Hey Real:
Have u ever stepped onto the mat ? Amats wrestling team was dropped to D5 because of the Football realignment & no one wanted them in there league cuz they were to tough. Amats team placed 7th in Vegas this yr out of 100 teams & placed 1st or top 5 in every tournament they were in this yr except for 5 counties ! Amats team just finished 4th to West Co, South Hills & N Torrance at CIF Ind all D3 teams has 5 kids advancing to Masters ! 2 CIF Champs, 2 3rd's & 1 4th pl. Not bad for a D5 Team ! Step to line B4 U talk shit !

Sgvpride ..this may be true. The worst hype is the one that coaches ALLOW to happen in the minds of players that are OVER RATED. In my humble opinion. That is the worst of all sins.

Anyone remember Tom Lewis out of Mater Dei?

He was the next coming and nada...but I hear he's a coach somewhere in OC.

How about Shea Cotton? transferred everywhere...got his SAT scores nullified and whiffed on his UCLA option...where is he? Again nada.

But like I said the worst are the "phantom" talents. The kids with no speed, no fundamentals and poor work ethics that get by on coaches, players and parents believing the hype. It happens every year... I coach a travel basketball team and the amount of "over rated-ness" is stunning. What happened to fundamentals..the NBA complains, the college coaches complain and the high school coaches complain but the parents think their kids are in no need of repetitious fundamental "drills" .."let them play!" That's all I ever hear ...it's crazy.

This kid is talented and very gifted physically but one wrong move and poof!!...it's over. I seen a kid that NEVER tied his shoes during work outs and I KNEW he didn't REALLY want to go to the next level. But yet he soaks in the attention but has poor work ethics and it caught up with him, as it always does when you disrespect ANY sport.

Best to study hard, develop your "being" and work diligently on academics. And of course ..there's alway coaching! lol

Good luck to all the players who make us stand and cheer and sit and cry...that's the beauty of sports!

Bonita fan...not a tounament but a Wednesday "league" before the season ...coached by parents or helpers but NOT head coaches.

Bonita didn't have a tournament. We did have a game at Damien and lost.

hey I hear you an keeping my fingers crossed..i just think it is not fair to mention anything about 8th graders because then we will expect so much from them and if they never reach that potential that will "satisfy" all of us then that could be a very bad thing...hype kills is what i go by!...either way it does

sgvpride...don't hate.

Think Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd". Like Tiger-Cortez at Glendora starting as a freshmen. The kid is special and I just wanted to acknowledge his great attitude in spite of the "haters" at the game. Especially the college "dickwad" that kept screaming crap at the kid even though he's only in the eighth grade!

Must be tough being that talented and people "hating" on you so early. Besides what really stood out was his team first play and his team spirit even though his team was blown out by 26.

He never demanded the ball. Never screamed at his team mates or did anything but play as a "part" of the team. Is that NOT refreshing in this "me first" sports environment? That's what made him special...his temperament. Reminds me of Damien's Mendrun and Glendora's Tiger-Cortez.

It's not hype it recognition. Know the difference. But I feel what you're saying. Let's hope he makes everyone take notice that being "gifted" starts with an appreciation of your gifts. This kid gets it. And so do his parents.

Mr. Griffin, it has been a pleasure "hearing" about your success...I've only "seen" you play against Glendora this year. You understand ...out of respect for Matt...I found it tough to go to games. Even though Riley's dad, classy as always, grinning ear to ear told me "he missed seeing my face and that I should sit next to him. Man we miss you!!!" That's what makes Damien a special place.

I did however see you play in the Bonita tournament and see you figured out what "being the man" is all about. It's about leadership. It's about taking the big shot and being an example to everyone when times are tough. "Wanting" to be the man is different than "BEING THE MAN" as you well know. I'll always remember that chunky kid with the clunky knee brace putting his head down and charging at the basket..come hell or high water! lol

You're the last man standing from that class. Like I tell Matt all the time...the cream rises to the top. Just like Matt is doing now in his "arena" and Zach is doing on the wrestling mat.

I thought I'd relay a story from the past. Drew Turner's dad and me would sit at games together the past 3 year (I miss his "encouragements/admonishments" to his sons.) One day he saw you "busting your butt" and being yelled at and he said.."You want to know something...That kid is going to be something! He's a balla!" That was after 3 turnovers! "Kid's got heart!" Maybe Mr. Turner knew something...and now so does everyone else...you're a very strong player because you refuse to be told you can't.

