Gerry Gittelson: March 2008 Archives

Jim Baughman, an All-Foothill League volleyball player at Valencia, has committed to Long Beach State after an official this past weekend.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON -- Looking good for Crespi tonight. The Celts are ahead 6-0 in the top of the fifth against Orange Lutheran in the National Classic final at Cal State Fullerton.

Crespi's Ryan Healy is 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run, and right-hander E.C. McSweeney has allowed six hits but no runs through 4 2/3 innings, striking out three.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON -- Should be a good one tonight, as Crespi takes on Orange Lutheran in the championship game of the 19th annual National Classic tournament at Cal State Northridge.

E.C. McSweeney is scheduled to pitch for Crespi, which is coming off a long night after winning its semifinal 8-6 over St. Johns of Washington, D.C. in a Wednesday semifinal that didn't end until well after midnight.

The only Valley area to win the National Classic was Simi Valley over Irvine in 1993.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Eagle Rock defensive back Freddy Reyes said he received a citation from campus police today and was suspended for two days for his role in an ongoing protest against the firing of coach Jerry Chou in January.

“I’m very upset. I don’t believe in the system,” Reyes said. “The ticket is for being definat to school officials. It's a $200 fine plus community service, and I’m going to fight this ticket. I can’t come back to school until Tuesday, but this is not over. The principal (Salvador) Velasco hates my guts.”

Reyes and another source said others were cited, too.

Velasco has yet to a return phone message Wednesday from the Daily News.

Velasco sent an inter-office memo Tuesday naming Johnny Lopez the new coach.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON – Crespi of Encino got off to a late start Wednesday, as its National Classic baseball semifinal against St. Johns of Washington, D.C. did not begin until after 9 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton

But the Celts made up for lost time with eight runs through the first innings and held on for an 8-6 victory that didn't end until past midnight.

Crespi (9-3) plays Orange Lutheran in the tournament championship at 7 tonight at Cal State Fullerton. The Celts are bidding to become only the second local team in the tournament’s 19-year history to win the championship. Simi Valley won it 1993.

Sean Gilmartin allowed one hit over the final two innings to earn the save, and Harry Grace (2-0) pitched the first 3 2/3 innings for the win.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON – Crespi of Encino got off to a late start Wednesday, as its National Classic baseball semifinal against St. Johns of Washington, D.C. did not begin until after 9 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton

But the Celts made up for lost time with eight runs through the first innings to forge an 8-4 lead at press time.

Crespi scored five runs in the bottom of the third, the big blow Travis Forbes’ two-run single, followed by Carlos Lopez’s RBI single.

The winner advances to the tournament championship at 7:15 Thursday against Orange Lutheran at Cal State Fullerton.

Crespi scored in the first inning when Forbes doubled, took third on Lopez’s long fly, then scored on Jeremy Rodriguez’s sharp single to left to make it 1-0.

St. Johns responded with four runs in the second, parlaying two walks, two hit batters, a sacrifice, a run-scoring groundout by LJ Hoes and a two-run single by Jeff Flax.

Crespi scored twice in the second. Sean Gilmartin walked and eventually scored on Zack Wiley’s single, and Austin Walker walked, advanced to third on Wiley’s single, then scored on a passed ball to pull to within 4-3.

St. Johns threatened in the top of the first, putting runners on second and third. But Grace induced Josh Leemhuis to pop out to first to end the threat.

In the other semifinal at Cal State Fullerton:

Orange Lutheran 16, Seminole Ridge, Fla. 11 – Gerrit Cole hit a grand slam, Josh Doyle hit a two-run home run, and Aaron Gates added two hits and two RBIs, as Orange Lutheran overcame seven errors to qualify for the championship game Thursday at 7:15 p.m.. at Cal State Fullerton.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON -- But the bad news is it took until 9 p.m. for the first pitch because of delays, so who knows when this National Classic semifinal between Crespi and St. Johns of D.C., will end?

St. Johns threatened but did not score in the first, and Crespi is ready to take its hacks.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

FULLERTON -- Hmm, already starting to worry about making press deadline tonight, as Crespi has yet to begin warming up for its National Classic semifinal vs. St. Johns of Washington, D.C., because the other semifinal is running late.

If starts much later than the scheduled 8 p.m. first pitch, that's going to be pushing it.

At any rate, it should be a good game. Crespi is 8-3, not the greatest record in the world, but the Celts remain heavily respected and, with a win, will surely remain the Daily News\' No. 1 team entering Friday's finale. Submarine RHP Harry Grace gets the nod for Crespi, and he's fun to watch because his delivery is unorthodox. Kid has good stuff, too. Lots of spin, and he throws hard.

St. Johns, meanwhile, is 6-0, and no less than NINE players are D-I signees, including center fielder L.J. Hoes, who has signed with North Carolina -- but only if he's not a top-three-round draft prospect, as expected. The designated hitter, Scott Silverstein, has 13 RBIs; he has signed with Virginia. Mike Loeb gets the nod; he hasn't pitched often -- no decisions this year, 3-0 as a junior and 1-0 as a sophomore -- but he has never lost a HS game. He is going to Davidson in North Carolina.

