village Christian won 77-60.

Village Christian has won eight in a row, the past seven by 10 points or more. The Crusaders have never advanced past the quarterfinals, but they've got big plans.
"We're all focused strictly on winning CIF," Salmon said. "That's the main goal, so we're just going to take it one game at a time."

Naturally, Village Christian coach Jon Shaw's primary concern is containing Ndiaye.

"We have to do a great job limiting his touches. He really impacts the game," Shaw said. "We did a great job last time, but Brethren Christian is better now than they were on Dec. 6."

Viewpoint has reached a section quarterfinal for the first time in school history, as the Patriots (18-8), coming off a second-round win over rival Milken, play Tuesday against visiting Cantwell-Sacred Heart (24-5) in a Div. IV-A matchup.

"We're looking very good. Our big guys are playing well, and that's what we need," forward Jack Borenstein said. "The Milken win was big for us because it gave us a lot of confidence for our next game. When we all contribute, our team looks really good.

"If we continue playing the way we've been playing, I think we have a pretty good chance to keep winning."

In the City Section, El Camino Real (19-7) is on the brink of winning 20 games for first time in coach Dave Rebibo's five-year career, as the Conquistadores play host to San Pedro at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a Div. II quarterfinal.

El Camino Real has won six in a row while holding opponents to 54 points or fewer during the streak.

"The team is working really hard and continuing to grow," Rebibo said. "We're excited about the opportunity to compete, and we know that nobody is going to lay down or hand anything over. We need to be good, and we need to bring our best effort every night."

With the score tied, the pressure on and the crowd going crazy Friday with two less than two minutes remaining, Jason Ghilarducci found himself with the basketball.

The Oaks Christian forward was a bit farther away than he would have liked, but sometimes you have to just have faith.

Ghilarducci took aim and fired a 3-pointer that swished through the net, giving the visiting Lions the lead for good in a 63-57 victory at Chaminade before a near-capacity crowd in the second round of the Southern Section Div. IV-AA boys' basketball playoffs.

"These are the kind of moments you live for," Ghilarducci said. "To come in a beat a team on their home court, especially in front of a crowd like this, this is what it's all about it. We won a (Div. IV-A) championship last year, and this is my senior season, and I want another ring."

It's packed here at Chaminade, and it's a good game, too, as the host Eagles trail visiting Oaks Christian 27-25 at halftime.

Chaminade jumped to a 10-point lead but went nearly seven minutes without scoring, as Oaks Christian went on a 16-0 spree.

Chaminade is playing a box-and-one defense on Oaks Christian's Chass Bryan, who has scored six points. Meanwhile, the Eagles are having difficulty dealing with Oaks Christian's swarming defense, as Chaminade has committed a series of costly turnovers.

Nick Valaika, the latest Valaika brother to play shortstop at Hart, is out six weeks with an elbow injury.

The season starts next Friday, a week earlier than usual.

Keith Ramljak, a Westlake offensive lineman with brains and brawn, has committed to Columbia.

Scott Napier, who coached the 8-Man football team at Windward, has been named the new coach at Campbell Hall, replacing Russ Gordon.

"I think it's great. I think Scott can take us to the next level," Campbell Hall athletic director Juan Velazquez said. "We had more than 120 applicants, and Scott stood out."

Napier, of Van Nuys, was 51-8-1 over the past five seasons at Windward.

Expect a barnburner when Chaminade plays host to Oaks Christian at 7 p.m. Friday in an intriguing Southern Section Div. IV-AA boys' basketball showdown between two programs that take their sports seriously and have lots of supportive fans.

Three years ago, Chaminade eliminated Oaks Christian in the Div. IV-A semifinals, and the teams meet again for the first time.

"We're excited, and I think our team can rise to the occasion," Oaks Christian coach Andre Chevalier said.

Chaminade coach Todd Wolfson is glad the game is at home, where the Eagles have won 10 of 11 this season.

"We feel if we can get anyone in our own gym, we stand a pretty good chance," Wolfson said.