In the playoffs the game will turn on the strenght of it's leaders. Damien will be in good hands with you leading the way. As always the best is yet to come...and boy do I miss seeing and hearing your father yell, "Way to go Griff!!!" Wherever you go know you will always be remembered for being a class act and an inspiration to the kids with a dream of "being the man". It was an honor to see you grow.

Can you imagine what you and Randy Agyepong would/could have accomplished? I tell my boys that hard work is the key to success and that anything given to you can just as easily be taken away. As some varsity players have come to realize...the hard way. When you earn your success people will sit back and take notice...I did...and come award time ...so will others.

Tell your dad he has a lot to be proud of...and so do I. You've been a good friend to Matt as well as a good team mate...and for that I thank you. Best of luck and stay healthy.

hype kills buddy! remember that

Seen this kid today that is going to be very very special....remember the name Wallace Gonzalez!

Kid just turned 14 and is 6'4/6'5" and about 195, great vision, great balance, great temperament and super cool parents. What an outstanding athlete. Kid looks like a Varsity player already ..no baby fat just athletic genes in this body! Sweet jumper, nice skip passes and sweet,quick feet. Meet the mom and she said he's going to Glendora. This is what a Div 1 athlete looks like. It gets better. He's a three sport athlete! Baseball, basketball and football...pitcher, 2/3 swingman and a quarterback that's left handed! Must be nice.

Tough to tout an eight grader but this kid is special. Is this kid on anyone's radar? He told me it's either Bishop Amat or Glendora...guess Bishop Amat still carries "weight" in the San Gabriel Valley. Good luck and stay healthy.

Aram do you KNOW about this kid?

At least we agree on that. Go Damien and best of luck to all the players. Like I said everyone's experience is different. That was mine. The basketball team has done great things and everyone should be very proud...and EVERYONE is.

Maybe Dunn will grow with the success the team has had this year. Getting new qualified lower level coaches and a new gym will go a long way towards that end. Best of luck, the freshmen and soph. teams look strong and the new gym affords the team better practice schedules. Any young coaches would do well to look into any openings Damien may have. Let's agree on that...Dunn has grown as a coach...both on and off the court. If you know him, or had dealings with him personally, you KNOW that's true.

Maybe calling him Coach Dunce was out of line but hey that's life....beats what I've heard Coach Phillips call the JV players last year. When he apologizes so will I.

Still think my season predictions and ALL CIF and ALL league predictions are out of touch? Maybe as a former alum you could have predicted their success based on Dunn's 3 year .500 record and 1-3 playoff record. Damien should have won league because they WERE the best team THIS year...disagree?

Aawwwwwwww the good old days when no one knew my name and the snide remarks about my sons were the only way to quiet me. Too bad I liked complimenting Riley, Griffin, McClendon and Hacker... great kids, great families and great team mates. Best of luck to all of them...got nothing but love for these hard working over achievers who over came their coaches doubts to shine and set records. The best is yet to come!

I'm out until next year before it gets ugly. It was fun taking ribbing from GTO...I guess you can NEVER underestimate Glendora Basketball and the great Le Duc. best of luck to all the Sierra team that made the playoffs. Peace!

Griffin fan,

I thought your rant sounded familiar. Same thing we heard during football season. Name calling is really mature and classy behavior. Damien is bigger than that non-sense.

Coach Dunn has done a great job. Damien's record speaks for itself. 23 wins is a new school record. This team has really improved from summer league and throughout the season. This improvement was the result of the hard work of both the players and the coaching staff.

All the immature name calling in the world will not take that away.

Best of luck in CIF to Coach Dunn and the Spartans.

Truth hurts. Yeah that's it. Guess again. Time will tell. Take your pick. Better yet ask Lucero what a pain in the butt I wasn't. You guys crack me up. Always defending the undefendable.

Before this season no one thought three things would happen.

1) Ayala takes a dump.
2) Glendora takes a nap.
3) Damien gets ranked #1

Before this season everyone knew three things would happen.

1) Dunn's annointed "stars" would ride the pine because they were NOT basketball players
2) Dunn would send a "varsity underclassmen" back down to JV where he belongs because he over rated them.
3) The players would give 100% and play with class.

