By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
With the December basketball tournament season finished and three titles in the bank for the undefeated Damien High School boys team, Spartans coach Matt Dunn isn’t ready to look too far ahead. But he is pleased with the effort of the Spartans, who have advanced to back-to-back Division 2A semifinals. “It’s a really enjoyable team to coach,” Dunn said. “They get along great and they play well together. It’s not just one person; they’re spreading the ball around and playing to their potential.” (To continue, click thread).
Note: From what I understand, comments should be available again sometime today. I will let you know when I know.
The Spartans have a little of everything.
They have a go-to player in 6-foot-7 junior standout Chris Reyes, averaging a team-best 16 points and nine rebounds.
Senior Gian Dermano is lighting it up from the perimeter with a team-high 23 3-point baskets and is averaging 10.8 points.
Then there is junior point guard Clayton White, perhaps the biggest surprise of all.
White is leading the state in assists at 9.8 per game.
“From the beginning of the season, I felt like we had seven starters,” Dunn said. “And the great thing about it is everyone knows their role and relishes that role.
“But White? He’s been incredible. He’s the engine that makes us go. To have someone that unselfish moving the ball and giving everyone a chance has made a huge difference.”
The Spartans open Sierra League play on Jan. 12 against South Hills, but will face their stiffest competition in league against defending champion Chino Hills (9-1) and Ayala (9-5).
They also have a couple of huge nonleague games this month that should go a long way in helping them prepare for the playoffs.
The Spartans will host Gahr (9-3) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Gahr is an athletic team coached by former Nogales coach Ricky Roper.
At the annual Southern California shootout at Azusa Pacific on Jan. 22, the Spartans square off against undefeated Mission Viejo (14-0), also a winner of three tournaments, including one in Maui.
“You don’t want to get ahead of yourselves, but obviously those are two great games,” Dunn said. “With Gahr next, we’re getting focused on them, and coach Roper is a good friend and does an incredible job.
“Mission Viejo is really big and really skilled; that’s going to be a great challenge for us. Orange County teams play a different style and they’re always tough.”
Lutheran humbled
La Verne Lutheran (2-2), the reigning CIF-Southern Section Division 5AA and state Division 5 champion, went 1-2 during a trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Beach Ball Classic.
After opening with a 73-71 victory over Illinois’ St. Rita, the Trojans lost their next two games to Texas’ Prestonwood Christian Academy (76-63) and Greater Atlanta Christian (59-47).
Colletta on a tear
As a freshman for Division 5 state champion La Verne Lutheran, Nick Colletta averaged 6.5 points per game.
Now in a leading role after transferring to Glendora, the 6-4 sophomore forward is among the Southern Section leaders, averaging 24 points for the 12-2 Tartans, who started 12-0 before losing back-to-back games in last week’s Century Tournament in Orange County.
Colletta has scored 20 points or more in every game but one, including a season-high 32 points in a 74-54 victory over Saugus.
After moving from the Sierra to the more difficult Baseline League, the Tartans open league at home against Los Osos (10-4) on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Five of the six Baseline teams have winning records. Etiwanda is 14-0, followed by Upland (11-3), Rancho Cucamonga (8-7) and struggling Alta Loma (2-11).
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2161
