March 2010 Archives

Westchester nails down 6th state crown

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 9:58 PM | | Comments (1) |
Westchester claimed its sixth state title in as many appearances with a 63-56 victory over Newark Memorial at Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena.

Kareem Jamar hit a 3-pointer with 1:22 left to all but seal it. Jamar scored 16 points for Westchester, which never trailed in the game.

Westchester still in control of Division I final

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 9:32 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester leads Newark Memorial, 41-33, at the end of three quarters. The Comets are trying to go 6-for-6 in state finals appearances. Kareem Jamar leads Westchester with 10 points.

Polee putting on quite a show for Westchester

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 8:56 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester holds a 30-18 halftime lead over Newark Memorial in the CIF State Division I final at Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena, and Dwayne Polee continues to dazzle.

Polee had an alley-oop dunk from Kareem Jamar with 3:37 left in the first half to inject life into the crowd.

Then nearly three minutes later, Polee threw down a monster one-hand dunk from Denzel Douglas on a fastbreak, giving Westchester a 28-18 lead.

Jamar had eight first-half points. Tre'vonne Williams made the most of some extended playing time with eight points.

Westchester locked in battle with Newark Memorial

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 8:39 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester holds a 13-11 lead over Newark Memorial in the CIF State Division I final at Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena.

Westchester opened an 11-3 lead, but Newark Memorial battled back and had a 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer by Gavin Presley.

Westchester hopes to avoid Poly girls' fate

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 8:18 PM | | Comments (0) |
Long Beach Poly was stunned in the CIF State Division I girls final by Oak Ridge, 55-42, losing for the first time in five state finals appearances.

The Westchester boys are about to tip off. Westchester has won all five of its previous state finals, so here's hoping Poly's upset serves as a wakeup call.

Serra: State Champs in basketball and football

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 5:22 PM | | Comments (0) |
Serra survived a 63-59 overtime battle with Bishop O'Dowd, 63-59, to win the CIF State Division III title in Bakersfield.

Serra becomes the first school to win CIF state titles in football and basketball. Craig Carter hit a big 3-pointer at the start of overtime, and Ronnie Stevens had a huge putback off a missed Keith Shamburger free throw with 22.3 seconds left.

Fittingly enough, Vaughn Autry made the final free throw to push Serra to a four-point advantage and essentially seal the win.

Serra going to OT with Bishop O'Dowd

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 4:43 PM | | Comments (0) |
Serra and Bishop O'Dowd are tied 54-54 at the end of regulation. Serra gets a big break with a free-throw lane violation on Bishop O'Dowd wth 5 seconds left. A Keith Shamburger three-pointer at the buzzer was just off target.

Serra basketball: Eight minutes until history

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 4:43 PM | | Comments (0) |
Serra has taken a 48-38 lead over Bishop O'Dowd at the end of three quarters in the CIF State Division III final at Rabobank Arena.

Keith Shamburger has 14 points as Serra is closing in on becoming the first school to win  football and boys basketball state titles in the same season.

Benwikere's electric play sparks early Serra lead

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 4:07 PM | | Comments (0) |
We are accustomed to seeing Serra's Bene Benwikere make huge plays on the football field. But he rattled Rabobank Arena with an air-defying basketball play late in the first half.

Benwikere skied into air on a missed shot and threw it down with authority to wake up the Rabobank Arena crowd and help Serra to a 28-24 halftime lead over Bishop O'Dowd in the CIF State Division III final.

Steven Archibald has provided a emotional boost with nine points, including several on putbacks. An emotional Vaughn Autry totaled eight points, draining a 3-pointer on his first shot attempt.

Serra opened up a 22-11 lead, but but Bishop O'Dowd is hanging around behind 6-foot-9 Brandon Ashley, who has 11 points.

A determined Serra is ready to go in Bakersfield

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 27, 2010 3:14 PM | | Comments (0) |
BAKERSFIELD -- The Serra boys basketball players just took the court at Rabobank Arena in preparation for its CIF State Division III final against Bishop O'Dowd.

