How times have changed. When was the last time South Hills led our boys soccer rankings and when was the last time Mountain View didn’t make the cut? Even in the CIF-SS polls, South Hills is tied for 10th in powerful Division 1 with Sierra Vista fourth and Duarte ninth in Division 4. Baldwin Park is No. 2 in D-5. Teams to watch out for that have greatly improved are Nogales, a flash from the past and Walnut — two teams that are unbeaten if records are accurate on Maxpreps. The league we’re going to pay close attention to is the Sierra. South Hills, Damien, Ayala, Claremont and Chino Hills are all capable of beating each other. Does the Sierra belong in D-1? Probably not, but it’s clearly the area’s best league.

Above: South Hills coach Kenneth Stratton has the Huskies off to a quick start.

Boys Soccer Tribune Rankings
1. South Hills (6-0-2)
2. Sierra Vista (6-1-2)
3. Damien (3-1-1)
4. Ayala (2-1-2)
5. Nogales (4-0)
6. Walnut (3-0-1)
7. Los Altos (4-2)
8. Baldwin Park (3-2-1)
9. Duarte (2-2)
10. Bishop Amat (2-2)

BOYS SOCCER, CIF POLLS
DIVISION 1
1. Ventura, 2. San Clemente, 3. Loyola, 4. Millikan, 5. Palos Verdes, 6. Leuzinger, 7. Valley View, 8. Santa Barbara, 9. Los Alamitos 10T. El Toro, 10T. South Hills

DIVISION 4
1. Cathedral, 2. Oak Hills, 3. Artesia, 4. Sierra Vista, 5. Hart, 6. Bellflower, 7. Norwalk, 8. Salesian, 9. Duarte, 10. Lawndale

DIVISION 5
1. Granite Hills, 2. Baldwin Park, 3. Pioneer Valley, 4. Crossroads, 5. La Canada, 6. Saddleback, 7. Marshall, 8. San Luis Obispo, 9. Santiago/ Garden Grove, 10. San Jacinto

By Aram Tolegian, SGVN

Jude Oliva resigned as San Gabriel High School varsity football head coach on Monday after three seasons. He was 17-17 at the school.

Oliva cited health, career and family reasons for his decision to step down. Oliva suffered from gout and kidney issues this season, which caused severe joint pain.

He and his wife just welcomed a newborn daughter. Oliva was not a full-time teacher at San Gabriel and will look for more gainful employment while also not ruling out a return to the sideline.

Continue reading “Jude Oliva leaves San Gabriel” »

Note from Covina coach Will Bissman:

“We had a last minute drop out and must find a team to fill in 16-team bracket. There will be no charge. All games played in the recently remodeled Covina High school gym. If interested, please contact Coach Bissman immediately by phone, text, or e-mail; (626) 484-6383; wbissman@cvusd.k12.ca.us

TEAM ENTERED
1. Damien
2. La Salle
3. Rowland
4. Cal (Whittier)
5. Covina
6. Bishop Amat
7. Los Altos
8. South Hills
9. Northview
10. Charter Oak
11. Mountain View
12. Sierra Vista
13. South El Monte
14. Azusa
15. Bassett
16. ???????

GLENDORA WINS: Playing its most complete game of the season, a young Glendora boys basketball team won its own tournament with a 62-49 win over Keppel on Saturday night at Glendora High.
The Tartans (10-1) hit from long range in the first quarter and got to the basket in the second as they jumped out to a 40-22 halftime lead and never looked back.
“This is the longest stretch staying focused and executing we’ve gone this year,” Tartans coach Mike LeDuc said. “In the second quarter and some of the third we ran a lot of plays. I was really pleased how we hung with it for that period of time.”

BISHOP AMAT GIRLS WIN SECOND TOURNEY: Defense wins championships and the Bishop Amat High School girls basketball team proved that again with a 45-28 victory over Sonora in the 18th annual Lady Knights’ Christmas Classic title game Saturday at Arroyo High.
The Lancers won their sixth consecutive Arroyo tournament title and 11th overall.
Leading the way for Amat was junior Paulina Santana, who had 14 points and was named tournament MVP.

SEMIFINALS: Glendora got 18 points from Brandon Brothers in an easy 63-42 win over Walnut and Keppel’s Kyler Lee poured in 28 points in a narrow 55-50 win over Rowland to advance to tonight’s championship

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN

Glendora and Keppel high schools were both pushed after enjoying early leads Friday.

But both showed their poise, making key plays down the stretch to score wins and advance to tonight’s Glendora Tournament boys basketball championship game.

The host Tartans, getting 18 points from Brandon Brothers and 15 from Thomas Rico, closed the final four minutes with an 18-5 run on their way to a 63-43 victory over Walnut.

Kyler Lee scored 28 points and Keppel overcame a second-half charge from Rowland to score a 55-50 win.

The Tartans (9-1) and Aztecs (6-3) will square off for the title at 7:30 p.m. today at Glendora High.

Continue reading “Boys Hoops: Glendora and Keppel advance, will meet in championship at Glendora tonight at 7:30” »

Damien boys basketball is on a roll. Not only did it knock off Thousand Oaks, ranked No. 2 in Division 2AA 60-56 in the Sierra Vista tournament title game, but it remains unbeaten as it travels north to compete in the 39th annual Father Berry Classic in Carmichael. Damien knocked off host Jesuit in the first round, 52-48, Thursday, getting 22 points and four 3 pointers from senior guard Jared Dizon. Damien (7-0) takes on Campolindo (4-3) in the semifinals tonight at 7:30 p.m.