September 2009 Archives

Athletes of the Week
Boys
Dejon Bernard, Jr., Glenn
In a 55-14 win over La Quinta, Bernard scored a whopping five touchdowns. He rushed for 103 yards and three TDs, caught 73 yards in passes, including a 56-yard scoring strike, and also returned a punt 65 yards for another score.

Girls
Kellie Culbertson, Sr., Wilson
The outside hitter led the Bruins to a 6-1 record and a ninth-place finish at the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas over the weekend. She also knocked down a match-high 27 kills in a five-set loss to Lakewood earlier in the week

A thanks goes out to those who have been sending in your nominations for Athlete of the Week. If you would like to nominate an Athlete of the Week, please send the info to dave.werstine@presstelegram.com

Press-Telegram Girls Volleyball Rankings

1. Wilson
2. Lakewood
3. Poly
4. Los Alamitos
5. St. Joseph
6. Cerritos
7. Warren
8. La Mirada
9. Downey
10. Valley Christian

Certainly tough to decides who's who in the top four. Lakewood beats Wilson in Moore League opener. Wilson beats Lakewood and finishes 9th (best of the local teams) in Vegas. Los Al goes to Vegas without a loss, but comes home with a handful. Poly would seem to be the odd team out of the four, but it beats Los Al in Vegas. How does one rank that? My guess, whoever's hotest that week.

There's bound to be a shake-up of the PT Top 10, with some big teams losing and smaller teams playing big.

Let us know your Top 10

Jordan High's John Timu, a star at QB and defensive back, is out for the season after suffering a significant knee injury on the first series of last week's game vs. Pasadena.

An MRI showed that Timu, last year's Moore League Offensive Player of the Year, tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee, which will put him out of commission for the remainder of the year.

It's a big blow for a team that was hoping to compete for the Moore League title with Lakewood and Poly. Without Timu, the Panthers will likely struggle, like they did in losing to Pasadena.

It could also be a blow to Timu's promising career. He recently made an oral commitment to the University of Washington. Let's hope he rehabs well and still gets on with the Huskies.

WEEK 3

Thursday
Wilson vs. Los Alamitos at Gahr HS
Norwalk vs. Paramount at Excelsior HS

Friday
Cabrillo at Bell Gardens
Compton vs. Dorsey at Rancho Cienega Park
Dominguez at Jordan
Firebaugh vs. Lawndale at Lynwood MS
Lakewood vs. Verbum Dei
Millikan vs. Fountain Valley
Poly at Oceanside
Gahr at Artesia
Bellflower vs. Troy
Cerritos vs. Rancho Alamitos at Gahr HS
Glenn vs. La Quinta at Excelsior HS
La Mirada vs. La Serna
Downey vs. La Habra
Lynwood at Palisades
St. Anthony vs. Montclair Prep at Clark Field
St. John Bosco vs. Loyola at L.A. Valley College
Valley Christian vs. Tahquitz
Centennial at Culver City

Saturday
Mayfair vs. Kennedy at Western HS
Avalon vs. Hesperia Christian, 1 p.m.

Los Al is on the move up the rankings.