The players are sporting black practice tops with the Serra Superman logo on front and the No. 15 on the back. The No. 15 is in tribute to Vaughn Autry's father, Stephen Autry, who died a few days before the playoffs. Autry wore the same number when he played in high school.

Expect another inspired effort from Serra.

Carson chooses Asante as new football coach

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 26, 2010 5:19 PM | | Comments (2) |
Elijah Asante has been named the new head football coach at Carson, the Daily Breeze learned Friday.

Asante made a name for himself at L.A. Jordan the past five seasons and takes over for Mike Christensen, who became the new Loyola coach. Asante has coached the last two L.A. City Section Players of the Year in James Boyd and Deshawn Beck.

Asante was one of 40 applicants for the Carson job. Eight received interviews, and he was one of two people to earn a second interview.

Westchester overcomes Poly, makes Regional final

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 13, 2010 8:24 PM | | Comments (1) |
Westchester answers with a strong second half to beat Long Beach Poly, 67-53, in the Southern California Regional Division I final.

Dwayne Polee had 22 points, and Reggie Murphy added 11 big-time points.

Polee powers Westchester's third-quarter surge

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 13, 2010 8:07 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester erased an eight-point third-quarter deficit to take a 43-40 lead at the end of three quarters over Long Beach Poly in the Southern California Regional Division I semifinals at Roybal Learning Center.

Dwayne Polee scored nine of his 18 points in the third quarter, creating with his drives to the basket and drawing And-1 plays. Westchester also seems more inspired defensively this quarter.

Westchester in trouble at the half

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 13, 2010 7:16 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester finds itself in a seven-point hole at the half in its Southern California Regional Division I semifinal against Long Beach Poly.

Westchester trails, 33-26, at the half. Its star, Dwayne Polee, has been saddled with three first-half fouls.

Poly's frontline? As good as advertised and outplaying Westchester in the paint.

Polee leads Westchester with nine points, most coming in spectacular fashion. Robert Nixon Jr. leads Long Beach Poly with 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.

Westchester trails by three after one quarter

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 13, 2010 7:16 PM | | Comments (0) |
The first quarter was certainly action-packed for the Westchester-Long Beach Poly game Saturday in the Southern California Regional Division I semifinal.

Long Beach Poly leads, 18-15, after one quarter in a high-flying game loaded with athleticism.

Westchester's Dwayne Polee had two monster dunks -- a one-handed jam and a follow of his own miss for another massive dunk.

Westchester's Reggie Murphy also had a breakaway dunk, but was whistled for a technical for hanging on the rim despite Robert Nixon Jr being under him as he attempted to land.

Westchester-LB Poly is getting close to tipoff

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 13, 2010 6:49 PM | | Comments (0) |
Both teams have taken the court at Roybal Learning Center for a Southern California Regional Division I semifinal.

So why is the game at Roybal Learning Center in downtown L.A. and not at Westchester? It wasn't the Comets' choice.

Westchester was told it had to move its game because its gym had only 1,200 capacity and the state requires a game of this kind of magnitude to have 1,500 capacity.

Since LMU requires three-week notification and L.A. Southwest is filming a reality show, the Comets had little choice but to move to Roybal Learning Center, an L.A. City Section favorite of late.

At least there's a lovely view of the downtown skyline and a great game about to tip off.

Westchester holds off Taft for L.A. City title

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 10:02 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester pulled out a 70-60 victory over Taft in the L.A. City Section Division I final for its 11 th City title.

Dwayne Polee had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Kareem Jamar scored 16 points, Menas Stephens added 13 and Jordin Mayes had 12.

It was the second win over Taft this season.

Westchester showing who's boss in City

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 9:39 PM | | Comments (0) |
Westchester has taken control of the L.A. City Section Division I boys basketball semifinal at Galen Center, opening up a 49-36 lead over Taft at the end of the third quarter.

