Why?


Christmas Eve massacre leaves 9 dead in Covina

On my way home from Christmas Eve festivities, I saw the helicopters and wondered what the commotion was not far from my Covina neighborhood, only to learn the next morning about the horrible tragedy just a few miles away. Covering basketball games in the Covina tournament felt so meaningless this afternoon, and though this is a high school prep sports blog, our thoughts and prayers are with the families. If you would like to offer words of support for the victims and families, or follow the latest news updates, visit Frank Girardot’s Crime Scene Blog

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Football: What will happen in 2009?

Starting in January, we will begin the process of projecting the 2009 top players at each position, as well as a new top ten football team lists, along with as many fall schedule’s as possible. Next week I’ll post the All-CIF football teams…that’s right, all football, all the time. To get this started, how about a sneak preview from the Scouting Guru’s perspective. We expect the Guru to be hard at work until next fall.


Rowland quarterback Michael Ball had a great year and will only be a junior next season.

The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley.

From the Guru …
So, the idea of this team came from a ton of area coaches. So with the help of game footage and results of the all-league balloting, here is the 1st Team All-Underclass Team as put together by the SGV/IE Scouting Service.

Offense
Quarterback: Michael Ball, Rowland
Running Back: Adam Muema, Charter Oak
Running Back: Ricky Johnson, West Covina
Wide Receiver: Ify Umodu, South Hills
Wide Receiver: Wallace Gonzales, Glendora
Wide Receiver: Geoffrey Vaughns, South Hills
Offensive Line: Siosi Tanui, South Hills
Offensive Line: Richard Tejeda, West Covina
Offensive Line: Andy Orozco, Charter Oak
Offensive Line: Michael Wells, Diamond Ranch
Offensive Line: Raymond Ragoza, Baldwin Park

Guru Notes: The quarterback position was a no brainer. Ball stood out as the best underclassman this year. But he will have competition to hold the position as Glendora’s Chad Jefferies, Bishop Amat’s Jerry McClanahan and Charter Oak’s Josiah Thropay will give him a run for the money. And here is something else to consider. South Hills has had NINE consecutive QB’s named to the 1st Team All-CIF. So whoever gets the nod at QB on Cameron/Barranca gets thrown in the mix. Running Backs to watch for include J. Anderson from Amat and freshman Jamel Hart from South Hills. There is a ton of size at the WR position with Umodu and Gonzales on the field. And Vaughns has some of the best hands in the area. Along the front, the kid from SH already has an offer from BYU (and he is only going to be a junior next year).

Defense
Defensive Line: Tre Hale, Damien
Defensive Line: Peter Nonu, South Hills
Defensive Line: Leonard Rhodes, Walnut
Linebacker: Tre Evans, San Dimas
Linebacker: Reyes Barrera, South Hills
Linebacker: Brack Traley, Damien
Linebacker: Leon Youngblood, Charter Oak
Cornerback: Darian Johnson, Bishop Amat
Cornerback: Dennis Rufus, Charter Oak
Safety: Brandon Golden, Charter Oak
Safety: A.J. Powell, Charter Oak

Guru Notes: Hale and Nonu have big upsides and will fun to watch next year. The linebacking core is solid and if CO makes another run at the title next year, it will rely on the strength of the secondary. Any one of those three guys could start at BA right now if they wanted to. SH’s Miles Bevel (a 2x 1st-team all league selection at Free-Safety) is one to watch. Which leaves us with one final position…the all-purpose position!

All- Purpose: Cawantas Brown, San Dimas

Love the way this kid performs and competes on the field. HC informed us that he wants Brown at 205 lbs. next season. If that is the case, mark him as the early favorite to be the League MVP. He is that good. No punters and kickers until the end of the spring. Sorry!

As you look at the team, one thing becomes apparent, BA just doesn’t have the best talent in the area. If they get to seven wins next year, it will be a miracle. Charter Oak seems stacked and one thing to remember, the SH fresmhan team in 2006 went 9-1 and is considered one of the best teams they ever had. So you know that SH will be stocked and ready to go in 2009.

Love to get some feedback and if they are any players that we missed, well, that should be good enough motiviaiton when you are in the weight room this winter. Happy New Year.

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Football: All Montview League

MVP Offense: Adrian Gaeta, Azusa
MVP Defense: Paul Medina, Azusa
MVP Lineman: Eddie Osorio, Sierra Vista


Above: Azusa’s Adrian Gaeta, named offensive player of the year

First Team offense
QB: Justin Flores, Sierra Vista
RB: Albert Martinez, Azusa
RB: Jordan Canada, Duarte
RB: Wesley Renner, Sierra Vista
RB: Kalilin Bradford, Workman
WR: Rauley Zaragoza, Azusa
WR: Daniel Limon, Sierra Vista
WR: Angel Ontiveros, Sierra Vista
TE: Dreu Rhodes, Duarte
OL: Cesar Garcia, Azusa
OL: Aaron Martinez, Azusa
OL: Erick Anguiana, Azusa
OL: Carlos Aguirre, Bassett
OL: Tim Starr, Duarte
OL: Christopher Sanchez, Gladstone
OL: Adrian Gonzalez, Sierra Vista
OL: Jorge De Horta, Workman
PK: Daniel Limon, Sierra Vista