Rank (last) School, City, State, Record
1 (1) Archbishop Mitty San Jose, Calif. 9-0
2 (2) Joliet Catholic Chicago, Ill. 12-0
3 (3) Reagan San Antonio, Texas 31-1
4 (4) La Costa Canyon Carlsbad, Calif. 2-0
5 (5) Muncie Burris Muncie, Ind. 20-0
6 (6) Amarillo Amarillo, Texas 31-3
7 (9) Assumption Louisville, Ky. 15-2
8 (12) St. Francis Wheaton, Ill. 15-0
9 (7) Sacred Heart Academy Louisville, Ky. 11-3
10 (18) Los Alamitos Los Alamitos, Calif. 11-0
11 (10) Floyd Central Floyds Knobs, Ind. 17-1
12 (8 ) J.J. Pearce Richardson, Texas 23-4
13 (11) Wilson Long Beach, Calif. 1-0
14 (14) Ursuline Academy Cincinnati, Ohio 10-0
15 (20) Dos Pueblos Goleta, Calif. 6-1
16 (NR) The Woodlands Woodlands, Texas 27-4
17 (39) Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, Calif. 6-1
18 (13) Marymount Los Angeles, Calif. 4-2
19 (33) St. Ursula Academy Toledo, Ohio 9-1
20 (15) Mira Costa Manhattan Beach, Calif. 1-1
21 (21) Berkley Prep Tampa, Fla. 7-2
22 (NR) Benet Lisle, Ill. 14-1
23 (26) St. James Lenexa, Kan. 6-0
24 (30) Canyon Randall Amarillo, Texas 24-1
25 (23) Cardinal Gibbons Raleigh, N.C. 7-1
26 (NR) Evenston Evanston, Ill. 13-2
27 (28) Chaska Chaska, Minn. 7-0
28 (22) Lakewood Lakewood, Calif. 4-2
29 (29) Plant Tampa, Fla. 10-0
30 (47) Bishop Miege Shawnee Mission, Kans. 11-2
31 (19) Dublin Coffman Dublin, Ohio 8-0
32 (32) Elkhart Memorial Elkhart, Ind. 10-0
33 (16) O'Connor Helotes, Texas 25-3
34 (17) Marian Omaha, Neb. 15-1
35 (35) Shakopee Shakopee, Minn. 10-0
36 (46) Hinsdale Central Hinsdale, Ill. 14-2
37 (37) Rose Greenville, N.C. 7-0
38 (31) St. Joseph's Academy St. Louis, Mo. 12-3
39 (24) Sandburg Orland Park, Ill. 10-1)
40 (34 Allen Allen, Texas 23-3
41 (36) Marist Chicago, Ill. 7-2
42 (41) Lee's Summit West Lee's Summit, Mo. 11-0
43 (42) Punahou Honolulu, Hawai'i 9-0
44 (43) Blue Springs Blue Springs, Mo. 11-2
45 (45) Lakota West West Chester, Ohio 10-0
46 (49) Kamehameha Honolulu, Hawai'i 9-1
47 (38) Westlake Austin, Texas 22-6
48 (48) Mount Notre Dame Academy Cincinnati, Ohio 8-1
49 (50) Corona del Mar Newport Beach, Calif 6-2
50 (40) Harvard Westlake North Hollywood, Calif. 1-3

Los Alamitos is the new No. 1 in the CIF-SS Division I-AA rankings.

The Griffins backed that up with their second tournament championship of the season, beating Corona del Mar, 23-25, 25-15, 15-6, in the title match of the Dave Mohs Tournament on Monday night. Junior outside hitter Jane Croson was selected the MVP.

Los Alamitos, which also won the Gahr Tournament the week before, will look for its third tournament title this weekend at the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.

The Griffins were surely move up from last week's No. 18 spot in the ESPN Rise national rankings when they are released later today. A win at Durango would likely get them into the top 5.

Other local teams in the Division I-AA rankings are No. 4 WIlson, No. 9 Lakewood and No. 10 Poly. However, that will change after Lakewood topped Wilson on Tuesday.

Press Telegram Football Top 10

1. Lakewood (2-1)
Back on top after a pair of strong wins against weaker foes.
Friday vs. Verbum Dei

2. Los Alamitos (2-0)
The Griffins could have the best defensive team in the area.
Thursday vs. Wilson

3. Poly (1-2)
Got a much-needed W vs. Narbonne and moved up. Big test again this week.
Friday at Oceanside

4. Jordan (1-1)
Injured Timu could take bring Panthers' title hopes down a few notches
Friday vs. Dominguez

5. Compton (2-0)
Not sure the 'Babes have what it takes to play against solid D-I teams.
Friday at Dorsey

6. Warren (3-0)
Callier & Co. appear to be the best team in SGVL at this point.
Oct. 2 vs. La Serna

7. St. John Bosco (2-1)
Another good test for SJB this week after Week 0 loss to St. Bonnie.
Friday at Loyola

8. Norwalk (3-0)
The Lancers are running the ball very well and playing good defense, too.
Thursday vs. Paramount

9. Millikan (3-0)
The Rams a big surprise out of the gate, but will face biggest test to date vs. Barons.
Friday vs. Fountain Valley

10. Gahr (2-1)
Arguably the best passing offense in the area, the Gladiators should be 3-0.
Friday at Artesia

Athletes of the Week
Boys
Jesse Callier, Sr., Warren
The senior running back rushed for a school-record and career-best 373 yards and six touchdowns Friday, leading Warren to a 54-21 victory over Whittier. He now has 763 yards and 14 TDs in three games. His goal is to run for 3,000 yards and score 50 TDs this year.