Will update when appropriate ....

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It isn't official, but two sources have confirmed Johnny Lopez, former head coach at Marshall of Pasadena, has been appointed head football coach at Eagle Rock, replacing Jerry Chou, who's firing in January sparked dissention among players and fellow students, many of whom have since participated in staged classroom walkouts and civic demonstrations in support of Chou.

Lopez was 1-9 (the win was by forfeit) in his final season at Marshall in 2006, and 2-7 in 2005. It isn't clear if he was a coach last season.

Bell-Jeff coach Raul Aguirre was first offered the job Tuesday but turned it down, saying he decided he wanted to stay at Bell-Jeff.

"Yes, I did turn it down. I think (Eagle Rock) is pretty desperate," Aguirre said. "I didn't really know about all the issues at Eagle Rock, and as a professional, I didn't want to get into a situation like that, My assistants and I want to stay at Bell-Jeff. We've got a good team coming back."

A message has been left for Eagle Rock principal Salvador Velasco, who fired Chou and reportedly hired Lopez.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Lancaster's Shawna Wright is only the second softball player in area history to hit 30 career home runs. surpassing former Quartz Hill star Jodie Cox, who hit 29 -- heading into today's Golden League game against winless Eastside of Lancaster.

With 14 games remaining heading into today's Golden League game against visiting Eastside, Wright, a junior, needs seven home runs to tie the area record of 37, set by Biana Mejia, who played at Sylmar and El Camino Real.

"The record would be nice, and I'm comfortable with the attention, but I'd rather the attention be on the team," Wright said. "When I'm up there, I don't really think home run, except maybe with a runner on third and less than two outs. That's when I'm trying to hit a fly ball. Otherwise, I just try to hit the ball on a line."

Wright has five home runs in 44 at-bats this season after hitting a state-best 14 last year and hit 11 home runs as a freshman

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Funny how a case of burnout seemingly can be solved with new scenary.

Jeff Hallman and Eric Olsson, who earlier this month quit their respective jobs as head coaches of Saugus' boys' and girls' basketball teams -- both citing the age-old "family reasons" -- have joined the staff for The Master's College men's team as assistants, according to the The Signal.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Congrats to Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson, named Ventura County Star's Player of The Year. Now the big question remains: where will Jackson play college basketball?

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Sabine Stork, who played at Cal State Northridge and was an assistant at Harvard Westlake, is the new coach at Louisville, replacing Will Jacoby.

Stork's husband, Jeff, is the women's coach at CSUN.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Saugus has named Derek Ballard head boys' coach, replacing Jeff Hallman, and the school also has named Kent Eaton head girls' coach, replacing Eric Olsson.

Ballad was the head JV coach and a varsity assistant the past three years. Eaton was an assistant the past eight years for Saugus' lower level boys' teams.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Brent Newcomb, former longtime coach at Antelope Valley, won a fishing tournament in Lone Pine, according to the AV Press.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SACRAMENTO -- It's a wrap. Final score: Branson 40, Renaissance Academy 33

Still haven't got the final stats, but i would be surprised if Renaissance shot better than 30 percent in this D5 loss to Branson at Arco Arena. The Wildcats just did not have any fire, turning the ball over way too much, and generally making poor decisions.

Nervous? Perhaps. Otherwise, Branson is simply a much better team. Wouldn't be a shock, considering this was Branson third consecutive D5 state title.

It didn't help that leading scorer Justin Cook did not hit a field goal and finished with just three points. That was a killer.

But there is lots of talent returning, including big man Anthony Stover, so perhaps Renaissance Academy will be heard from again.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SACRAMENTO -- Renaissance Acadamy picked the wrong day for a total breakdown.

Fading under the pressure of the CIF State Div. V final against defending two-time champion Branson of Ross, Renaissance Academy shot 33 percent, committed 15 turnovers and totaled just one assist in a 40-33 loss before a crowd of about 3,500 at Arco Arena.

Renaissance Academy’s top player, Justin Cook, a three-time All-Southern Section pick who came in averaging 18 points per game, did not hit a field goal and finished with three points.

Trailing by five points entering the fourth quarter, Branson’s Curtis Elijah hit a quick 3-pointer, followed by a short jumper to stretch the lead to 36-26. From that point, the Wildcats, their body language dejected and defeated, never got closer than seven.

Twice Renaissance Academy went more than five minutes without a point, and the Wildcats didn’t score in the fourth quarter until Yader Combs’ 3-pointer with 2:25 remaining, making it 36-29.

“There was a lot of frustration,” Renaissance Academy’s Anthony Stover said. “It seemed at halftime, we were down by five points, and everyone kind of felt like we already lost it.”

Renaissance Academy (27-4), comprised of just 65 students, is in only its eighth year, and coach Sid Cooke believes there will be better times ahead. He noticed his players were dragging down the stretch, but the coach chalked it up to inexperience.

“It’s part of being a growing program trying to get to that next level,” Cooke said. “It was a big game, and maybe there were some jitters. It’s just about being mentally tough.”