Kareem Jamar hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Jordin Mayes and Dwayne Polee also nailed 3-pointers.

Westchester-Taft is all tied up at the half

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 9:12 PM | | Comments (0) |
The Westchester-Taft game is living up to its billing. It is tied 24-24 at the half as Taft's Pierson Williams hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.

The game has been high-flying and exciting in front of a large enthusiastic crowd.

Brice Jones leads Taft with 12 points. Kareem Jamar has been Westchester's first-half stud with nine points.

Carson prevails in overtime battle over Narbonne

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 8:02 PM | | Comments (0) |
Carson captured the L.A. City Section Divison I title wiht a 53-47 victory over Narbonne in overtime. Carson fouled out all five Narbonne starters. It is Carson's first City title since the City began keeping track in 1981

Narbonne up on Carson at the half

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 6:45 PM | | Comments (0) |
Narbonne leads Carson, 20-15, at halftime of the L.A. City Section Division I girls basketball final at USC's Galen Center.

Tailer Butler had a steal and scored a breakaway as time expired to give Narbonne its biggest lead of the half.

The all-female referee crew called five fouls in the first 92 seconds, setting the pace for a slow and grinding first half. The teams combined for 22 fouls and 21 free throws, making just 7 of 21. Carson was particularly prolific from the line, going 1-for-10.

Tori Breshers led Narbonne with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tashawn McGhee added five points.

Inglewood claims first CIF girls hoops crown

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 1:03 PM | | Comments (0) |
There were a lot of fouls and too many turnovers, but that hardly mattered to the Inglewood girls basketball team.

Inglewood prevailed, 64-49, over previously unbeaten Agoura in the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA final at the Pyramid.

It is the first CIF title in Inglewood's second appearance. Hazel Ramirez overcame early foul trouble to score a game-high 19 points.

Sloppy Inglewood leads at half

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 12:07 PM | | Comments (0) |
Inglewood holds a 25-22 halftime lead over unbeaten Agoura in the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA girls basketball final at the Pyramid in a first half that combined for 28 combined turnover.

DeAjanae Scurry leads Inglewood with 8 points and 7 rebounds, but point guard Hazel Ramirez has three fouls already.

Heartbreak for Bishop Montgomery

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 10:52 AM | | Comments (0) |
Harvard-Westlake pulled out a 58-54 victory over Bishop Montgomery in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA final at the Pyramid.

Bishop Montgomery had two chances to tie it in the closing two minutes, but Harvard-Westlake escaped a valiant effort by the Knights.

BMonty running into trouble

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 10:31 AM | | Comments (0) |
Harvard-Westlake used a 17-5 run in the third quarter to take a 43-39 lead over Bishop Montgomery in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA final at the Pyramid. Uptempo, fast-paced fun game.

BMonty smells an upset ...

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 6, 2010 10:03 AM | | Comments (0) |
Bishop Montgomery opened up a 12-point lead against top-seeded Harvard-Westlake and holds a 29-26 halftime lead on Saturday in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA final at the Pyramid.

The clutch Kristen Ale has led the way with 10 points as Bishop Montgomery has controlled the boards. Harvard-Westlake's fastbreak attack has kept it close.

Expect another sterling finish.

It's official, Serra claims Division V-AA girls crown

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 5, 2010 5:52 PM | | Comments (1) |
Serra led wire-to-wire and was never threatened in a 66-47 win over Cerritos Valley Christian in the Division V-AA final at Mater Dei. Megan Wright had 19 points.

It is the school's first CIF title in girls basketball. The South Bay is 2-for-2 in CIF girls basketball finals with St. Bernard's win on Thursday.

Serra closes in on first girls hoops title

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 5, 2010 5:34 PM | | Comments (1) |
Serra continues to roll in its CIF Southern Section Division V-AA final at Mater Dei, holding a 51-35 lead over Cerritos Valley Christian. Eight more minutes until Serra's first CIF title in girls basketball.