Girls
Dynasty Gammage, Jr., Poly
Gammage clocked 17:41 to finish fifth in the girls' rated cross-country race Saturday at the Woodbridge Invitational, breaking her school record by 3 seconds. The time was also the second-fastest time run by a Moore League runner, behind only Wilson's Erica Sumi, who ran 17:32 in 1990.

If you would like to nominate an Athlete of the Week, please send it to dave.werstine@presstelegram.com

To play, just click comment and post your picks.

Week 2 Football Schedule

Thursday
La Mirada at California
Los Alamitos vs. Fremont
Firebaugh at Los Angeles

Friday
Dominguez at Compton
Jordan vs. Pasadena
Lakewood vs. Mayfair
Millikan at Redondo
Poly vs. Narbonne
Wilson vs. La Serna
Bellflower at Paramount
Cerritos at Gahr
Glenn at H.H. Wilson
Norwalk vs. GG Pacifica
Downey vs. Schurr
Lynwood vs. Centennia
Warren vs. Whittier
St. Anthony vs. Fairmont Prep
Downey Calvary Chapel at Brethren Christian
St. John Bosco at Cabrillo
Valley Christian at St. Bernard

Saturday
Avalon at Big Pine

Press Telegram Football Top 10

1. Jordan (1-0)
Friday vs. Pasadena
2. Lakewood (1-1)
Friday vs. Mayfair
3. Los Alamitos (1-0)
Thursday vs. Fremont
4. Compton (1-0)
Friday vs. Dominguez
5. Poly (0-2)
Friday vs. Narbonne
6. Warren (2-0)
Friday vs. Whittier
7. St. John Bosco (1-1)
Friday at Cabrillo
8. Norwalk (2-0)
Friday vs. GG Pacifica
9. Millikan (2-0)
Friday at Redondo
10. Mayfair (0-2)
Friday vs. Lakewood

Athletes of the Week
Boys
Kevin Anderson, Sr., Lakewood
Shaan Johnson, Sr., Gahr
The two wide receivers had nearly identical big games for their teams last week. Anderson caught eight passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Peninsula, and Johnson grabbed eight balls for 201 yards and a trio of TDs in a 24-23 victory over Kennedy.

Girls
Jane Croson, Jr., Los Alamitos
The outside hitter recorded 44 kills in victories over La Salle, St. Joeseph and Flintridge Sacred Heart, helping the highly-ranked Griffins reach the semifinals of the Molten/Gahr Volleyball Classic.

To nominate an Athlete of the Week, send an email to dave.werstine@presstelegram.com

CERRITOS - For the second week in a row, Gahr High had its opponent right where it wanted them early in the fourth quarter. This time, though, the Gladiators were able to hold on.

Senior quarterback Casey Nielsen threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the defense that buckled down at the end to help Gahr escape with a 24-23 nonleague victory over visiting La Palma Kennedy on Thursday night.

Like in the season-opening loss against Millikan, the Gladiators (1-1) held a two-TD lead, 24-10, over the Irish (0-2) in the fourth quarter. But Kennedy rallied on a 1-yard TD plunge by QB Andy Peterson and a 34-yard catch and run by DJ Boulton to pull within 24-23 with 6:35 remaining in the game.

Irish coach Brit Johnson opted for a possible go-ahead 2-point conversion, but Peterson was stopped shy of the end zone pylon.

But Kennedy wasn't done yet. The Irish got the ball back with 2:53 left and marched it all the way down the field before the Gladiators forced a Boulton to attempt a 43-yard field goal with 26.3 seconds to go. The kick was wide right.

"We are trying to manage the game, but we can't do it," said Gahr coach Gregg Marshall.

