Hi all:
I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you all have a great day as we celebrate this great day and look forward to the thrilling Friday night at awaits!

Above: La Serna’s OJ Medina, who has rushed for 1,346 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, leads the Lancers in Friday’s CIF-SS Southeast Division quarterfinal playoff game against Los Altos. (Photo by Chris Burt / Correspondent)

There were those who believed La Serna High School’s run to its first CIF-Southern Section football semifinal in more than 40 years last season was more of an aberration than the beginning of something special.
The Lancers, who basically returned only standouts OJ Medina at running back and Craig Jones at linebacker, believed otherwise and hope to prove it when they travel to Los Altos for a CIF-SS Southeast Division quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m.
“We thought going into the year we had a chance to be successful,” said La Serna coach Margarito Beltran, whose Lancers tied for second in the Del Rio League behind champion Santa Fe and defeated Mayfair 47-34 in the first round of the playoffs. “We didn’t know what the won-loss record would be at the end of the year. But we thought if we could get to the playoffs, we would have a chance to put some victories together.”
Continue reading “CIF-SS Playoffs: La Serna is back for more” »

Above: Whittier High’s Jeana Magana, left, and Yazmin Acosta help make the Cardinals an area power this season. (Leo Jarzomb / Staff Photographer)

The race for the Del Rio League girls basketball title has been painted Whittier High School red the past few seasons, and that’s not expected to change this winter.
The Cardinals, who have won the league title each of the past four seasons – including a perfect 10-0 league mark twice since 2008-09 – are expected to stay atop their perch in the battle for league and area supremacy.
But Whittier, which returns two of its top three scorers, including one first team All-Area player, is expecting to receive challenges from St. Paul, which advanced to the division semifinals, and La Habra, which hovered around .500, to lead the pack of hopefuls.
El Rancho, Schurr, Cantwell and Whittier Christian also are expected to be improved.
The leader out of the gate will be the Cardinals, who went 21-7 and 10-0 last season to win a league title before exiting the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA playoffs with a loss to West Ranch of Valencia.
The Cardinals hope to be back for more.
“We just want to continue what we’ve been able to establish (in recent years),” Whittier coach Willie Pittman said. “We have some key returners back and the girls know (after the past few seasons) expectations are much higher for them.”
Continue reading “Girls Basketball: Cardinals Rule” »

Above: Ryan Hall, left, and Alex Imhof are two of the top players for La Habra High School this season. The Highlanders are the preseason No. 1 pick by the Daily News. (Keith Durflinger / Staff Photographer)

For the La Habra High School boys basketball team, it’s not how the Highlanders start but how they finish.
It was like that last season for La Habra, which started slow and closed like a freight train in going 9-1 in the Freeway League and advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3AA quarterfinals.
The same is expected in 2011-12. The Highlanders, like last year, are not expected to be super until they incorporate football players, including stars Aaron Porter and Brett Bartolone, who are expected to be busy during the football playoffs through the middle of December.
“We want to keep our head above water in December,” La Habra coach Mark Stewart said. “When we get the football players back and get them up to speed, we should be really good.”
Continue reading “Boys basketball: Patience is a virtue – La Habra should shine late” »