So distraught was Cook that he could barely comment. When asked what happened, he said: “I don’t know,” then broke down.

“I think Justin just got caught up in the game and didn’t have his rhythm a little bit,” Cooke said. “But (Branson) had a lot to do with that. One bad game doesn’t define him.”

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SACRAMENTO -- Renaissance Academy is playing into Branson's style -- slow, deliberate, forcing mistakes -- and paying for it, as the locals trail 19-14 at the half after managing just one field goal in the second quarter.

Renaissance Academy's Justin Cook, the teams' leading scorer at 18 ppg, has scored just one point, and he didn't get that until the final seconds of the half.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

This one is tight and low-scoring, just as expected. The teams are tied at 10 after one quarter, but if Renaissance Academy can take better shots, they’ll be in better shape. They’re forcing everything in a building that is notoriously unfriendly to outside shooters.

We shall see if things pick up …

SACRAMENTO -- Just outside of an hour b efore Renaissance Academy takes the floor for today's CIF State Div. V championship against Branson at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

This place should be rocking -- for Branson. There already are a lot of people here, as Branson's girls are playing for the DV 5 title against Mission Prep right now, with Branson up by seven at the half.

Renaissance Academy has never won a state title -- only three area programs have done so (Campbell Hall, Harvard Westlake and Montclair Prep), so a victory would be an historical accomplishment, especially for a program that's been around only eight years and has 65 total students on campus.

Will update when i can ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Very impressive performance by Campbell Hall, which proved it could survive -- flourish, actually -- with Jrue Holiday limited to 19 points in 20 minutes because of foul trouble. Freshman Austin McBroom scored 30, and Dallas Rutherford added 20. The state championship is Campbell Hall's third in four seasons.

gerry.gittelson

Holiday has been limited to nine minutes and nine points because of foul trouble, but Austin McBroom is really turning in on with 14 points in the first half, as Campbell Hall leads 42-28. He sparked a 10-0 run to end the half with two baskets and a slick assists to Dallas Rutherford for a 3-pointer.

Campbell Hall trailed through the first five minutes or so, as Jrue Holiday found difficulty getting shots -- plus he missed 2 of 4 free throws -- and now he's on the bench with two fouls, as Campbell Hall rallied a bit and leads 17-15 after the first quarter. Jrue has four points.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SACRAMENTO -- Countdown time. About an hour before tipoff here at Arco Arena for the CIF State Div. IV state championship between locals Campbell Hall, led by All-American Jrue Holiday, and St. Mary's -- ranked five spots higher in Maxpreps' state top 10 (St. Marys is No. 5 and Campbell Hall is No. 10).

Jrue Holiday is standing a few feet away, all by himself in the loge, getting mentally ready for what could be his third state championship over the past four years.

Will update when I can ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

in the wake of an 8-4 vote Tuesday "for informational purposes" by Tri-County Athletic Association representatives in favor of seperating Oaks Christian from the Tri-Valley/Frontier leagues beginning in 2010-11, Oaks Christian athletic director Jan Hethcock and football coach Bill Redell said today the tally is not important -- and that Oaks Christian has no intention of leaving, except for maybe the football program.

"It's just informational. The vote is not binding whatsoever," Hethcock said. "I think the whole point is to just give us incentive to leave, but we don't want to leave. Maybe in football, but that would be it."

Redell said: "I kind of have to watch what I say, but in some ways is upsetting and the other hand it's not important. I think it's all football driven."

St. Bonaventure, a member school, participates in the Tri-Valley/Frontier League in every sport except football, where it competes in the Channel League. Redell and Hethcock said they would be open to the idea of Oaks Christian switching to the Marmonte League for football.

"I'd like to go the Marmonte Legue and maybe switch us with Calabasas," Redell said. "But if you look closely, we've lost four league football games in five years -- that's not as dominant as you would think. But the whole thing, it's just a little too early."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

There's a trend forming that recalls the protest era of the 1960s, as players are performing acts of civil disobediance to stick up for coaches who get fired.

It continues to happen at Eagle Rock, where the football players today staged another in a series of classroom walkouts in protest of the firing of coach Jerry Chou. Right now, there are more than 200 kids in the quad, instead of the classroom, said one of the players, calling in from his cell phone. (He said he will send me a pic, so perhaps we can post it soon.)

And in Calabasas on Wednesday, the basketball team picketed the school district office in protest of the firing of coach Jim Neilsen. That one, we do have a photo, and here it is ....

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Jim Neilsen, who played at Washington State, has been fired as coach of Calabasas in the wake of an alleged complaint by a parent, though athletic director Larry Edwards is among a group who support Neilsen.

Neilsen, who remains a teacher at the school, has yet to return a message seeking comment. A school official said he could not comment because it's a personnel matter.

At 2:30 p.m. today, the Calabasas basketball players on all levels are planning to conduct their own practice at the Las Virgenes School District office in a show of support for Neilsen, said two team parents.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Calabasas coach Jim Neilsen, fired Tuesday night at a district board meeting, said Wednesday he has been given no explanation, though he confirmed there were three complaints by lodged against him.