That lack of game management, according to Marshall, rests on the offense.

Nielsen, who went 18-30-1, threw TD passes of 32, 35 and 50 yards to Shaan Johnson (8 catches for 201 yards) and Marcos Torres nailed a 33-yard field goal to help the Gladiators take a 24-7 lead 3:20 into the third quarter.

But the offense ceased to do much else from there, putting the pressure on the defense to perform.

"We can't put a team away. We have to figure out how to do that," Marshall said. "Our offense can't seem to keep it rolling. The offense has to find a way to stay hot."

The defense was rather solid. It was able to shut down the Irish offense for the most part, but got into trouble with the slippery Peterson began to scramble. Peterson finished 23of-45 for 229 yards passing and two TDs and added 75 yards rushing and another score. Other than him, Kennedy gained just 27 yards.

"That QB is a pain," Marshall said. "(When he is scrambling,) there's no defense for that."

Match up against me by commenting with which team you think will win.

WEEK 1
Thursday
Wilson vs. Edison
Bellflower vs. Victor Valley
Gahr vs. Kennedy
Valley Christian vs. La Quinta
Firebaugh vs. Bassett

Friday
Cabrillo at Paramount
Centennial at Compton
Jordan at Beverly Hills
Lakewood vs. Peninsula
Artesia at Millikan
Poly at St. Bonaventure
Cerritos vs. El Rancho
Glenn at Pioneer
La Mirada vs. La Habra
Mayfair vs. Los Alamitos
Norwalk vs. Los Amigos
Dominguez at Bishop Amat
Downey vs. La Serna
Lynwood vs. Harvard-Westlake
Warren vs. Santa Fe
St. Anthony vs. Brentwood
Downey Calvary Chapel vs. Western Christian
St. John Bosco vs. Damien

Saturday
Avalon vs. Clovis Christian

Press Telegram Preseason Top 10
Week 1

1. Jordan (0-0)
at Beverly Hills
The Panthers move into the top spot without playing a game and should be 3-0 when they face Poly on Oct. 2.

2. Lakewood (0-1)
vs. Peninsula
Slip up against very good L.A. City contender Crenshaw is a slight worry, but the Lancers should rebound well.

3. Los Alamitos (0-0)
vs. Mayfair
The Griffins should be able to roll through this one somewhat easily.

4. Compton (0-0)
vs. Centennial
The Tarbabes have hopes of a Moore League title, but the Apaches could give them a run for their money.

5. Poly (0-1)
at St. Bonavenure
It looks like Bully Beatdown Part II. We got a better shot at hittin' Lotto!

6. Warren (1-0)
vs. Santa Fe
The Bears are very solid, but Callier & Co. looking to avenge a loss to the Chiefs.

7. St. John Bosco (0-1)
vs. Damien
The Braves should be able to rebound nicely after season-opening drubbing vs. St. Bonaventure.

8. Lynwood (0-0)
vs. Harvard-Westlake
The Knights face a pretty solid team in their season opener.

9. Norwalk (1-0)
vs. Los Amigos
It looks as though the Lancers haven't skipped a beat from last year.

10. Mayfair (0-1)
vs. Los Alamitos
The Monsoons scheduled another very tough nonleague slate in which they will struggle. But they finished in CIF title game.

The girls volleyball season officially opens Thursday, and there are a number of very good teams from the area as you can see from the CIF-SS preseason rankings below.

The best league race should come from the Moore League, where Wilson, Poly and Lakewood - all in the top 6 in Division IAA. Downey and Warren should fight it out in the SGVL and La Mirada and Cerritos are favored in the Suburban League.

Our full volleyball preview will run within the next week or so, but until then enjoy the CIF poll info.

DIVISION I-AA
1. Santa Margarita
2. Mira Costa
3. Wilson
4. Los Alamitos
5. Poly
6. Lakewood
7. Newport Harbor
8. Capistrano Valley
9. Orange Lutheran
10. Murrieta Valley

Other area teams in the rankings...
St. Joseph (15th in D-II-AA)
Downey (7th in D-III-AA)
Warren (11th in D-III-AA)
Valley Christian (13th in D-III-AA)
La Mirada (4th in D-III-A)
Cerritos (6th in D-III-AA)

That's the question after the Jackrabbits were whacked by Servite, 30-7, on Thursday night in their season opener.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for Poly over the next five weeks.