I could live with that. By the way "riding the pine" in Dunn's system means what? Ask RC Collins (all world class student athlete) what that means? Being in Dunn's "doghouse" means what? Ask Tony Vela (all world athlete)and Nick Bright (all world athlete)what that means. Being yelled at in the game means what? Ask Brian Mancilla (ULV starter) what that means. Sometimes you get more by walking away from a bad situation than you do staying and being beat down. Ask Brandon Sanders and again Tony Vela about that.

Leaving the program was the best thing Matt ever did...Maybe next year he wears Crimson instead. (Crossing my fingers) Either way he ALWAYS played and practiced with heart and gave 100% effort (ask ANY Varsity player or Varsity parent)...maybe that's why he has a SPARTAN OF THE YEAR AWARD hanging in his room. Try again.

Give it a rest. Blogging ain't hating anymore than standing up for Coach Dunce is the right thing to do. Everyone's experience is different with Coach Dunce and that's why doesn't measure up. Hopefully your experience with Dunn is better than mine...time will tell. Go Damien!

Calling a coach "Dunce" is not hating?

Maybe you're upset because your kid was riding the bench as a junior on JV and is now out of the program... ain't hating, just breaking it down my good man.

Sorry bro but the truth is the truth.

Wait until the playoffs...look what happened in the Sierra League this year it was a down year and the championship was Damien's for the taking.

Understand the difference between congratulating the kids and "seeing a deer in headlights" Dunce against the great Le Duc. That was certainly one of Glendora's least talented teams in years and yet they are playing what is always Glendora basketball...well coached, well conditioned and well prepared. Add in great fundamentals and an understanding that their coach is a stud and sprinkle it with players who know their roles and well you get the picture. That's NOT Damien basketball anytime soon.

On this year's team only Griffin, Riley and Mc Clendon have developed(and very well I may say...anyone else?)They are all "self made ballers" because on their Freshmen and JV teams they were 3rd options and easily yanked in favor of varsity piners Toma, Yates, Hickey or yanked in favor of players who no longer even play basketball at all...ain't hating just breaking it down, my good man. By the way what ever happened to Randy A?...scoring by the buckets at Calvary Baptist...yet never was a starter at Damien.

6'5"Hacker, 6'6"Austin and 6'2" Tapia are essentially the same players they were as freshmen yet ALL could/should have been superior players. Damien does not have average players as much as you'd like to believe. They have size. They are coachable and they are great kids.

Ask yourself what Gregory or LeDuc would have accomplished with Tony Vela, Nick Bright, the Turner brothers, the Browne brothers, Brian Mancilla (ULa Verne), RC Collins, David Girden, Brandon Moreland, ect. ect.

Great, great season by the Damien players but the truth is the truth...Coach Dunce is a pup. Great public speaker and looks great on the sidelines but he always over values freshmen and JV "stars" to the detriment of team chemistry and individual "fundamentals".

It's taken Coach Dunce four years to finally get decent Freshmen and JV coaches...what's their records by the way. The Freshmen are tough and next year's incoming freshmen should really be special, given this year's football and baketball records, so Damien is on the rise talent wise let's see if Coach Dunce is ready to "develop" a program. Time will tell and as always "DAMIEN IS #1!!!"

NO NEED TO HATE...TIME WILL TELL.

GOOD LUCK IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Still a big Griffin Fan! Griffin will explode in the playoffs! Still believ Damien will have Riley, Austin and Griffin as ALL CIF and Hacker as ALL league with Griffin Sierra League MVP...just like I said from Day One! Called it early. As far as the "win" league...think ... facetious?

@BDUB,

You make a REAL good example for a Catholic school..Judging by your comment about the DB banners, Im not sure where God comes into play in your case, because you are anything but !! I guess you are just there too luck at the other naked boys during 6th period athletics huh?? ...Go figure...if your an example of what catholic schools produce...i think my child would be better off at a public school like Diamond Bar...The End!

Bishop Amat wins wrestling at Division 5?? Wrestle amongst your level....Division 1!! If thats the case, your Baseball team should win it all too. Division 5....get real!

Yo Griff fan,

Your an idiot..........Thats about all i can say to you. Dunn takes Damien to the most wins in SCHOOL HISTORY and you are gonna hate on him???

Dunn did not catch "lightning in a bottle" Griffin even though i love him is a very average player who was coached up big time!!!!!!! No size no speed no hops but Dunn made a stud out of him and of course Griff worked his ass off.