Serra girls still in control at halftime; CAMS tied

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 5, 2010 5:09 PM | | Comments (0) |
Serra leads Valley Christian of Cerritos, 36-20, at the half of its CIF Southern Section Division V-AA final at Mater Dei. Megan Wright has had the hot hand with 14 points.

CAMS and Sierra Vista are tied 1-1 at halftime in a thriller in the CIF Southern Section Division VII final at Mission Viejo.

Serra girls come out blazing in Division V-AA final

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 5, 2010 4:45 PM | | Comments (0) |
Serra leads Valley Christian of Cerritos, 22-6, after the first quarter. Megan Wright drained three 3-pointers for Serra, which is looking to add to CIF titles won by the football team and the boys and girls track teams this past year.

St. Bernard captures Division VI-AA crown

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 4, 2010 5:43 PM | | Comments (0) |
St. Bernard claimed the CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA girls basketball crown with a 53-31 victory over Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills on Thursday at Colony High in Ontario.

It is the ninth CIF title in 10 appearances for St. Bernard and the first since 2002. Angelica Laury scored a team-high 21 points as St. Bernard erased 10-2 and 20-13 first-half deficits by scoring the first 17 points of the second half.

It marks a dramatic improvement for the program under first-year coach Bo Corona, who is reestablishing St. Bernard's legitimacy.

Narbonne gets jump on recruiting season

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 4, 2010 5:28 PM | | Comments (0) |
Narbonne offensive lineman Donte Livingston received his first official offer from Southern Methodist University, Narbonne coach Manuel Douglas said Thursday.

Douglas also said Livingston has an unofficial offer from Arizona State, showing that he will be another hot Narbonne recruit.

Narbonne had four players sign Division I scholarships this past season, continuing its strong track record in this area.

St. Bernard takes complete control

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 4, 2010 5:24 PM | | Comments (0) |
St. Bernard scored the first 17 points of the third quarter and now comfortably leads Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills, 35-25, at the end of three quarters in the CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA final at Colony High. Angelica Laury has 17 points, most coming in transition.

St. Bernard closes gap at halftime

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 4, 2010 5:07 PM | | Comments (0) |
St. Bernard closed the gap to, 20-18, at halftime of its CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA final at Colony High, making 10 of 19 free throws to hang close. Angelica Laury has nine points.

St. Bernard girls finally meeting resistance

By
Tony Ciniglio
on March 4, 2010 4:33 PM | | Comments (0) |
St. Bernard, which had been steamrolling opponents in the CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA girls basketball playoffs, trails Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills, 12-5, after the first quarter in the CIF final at Colony High in Ontario.

St. Bernard was just 1 of 18 from the field in the first quarter for an icy 5.6 shooting percentage. St. Bernard made just 3 of 8 free throws as well.
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This page is an archive of entries from March 2010 listed from newest to oldest.

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Tony Ciniglio

Tony Ciniglio has been covering sports at the Daily Breeze since 1997 and is the Prep-JC Editor. Ciniglio graduated from Malibu High (home of the mighty Sharks) in 1997 as part of the school's second graduating class before attending powerhouse Pepperdine (Class of 2001), thus shattering any reader's preconceived notion that he has any personal bias when it comes to South Bay Preps.

E-mail Tony at tony.ciniglio@dailybreeze.com.

Dave Thorpe

Dave Thorpe was a self-proclaimed, slightly above average baseball player back in the day at Torrance's West High, who went on and had an unspectacular, injury-riddled stint as a third baseman at El Camino College. Trading bat for pen, Thorpe wrote sports for the Long Beach Union newspaper at Long Beach State University, then worked as the sports editor for the Palos Verdes Peninsula News for seven years before climbing down the Hill to the Daily Breeze, where he has been a sports writer covering local sports since 2007.

E-mail Dave at dave.thorpe@dailybreeze.com.

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