The Jackrabbits face St. Bonaventure, the No. 1 team in the CIF-SS Northern Division and the defending state D-II champ, next week, followed by match-ups against L.A. City power Narbonne, San Diego Section power Oceanside and key Moore League games against Jordan and Lakewood, who would love to take out years of frustration out on the master.

Coach Raul Lara has said his team could be 0-6 by then. Will it happen? How can they turn things around? How many wins will they have after six games, and if so, who will they beat?

EASTERN DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. Citrus Hill (Mountain Pass) 14-0
2. Serrano (Mojave River) 9-4
3. Silverado (Desert Sky) 5-8
4. La Quinta/La Quinta (Desert Valley) 4-7
5. Kaiser (Sunkist) 6-4-1
6. Barstow (Desert Sky) 10-4
7. Palm Springs (Desert Valley) 8-4
8. Hesperia (Mojave River) 11-1
9. San Jacinto (Mountain Pass) 7-3-1
10. Summit (Sunkist) 8-3
OTHERS: Palm Desert (Desert Valley), 9-3; Banning (Mountain Pass), 7-5; Burroughs/Ridgecrest (Desert Sky), 6-5, Rim of the World (Mojave River), 6-5; Apple Valley (Mojave River) 4-6; Victor Valley (Desert Sky), 3-6-1.

EAST VALLEY DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. St. Margaret's (Academy) 15-0
2. Twentynine Palms (De Anza) 10-4
3. Maranatha (Alpha) 11-2
4. Aquinas (Christian) 10-2
5. Fillmore (Frontier) 10-3
6. Brentwood (Alpha) 10-2
7. Yucca Valley (De Anza) 7-5
8. Ontario Christian (Christian) 5-6
9. Big Bear (De Anza) 8-4
10. Bishop Union (High Desert) 6-4
OTHERS: Santa Paula (Frontier), 8-3; Desert (High Desert), 7-4; Campbell Hall (Alpha), 5-6; Western Christian (Christian), 5-6; Desert Mirage (De Anza), 4-6; Brethren Christian (Academy), 4-7.

INLAND DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. Centennial/Corona (Big VIII) 15-0
2. Chaparral (Southwestern) 12-2
3. Redlands East Valley (Citrus Belt) 10-2
4. Norco (Big VIII) 8-5
5. Vista Murrieta (Southwestern) 9-3
6. J.W. North (Big VIII) 7-5
7. Rancho Verde (Inland Valley) 10-1
8. Redlands (Citrus Belt) 5-6
9. A.B. Miller (Citrus Belt) 11-1
10. Arlington (Inland Valley) 5-6
OTHERS: Murrieta Valley (Southwestern), 9-4; Moreno Valley (Inland Valley), 7-4; Roosevelt (Big VIII), 6-5; Santiago/Corona (Big VIII), 6-5; Corona (Big VIII), 4-6; Temescal Canyon (Southwestern), 4-6.

NORTHEAST DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. Rio Hondo Prep (Prep) 10-3
2. Boron (Desert Mountain) 10-2
3. Linfield Christian (Big Sky) 10-3
4. Bellarmine-Jefferson (Santa Fe) 8-4
5. Saddleback Valley Chr. (San Joaquin) 10-1
6. Calvary Murrieta (Big Sky) 3-6-1
7. St. Genevieve (Santa Fe) 9-3
8. Chadwick (Prep) 6-4
9. Fairmont Prep (San Joaquin) 8-3
10. Riverside Christian (Big Sky) 12-2
OTHERS: Mojave (Desert Mountain), 7-6; St. Anthony (Santa Fe), 5-6; Pasadena Poly (Prep), 4-5; Bloomington Christ. (San Joaquin), 4-6; Mammoth (Desert Mountain), 3-7; Salesian (Santa Fe), 1-9.

