Today’s Big Games: Could Amat get swept by La Salle? Covina-San Dimas battle again; Bonita-West Covina softball for first in Hacienda

Baseball
Del Rey League
Bishop Amat (15-8, 9-1) vs. La Salle (14-6-1, 6-1) at Citrus College, 3:15 p.m.

Hacienda League
Bonita (21-1) at West Covina (8-11-1, 5-3), 3:30 p.m.

Sierra League
Chino Hills (11-9, 5-5) at Damien (10-7-1, 5-4-1), 3:30 p.m.

Valle Vista League
San Dimas (13-7, 6-2) at Covina (12-6, 5-2), 3:30 p.m.

Softball
Hacienda League
Bonita (13-6, 6-1) at West Covina (12-7, 7-1), 3:30 p.m.

Sierra League
South Hills (15-7, 2-3) at Charter Oak (11-7, 2-3), 3:30 p.m.

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Bonita’s Horine ready to leave last impression in Saturday’s Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic

9th ANNUAL STAR-NEWS/TRIBUNE ALL-STAR GAME
Saturday, April 28 at Damien High
Girls game, 4 p.m.; Boys game, 6 p.m.

LAST YEAR
Boys: Tribune 98, Star-News 87, Star-News leads series, 5-3.
Girls: Tribune 80, Star-News 69, Star-News leads series, 5-3.

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
The Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic on Saturday will hold special meaning for Bonita High School’s Garrett Horine.

As a two-sport standout in football and basketball, Horine had to make the difficult decision most athletes in his position face as their careers move to the next level. Basketball or football?

For Horine, it will be football next fall at Mt. San Antonio College.

That makes Saturday’s game his last in a basketball uniform.

“I’ve got to make it big and go out big,” Horine said of Saturday’s game.

It may be hard to understand how a player who was named Hacienda League MVP after leading his team to an undefeated run in league would be willing to quit basketball in favor of football. A quick look at Horine’s 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame tells you why. Plus, he can be the trendsetter in a family steeped with stardom in both basketball and baseball.

Horine’s sister Carly was Bonita’s all-time leading scorer in girls basketball until cousin Madison Zylstra broke her record last season.

Madison Zylstra is the little sister of Brock Zylstra, who was the 2005 Tribune Player of the Year before going on to play at BYU. Then, there’s the Pill side of the family, which has produced several baseball standouts, including current major leaguer Brett Pill of the San Francisco Giants.

“Everyone always talks about our family and how we’re all athletic,” Horine said. “I’m proud of it.”

Horine wasn’t expected to be this good in basketball. Last fall, he earned Hacienda League Defensive MVP honors as a safety for the Bearcats football team. Once Bonita was eliminated from the playoffs, Horine turned his focus to basketball, where he was the only returning starter from a Bonita team that swept the Hacienda League and made a deep run in the playoffs in 2011. All Horine did was go out and average 12.5 points per game, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals per game en route to being named the league’s top player. (To continue click thread)l

TRIBUNE BOYS TEAM
Coach: Will Bissman, Covina
Coach: Jason Rochwerg, Wilson
Players
Chris Reyes, Damien
Wesley Burke, Glendora
Treavon Francis, Northview
Kyle Maloof, Claremont
Derrick Mar, Rowland
Garrett Horine, Bonita
Taylor Olvera, Bishop Amat
Brandon Croom, Walnut
Vance Valencia, Los Altos
Corey Serna, South Hills
Nino Harrell, Covina
Bryce Kato, Wilson
Jordan Blackburn, Azusa
Ryan Del Rosario, Wilson
Matt Adamo, Bonita
Edgardo Campos, Covina

TRIBUNE GIRLS TEAM
Coach: Nick Masi, Covina
Players
Ashli Baddorf, Covina
Marissa Clark, Covina
Kaysee Tayag, Bishop Amat
Chelsea Barnes, Diamond Ranch
Tyvette White, Diamond Rach
Brianna Kennedy, Bonita
Taylor Jackson, San Dimas
Jaimie Hou, Wilson
Savannah Selby, St. Lucys
Evelyn Herrera, Workman
Natalie Iam, West Covina
Merrissa Suarez, Charter Oak
Alice Lao, Rowland
Yasmine Wilson, Duarte
Michelle Trieu, Arroyo
Continue reading “Bonita’s Horine ready to leave last impression in Saturday’s Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic” »

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Northview’s Bryan Salinas and Bobby Bellamy sweep top Tribune All-Area Wrestling awards

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
Nothing the Northview High School wrestling team does should surprise anyone.

The Vikings have been among the top wrestling programs in Southern California for a long time, but the 2011-12 campaign might have been the most special.

Led by 145-pound sophomore Bryan Salinas, the Vikings won a Southern California triple crown of sorts for the third time in history – winning a CIF-Southern Section duals title, a CIF-SS Southern Division individual team title and Masters title.

But for the first time in its history, the Vikings crowned six CIF-SS individual champions and sent 11 of a possible 14 qualifiers to Masters, a big reason why Northview coach Bobby Bellamy has been named the San Gabriel Valley Tribune coach of the year.