"I don't understand what happened," said Neilsen, 58, who remains a campus teacher. "Our principal, our vice-principal and our A.D. all should my contract should be renewed and I should be retained. But it's my understanding as a teacher in this district, they don't have to give you a reason."

In two years, Neilson went 25-28 after inheriting a team that had gone 21-7 the year before. He played at Washington State and is a former five-year Pepperdine assistant and a former head coach at Redondo.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

John Rome is Glendale's new coach, according to the Glendale News-Press, replacing John Cicuto.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Taft head coach Matt Kerstetter has been named coach of the West in the annual East-West All-Star Game on June 15 at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa.

Not bad for a first-year coach.

Kerstetter, who coached Taft to the City Section quarterfinals, opposes Saugus coach Jason Bornn, who is manning the East.

Rosters will be released soon.

And, oh yeah, Ross Porter is MC-ing the event banquet. Good stuff.

For information: (818) 999-5197

NORWALK – Jrue Holiday and Larry Drew had the time of their lives today.

And that’s saying something because they’ve had more ups than downs compared to most teenagers considering they’re two of the nation’s top prep basketball players – Holiday a UCLA-bound star for Southern Section Div. III-AA champion Campbell Hall of North Hollywood and Drew a North Carolina-bound star for City Section champion Taft of Woodland Hills.

It was about basketball again today, as Holiday and Drew and four others from the Southland were honored as McDonalds All-Americans at a press conference at a local McDonalds. Television reporters from ABC, Fox Sports Network and other stations interviewed them, and family members were beaming, as you would expect.

But also there were a group of youngsters from New River Elementary School who came to meet the All-Americans and help them celebrate. Holiday and Drew played with the kids at the McDonalds playground, shot baskets with them, signed autographs.

It dawned on the players that the annual McDonalds all-star event, scheduled for March 26 in Milwaukee, is all about the kids. The nationally televised game raises money to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Last year’s game in Louisville raised more than $500,000.

It’s starting to become apparent to Holiday and Drew that their talents mean more than cheers from the crowd, championship trophies or even a college scholarship. They’ve been granted a special opportunity to help others, a key step in learning it’s better to give than receive and to do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

You couldn’t help but get a bit choked up watching the scene.

“It’s not too often you can take a step to help the lives of others,” Drew said. “It’s a new experience. If the game raises money, I’m just happy to be given a chance to do something like that, to help kids stay on the right track to success.”

Holiday had so much fun shooting baskets with the kids that he almost worked up more of a sweat than an average 26-point night.

He was beaming.

“It’s an honor. It’s a good charity,” Holiday said. “Only the top players play in the McDonalds game. It’s the all-star game I really wanted to play in. And if somebody, the kids, can look up to us, that makes me feel good.”

PHOTO: LARRY DREW OF TAFT TALKS TO TV REPORTER
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Just got off the phone with Saugus athletic director Kevin Miner, who gave me a heads-up that girls' coach Eric Olsson has resigned. A campus press conference is skedded for 3:30 p.m., but I'm not sure I can make it because of committments to this final week of prep basketball.

But i wanted to get the news out.

Olsson, among the Foothill League's most successful girls' coaches, coached for two stints at Saugus, the latest since 2004-05 after one year at Clovis West.

"He's resigning on his own terms," Miner said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Check out this nice story about Campbell Hall freshman point guard Austin McBroom in the AV Press. McBroom lives in the Antelope Valley.

By Gerry Gittelson
Staff Writer

Hobbled by a recurring knee injury, Josh Thomas was nearly kept out of Renaissance Academy of La Canada’s Southern California Regional basketball championship against Price of Los Angeles on Saturday at Mater Dei High.

Renaissance Academy coach Sid Cooke was leaning toward not playing him until Thomas’ grandmother called, pleading not to sit him with a state-championship berth on the line.

“His grandmother is a minister, and she said she believed Thomas would play and do well, and I couldn’t argue with that,” Cooke said. “What an awesome moment for Josh.”

Thomas was wobbly for most of the game, making just 2 of his first 13 shots with 38 seconds remaining and his team down by one point when he found himself with the basketball near the left corner.

With no time to wonder about the what-ifs, Thomas swished an 18-footer to put Renaissance Academy ahead for good in a 55-52 victory to give the building program its biggest win in school history.

“I had to shoot it. It was a big shot,” Thomas said. “My knee was hurting, but right now I’m so excited I can’t feel a thing.”

Justin Cook, who led Renaissance Academy with 20 points, had total faith in Thomas.

“I knew he would nail it. I knew it was going in,” Cook said. “Josh has actually hurt both knees this season, but he’s tough. I’m glad he played today because he is a big part of our team offensively and defensively.”

Renaissance Academy faces Lick-Wilmerding or Brandon in the CIF State Div. V championship at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SANTA ANA -- Renaissance Academy went on a 12-0 run late in the second quarter to help build a 31-20 halftime lead over Price in the SoCal Regional final at Mater Dei High, so it looks good for the Wildcats to advance to the state final in Sacramento next Saturday -- if they can keep doing what they've been doing.