Two of the San Fernando Valley's top junior guards, Sierra Canyon's Jahmel Taylor and Crespi's London Perrantes, go head to head Friday in a Div. IV-AA playoff game at Shepherd of the Hills church in Chatsworth.

"It should be fun. They're two completely different players, but they're both very special," Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver said.

Sierra Canyon, rebuilding following the transfers of standout sophomores Marsalis Johnson and Bryan Alberts to Village Christian, has moved up after winning the Div. V-A championship last year.

"I believe our team is refreshed and ready," Taylor said. "I believe we can make a huge run if we play as a unit and play good defense."

Crespi (21-6) is 3-5 over the past eight games, but the Celts come from a much tougher league - the Mission League compared to the Alpha League -- and should be a strong favorite.

"We look like our old team from the beginning of the season," Perrantes said. "We have a long road ahead of us, and we're ready."

Calabasas (23-3), afforded a bye as top seed in Div. III-AA, has won eight in a row but has been idle for eight days heading into Friday's matchup against visiting Palos Verdes.

"We had a crazy second half of the Marmonte League, winning a bunch of games in the final seconds and in overtime, so we have great confidence going into the playoffs,"forward Josh Cohan said. "Nothing would top this dream season more than a CIF championship ring."

Calabasas coach Jon Palarz said the team is "rested and refocused."

"We see the favorable seeding, but we know that just means everyone else is shooting for us," Palarz said.

After being eliminated in the second round last year by eventual state champion La Verne Lutheran, Moorpark has a tough draw Friday in a Div. II-A opener at top-seeded Mayfair.

"We're looking forward to playing the No. 1 seed. We're improving, and we've had a good week of practice so far," Moorpark coach Eddie Guttierez said.

Added forward Jake Myers: "Our team is determined to make a run in the playoffs."

After winning three City Section titles since 2004 under former coach Derrick Taylor, defending champion Taft (24-3) is seeded No. 1 under new coach Jason Hart heading into a Div. I opener at 7 p.m. Friday against visiting West Adams Prep.

"It's a tough road. We have to be focused from the start," Hart said.

Meanwhile, Taylor is 21-6 at St. John Bosco, seeded No. 2 in Div. III-A.

"I'm excited by the challenge of trying to lead another program to a title," Taylor said.

Camarillo (16-10) has won four in a row heading into Div. II-A opener Friday against visiting Mira Costa.

"The team looks great," Camarillo forward Jake Maulhardt said. "We have a winning streak going, and we're hoping to make a deep run."

Birmingham (12-13) has just one winning season over the past six years, and coach Nick Hauselman is hoping the Patriots are poised for a turnaround Friday in a City Section Div. I opener against visiting University of Los Angeles.

"Having played one of the toughest schedules of any City team, we're primed to make some noise," Hauselman said. "If we get hot, we can beat anybody - and I do mean anybody."

In a City Div. II opener Friday, Granada Hills faces visiting Gardena, and though the host Highlanders are just 10-16, they've faced a challenging schedule, and more importantly, perhaps they're streaky enough to succeed in the postseason.

"We have survived and competed despite major scoring struggles," Granada Hills coach Dan Loperina said. "If the law of averages holds true, we will be on fire throughout the playoffs and win it all."