The rest of Damiens team is an "average" bunch of kids who are well coached and work their asses off!! There are no gifted athletes on that team that Dunn can say "just go out there and play" he has to coach his ass off to get what he can out of those kids and he does.

Oh and by the way dummy Damien did not win league this year Chino Hills did, but like you said you know a thing or two about basketball.....

Congrats to coach Dunn and the Spartan basketball team "ALL" of you did a hell of a job this season and good luck in the playoffs. Dont let someone hate on your coach just because their kids dont play!!!!!!

oh, and i miss spelled throw...

BISHOP AMAT WINS THE DIV. V WRESTLING TITLE BY THE SCORE OF 42-29 OVER MORRO BAY AT HIGHLAND HS IN PALMDALE!!

just thought i'd through that out there...

oppps!!!!
and Hacker...can't forget Andrew Hacker!

My bad.

Go Damien...

huh? Two things happened for Damien to "win" league THIS year...it was a "down cycle year" and Griffin was playing out of his mind.

Dunn is a .500 coach who caught "lightning in a bottle" with Riley , Griffin, Mc Clendon and Austin when he decides to live up to his potential. Other than that he's a poor evaluator of talent and has very little clue how to build a program. That's the opinion of alot of people who know basketball. Is Dunn going to be a great coach some day..who knows. I know that new gym and the "success" of the football program and this year's basketball team won't hurt his talent pool.

As always the kids at Damien MAKE that program. No need to hate but this team and it''s players have alot to be proud of no doubt. Like I said before I thought they could/would/should have won league undefeated. Two games shy means I might know a thing or two about the game. I made that prediction before the season started.

Best of luck in the playoffs...GTO...you were right Le Duc is ONE HELL OF A COACH! Just wait until next year..I hear Glendora and Ayala are reloading and players are in the wings.

Go Damien! Before you go "hating" think about Glendora nd Ayala teams going less than .500 in league? That won't happen often will it.

Stll the best coaches, top to bottom, are at Glendora and Ayala with Diamond Bar making a run...were does that put Dunn and Co.?

Griffin still is playing out of his mind and I couldn't be happeir....Go Griffin!!!!

Hey "...no cigar", are you the same guy who garunteed Damien would go undefeated in league? They had a nice year and 2nd place is a great finish, but I think you are expecting a bit too much from these guys. Don't blame Dunn, he's a big part of your success. I was at the game Thurs. and Glendora just outplayed them. As you said, Damien was getting the calls down the stretch or it wouldn't have been that close. And I believe the Tartan front line is just as big as Damien's if not bigger. They go 6-5,6-6 & 6-4 (or 6-6 when the tall skinny kid, Meyer is in). That may be bigger actually. Good luck in the playoffs to both team...I appreciated when the "pit" was chanting "CIF,CIF..." to us late in the game, letting us know that with that win we are sure to be in the dance now.

Aram you have the wrong score for the Rowland vs
West Co. game posted above, I thought it was 71
to 67 not 57, a much closer score, anyway good game by both teams & especially P. Chase & good luck in the playoffs.

BDUB, We've only been around for 25 years or else you would have seen twice as many hanging.....I was sitting right next to you loud mouths at the game, and I'm sure you noticed ALL the Baseball, Football, Soccer, Wrestling, so on an so on banners hanging from the rafters....I'm absolutely certain you saw all of them, not just the badminton ones.....I'm sure Damien has a few Academic Decathalon ribbons hanging somewhere in there hallways---it's all good, we got those too....

You get the feeling as soon as you enter, that we've done alright.

Big Slouch #2 (or whoever you are tonight, probably some nut job running around in his tighty whiteys and a WWF wrestling mask on)----I just think its funny how it the Shottenheimer thing stuck....and how I think Pasqy would make your balls shiver up, your palms start to sweat, and your spine start to tingle if he ever got in your face after the way you dorks try to knock his coaching style with every post you add to this blog.

Dunn blew it! That team was easily an undefeated league champion. Biggest front line in the league combined with clutch shooting Griifin and over the top Riley and no league championship? Le Duc schooled Dunn with his 3-2 zone and transition game. Tiger went off and the refs seemed to favor Damien but alas it was not meant to be.

Interesting to see how Damien does in the playoffs when "tempo" and "fouls" spell victory or defeat.

