Girls Basketball: Bonita knocks off undefeated Cajon, 60-47; Bishop Amat takes care of business, 54-50

Bonita Magic: It was a perfect 27-0 entering the quarterfinals, but the Cajon High School girls basketball team had to come from behind in more of those victories than coach Mark Lehman preferred.
“Our girls thought they could do that tonight, but I told them one of these nights it’s not going to happen,” Lehman said. “The other team’s not going to let you come back.”

Saturday’s Schedule
Quarterfinals
Division 1A

Bishop Amat 54, Westminster 50
Tuesday’s semifinal: Bishop Amat at Ventura, 7 p.m.
Division 2AA
Bonita 60, Cajon 47

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
Bishop Amat’s girls basketball team won its first two playoff games so easily — by an average of 53 points — you wondered what would happen when it went up against a team that could swing back, especially without one of its best players, junior Dagmar Ramirez, out the rest of the season with a torn ACL.
Visiting Westminster, riding a 13-game winning streak and 25-3 overall record, certainly provided that.
But top seed Amat isn’t chasing its sixth divisional crown and second straight title without knowing what to do when the game’s on the line, and it proved it again with clutch baskets and free throws in the fourth quarter to squeeze out a 54-50 victory in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1A quarterfinals on Saturday.
Lancers junior Janae Chamois finished with 20 points, five assists and senior Mauriana Clayton dropped 14 points with 10 rebounds. But with the game on the line, junior Paulina Santana’s four consecutive free throws proved to be the difference. Continue reading “Girls Basketball: Bonita knocks off undefeated Cajon, 60-47; Bishop Amat takes care of business, 54-50” »

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Wrestling: Northview wins girls state team title; Vikings’ Sabrina Solis, West Covina’s Aylssa LaFrancis score titles

By Steve Ramirez< twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
Northview High School’s wrestling program has build a solid reputation over the past two decades.
The Vikings’ girls team added to it Saturday.
Northview, with five competitors receiving a top eight medal, including one champion, secured the team title during the third annual CIF State championships at Lemoore High School.
Northview’s Sabrina Solis at 118 pounds, and West Covina’s Aylssa LaFrancis at 165 won individual titles, beating Loara’s Crystal Zamarripa and San Jose Edison’s Gabriela Guzman, respectively. The Vikings’ Maddie Tyrone was a finalist at heavyweight, losing to Santa Monica’s Jessica Walker.
Also receiving a top-eight medal for the Vikings were Rose Martinez (98, seventh), Lazmin Perez (122, seventh) and Katie Auxier (146, fifth).
Other area top-eight medalists were Charter Oak’s Brittny Hernandez (103, third) and Savanna Barr (114, third); Rowland’s Zitali Bailon (118, eighth); Sierra Vista’s Marisela Fierro (122, third) and La Puente’s Sharon Garcia (189, third).

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CIF-SS Masters Wrestling: Northview’s Daniel Valles, Bryan Salinas win titles; Vikings take third; Area qualifies 15 for state meet

Northview High School’s Bryan Salinas, right, battles King’s Harlan Kistler in the 170-pound final at the Masters Meet Saturday. Salinas won, 7-3.
(Lafonzo Carter / Staff Photographer)

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
TEMECULA —
For Northview High School wrestlers Daniel Valles and Bryan Salinas, Saturday’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet was all about redemption.
Salinas, who lost here in the finals last season, and Valles, who lost in the finals at last weekend’s Central Division championships, wanted to make up for coming up short previously.
Mission accomplished
Valles won at 138 pounds and Salinas at 170 to lead the area efforts at Temecula Valley High School.
The area, including Valles and Salinas, qualified 15 competitors to next weekend’s CIF State championships, scheduled for Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
St. John Bocos’s Aaron Pico, who is from Whittier, was lower weight MVP after winning at 132 with four wins by fall and one by default.
Northview, which won the team title last season, finished third with 121 points despite sharing top honors with Santiago, of Corona, with seven qualifiers each. Santiago finished first with 168. Bosco was second at 144.
Other area qualifiers were Northview’s Vincent Parra (106, third), Eric Ochoa (113, fourth), Tony Arellano (132, seventh), Ricky Padilla (145, fourth) and Steven Lopez (160, eighth); San Marino’s Evan Wick (113, second) and Julian Flores (120, third); Glendora’s Thomas Tello (132, fourth); Rowland’s Mario Lopez (138, second); Walnut’s Michael Sill (138, eighth); Chino Hills’ Garrick Gurney (170, fifth); Diamond Bar’s Nathan Rodriguez (182, seventh) and La Habra’s Michael Rangel (106, ninth).
Valles got some revenge on Lopez, who beat him for the Central title last week.
“When I lost to him last week, I knew I could beat him, but I just wasn’t my best last week,” said Valles, who scored a 6-3 victory over Lopez on Saturday. “I just trained harder during the week and knew I could beat him this time.
“It all paid off and I’m ready for state.”
Continue reading “CIF-SS Masters Wrestling: Northview’s Daniel Valles, Bryan Salinas win titles; Vikings take third; Area qualifies 15 for state meet” »