Div. III-AA
No. 16 Palos Verdes at No. 1 Calabasas
No. 13 Agoura at No. 5 Torrance
No. 14 Pacifica/GG at No. 3 La Canada
Div. III-A
Azusa at No. 1 Alemany
No. 14 Estancia at No. 3 Oak Park
No. 8 Covina at No. 10 St. Francis
Div. IV-AA
No. 8 Harvard-Westlake at No. 10 JSerra
No. 4 Price at No. 13 Notre Dame OR Paraclete at No. 4 Price
No. 6 Crespi at No. 12 Sierra Canyon
No. 7 Oaks Christian at No. 9 Chaminade
Div. IV-A
No. 12 St. Genevieve at No. 5 Campbell Hall
No. 11 Milken Community at No. 6 Viewpoint, SATURDAY
Div. V-AA
No. 15 Mojave at No. 2 Village Christian
Div. V-A
No. 16 New Roads at No. 1 Providence
No. 8 Shalhevet at No. 9 Lancaster Baptist
Newbury Park Adventist at No. 5 Pacifica Christian
No. 13 La Sierra Academy at No. 4 Kilpatrick
No. 14 Desert Christian Academy at No. 3 Holy Martyrs
No. 6 Rio Hondo Prep at No. 11 Valley Torah
Div. VI
Bethel Christian at No. 1 Renaissance Academy
No. 9 Arshag Dickranian at No. 8 Trinity Classical Academy

Buckley faces visiting San Marino at 7 tonight in a Div. IV-A opener, and the host Griffins have a heavy heart.

Buckley's Steven Yampolsky, a junior tennis player, died Tuesday night after a long bout with Cancer. He was good friends with the basketball players, particularly Tyler and Ryan Rodef, coach Mike Hamilton said.

"Everyone here has been in tears all day and night," Hamilton said.

In the newly created Southern Section Div. III-AAA division, Hart is the area's only program in the tournament. The Indians open tonight at 7 at Lawndale.

"We look pretty good.We're taking every game seriously because we're on borrowed time," forward David Koppenhaver said.

Tom Hernandez, 54. a longtime football coach at San Fernando whose roots go back to his playing days with the Tigers as a teammate to Charles White in 1974, has resigned after 19 years as a head coach, 26 overall.

"I want to do other things," said Hernandez, citing burnout.

The playoff game tonight between Notre Dame and host Paraclete in Lancaster has been postponed because of snow. Tip off is now scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

After a nine-day break since scoring an upset win at Harvard-Westlake in the Mission finale, Crespi opens Div. IV-AA playoffs at 7 tonight at Rosamond.

After winning 18 of its first 19, Crespi (20-6) is 2-5 over the past seven games, so no one knows quite what to expect.

"We look like our old team from the beginning of the season," guard London Perrantes said. "Harvard-Westlake was a big win to get back on track."

Added guard Michael Avery: "We've been working hard to make sure we're ready. I like our chances to accomplish anything if we are ready."

After winning the Southern Section Div. V-A championship last year, Sierra Canyon has been moved up to Div. IV-AA, one of the section's toughest divisions.

The Trailblazers (13-14), forced to regroup after top sophomores Marsalis Johnson and Bryan Alberts transferred to Village Christian, have lost five games in a row heading into a first-round matchup at Malibu -- the alma mater of Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver.

"We're excited to compete in one of the toughest divisions in the state," Silver said. "We are a very young team that is excited to be where we're at."

Campbell Hall is already on the road, driving north through the rain for a three-hour trip to Kern Valley for a playoff opener tonight at 7, and coach Steve Wachs is scratching his head, wondering why he and the Vikings were not granted a more favorable draw.

"It's a tough trip for the No. 5 seed to make," Wachs said.

Patrick Gonzalez, a high-scoring guard for Providence, is questionable for the first round of the playoffs Friday because of a bruised foot.

"If we can afford to keep him out, we will," coach Ernest Baskerville said. "But it's his senior year, and I want him to enjoy the playoffs, too."

Village Christian is celebrating today the grand opening and dedication of the Chris Dyck Memorial Weight Training Facility in honor of Dyck, a member of the Class of 1989, who lost his life in a tragic accident his senior year.

Notre Dame celebrates its annual Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 25 on campus, beginning at 6 p.m.

The inductees are:

Walt Gurasich '54 - (posthumous) All CIF football player, later played for USC and Detroit Lions.

Fred Carpenter '56 - ALL CIF later playing in the New York Yankees organization.
Joe Borella '61 - 3-year varsity basketball letterman and All Catholic leading scorer.

Chris Vella '69 - All-CIF star in two sports (football, baseball), starred in three (football, baseball and basketball).