NORTHERN DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. St. Bonaventure (Channel) 14-1
2. Valencia/Valencia (Foothill) 10-3
3. Moorpark (Marmonte) 12-2
4. Saugus (Foothill) 9-4
5. Atascadero (PAC-7) 9-3
6. Westlake (Marmonte) 7-5
7. Newbury Park (Marmonte) 7-3
8. Canyon/ Canyon Country 5-5
9. Oxnard (Pacific View) 10-1
10. Paso Robles (PAC-7) 9-3
OTHERS: Thousand Oaks (Marmonte), 10-2; Pacifica/Oxnard (Pacific View), 8-3; Righetti (PAC-7), 6-5; Ventura (Channel), 6-5; Agoura (Marmonte), 5-5; Hart (Foothill), 5-6.

NORTHWEST DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. Oaks Christian (Tri-Valley) 14-0
2. Junipero Serra (Del Rey) 13-1
3. St. Joseph/Santa Maria (Los Padres) 10-2
4. Pioneer Valley (Los Padres) 9-3
5. North Torrance (Pioneer) 9-2
6. Morro Bay (Los Padres) 8-5
7. El Segundo (Pioneer) 10-3
8. Harvard-Westlake (Del Rey) 8-3-1
9. Cathedral (Del Rey) 8-3
10. Torrance (Pioneer) 5-6
OTHERS: Santa Clara (Tri-Valley), 9-2; Verbum Dei (Camino Real), 6-6; Nordhoff (Tri-Valley), 5-5; South Torrance (Pioneer), 5-6; Nipomo (Los Padres), 4-6; Carpinteria (Tri-Valley), 4-7.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. Diamond Ranch (Miramonte) 7-7
2. Charter Oak (Miramonte) 13-0-1
3. South Hills (San Antonio) 9-3
4. West Covina (San Antonio) 10-3
5. Muir (Pacific) 9-2
6. Rowland (San Antonio) 10-3
7. Burroughs/Burbank (Pacific) 7-4
8. Santa Fe (Del Rio) 10-2
9. Crescenta Valley (Pacific) 9-3
10. California (Del Rio) 8-3
OTHERS: La Serna (Del Rio), 10-2; Bonita (Miramonte), 7-4; Schurr (Almont), 7-4; Burbank (Pacific), 6-6; Walnut (San Antonio), 5-5; San Gabriel (Almont), 5-6.

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
RK. SCHOOL (LEAGUE) 2008
1. La Habra (Freeway) 12-2
2. Valencia/Placentia (Empire) 8-3
3. Tustin (Century) 9-5
4. Western (Orange) 9-3
5. Trabuco Hills (Sea View) 8-5
6. Fullerton (Freeway) 9-3
7. Foothill (Sea View) 9-2
8. Canyon/Anaheim (Century) 8-5
9. Pacifica/Garden Grove (Empire) 6-6
10. El Dorado (Century) 6-6
OTHERS: Cypress (Empire), 7-4; Santa Ana Valley (Orange), 6-5; Sunny Hills (Freeway), 6-5; Huntington Beach (Sea View), 5-6; Kennedy (Empire), 4-6; Villa Park (Century), 4-6.

Thought this would be fun for everyone this year. In the blog each week will be the schedule. Just pick the winner of each game (before the first game each week) by commenting on the blog.

Sorry, but no prizes. Just the satisfaction of battling other fans and trying to beat me!

Thursday
Poly vs. Servite at Vets Stadium
Cerritos vs. Beckman at Tustin HS

Friday
Lakewood at Crenshaw
Millikan at Gahr
Wilson vs. Huntington Park
Artesia vs. Edison
Bellflower vs. Montebello
La Mirada vs. St. Paul, 7:30 p.m.
Mayfair at Chino Hills
Norwalk at South El Monte
Warren vs. Torrance
St. Anthony vs. Downey Calvary Chapel at Clark Field
St. John Bosco vs. St. Bonaventure, 7:30 p.m.
Valley Christian vs. Cypress
Firebaugh vs. West Valley at Lynwood MS

Saturday
Glenn vs. S.A. Valley at Santa Ana Bowl, 1 p.m.
Cabrillo vs. S.D. Lincoln, 4 p.m.