Bellamy, who along with wrestling director David Ochoa, earned the school’s 14th CIF individual team title to go with its third Masters title.

“It was a unique year, it was special,” Bellamy said. “We’ve had some successful teams but this one really embodied the team concept. Salinas was the best wrestler, but he didn’t carry himself that way. That attitude allowed everyone to think of the team and root for each other.”

Salinas, who won the Valle Vista League title, Southern Division title, finished second at Masters and fourth at the state championships, was the area’s best of the best to earn the San Gabriel Valley Tribune wrestler of the year award.

Salinas capped his season by competing at the high school national championships and winning the national title in the sophomore division.

“I don’t want to say he’s special, not sure that describes enough of his intangibles,” Bellamy said of Salinas. “In big matches he’s so composed. The big moment brings out the best in him. He’s like a silent assassin. He’s not arrogant or flamboyant, he’s very humble and works for everything he gets.

“He will certainly have the chance to go down as one of our all-time best when his career is finished. As it stands now, he’s the best 145-pound sophomore in the country.”

Not surprising, Salinas is one of seven Vikings wrestlers named to the Tribune all-area wrestling team.

Vikings Sophomore Vincent Parra (108), senior Carlos Garcia (126) and junior Daniel Valles (138) all won Southern Division individual titles.

Vikings junior Steven Lopez (160) placed second, junior Anthony Orozco (195) third and senior Nick Auxier (285) was fifth at the Southern Divisional finals to make the all-area team. Parra and Valles also placed third at Masters, and Lopez placed eighth.

Chino Hills senior Christian Martin (113), Bonita senior Christian Reza (120), Walnut junior Michael Sill (132), South Hills senior Trevor Behr (152), West Covina junior Brad Ojala (170), Chino Hills senior Brody Goens (182) and Charter Oak senior Brandon Arrieta (220) comprised the rest of the 14-wrestler all-area team by showing they were the best in their respective weight classes.

Martin had a fantastic season for Chino Hills. He won the Northern Division title, Masters title and finished seventh at the state finals.

Sill won the 132-pound Southern Division title and was fourth at Masters. South Hills’ Behr was second at the Northern Division finals and fourth at Masters at 152.

West Covina’s Ojala was second at 170 pounds at the Southern Division finals and was fifth at Masters.

Chino Hills’ Goens finished a spectacular season at 182 pounds. Goens won the Northern Division title, was sixth at Masters and finished fifth at state.

Charter Oak’s Arrieta was third at 220-pounds at the Northern Division finals and Reza, the Hacienda league champion at 120-pounds for Bonita, finished sixth at the Southern Division finals.

TRIBUNE ALL-AREA WRESTLING
Wrestler of the Year: Bryan Salinas, Northview, So.
Coach of the Year: Bobby Bellamy, Northview
First Team
106: Vincent Parra, Northview, So.
113: Christian Martin, Chino Hills, Sr.
120: Christian Reza, Bonita, Sr.
126: Carlos Garcia, Northview, Sr.
132: Michael Sill, Walnut, Jr.
138: Daniel Valles, Northview, Jr.
145: Bryan Salinas, Northview, So.
152: Trevor Behr, South Hills, Sr.
160: Steven Lopez, Northview, Jr.
170: Brad Ojala, West Covina, Jr.
182: Brody Goens, Chino Hills, Sr
195: Anthony Orozco, Northview, Jr.
220: Brandon Arrieta, Charter Oak, Sr.
285: Nick Auxier, Northview, Sr.

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Is this the end of La Verne Lutheran’s run in boys basketball? Coach Eric Cooper and his son, Eric Cooper Jr., going to St. Anthony’s in Long Beach

After two state championships and a CIF-Southern Section title, La Verne Lutheran head coach Eric Cooper is leaving to become the head coach at St. Anthony’s in Long Beach. Lutheran nearly won its second divisional title under Cooper a couple months back, but came up short in the final against Serra. Cooper’s son, Eric Cooper Jr., is leaving Lutheran to join his dad at St. Anthony’s for his senior year. Cooper Jr., is already committed to the University of Arizona, where Trojans senior Grant Jerrett, a McDonalds All-American, will be next season.

La Verne Lutheran was 7-12 and a virtually non-existent sports school when Cooper took over the team in 2007. In five years in charge, the Trojans won 24 or more games in every season, were 132-30 overall, and were amongst the best high school basketball teams in California

“The opportunity to go back to the area where I grew up was part of the decision and I look at it as another challenge,” Cooper said. “I had a great time at Lutheran, and hopefully my associate head coach, Brandon Lee, will take over and Lutheran will keep it rolling. But I’m not sure what he wants to do.”

St. Anthony’s was 17-10 this past season and lost in the second round of the divisional playoffs.

If Lee doesn’t take over, don’t be surprised if a few talented Lutheran players transfer out, especially with the new 30-day sit-out period for transfers expected to pass the state level. Lutheran’s Brian Beard, Craig Bond and Tide Osifeso will be juniors next year and perhaps the best leftover of all, 6-foot-6 McKay Anderson, will be a senior.