Jack McDowell '84 - ALL CIF, Stanford Hall of Famer, Cy Young Award with Chicago White Sox.

Shannon (Tuttle) Genova '92 - 4-time NDHS woman athlete of the year; 2-time All-CIF volleyball star and Mission League MVP, 3-year track standout, CIF finalist and 300 hurdles league champion, member of first NDHS women's soccer team, Univ. of Notre Dame, collegiate coach at UW-Milwaukee, Kent State and Georgia Tech.

Justin Fargas '98 - ND All-Time leading rusher and state 100-meter champion, 2-time All CIF, State Player of the Year and High School All American, USC, Oakland Raiders.
Al Alcala - ND Head Varsity Baseball Coach 1961-1982 and assistant football coach.
1975 CIF Championship Track Team - ND's first-ever CIF title.

Information: Katie Feeney (818) 933-3606 or Susan Armendariz (818) 933-3608

Notre Dame will continue its annual tradition by awarding its Knight of Honor to Jeff and Libby Ames. Jeff and Libby's two daughters graduated from NDHS (Robyn '92, Jennifer '96).

Previous Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees (2010)
Gordy Ceresino '75, Lee Danielson '62, Larry Deisinger '59, Tim Foli '68, Greg Goossen '64 (posthumous), Dave Kopay '60, Bill Stifter '62 (posthumous) and John Vella '68.

Here are the members of the Hall of Fame Committee: Charlie Perkins '69, Chair; Jim Barrett '52, Jeff Kraemer '78, Mike O'Sullivan '60, Vince Orlando '61, Mike Poyer '75, Jim Sartoris '62, John Skeese, former Athletic Director and Coach; Kevin Slattery '77, Brett Lowart, NDHS President; Kevin Rooney, NDHS Athletic Director & Varsity Football Coach; Alec Moss '00, NDHS Admissions Director, Denny Barrett '82, Annual Fund Director; Ann McClung, NDHS Dean of Women and Head Varsity Womens Golf Coach; Tom Dill, NDHS Dean of Men and Head Varsity Baseball Coach.

Previous Knights of Honor Inductees
2000
Joe Allegretti 1956
Kenneth Banks 1955
Philip "Flip" Smith 1964
William Tooley 1952
Tim Viole' 1951
Brother Robert Hampton, C.S.C.

2001
Daniel Koenig 1966, Community Service
Michael Mullen 1964, Prof. Achievement
The Parker Family, Loyalty to Institution
Larry, 1961
Michael, 1962
Dennis, 1963
Peter, 1969
Warren and Anna, parents
Brother Nivard Meichtry, C.S.C., Special Ach.

2002
Carl Abato 1962, posthumously
James Amato 1955
Brother Richard Daly, C.S.C., 1957
Daniel Donahue 1959

2003
Brother John Doran, C.S.C.
Jeanette Martinez 1992
Paul Sunderland 1970

2004
Br. Gerald Comeau, C.S.C.
Michael Minkler 1970

2005
Brother John Dobrogowski, C.S.C.
Robert Wetzel 1952

2006
Father John Bitterman, C.S.C.
Terry Donahue 1962

2007
Roger Casey 1958

2008
Jamie Dixon 1983
Maggie Dixon 1995, posthumously

2009
Brother William C. Nick, C.S.C.

2010
John Combes, Service and Loyalty

2011
Ron Renaud 1964

2012
Jeff and Libby Ames

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by contacting the school Advancement Office or online at www.ndhs.org.

Now that Taft has been afforded the No. 1 in the City Section basketball playoffs beginning Friday against visiting West Adams, the Toreadors (24-3) Taft (23-3) look to repeat as City champions.

Taft finsiehd the regular season with 14 wins in a row, 11 by 10 points or more.

Taft has won three City titles since 2004, and the Toreadors, led by forwards Anthony January and Brandon Perry and guard Kris Yanku, have made a smooth transition under new coach Jason Hart, who replaced longtime coach Derek Taylor (now at St. John Bosco).