With Renaissance's top inside player, Anthony Stover, in foul trouble with three fouls, junior Deandre Daniels asserted himself, scoring eight consecutive points to start the 12-0 run. He has 10 points, and he has helped contain Tyreese Breshers, Price's star center who has signed with Washington. Breshers has nine points, as Price is shooting just 30 perecent.

Will update soon ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

SANTA ANA -- Lots on the line today at the Southern California Regional championships at Mater Dei High -- nice gym, BTW -- as Div. V Renaissance Academy and Div. IV Campbell Hall look to qualify for the state final next Saturday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Renaissance Academy is warming up, and this one should be underway soon against Price of Los Angeles, which won eight section titles in a row from 1999 to 2006 -- also collecting five titles during that run. They're a good team again this season, and Renaissance figures to have its hands full.

Campbell Hall is a strong favorite to defeat San Joaquin Memorial at 7 in the D4 final, and if so the Vikings will contend for their third state title in four years -- a spree that not surprisingly has coincided with the arrival of Jrue Holiday, now a UCLA-bound senior.

Stay tuned. I will keep ya posted ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Renaissance Academy of La Canada plays its bitter rival, Price of Los Angeles, in the Div. V Southern California Regional championship today at 3 p.m. at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, and the locals are hoping to turn the tide after twice being eliminated from the playoffs by the Knights.

The key for Renaissance Academy (26-3) could be Anthony Stover, a 6-foot-10 junior who is assigned the task of shutting down Price’s star center, 6-7 Tyreese Breshers, who has signed with Washington.

Stover is averaging 10.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.4 blocks, and he is aware how important his contributions will be if Renaissance is to advance to a state final for the first time in school history.

“I want this real bad,” Stover said. “We’re pretty up for this game.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Southern California Regional finals

Today at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana

.Div. V

Renaissance Academy (26-3) vs. Price of L.A. (31-3) – A victory by Renaissance Academy would all but erase the memory of losing in the section semifinals last month – not to mention losses to Price in the section title game in 2005 and 2006.

Motivated by its own past success, Campbell Hall of North Hollywood is two victories shy of what could be its third state basketball title in four years, and the Vikings remain poised even though the pressure continues to build.

It’s difficult not to look past tonight’s opponent, San Joaquin Memorial of Fresno, in the Southern California Regional Div. IV final at 7 at Mater Dei in Santa Ana. But when you have so much talent, especially in the form of national player of the year candidate Jrue Holiday, and so much momentum and tradition, it would be quite a surprise – not to mention a grand disappointment – if top-seeded Campbell Hall (29-5) does not take care of business.

\
Besides UCLA-bound Holiday, who averages 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game and is closing in on the area’s career scoring record, many of the other key faces who played a key role in last year’s state-championship run are back: fellow senior Dallas Rutherford, who averages 16.7 points per game and has been offered a Cal State Northridge scholarship; sophomore sensation James Johnson, a major force in the post who is averaging 14.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks; junior Keegan Hornbuckle, a 6-6 ½ forward who averages 8.6 points and eventually figures to be the third Hornbuckle brother sign a Division I scholarship.

Then you have freshman point guard Austin McBroom (6.7 points, 3.9 assists), who has steadily evolved into one of Valley’s top young talents, and it’s a pretty tight starting five.

Too good for San Joaquin Memorial? Probably. But there is too much to lose by taking anyone lightly, so expect Campbell Hall to be more focused than ever tonight. The dangling carrot of another state-championship berth means motivation should supersede overconfidence.

“We’ve got to come out and do what we do and stick to our game plan, and we should be all right,” Rutherford said. “Does each win build on the next one? I think so, especially for us seniors because every game could be our last high school game. so we’ll do whatever it takes to finish our careers with a win.”

Campbell Hall is 121-12 over the past four years (winning 27 games or more every season), rivaling only Harvard-Westlake of Studio City for being the Valley’s most successful dynasty ever.

“I want to say there’s no pressure. Let’s just say winning a state title is something we know we’re capable of doing,” Rutherford said. “We did it last year, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t do it again. I think we’re playing really well, we’re getting things together, and we’re doing what we have to do.”

And Rutherford swears he and his teammates have perspective, realizing a lot of local programs undoubtedly will go 100 years without getting to a state-championship game, much less winning one.

“It’s pretty special. Not a lot of high school players get to go there,” Rutherford said. “So we take it for what it is. It’s a lot of fun.”

There is the added factor of revenge, too. San Joaquin Memorial (26-9) eliminated Campbell Hall from in the second round of the state playoffs in 2006, one of two playoff losses in Holiday’s career.

If nothing else, San Joaquin Memorial has guts. The team has taken 52 charges this season and has won two tight regional games in a row after falling in the section final by two points to Garces of Bakersfield, the team Campbell Hall defeated Thursday by a score of 82-56.