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Boys Hoops: La Verne Lutheran shocks the Southland, beats undefeated Bishop Montgomery; Damien advances to first finals ever; Glendora done

James Escarcega talked to La Verne Lutheran coach Brandon Lee and came back with not only highlights, but exclusive, explosive post game comments from the locker room after the Trojans’ shocking 63-58 victory over 29-0 Bishop Montgomery, ranked No. 1 in Division 4AA and third in the state by MaxPreps.

CIF-Southern Section Boys Basketball Playoffs
Division 2A Quarterfinals

Redondo Union 55, Glendora 41
Division 3AA Semifinals
Damien 61, Corona del Mar 53
Division 4AA semifinals
La Verne Lutheran 63, Bishop Montgomery 58

By Steve Ramirez
NEWPORT BEACH —
Damien High School had ventured into the CIF-Southern Section boys basketball semifinals three times during the past four seasons only to have it end in heartache.
That disappointment ended Friday.

Sophomore Jeremy Hemsley scored 25 points and Jared Dizon had 15 and the Spartans advanced to the finals for the first time with a 61-53 victory over host Corona del Mar in a Division 3AA semifinal.
The Spartans improved 24-6 and will face Santa Margarita, a 65-59 winner over Leuzinger, in the finals next week at either Anaheim Arena or Mater Dei High School. The date and time will be announced later.
Blake Grable scored 23 points for the Sea Kings, who dropped to 21-10.
Damien coach Matt Dunn: “It’s a great feeling (to get to the finals). I thought our guys played great. Corona del Mar is a great team. It was a war right to the end, so I’m really proud of our guys.”
Damien’s Jeremy Hemsley: “It’ feels great. This was our goal. We worked hard all season. I think we really deserve it.”


Glendora-Redondo photo gallery
By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
It was clear from the opening tip that visiting Redondo Union was going to spend the night harassing Glendora’s shooters, rushing them off the 3-point line and pressuring them all over the floor.
It worked to perfection.
While Glendora set a school record for three-pointers in a season (252), the Tartans shot a paltry 8-for-27 from behind the arc and that wasn’t nearly enough as Redondo Union handed Glendora a 55-41 defeat in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2A quarterfinals on Friday.
Continue reading “Boys Hoops: La Verne Lutheran shocks the Southland, beats undefeated Bishop Montgomery; Damien advances to first finals ever; Glendora done” »

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Predicting a Damien championship victory over South Hills in the Dicks Sporting Goods baseball tournament that starts Saturday

Full Schedule for the San Gabriel Valley Dicks Sporting Goods High School Baseball Tournament.

STORY: You have to love it, a 32-team CIF style survive and advance tournament that starts on Saturday. You can also go the consolation route, but who follows that?

Robledo’s final four prediction: South Hills vs. Bonita; Damien vs. Charter Oak
Robledo’s championship prediction: Damien over South Hills

Memory Lane: One of my favorite pictures from 2007 and Aram’s description of it, which he dubbed “the shot heard around the SGV,” Northview’s incredible come-from-behind 4-3 CIF playoff victory over Bonita. Aram wrote: “I’ve never seen such a stunning end to a prep baseball game. What amazed me was the silence right after Arnold went yard. The Bonita fans were obviously shocked, but I don’t think it even registered with Northview fans for about a minute. That’s probably because it happened so quick. Arnold came to the plate, took a cut, then took another and connected. Poof! Game over! Absolutely unreal!!!!” — Aram Tolegian

Only negative comment about Dicks tourney: No Glendora. No Bishop Amat. No Nogales. No Alhambra. No Temple City. No Monrovia. Those are some of the best SGV teams we all love to watch. Even so, may be tough to top last year’s championship, South Hills beating Bonita and giving Garza his only loss of the year.