Great season for Griffin, Hacker, Riley and McClendon. Good luck in the playoffs!

i was one of those kids looking at the banners that you probably saw eyeing them...i was not impressed...some of those banners go back to like 25 years ago...the only thing we thought was tighht about the banners was that you had them...if damien put a banner up for every time they one league or made CIF and what not, it woudl hang down onto the floor disrupting the game....so dont say we were admiring the accomplishments of DB...we were admiring the banners just being up...no one cares about your all academic CIF badmiton banners...which we all saw and laughed at...we only thought that the retired jerseys or honored jerseys were a nice touch to the gym.

Randy is the same guy that claimed the Clone coined the phrase Coach P Shotttenheimmer..go fiqure.

Great win by rowland,from all the players and a great coaching job, hamlow is the man.

never underestimate Glendora...
we're ready for CIF.
I can't wait to see Dom, Kyle, and the rest of the boys really play well in the playoffs.
Get better soon Casey!
wow sorry Damien, but last night was the highlight of my senior year!
maybe next year...

workman had there big men back in this game and it played a factor Juliam Marquiz(6'5) and Tony Tomatani(6'3) and it help with marquiz getting 5 steals in the press wiht his long arms was disrupting the warriors...good luck in CIF for both teams

aram, what happened? i thought you said no one could stop La Puente? they went down to workman last night, a team who really is the best in montview league. Lp players were getting furrious because they were losing and started throwing cheap shots.

Damien has no killer instinct...they dont advance in the playoffs.....they obviously play well from week 1 to 10, but they dont close the deal......I saw those kids that the DB-Damien basketball game looking up at the 100 or so league championship banners we have, and the 4 CIF Banners in football....they knew this place is no joke....i saw it in there faces....our gym isnt exactly a shrine, but those Damien kids knew by looking up that we've had history here, Championship football has been played here, SOMETHING THEY KNOW NOTHING OF........what up now fool?

And we're getting primed for one more run! THEY KNOW THIS......

Felipe Chase is his name...BALLLIN is his game

an awesome game of the night, which aram attended, was the Rowland vs. West Covina for the league champs game. that was off the hooooooook. came boiling down to the last minute and my boy philip hit some clutch free throws to ice the game. and also eric yee with the big rebound at the end clutched it for us. our fan base was insane also.

WOW!!!!!!!!...LP went down...standing room only at workman! it was a great atmosphere for a school that gets so much hate

damien football was booted from the playoffs right?...how many other teams from sierra league can say they made it as far as damien did? and whens the last time diamond bar made the playoffs? in the past 5 years damien has had more playoff appearances than diamond bar has had coaches...and thats saying a lot

The Spartans were still reeling from the DB game tues night. Damien got more than they bargained for as DB gave them body shots all night long, and then Glendora gets the K.O. head shot on thurs.......I tell ya it just aint right!!!!!!...... This so called bitchen Damien team better recognize or they'll get booted from the playoffs faster than their football team........can't wait to see the pairings come out!!!!!!!!!

What a game at the Tartans new home...errrrr Damien's new gym. They gloated last year about sweeping all 3 of our teams at their place (for the first time ever) but we returned the favor tonight. What a great game. Glendora was pretty much in control most of the game; had leads of 10 at times but down the stretch a lot of calls went against them and you had that feeling that it might slip away. But unlike many games this year, our boys came through. Even lost our point man Casey Ivancich to a sprained ankle at the end of the third, but big points from Dom & Kyle and role playing of post guys, Beckwith and Meyer did the trick this time. Now we should have a chance to make some noise in CIF, proving that at full strength, we are as good as anybody in the Sierra league. Great atmosphere and you Spartans have a very nice new arena to be proud of. Good luck in the playoffs and sorry we had to take away that league title.

What a game at the Tartans new home...errrrr Damien's new gym. They gloated last year about sweeping all 3 of our teams at their place (for the first time ever) but we returned the favor tonight. What a great game. Glendora was pretty much in control most of the game; had leads of 10 at times but down the stretch a lot of calls went against them and you had that feeling that it might slip away. But unlike many games this year, our boys came through. Even lost our point man Casey Ivancich to a sprained ankle at the end of the third, but big points from Dom & Kyle and role playing of post guys, Beckwith and Meyer did the trick this time. Now we should have a chance to make some noise in CIF, proving that at full strength, we are as good as anybody in the Sierra league. Great atmosphere and you Spartans have a very nice new arena to be proud of. Good luck in the playoffs and sorry we had to take away that league title.