“San Joaquin is very much like (Garces). They’re smaller and very physical,” Campbell Hall coach Terry Kelly said. “They like to run up and down the floor and play man-to-man defense.”

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Southern California Regional finals

Today at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana

Div. IV

Campbell Hall (29-5) vs. San Joaquin Memorial (26-9), 7 p.m. – Campbell Hall’s Jrue Holiday is 58 points shy of breaking the all-time Valley scoring record, as Campbell Hall looks to qualify for another state final after winning in 2005 and 2007.

PHOTO: JRUE HOLIDAY

Davis Delmatoff, Hart's seven-year offensive coordinator who helped maintain the Indians' successful passing offense, has resigned.

"He's getting married next month and doing some other things," head coach Mike Herrington said.

Delmatoff was 79-21-2, winning two section titles with two runner-ups.

The news comes a short time after defensive coordinator Rick Herrington, Mike's younger brother, resigned to take the defensive coordinator job at Alemany under head coach Dean Herrington, the youngest of the three brothers.

"It's going to be different, but we're going to continue what we've been doing," Mike Herrington said.

Keith Madkins, a seven-year assistant, is Hart's new defensive coordinator. Jason d'Autremont, a six-year assistant, is the new offensive coordinator.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

When the shot left Larry Drew’s hands, it looked perfect. An open look 20 feet from the basket, nice easy back spin, just enough arc – and the game on the line with the score tied and one second remaining in regulation.

But it was one of those nights.

The ball went in, then rolled back out as the buzzer sounded, and Taft High of Woodland Hills went on to lose 83-82 in overtime to King of Riverside on Thursday in the Southern California Regional Div. I basketball semifinals before a screaming, standing-room only crowd of nearly 1,500 at Taft.

“The ball was in the hole. I could have sworn I made it,” Drew said. “After it left my hands, I was waiting for the crowd to rush the floor. But the ball curled out and went the other way.”

Taft coach Derrick Taylor thought the ball was going in, too. “It looked good,” he said. “But there was no psychological letdown or anything like that. It’s two good teams, and King made the plays at the end. It could have just as easily been us.”

Exhausted without any help from its bench and discouraged about losing its grip on its most successful season ever, Taft faded in overtime. King scored the first seven points in the extra period, then the teams played evenly until Drew’s two 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds made it close but not close enough – just like his missed 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

Drew finished with 35 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals in his final performance. The North Carolina-bound point guard will represent Taft twice more in national all-star games, but Thursday felt like the end, and he was in tears afterward.

“We’ve been waiting all season to play a game like this here,” Drew said. “It was one heck of a season. It seemed like every time we made a run, they made a run, too. It was a struggle.”

King (32-2) plays Dominguez of Compton in the Southern California Regional final Saturday at 8 p.m. at the L.A. Sports Arena. Taft has the rest of the off-season to wonder what might have been.

But there were no regrets.

Taft (27-4) never stopped hustling, never stopped pressing, never gave up despite its bench being outscored 16-0, which turned out to be a key difference in the game.

We layed it on the line,” Taylor said. “King is a very good team. I won’t say anything about our bench. I just rolled with the guys we came with.”

King has looked very impressive, coming from six points down to lead by five at the half, 34-29.

In the first quarter, King relied almost exclusively on Eric Wise, who scored 13 points, while the visiting Wolves did not commit a turnover.

In the second quarter, Taft did a good job clamping down on Wise by switching to a zone defense. But two 3-pointers by Riverside's Greg Gentry sparked a 12-5 run to end the half, and here we are with Taft in serious need of a regroup if it wants to remain alive.

Larry Drew has scored 10 for Taft, but nothing since a 3-pointer two minutes into the second quarter.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Lots on the line tonight, as the Taft Toreadors play host to King of Riverside in the Southern California Regional semifinals. This is the furthest Taft has ever gone in the state playoffs -- King won a state title in 2002 -- and the No. 1 seeded Toreadors feel like they are on a mission.

Verizon reception is spotty here, so I will update when I can.

Stay tuned ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Zachary Vincej, a Saugus junior who has been the Centurions' starting shortstop since his freshman season, has committed to Pepperdine, according to the Signal.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It’s never easy going up against Campbell Hall star Jrue Holiday, and nobody has to convince teammate Dallas Rutherford. The two go head to head every day, and Rutherford is a much better player for it.

“I take it as a challenge,” Rutherford said. “It’s made a big difference guarding him in practice every day.”

It’s not easy for Holiday, either. “He works me,” Holiday said. “Dallas can score. He can pretty much score on anybody, and he’s been doing it all year.”

Just like Holiday, Rutherford, averaging 16.7 points, does a bit of everything. He has twice scored more than 30 points in a game, and he has totaled as many as 14 rebounds, 12 assists and 11 steals.

“I feel like I’m playing well now on both ends – good defense and good offense,” Rutherford said.

The 6-3 guard is a key component for the Vikings (28-5) heading into Thursday’s 8 p.m. regional semifinal against Garces of Bakersfield at Harvard-Westlake in Studio City.

