Boys Basketball: The Tribune’s All-Time, All-Area team

Steve Ramirez was talking about Friday’s Glendora-Chino Hills boys basketball game, and said that Dominic Tiger-Cortes was the best pure shooter he’s seen since Glendora’s Tracy Murray. It got us talking about the best team in Tribune history, which starts with the best player ever, and that goes to Tracy Murray. He averaged 44 points his senior season (2nd all-time in CIF-SS) and became the CIF-SS and state single-season scoring leader, finishing with 1,505 points in 1989. Murray averaged 32 points in his career (3rd all-time in CIF-SS), and scored 3,053 career points (3rd all-time in CIF-SS). He was the Division II player of the year in 1989. He also starred at UCLA and had a modest NBA career.

Tribune First Team
Tracy Murray, Glendora, 1989 (Remember the Murray Meter. During the year he averaged 44 points a game and set a state record, we ran what was called the Murray Meter, in which we tracked every one of his games in a countdown toward the state record. He was the greatest show in SGV history)
Mike Smith, Los Altos, 1983 (Maybe the best athlete of all. Not only was he one of the best basketball players ever, but he was also one of the best quarterbacks. He had a stellar career at BYU).
Scott Williams, Wilson, 1986 (Was the 3-A player of the year in ’86 and played with Michael Jordan on three NBA championship teams).
Keith Van Horn, Diamond Bar, 1992 (He was great in high school and got better in college. He was a three-time WAC player of the year at Utah and all-time leading scorer with 2,542 points. He also had the best pro career of anyone on this list).
Casey Jacobsen, Glendora, 1999 (The CIF-SS all-time scoring leader with 3,284 points, and only two-time All-CIF player of the year. He had a good career at Stanford and was a journeyman in the NBA).

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Soccer rankings


Above: West Covina High’s Armando Anaya in a December tournament game against Ayala.

Boys Soccer Top Ten
1. Mountain View (12-3-5)
Can hang with anyone. No. 1 team in Division V
2. Damien (9-7-2)
After rough December, opened 2-0 in Sierra. That’s huge
3. West Covina (9-4-1)
A huge surprise. Central defender Robert Rodriguez can do it all
4. Wilson (9-3-2)
Beat Bonita 3-1 in overtime. Have to like that Wildcats are 2-0 in Miramonte
5. Rowland (7-4-2)
2-1 win over Nogales proves record is legitimate.
6. El Monte (6-3-4)
Always one of the area’s top ten best. But will they hang with MView in MVL?
7. La Puente (7-2-2)
Off to a great 3-0 start in Montview, and facing Duarte and Azusa this week.
8. Los Altos (6-4-3)
Beat South Hills 3-2 to keep Huskies out of top ten
9. Diamond Ranch (5-1-3)
Not sure if this record is complete, but will be heard of in Miramonte, that’s for sure.
10. Walnut (5-2-1)
Playing well at the moment, already 1-0-1 in San Antonio.


Above: Walnut’s Veronica Ramos battling with South Hills players.

Girls Soccer top ten
1. St. Lucy’s (7-0-4)
Complete team all the way around. Should have beaten Glendora, but settled for 2-2 tie.
2. Glendora (10-3-4)
Defense is solid, just needs more scoring opporunities.
3. Walnut (9-4-1)
South Hills won’t sneak up on them again, Mustangs beat Huskies 3-1 last week.
4. Diamond Ranch (9-5-2)
Predicting they will take the always tough Miramonte
5. South Hills (7-4-2)
Not faring as well against the upper-echelon opponents
6. Bonita (5-4-4)
Striker Deborah Musa is dangerous anytime she touches the ball
7. Charter Oak (8-4-3)
Did anyone see this coming?
8. Los Altos (6-3-2)
I remember when Los Altos ruled this town in girls soccer
9. Bishop Amat (8-4-8)
After great December, Lancers are 0-2 in Del Rey.
10. Arroyo (9-4-1)
Mission Valley not the strongest, but Knights doing their part.