DICKS SPORTING GOODS FIRST-ROUND SCHEDULE
Top Bracket
South Hills vs. Covina at Bonita, 4 p.m., Saturday
Paloma Valley vs. Tahquitz at Paloma Valley, 3:15 p.m., Feb. 26
Crescenta Valley vs. La Canada at Stengel Field, 6 p.m, Saturday
Keppel vs. Alta Loma at Alta Loma, 3 p.m., Saturday
Corona Santiago vs. Baldwin Park at Northview, 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Claremont vs. Colony at Bonita, 1 p.m., Saturday
Carter vs. Arroyo at Northview, 12:30 p.m., Saturday
Duarte vs. Bonita at Bonita, 10 a.m., Saturday
Bottom Bracket
Palm Springs vs. Elsinore at Palm Springs, 3:15 p.m., Feb. 26
Los Osos vs. Temecula Valley at Los Osos, 1 p.m., Saturday
Los Altos vs. Yucaipa at Azusa Pacific, 7 p.m., Saturday
Damien vs. La Puente at La Puente, 12 p.m., Saturday
Charter Oak vs. Arcadia at Bonita, 7 p.m., Saturday
Bonita JV vs. Rosemead at Rosemead, 3:15 p.m., Feb. 26
Northview vs. Cantwell at Northview, 9:30 a.m., Saturday
Roosevel vs. San Gabriel at San Gabriel, 11 a.m., Saturday

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION PRE-SEASON BASEBALL POLLS
Division 2:
1. Great Oak, 2. Aliso Niguel, 3. Cypress, 4. Redlands, 5. Vista Murrieta, 6. Dana Hills, 7. Glendora, 8. Yucaipa, 9. South Hills, 10. La Mirada.
Division 3: 1. Gahr, 2. Palm Desert, 3. Bonita, 4. Downey, 5. Bishop Amat, 6. Elsinore, 7. Quartz Hill, 8. Palos Verdes, 9. Paramount, 10. Los Altos
Division 4: 1. Oaks Christian, 2. Alhambra, 3. Monrovia, 4. Nogales, 5. Kaiser, 6. Northview, 7. Calvary Chapel/SA, 8. Granite Hills, 9. San Dimas, 10. Century

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Boys Soccer: Servite beats Claremont in PKs, 4-2

CIF-SS Division 1 boys soccer playoffs
Quarterfinals

Servite 0, Claremont 0, Servite advances in PKs, 4-2

Granite Hills defeats Los Altos in penalties: The way things had gone to that point, the Granite Hills boys soccer team wouldn’t have celebrated until the last shot of the game anyway. After holding the lead twice in regulation and the early advantage in the shootout, only to watch each slip away, the Cougars prevailed Thursday when Los Altos’ final penalty kick sailed wide in a CIF-SS Division 5 second-round playoff game.

You have to feel for Los Altos losing on penalty kicks yesterday, and not sure I like how Granite Hills celebrated by almost piling on top of the kid.

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Northview and South Hills baseball to host fundraiser game for 10-year-old Nathan Perez on March 12 at Mt. SAC

Northview and South Hills Baseball will meet on Tuesday, March 12 at Mt. SAC at 7 p.m., for a very special cause to benefit Nathan Perez, the 10-year-old son of Vikings football coach Marcel Perez. The game was created after learning recently that Nathan was diagnosed with an extremely rare autoimmune disorder called Aplastic Anemia. Fortunately Nathan’s sister is a match and Nathan is expected to have a bone marrow transplant in the coming months that we all pray leads to a successful and healthy recovery. But it’s a long recovery with expensive medical costs, so Northview and South Hills is playing the event as a fundraiser in honor of Nathan, asking for $3 donations to help the family. The SGV always rises to the occasion in situations like this, so do what you can to support the Perez family and Little Nathan.

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