“Dallas is exactly what we expected him to be – a crafty, deceptive guard,” Campbell Hall coach Terry Kelly said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

PHOTO FROM RIVALS.COM

Catching up with Oak Park's loss to Hanford in the state playoffs, here is the Ventura County Star's story about the game.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Saugus coach Jeff Hallman, who won more than 200 games over 14 seasons but never won a league title, has resigned for family reasons, according to the Signal. He will remain at Saugus as a teacher.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Campbell Hall High of North Hollywood basketball was the hottest ticket in town Tuesday, as about 800 spectators crowded the tiny gymnasium to see star Jrue Holiday and the Vikings against visiting Rosamond in the first round of the Southern California Div. IV Regionals.

If you weren’t there early, you didn’t get in, as about 150 were left standing outside – but they could still hear the hooting and hollering as Holiday put on a show in an 85-22 victory.

The 6-foot-4, UCLA-bound senior scored 26 points with 12 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and three steals, becoming only the second player in area history to surpass 2,600 career points. In four seasons, Holiday has 2,605 points, trailing only Mitchell Butler, who scored 2,682 points for Oakwood of North Hollywood from 1986 to 1989.

With as many as three games remaining if defending state champion Campbell Hall returns to the final in Sacramento, Holiday, who is averaging 26 points per game this season, needs 78 to surpass Butler.

Campbell Hall (28-5) plays host to either Garces of Bakersfield or Army Navy of Carlsbad in the Southern California Reginal semifinal at 8 p.m. Thursday at Harvard-Westlake High in Studio City.

“It’s an honor, but maybe after the season I’ll think about how many points and all that,” Holiday said. “Right now, I’m trying to help us get back to Sacramento.”

oliday’s defining moment might have come on defense. Rosamond’s 6-foot-4 Christian Holden went up for a flying slam dunk over Holiday in the third quarter, but Holiday outjumped him and blocked the dunk, then scored himself on a fast break layup a few seconds later. That made the score 65-14.

“That’s never happened to me before,” Holden said. “But it was a good feeling because I know I went up against a Division I player – maybe an NBA player. So I wasn’t even tripping.”

The Vikings limited Rosamond to 16 percent shooting (8 of 50), forcing 18 turnovers while shooting 59 percent themselves.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Talk about standing room only. This place is so packed for Campbell Hall's state playoff game against visiting Rosamond that fans are waiting OUTSIDE, hoping enough will exit so they can get into the gym.

I've got the picture to prove it. Yes, high school games DO sell out.

But hey, if ever fans would leave early, it might be a game like this, as Campbell Hall leads 59-14 at halftime. Holiday has 20 points; he has moved into the No. 2 spot all time on the Valley scoring list, trailing only Mitchell Butler from Oakwood.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Not that it's a surprise, but Campbell Hall is ahead 28-4 after one quarter over Rosamond in the first round of the D4 Southern California Regionals. Jrue Holiday scored 11 points in the first three minutes.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Former Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen, California's all-time leading touchdown passer who is now at Notre Dame, is at Campbell Hall for tonight's CIF State Div. IV Southern California Regional in support of his friend Keegan Hornbuckle, an Oaks Christian transfer.

The game should start soon, so I will keep u up to date.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.conm

Saugus coach Jason Bornn is coachiing the East in the annual East-West All-Star Game on June 15 at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa. The West coach is expected to be announced soon.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Give Chino Hills High credit for sticking around longer than expected against high-powered Taft of Woodland Hills.

The visiting Huskies were only two points down through the first 10 minutes before Taft decided to get serious in a Southern Regional first-round game Monday at Taft, as the Toreadors went on a 16-4 tear and never looked back in a 78-52 basketball victory that put the City Champions one step closer to a CIF State Div. I title.

Michael Williams sparked the rally with two 3-pointers, and Justin Hawkins’ flying slam dunk extended the lead to 14 at the half.

“You could see this coming after coming off a City championship on Saturday,” Taft’s Larry Drew said. “I think we might have celebrated a little too hard, and we came out flat tonight. But once we got the ball rolling and found our rhythm, we took over.”

Any chance of a comeback was wiped out when Taft (26-3) used three inside baskets by Eugene Phelps during a 10-2 run to begin the second half, extending the advantage to 47-25.

“I don’t think any player on our team didn’t try to do everything they could,” Chino Hills’ Cory Harkey said. “Taft is just stacked.”

Drew scored 21 points with 13 rebounds and nine assists. Hawkins and Terran Carter added 14 points, and Eugene Phelps scored 11. More than anything, Taft took good care of the basketball, committing just seven turnovers and allowing one steal.

Taft (26-3) plays host to Clovis East or Oceanside Tuesday night at 7 in the second round. The Southern California Regional semifinal is Thursday, followed by the final Saturday at the L.A. Sports Arena, then the State Championship on March 15 at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

City Section champion Taft is top-seeded in the Southern California Regionals beginning tonight against visiting Chino Hills (27-4), which means the Toreadors need five victories to become the first area program ever to win the CIF State Div. I championship.