Interview following Los Altos’ 1-0 win over Charter Oak on Tuesday

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Basketball rankings


Above: Bonita High junior Nolan Abernathy goes up for a layup in win over San Dimas
Boys Basketball Top Ten
1. Bonita (16-3
Took big step in Miramonte with 68-56 win over Diamond Ranch
2. Glendora (12-6)
Where does Dominic Tiger-Cortes rank among the Glendora greats?
3. Damien (14-5)
Spartans couldn’t do what Glendora did, which was beat Chino Hills
4. Nogales (15-5)
The Nobles continue to climb the rankings ladder
5. Diamond Ranch (11-6)
Should be a good nonleague game on Friday against Nogales
6. La Verne Lutheran (15-0)
Four players averaging in double figures for the area’s only unbeaten
7. Los Altos (13-6)
How will the Conq’s hold up in a league with Bonita and Dranch?
8. South Hills (11-5)
Some nights they’re great, some nights they aren’t.
9. Northview (14-5)
Big Valle Vista showdown at home against Baldwin Park on Wednesday
10. West Covina (12-6)
Huge test against Nogales on Wednesday


Above: Kristen McCarthy held to nine points in 44-40 loss to St. Paul
Girls Basketball top ten
1. Bishop Amat (14-4)
Still the best, but not what they use to be
2. Diamond Ranch (12-7)
Only real test in Miramonte should come against Wilson on Wednesday
3. Covina (17-1)
If only it had more competition in Valle Vista. Still, record is very impressive
4. Walnut (12-5)
Solid from top to bottom. Good inside and outside play.
5. Wilson (15-3)
Can it take the next big step and hang with Diamond Ranch?
6. South Hills (9-3)
Relies to much on Melinda Gomez, needs others to contribute
7. Azusa (13-3)
Already 4-0 in Montview, but rematch with Sierra Vista on Friday could change that
8. Sierra Vista (12-6)
Starting to hit its stride, and licking their chops to avenge loss to rival Aztecs.
9. Glendora (10-8)
Okay, so they’re 1-1 in the Sierra.
10. Diamond Bar (9-9)
They started so good, but have lost four straight

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Bishop Amat’s promising young big-man leaves school

I have confirmed that Bishop Amat’s 6-foot-6 sophomore center Jordan Salley, who was averaging 12 points and 10 boards for the Lancers, left the school last week and has enrolled at La Verne Lutheran. I’ve seen this kid play twice and he’s the real deal. Great hands, footwork, nice touch. He’s already special and should blossom when he begins playing again, which in all likelihood will be next season on an already young and talented team at Lutheran that is 12-0. For Bishop Amat this is a huge loss. Since building their new basketball facility they’ve enjoyed great success from the girls team, but have yet to get the boys program moving in the same direction.

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Football: Wells headed to Villanova; Umodo to Air Force Academy

South Hills High School standout Dorian Wells has given a verbal commitment to attend Villanova University, and will sign his national letter of intent when the signing period begins in early February.
Huskies linebacker Kebin Umodo also made his decision known over the weekend, giving a verbal commitment to Air Force Academy. The first day players can sign national letters of intent is on February 6. It doesn’t look like a huge list this year. Bishop Amat’s Dominique Austin (DL) is committed to Arizona, and semi-local Kevan Walker (WR) of Arcadia is headed to UCLA. This is a good thread to discuss where other area players are thinking of going or have already verballed.

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Monday Night Showdown in girls Hoops, Bishop Amat (14-3) at St. Paul (11-5), 5:30 p.m.

Is it time to worry about the Bishop Amat girls basketball team after losing to Magnolia, 44-27, on Saturday. I know Magnolia is good at 13-4, but scoring only 27 points? It looks like a fifth-straight state finals appearance is in serious jeopardy. And with reigning player of the year Kristen McCarthy graduating and heading to Temple next fall, what’s the future of the greatest show in the San Gabriel Valley?
Monday’s Final: St. Paul 44, Bishop Amat 40

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