"We're really playing well right now. I think we're starting to come together as a team," Perry said. "Coming into the playoffs, we're excited about making a run for the City title again - and the state playoffs."

Hart, a former NBA player with City Section roots after graduating from Westchester High, has stressed defense and fundamentals.

"The playoffs are going to be exciting," Hart said. "We have to play our best every night. We'll be ready for the challenge."

NEWHALL - Putting the finishing touch on a grueling final stretch consisting of four consecutive road victories to close the regular season, Canyon High clinched a share of the Foothill League boys' basketball championship Friday in a 78-69 win at Hart before a loud, near-capacity crowd.

Canyon's Clay Kasdorf scored 34 points and Coley Apsay added 28 points, including five 3-pointers.

Hart closed to within six points in the fourth quarter. But over the final two minutes, Canyon (23-3, 8-2) made the key plays, as Apsay scored on an inside basket and two free throws, and Kasdorf hit a jump shot and two free throws.

"This is the biggest win so far because it locked everything up," Kasdorf said. "We had a lot of momentum, and the team really came through tonight. I've never felt better in my life."

Kasdorf has scored 110 points in the past three games, including a school-record 48 on Feb. 3 at West Ranch. The 6-foot-3 senior went right to work at Hart, scoring 20 points in the first 11 minutes, as it was clear Kasdorf had the green light every time he touched the basketball.

"I do have the green light. It's great to have that kind of freedom," Kasdorf said. "I don't have to refrain from anything. I can just play my game."

Canyon has yet to lose a road game this season, so the Cowboys, expected to be seeded No. 1 in the Southern Section Div. II-AA playoffs beginning next week, could be tough to beat in the postseason.

"This was a tough, gutsy win, to come on this court and win like this, and Clay and Coley are remarkable basketball players," Canyon coach Chad Phillips said. "Don't quote me for the playoffs, but we're good on the road. We haven't lost one, winning the Burbank tournament and the Ventura tournament and all the nonleague road games."

Clay Kasdorf has scored 20 points -- all over the first 11 minutes -- to help Canyon to a 39-20 halftime lead at Hart in a key Foothill League game.

There is a buzz of excitement at Hart, as visiting Canyon and the host Indians face off in a Foothill League finale that could decide the league title.

Canyon is 22-3 and Hart is 17-9, 6-3. If Hart wins and Valencia upsets West Ranch (13-10, 7-2), there could be a three-way tie

With the Southern Section boys' basketball playoff pairings scheduled to be released Sunday, Alemany High picked a bad time to lose to Harvard Westlake by 19 points Wednesday in the season finale, a defeat that could cost the Warriors (23-4) the No. 1 seed in Div. III-A.

Alemany, which has never won a basketball title, had won nine games in a row including impressive victories over Price, Loyola, Crespi and Harvard-Westlake.

"We're coming off a tough loss, but now we're even more focused on making a CIF run and a state run," Alemany guard Max Guercy said.

On the heels of winning a Mission League title for the first time since 1999, Alemany coach Tray Meeks is hoping the Warriors got the loss out of their system.

"I like our chances this year," Meeks said. "We just need to continue to play hard and to play together."

In the City Section, pairings come out on Saturday, and defending Div. I champion Taft (23-3) is all but assured the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season with 13 consecutive victories, 10 by 10 points or more.

Taft has won three City titles since 2004, and the Toreadors, led by forwards Anthony January and Brandon Perry and guard Kris Yanku, have made a smooth transition under new coach Jason Hart, who replaced longtime coach Derrick Taylor (now at St. John Bosco).

"We're really playing well right now. I think we're starting to come together as a team," Perry said. "Coming into the playoffs, we're excited about making a run for the City title again -- and the state playoffs."

Hart, a former NBA player with City Section roots after graduating from Westchester High, has stressed defense and fundamentals.

"The playoffs are going to be exciting," Hart said. "We have to play our best every night. We'll be ready for the challenge."