First Team Defense
DB: Jon Ochoa, Azusa
DB: Kendall Thompson, Duarte
DB: Desmond Hayes, Duarte
DB: Javier Jerez, Sierra Vista
DL: JC Rosales, Azusa
DL: Joseph Martinez, Duarte
DL: Ryan Cranford, Duarte
DL: Sal Paris, Gladstone
DL: Irving Olguin, Sierra Vista
DL: Ruben Gomez, Workman
LB: Joe Bazan, Azusa
LB: Steven Arceo, Azusa
LB: Wardell Crutchfield Jr., Duarte
LB: Ryan Gomez, Gladstone
LB: Nathan Carillo, Sierra Vista

For second team, click thread
Continue reading “Football: All Montview League” »

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Hoop tournament schedules

55th Annual Covina Tournament
Friday, Dec. 26

Upland vs. West Covina, 10 a.m
Los Altos vs. Bishop Amat, 11:30 a.m.
Norhview vs. Wilson, 1 p.m.
Claremont vs. Fremont, 2:30 p.m.
Sierra Vista vs. Chino Hills, 4 p.m.
South Hills vs. California, 5:30 p.m.
Rosemead vs. Bonita, 7 p.m.
Rowland vs. Covina, 8 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Fifth Annual Rowland Christmas Tournament
Friday’s first round games, Dec. 26

El Rancho vs. Rowland, 9 a.m.
Bassett vs. Bonita, 10:30 a.m.
Eagle Rock vs. Montebello, Noon
Los Altos vs. Arroyo, 1:30 p.m.
Nogales vs. Alemany, 3 p.m.
Covina vs. San Jacinto, 4:30 p.m.
Azusa vs. Western, 6 p.m.
La Habra vs. Wilson, 7:30 p.m.
Ayala tournament
Perris vs. Bishop Amat, 9 a.m.
Rancho Cucamonga vs. Wilson, 10:30 a.m.
Knight vs. Diamond Ranch, 9 a.m.

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Girls Cross Country: Hebb leads the Pack


Runner of the year: Katy Hebb, St. Lucy’s
Year: Freshman
Notable: Hebb had an oustanding adaption to high school cross country, finishing 20th at the CIF State championships in Fresno. The freshman was solid all season as the Regents qualified as a team to the State meet for the first time in more than 20 years. Hebb, who would have also have qualified as an individual, had a steady run of 19 minutes, 31 seconds in the CIF-Southern Section Division III Finals race at Mt.SAC before finishig among the Top 20 at the State meet with an 18:49, which was the top finish among local runners.
Coach of the year: Tony Reyes, St. Lucy’s
First Team
Marissa Horton, St. Lucy’s, So.
Heather Jackson, Bonita, So.
Lauren Justus, Glendora, So.
Carly Lake, Charter Oak, Fr.
Brittnie Munoz, Rosemead, Jr.
Liz Zuniga, South Hills, Sr.
Second Team
Alex Cifuentes, Covina, Sr.
Krissy Hebb, St. Lucy’s, Fr.
Shevonn Johnson, Bonita, Fr.
Mariah Reyes, St. Lucy’s, Sr.
Reina Sotelo, Los Altos, Jr.
Angela Tu, Wilson, Sr.

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Merry Christmas: 2008 All-Area Football

Player of the year: Chris Allen, Charter Oak

Coach of the year: Lou Farrar, Charter Oak

First Team Offense
QB: Cameron Deen, South Hills
RB: Adam Muema, Charter Oak
RB: DeShawn Gaisie, Bishop Amat, Sr
AP: Tra Sumler, Rosemead
WR: Rauley Zaragosa, Azusa
WR: B.J. Oyefeso, Rowland
WR: Derrick Price, Bonita
OL: Graham Vickers, Diamond Ranch
OL: Kyle Salm, San Dimas
OL: Albert Cid, West Covina
OL: Evan Williams, Charter Oak
OL: Chris Flores, Rosemead
PK: Jeremy Brown, Los Altos

First Team Defense
DL: Jeff Gelalich, Bonita
DL: Tyler Perri, Charter Oak
DL: Alex Barrios, South Hills
LB: Andrew Rodriguez, Northview
LB: Kyle Lengyel, Diamond Ranch
LB: Chad Young, Glendora
LB: Brent Seals, Bishop Amat
DB: Brandon Sermons, Diamond Ranch
DB: Sheldon Price, Bishop Amat
DB: Brandon Stansell, Rowland
SS: Daniel Joseph, San Dimas
P: Ethan Betance, Damien

For Second team, honorable Mention, and a list of all the Tribune players of the year, click thread

Continue reading “Merry Christmas: 2008 All-Area Football” »

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Also on Christmas Day


Photo courtesy of ESPN

Imagine having to work with this guy? Jason’s one of our night editors, the paper does not get out without him, but most of the time he’s that doggone Boston fan and life in the office has been insufferable since the Lakers’ loss to the Celtics. We’ve got a long way to the championship, but I would at least like to quiet this guy for the Holidays. C’mon Lakers, time to D-up.

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