First things first, of course. Chino Hills, in its fifth varsity season, had won 12 in a row before a section semifinal loss Tuesday to King of Riverside. Chino Hills was without third-leading scorer Antoine Lawrence that night because he had been ejected from the previous game.

Chino Hills' top scorer Cory Harkey (16.8 points, 9.9 rebounds) might sound familiar: He has committed to a UCLA football scholarship as a tight end.

Verizon reception is a bit spotty in Taft's gym, so I'll update when I can, especially if something crazy happens -- like Chino Hills actually gives the Toreadors a game. We shall see.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

The 12th annual Battle of the Valley senior all-star games for boys and girls is scheduled for April 13 at Cal State Northridge. The boys' coaches are Simi Valley's Christian Aurand and Reseda's Keith Higgins, and the girls' coaches are Monroe's Quincy Brooks and Bell Jeff's Bryan Camacho.

Rosters should be finalized soon.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Latest stop on today's arena tour is the L.A. Sports Arena, where Taft plays Fairfax tonight at 8 for the City Championship.

The Taft boys are here, hanging out behind one of the baskets as Chatsworth and Narbonne compete for the City girls' title -- Chatsworth trailing 29-27 at the half -- and they seem relaxed and ready.

Good memories here at the Sports Arena for me. I remember seeing Styx in 1981, my first rock concert, during the "Paradise Theater" tour. Still love that band ....

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Brian Taylor, former girls' coach at Harvard Westlake, coached View Park of L.A. to a 67-49 victory today over LACES at the Sports Arena. Three hours to Taft-Fairfax of L.A. Can't wait.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Sixth-seeded underdog Knight gave it all they had but fell short against top-seeded Rancho Verde, 62-51, in the Div. II-A championship at Honda Center.

Knight's Paul George played all 32 minutes, scoring 29 points -- but he had to take a lot of shots to do it, finishing 11 of 23, including 3 of 10 3-pointers.

Jamal Corner is writing the game story for tomorrow's paper, so look for it. Meantime, I'm getting ready to head to the Sports Arena to cover the Taft-Fairfax title game in the City Section.

Over and out ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

ANAHEIM -- Things are going rough for Knight. After a close first quarter, the Hawks have fallen behind 31-18 to top seed Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley at halftime of the Div. II-A championship at Honda Center.

Knight needs to come back to be the first Antelope Valley-area large school to win a basketball title.

Will keep ya posted ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

ANAHEIM – With a lethal combination of tight defense, smooth fundamentals and deadly outside shooting – plus a lot of Jrue Holiday thrown in – Campbell Hall High of North Hollywood’s burgeoning basketball dynasty expanded in a big way Saturday.

The Vikings (27-5) defeated eight-time section champion Price of Los Angeles in the Southern Section Div. III-A championship at Honda Center – and it wasn’t even close, a 73-38 victory that could have been even more decisive had a running clock not been employed for the final six-plus minutes after Campbell Hall stretched the lead to 40 points.

Appearing in its fourth consecutive final, Campbell Hall won its third title since 2005 and fifth overall, this time over a Price program that had won eight in a row from 1999 to 2007, a stretch that has included five state titles.

“The (newspaper) called Price ‘Valley killers’ because they’ve beat Valley teams in the final (six) times, and we took that personally,” Campbell Hall coach Terry Kelly said. “We wanted to beat the Valley killers and establish ourselves as a top-notch program.”

Holiday, the area’s third-leading all-time scorer, finished with 20 points, including several awe-inspiring drives to the basket, with 12 rebounds and eight steals. Freshman Austin McBroom added 13 points, Dallas Rutherford chipped in 12, and Bryce Brady scored 11.

Price (29-3) proved competitive for about five minutes, leading 13-12 before Campbell Hall reeled off a 17-0 spree to gain control. Later, the Vikings scored the first 14 points of the second half to make it 57-19, and the Knights could only shake its head and wonder what hit them.

“We’re always confident, and we did what we had to do,” Rutherford said. “I wouldn’t say overconfidence. We just followed our game plan.”

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

ANAHEIM -- No surprise: Campbell Hall is putting on a show, leading 43-19 over Price at halftime in the Div. III-AA championship at Honda Center. Jrue Holiday has 15 points, and freshman Austin McBroom has 11, as the Vikings reeled off an 17-0 spree to all but put this thing away midway through the second quarter.

If Price comes back strong, I'll touch base. Otherwise, probably not till after. By that time, Campbell Hall figures to have its third title in four seasons

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

What a beautiful arena setting here at Honda Center in Anaheim, formerly the Pond. The bright lights and massive sections of seats are quite a sight in the Prep Sports world, and here we are.

Campbell Hall (26-5) takes on Price of L.A. (29-2) for the Div. III-AAA championship in just a few moments -- 9 a.m. is an early start, but for some reason it doesn't feel it right now -- as the Vikings look to expand their growing dynasty after winning two section and state titles over the past three years. Price won eight section titles and five state titles over eight years until last season, when the streak was broken. You've got to know they're hungry again, and the Knights have earned a reputation as "Valley killers" through the years, so we shall see what happens.

Will update soon ...

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com