Chaminade is among the area's most improved teams. The Eagles (17-9) have rebounded after finishing last in the Mission League a year ago, and they've won six of their past nine games to all but clinch a spot in the Div. IV-AA playoffs as an at-large entry.

"We're hopefully peaking at the right time, and my team's chemistry is top notch," Chaminade coach Todd Wolfson said. "We think we can hang with anyone in our division."

Chaminade, led by Jaron Martin, Jack Williams and Zach Miller, also has a boisterous fan following, so the Eagles can be especially tough to beat on their own court - an important factor in the playoffs.

"With our student section, no one wants to play us at home," Wolfson said.

Oaks Christian, Sierra Canyon, La Canada, Buckley and Chatsworth all made it to a section final last season, but this season they're struggling to keep pace.

Oaks Christian (20-5) lost twice to Oak Park to finish second in the Tri-Valley League, and the Lions figure to have a daunting challenge in the top-heavy Div. IV-AA division featuring Price, La Verne Lutheran, Bishop Montgomery, Crespi, Muir and others.

"We're still a strong team. We have a tough road, but we feel we can go pretty far," Oaks Christian guard Mike Roletti said.

After winning 27 games last season and falling one win shy of a state-championship berth, Sierra Canyon has lost its past four games to fall to 13-13, and there is a chance the Trailblazers might not make the playoffs at all.

"We've lost a lot of tough games this year, a lot of one-possession games," Sierra Canyon coach Ryan Silver said.

La Canada. 30-4 last year, has averaged more than 25 wins over the past seven season, but this year the Spartans, hit hard by graduation, are 14-11 including four losses over the past five games.

"The team is playing great defense, but we're having a hard time scoring points," La Canada coach Tom Hofman said. "The effort is very good, and if we start scoring some points, we could do well in the playoffs."

Buckley has returned most of the key players from last year's 23-6 team, yet the injury-plagued Griffins are in the third place in the Liberty League while losing four league games for the first time since at least 2004.

"We're finally healthy and playing good basketball," Buckley coach Mike Hamilton said. "We have enough veteran leadership to get back to the finals. Eight of our guys went to the CIF finals and the state playoffs last year."

And, finally, what has happened to Chatsworth? Last year, the Chancellors went 26-10 while winning the City Div. III championship and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs. This season, they're 9-21 with six consecutive losses heading into tonight's West Valley finale at Taft.

"Our team isn't playing well, but my focus is to keep our team optimistic," guard Terrell Funches said.

Bill Bedgood, head coach at Notre Dame, has resigned after going 9-18 this past season, 0-12 in the Mission League.

Bedgood coached for seven years.

Time Warner Cable has announced the upcoming broadcasts of local Los Angeles high school basketball games. Covering both girls' and boys' basketball, the special programming will air on a rotating basis through Feb. 12 on SoCal Channel 101.

For girls' basketball, Canyon plays Golden Valley on Channel 101 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, and then repeating at midnight Friday, at 10 a.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday. Randy Rosenbloom will provide the play-by-play and Dave Marcus will provide the commentary.

This week's boys' basketball "Friday Night Game of the Week" will feature a Foothill League showdown with the Canyon and Golden Valley. The game will be aired live on Channel 101 at 7 p.m. Friday and will be rebroadcast on at 10 p.m. Saturday and at 8 a.m. Sunday. Rosenbloom will again provide the play-by-play and Marcus will provide spirited commentary.

Crespi 63, Harvard-Westlake 57

Crespi - London Perrantes 22, Avery 15, 8 rebs, 5 stls, Milligan 11, Rubio 6, Foreman 4, Gallo 3, Davison 2.

HW - Edosomwan 24, 9 rebs, 3 blks, Winfield 15 (7 of 8 FGs), 5 rebs, Derick Newton 11; Sheng 3, Hearlihy 2, Hooks 2.

CR 20-6, 7-5; HW 16-9, 6-5.