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Ninth annual Tribune/Star-News boys/girls All-Star Classic takes shape for Saturday night at Damien High School

The ninth annual Tribune/Star-News boys and girls senior all-star game will be held at Damien High School on Saturday. The girls game is at 4 p.m., followed by the boys game at 6. There will be a 3-point contest for the boys and girls teams. Wilson’s coach Jason Rochwerg and Covina’s Will Bissman will coach the boys and Covina’s Nick Masi will coach the girls.

All-Time Series
Boys: Star-News leads series, 5-3.
Girls: Star-News leads series, 5-3.

Star-News team update: From half-court passes and no-look passes to crisp, deep three-pointers, Monrovia High School’s Gina Henderson showed during Wednesday’s practice with the Star-News All-Stars why it’s ready to extend its lead over the Tribune All-Stars.

TRIBUNE TEAM UPDATE:
By Aram Tolegian, SGVN twitter.com/ChemicalAT
One thing was abundantly clear when the Tribune All-Star boys basketball team held its first practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s 9th Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic – size will not be an issue.

Anchored down low by 6-foot-7 Damien High School forward Chris Reyes and 6-foot-9 South Hillls center Korey Serna, the Tribune figures to be quite a load for the Star-News to handle.

The question Saturday night is whether the Tribune can get any guard play to compliment the size edge. The answer depends on whether a solid group that includes several sharpshooters will be on fire Saturday night. The game is at Damien at 6 p.m. The girls game is 4 p.m.

“Having those big guys down low will definitely be an advantage for our shooters,” said Wilson coach Jason Rochwerg, who will partner with Covina’s Will Bissman to coach the team. “I always believe that basketball should be played inside out.”

If the first practice was any indicator, the Tribune’s outside game should be there on Saturday night. During Tuesday’s scrimmage multiple guards sank 3-pointers, giving both Rochwerg and Bissman confidence to let their team fire at will.

“We were trying to just let these kids get out and scrimmage a little bit and try to teach them a real simple transition offense, and boy, these kids can shoot,” Rochwerg said. “We didn’t have too many misses from outside.

“All of these kids can pretty much fill it.”

Roster changes

Because of prior commitments and other reasons, the Tribune team had to make several roster adjustments. Added to the team are Azusa’s Jordan Blackburn, Wilson’s Ryan Del Rosario, Bonita’s Matt Adamo and Covina’s Edgardo Campos. Glendora’s Kyle Gordon and Damien’s Clayton White will not play due to a prior commitment in Las Vegas. Workman guard Ricardo Soto has moved back to Mexico.

3-point contest participants set

Representing the Tribune team in the 3-point shooting contest at halftime of the boys game will be Los Altos’ Vance Valencia, Covina’s Nino Harrell and Glendora’s Wesley Burke. The Tribune girls team will be represented by San Dimas’ Taylor Jackson, St. Lucy’s Savannah Selby and Bishop Amat’s Kaysee Tayag.

TRIBUNE BOYS TEAM
Coach: Will Bissman, Covina
Coach: Jason Rochwerg, Wilson
Players
Chris Reyes, Damien
Wesley Burke, Glendora
Treavon Francis, Northview
Kyle Maloof, Claremont
Derrick Mar, Rowland
Garrett Horine, Bonita
Taylor Olvera, Bishop Amat
Brandon Croom, Walnut
Vance Valencia, Los Altos
Corey Serna, South Hills
Nino Harrell, Covina
Bryce Kato, Wilson
Jordan Blackburn, Azusa
Ryan Del Rosario, Wilson
Matt Adamo, Bonita
Edgardo Campos, Covina

TRIBUNE GIRLS TEAM
Coach: Nick Masi, Covina
Players
Ashli Baddorf, Covina
Marissa Clark, Covina
Kaysee Tayag, Bishop Amat
Chelsea Barnes, Diamond Ranch
Tyvette White, Diamond Rach
Brianna Kennedy, Bonita
Taylor Jackson, San Dimas
Jaimie Hou, Wilson
Savannah Selby, St. Lucys
Evelyn Herrera, Workman
Natalie Iam, West Covina
Merrissa Suarez, Charter Oak
Alice Lao, Rowland
Yasmine Wilson, Duarte
Michelle Trieu, Arroyo

FOR STAR-NEWS ROSTERS, CLICK THREAD

Continue reading “Ninth annual Tribune/Star-News boys/girls All-Star Classic takes shape for Saturday night at Damien High School” »

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Baseball: South Hills 10, Ayala 1

South HIlls scored five runs in the first and three in the second on its way to a 10-1 victory over Ayala. The Huskies’ Mike Dlugos was 3-for-3, scored two runs, stole two bases and Ty France had a hit and three RBIs.
Pitcher Mark Segovia finished the game after taking over in the fourth and throwing four shutout innings to preserve the win. South Hills improved to 13-6 and is first in the Sierra League with a 7-3 mark.

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