Hi all:
After a busy fall, I’m off for this week, but I wanted to give all the bloggers a space to speak. This is your area to voice your opinion, leave scores and recaps, whatever. I will monitor it the best I can, so keep it civil.

(SGVN/Staff Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz/SPORTS)

I got my adaption to the La Serna-Cal High battle royale Friday night. And it lived up to my expections – a game decided at the end before a near over-flow crowd. Cal’s Michael Garcia hit the game winner with 1:41 left before La Serna missed two inside shots in the final minute in a 51-50 California win.
Here’s the game story:

WHITTIER — For California High School, it’s always special when the Condors can knock off archrival La Serna. It’s added pleasure when it keeps them as one of the teams to beat in the highly-competitive Del Rio League.
Robert Campos had 16 points and and Michael Garcia hit a 14-footer with 1:41 left to play and California remained undefeated in league play with a 51-50 victory over visiting La Serna Friday night.< The Condors, who beat Pioneer on Wednesday, improved to 12-6 overall and 2-0 in the Del Rio League. La Serna, which shared the league title with Whittier last season, slipped to 6-9 and 0-2. Taurean Oram led the Lancers with 14 points, including six points in the fourth quarter. La Serna had a chance to win it late. But CJ White missed on a drive at 1:01, and then after force a stop, Ted Teyechea inside shot was off the rim, with the rebound battle going to Cal with 9 seconds left. The Lancers committed four fouls in the final 8.5 seconds to get California's Matt Lembrecht to the line with 0.6 remaining. He missed the 1-and-1 free throw before La Serna rebounded as time expired. La Serna, after falling behind 28-18, used a 12-0 run during a four-minute stretch to end the second quarter and begin the third to go up 32-28 following a 4-point play by Kimball Monge and back-to-back inside shots by Jared Wright. The Condors, who went 5:23 without scoring, broke the slump on a 16-footer by Michael Garica at 3:48. But the Lancers, keyed by a 3-pointer by Anthony Mena, followed with a 8-2 burst to go up 40-32. Cal, keyed by a 3-pointer from Chris Ortiz opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 blitz to go up 42-40 before the teams traded baskets down the stretch before Garcia's 14-footer gave the Condors their 51-50 victory. Continue reading “Boys Basketball: Garcia’s jumper lifts Cal over La Serna, 51-50” »

Staff file photo by Leo Jarzomb

I got my first look at El Rancho High School’s boys soccer team, which is the defending CIF-SS Division 4 champion, the top ranked team in the division this season and at last count, No. 3 in the state.
The Dons certainly looked the part Friday, at least in the second half, scoring two goals in back half of the game two beat Pioneer, 2-0.
Here’s the game story:

PICO RIVERA — El Rancho High School didn’t win a CIF-Southern Section divisional boys soccer title last season without learning how to evade a few land mines.
The Dons continued the practice Friday afternoon.
Miguel Vilchis and Francisco Lara scored scored second-half goals to lift El Rancho to a 2-0 victory over visiting Pioneer in a Del Rio League battle that featured two of the better teams in Division 4.
The Dons, also getting an assist from Mauricio Lopez and three saves from goalie David Lopez, improved to 13-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.
The Titans, who lost in overtime to California in their league opener on Wednesday, slipped to 8-3-4 and 0-2.
“I don’t know if it’s so much the experience from last year as they finally played (during the second half) the way they are capable of,” said El Rancho coach Dominic Picon, whose team outshot Pioneer, 10-3, in the key second half. “We didn’t even touch – in the first half – what we’re capable of. I think it’s that we figured out that we can’t just show up and expect to win.
“It’s a good lesson for this team to learn, because the last couple of games, we’ve done that.”
Continue reading “Boys Soccer: El Rancho stays perfect, beats Pioneer, 2-0” »

Above: Orange Lutheran s Graeme Fraser carries the ball for the South team with St. Paul s Paul Governale (74) blocking during Thursday s game. (Leo Jarzomb / Staff Photographer)

WHITTIER – The final score and the winner of the inaugural Catholic/Christian Literacy Classic all-star football game was immaterial.
It was really all about longtime St. Paul High School football Marijon Ancich, who after more than 40 years coached his final game.
But winning isn’t bad, either.
Juan Diego Temple returned a fumble 62 yards on the final play of the third quarter to tie the score and John McGrory kicked a 45-yard field goal with 2:23 left and Ancich went out a winner as the South rallied for a 19-16 victory Thursday night at Whittier College.
“Believe me, it’s emotional,” Ancich said before the game. “My mind is working on it. That’s life in the big city. You never know what’s around the next corner.
“Our banquet is Sunday, so it will basically be all over in one week. That’s where were at.
“All the people that have done something for me, that’s who I want to thank. It’s unbelievable the sacrifices they’ve made to make the program better for us. It was all done by people, kids, the administration was always fantastic.”
Continue reading “Ancich goes out a winner in Classic” »

WHITTIER – Sometime around 10 tonight, Marijon Ancich will walk across Whittier College’s football field, shake Jay Schroeder’s hand and call it a career.
It will be the end of one of the more prolific coaching careers in California.
Ancich, the all-time victories leader among Southern California football coaches with 360 wins, says goodbye tonight when he guides the South team in tonight’s inaugural Catholic/Christian Literacy Classic, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Whittier College.
The game, which features the best private school graduating seniors in Southern California, will also include 15 area players from the greater San Gabriel Valley.
The list features eight players from St. Paul, three from Whittier Christian, two from Bishop Amat and one from La Salle that make up part of the South team, with one from St.Francis, which is on the North squad coached by former NFL player and present Village Christian coach Schroeder.
The list of area players are St. Paul’s Kevin Romo (linebacker), Tyler Carrillo (tight end), Gabriel Gonzalez (defensive back), Josh Salazar (defensive line), Paul Governale (offensive line), Marcus Garcia (defensive back), David Cabral (running back/linebacker) and Michael Ortega (running back); Whittier Christian’s Daniel Abernethy (linebacker), Grant Escobar (receiver) and Ryan Wallace (offensive line); Amat’s Jalen Moore (running back) and Adam Sanchez (receiver); St. Francis’ Zach George (offensive line); and La Salle’s Josh Hall (receiver).
But this night will long be remembered as Ancich’s final game of a career that dates back to 1961 and has included three stops at St. Paul (1961-81; 1993-2005 and 2009-2011) and one stint at Tustin (1982-92).
“It should be interesting,” Ancich said of his final game. “I don’t really know how I’m going to feel. But to coach kids I’ve known (at St. Paul this season) and others who I know about from the great programs in Southern California is special.”
Continue reading “All-star game is Ancich’s swan song” »