For a team that has lost five of its past six games, Crespi looks pretty good. The Celts lead 35-18 at halftime at Harvard-Westlake -- begging the question, when's the last time you've seen the mighty Wolverines down by such a wide margin at intermission?

Harvard-Westlake is much taller, and I think Crespi's lead is going to be hard to protect.

Crespi's London Perrantes has 12 points -- three 3-pointers and a three-point play.

Crespi won 19 of its first 20 games but has lost five of six heading into the Mission League finale at 7:30 tonight at Harvard-Westlake (16-8), which has won five of past six and still has one more game on Wednesday night.

It will be more than a week before the Southern Section playoffs begin, and Crespi (19-6) could use a pick-me-up in the form of a win -- otherwise, it might feel like a long time before the postseason finally rolls around.

Harvard-Westlake is led by Zena Edosomwan and Josh Hearlihy, and Crespi is led by London Perrantes and Michael Milligan, Jr.

Manny Alvarado, a 24-year baseball coach at Kennedy, is facing a three-week suspension because of alleged campus hazing incident two months ago, and the coach is getting a lot of community support from parents, players and former players.

A rally was held Monday in front of the Granada Hills school in support Alvarado after the LAUSD issued a statement Friday that read: "The District responded to concerns, investigated and took appropriate action to ensure the safety of students on the Kennedy campus. Coach Manny Alvarado remains the baseball coach at Kennedy. Any litigation or personnel matters concerning Alvarado are confidential and cannot be publicly discussed."

The decision to punish Alvarado so severely does not sit well among those in the Kennedy baseball community.

"Manny Alvarado is a true gentleman, a man among men, and he wants the best for his players," said former player Andrew Gold, now a member of Santa Barbara City College's golf team. "He has never stood for any kind of hazing. I was there for four years and never any kind of hazing. I'm loyal to Manny Alvarado because he's a great guy.

"He pretty much shaped me into who I am today and taught me how to be a man. He was a great baseball coach, but he's more than a baseball coach - he really cares what happens on and off the field."

From Chatsworth High to the first round of the 2007 Major League draft to the big leagues, Mike Moustakas and Matt Dominguez made their grand return Saturday to the high school baseball diamond where it all started.

The dynamic duo returned to Chatsworth to have their Chancellors jersey numbers retired in a special ceremony in conjunction with Chatsworth's annual alumni game.

Moustakas, who hit a state-record 52 career home runs including 24 as a senior before being picked No. 2 overall by the Kansas City Royals, hugged and laughed with his former Chatsworth teammates, signed autographs, posed for pictures and took a few swings in batting practice.

The third baseman also did a lot of reminiscing.

"This is where it all started," said Moustakas, who batted .263 with five home runs in 89 games as a rookie for the Royals last season. "I learned more than just how to play baseball here. I learned how to go about my business and how to be a man, and I learned a lot from my teammates at the time, because I had so many great teammates."

Moustakas and Dominguez have remained tight with Chatsworth coach Tom Meusborn, and together the three worked out a schedule so the major leaguers could participate before reporting to spring training, moving the alumni event to Saturday instead of later in the month as usual.

"I just remember coach Meusborn showing us and teaching us how to do things that other teams wouldn't do so we could make things happen the way they did," Moustakas said. "We used to sell Christmas trees as a fundraiser three months before the season started, stuff like that. So many Christmas trees.

"I was always loyal to coach Meusborn, and I always will be because he was always loyal to us, too."

Dominguez, a third baseman with the Florida Marlins, appeared in four games last season after being drafted No. 12 overall in 2007.

"I'm enjoying it a lot, coming back here again for the first time," Dominguez said. "There are a lot of good memories here. It's great seeing everyone again. This is something pretty special."

Chatsworth has won a City Section-best nine baseball titles, seven since 1999 including two during the Moustakas/Dominguez era. There is a strong sense of community in Chatsworth baseball circles, as hundreds of spectators and dozens of former players showed up.

"It's an inspiration because you look at Mike Moustakas and Matt Dominguez, you know what they've done, and you see how they're role models," said John Shaikin, whose son, Sam, has made the varsity as a freshman infielder. "Those two prove that anything is possible with hard work and determination."

Meusborn was the maestro, tossing 45 minutes of batting practice - no home runs by Moustakas nor Dominguez because a fierce wind was blowing in - and enjoying the company of his two prized pupils.

"I think the most special thing about them is they're the same guys they always were. All the success hasn't changed them one bit," Meusborn said.

When it was suggested Meusborn was the one who taught the youngsters everything they know, he could only shake his head and smile.

"Oh no, I just tried to stay out their way," he said with a laugh.

The loyalty of Moustakas and Dominguez is infectious. Chuck Hetfield, a longtime Chatsworth assistant who turns 90 in June, keeps saying every year that he is going to retire, but there he was Saturday, in full uniform ready for another season.

"There's a lot of pride," Hetfield said.

Hetfield said the fun part is he always knew Moustakas and Dominguez would make it to the majors.

"They worked hard for it. You could see it right from the beginning, how hard they worked," Hetfield said. "Everyone works really hard. That's what Chatsworth baseball is all about. That's why I'm never going to retire. I'll be finished when it's time to bury me in center field."

Louisville Slugger has published its list of preseason All-Americans. There are a lot of names but only three from the area -- Harvard-Westlake pitchers Lucas Giolito and Max Fried and Valencia infielder Trey Williams.

Havard-Westlake catcher Arden Pabst received honorable mention.

The pressure was on Friday, and Canyon High's Clay Kasdorf delivered one of the greatest performances in Foothill League boys' basketball history.

The 6-foot-3 senior scored 48 points in a 98-90 double-overtime victory before a capacity crowd at West Ranch, keeping alive Canyon's chances of winning the league title outright while turning away an opportunity for the host Wildcats' to win at least a share of the championship for the first time in school history.

In the first overtime, Kasdorf helped Canyon erase a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes, scoring two inside baskets and blocking a potential winning shot with 10 seconds left.

In the second overtime, Kasdorf took matters into his own hands, scoring his team's first 10 points as the visiting Cowboys pulled away, then celebrated in a mob at center court like they had just won Game 7 of the NBA championship.

No one could remember a Foothill League player ever scoring 50 points in a game, and Kasdorf was awfully close - though he had no idea because he was immersed in the heat of competition.

"My thoughts were on winning, and that's all. All I cared about was the final scoreboard," Kasdorf said. "We knew how important this game was, and we knew we needed to come out and do what we did."

The win forced a first-place tie between the two teams with two games remaining, as Canyon improved to 21-3, 6-2, while West Ranch fell to 12-10, 6-2.

This just in: Canyon coach Chad Phillips has announced his pending retirement.

"I've got kids 7, 5, 4 and 2, and they're all boys -- the need me,"
Phillips said.

After working 11 years as the CIF State Executive Director, Marie Ishida is retiring at the end of the school year, she announced Friday in a press release.

Ishida, the seventh chief executive officer of the organization, has served in her current role since April 2001.

West Ranch can clinch a share of the Foothill League title tonight with a win over visiting Canyon, as the host Wildcats look to pull off a championship for the first time in school history.

Ako Kaluna, a 6-foot-7 junior, is averaging 15.1 points, 11 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Two of the region's top boys basketball teams will fight to maintain each of their six-game winning streaks during Time Warner Cable's featured High School Game of the Week.

Price (17-5) faces Alemany Warriors (20-3) this Thursday, each team looking to stay at
the top of their league standings.

Watch from home on SoCal Channel 101,

Oaks Christian Jordan Payton has set an official record for snubs.

After committing to USC, then Cal, then Washington on Tuesday, Payton now plans to sign with UCLA today, according to an Oaks Christian source.

Payton, a receiver, has not returned calls or texts, so let's wait and see if and when he signs on the dotted line. With this guy, until it's official, it's VERY unofficial ....