January 31, 2008 | 10:49
pm
It was a split decision for USC regarding two Long Beach Poly standouts. Defensive back Vaughn Telemaque has made Miami his college choice and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey has picked the Trojans.
The 6-foot-2 Telemaque was one of the top safeties in California. He was a key reason Poly won the Southern Section Pac-5 Division championship.
The 6-foot, 280-pound Casey has been a defensive stopper for the last two seasons.
They announced their decision on FSN Prime Ticket during a show Thursday night that was taped on Wednesday.
-- Eric Sondheimer
January 31, 2008 | 10:34
pm
Let me whip up a few appropriate words from legendary college football coach and quote-meister Lou Holtz:
"They say a tie is like kissing your sister. I guess that is better than kissing your brother."
See, the No. 8-ranked Redondo Sea Hawks beat the No. 7 Mira Costa Mustangs, 47-38, Thursday night. Not only is their season series tied, 1-1, but both squads now sit atop the Bay League -- tied.
The game's star? Not Atonye Nyingifa, who had a solid line with eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists. It was Joylyn Ichiyama, who had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Ryann Louie scored 10 for Redondo (20-2, 7-1). Megan Richardson had 17 points for Mira Costa (19-4, 7-1).
Back to Holtz's famous quote -- gosh, thanks for the image, Lou.
-- Anthony Stitt
-- Image from http://blogs.chron.com/cougars/Lou.jpg
January 31, 2008 | 10:17
pm
It's been a long time coming for Warren, but the Bears finally own bragging rights over their crosstown rivals.
Melissa Cedarholm and Amber Smith each scored three goals and goalie Krityn Casas had 13 saves and five steals on Thursday as host Warren triumphed, 8-7, to claim its first victory over Downey in the program's seven-year history.
January 31, 2008 | 9:47
pm
Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, not for the Westlake boys’ basketball team. Friday night’s Marmonte League game offers this group a chance to do something few teams have this season: Defeat Simi Valley, a program that’s lost one game thus far and is ranked No. 7 by The Times.
Confidence should not be a problem for the Warriors. They did, after all, only lose by two-points in the first meeting in early January. Playing on the road, in a hostile environment, certainly doesn’t help the cause for the first-place Pioneers, who could be ripe for an upset.
January 31, 2008 | 9:41
pm
Trust me, I did my absolute best to get ahold of Oaks Christian boys’ basketball Coach Tom Roanhaus tonight. The plan was to bait him into guaranteeing a victory over Santa Clara in a key Tri-Valley League game Friday. Unfortunately, I never got a call me back from him. He must have known I was up to something.
For a split second, I thought the ploy might work. Roanhaus loves to talk and his team has nothing to lose in this showdown. At one point, Oaks Christian was the odds-on favorite to win the league title before dropping games to the Saints and Oak Park over a four-day stretch in mid-January. The Lions are in third place these days.
January 31, 2008 | 7:03
pm
This much is certain: St. Bonaventure running back Darrell Scott -- widely considered the highest-rated high school running back prospect in the nation –- is planning to unveil his collegiate choice on Wednesday during national signing day.
Unfortunately, it has taken a little while for the specifics of Scott’s big day to reach the ears of the St. Bonaventure football coaching staff.
Offensive line coach Roger Sonsini has had the often difficult task of holding Scott’s hand throughout the recruiting process. The retired Oxnard Police officer was by Scott’s side when he made his official visits to Texas and Colorado in November and has helped shield the 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect’s cell phone from constant media bombardment.
January 31, 2008 | 7:00
pm
The City Section will crown its first water polo champion in decades as playoff action begins Friday. Birmingham (25-0) is the top-seeded team. The Patriots have not lost a game since the revival of the sport last season; City water polo programs were eliminated in the 1970s for budgetary reasons before being restarted in 2006.
CO-ED WATER POLO
CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
First round, Friday, 3 p.m.
#1 Birmingham, bye
#9 Santee at #8 Eagle Rock
#12 Garfield at #5 Fremont
#4 Venice, bye
#3 Roosevelt, bye
#11 Contreras at #6 Wilmington Banning
#10 Manual Arts at #7 Verdugo Hills
#2 Cleveland, bye
Notes: Quarterfinals, Monday; semifinals, Wednesday, 3 p.m. Finals, Feb. 8 at Argue Swim Stadium (third place at 4 p.m., championship at 6 p.m.)
-- Eric Maddy, stats guru
-- Image from arcadepunk.com
January 31, 2008 | 6:18
pm
How far will Hollywood advance in the City playoffs? As far as Geyme Guzman can take it.
The Sheiks' junior forward has been the section's most prolific scorer this season with a mind-numbing 34 goals and four assists in only 12 games. She's tallied three or more goals five times, including a season-high seven in Hollywood's 10-0 victory over West Adams Prep. She's also accounted for over half of her team's total offense. To measure Guzman's importance to her team consider that the Sheiks' next highest scorer, Rosie Garcia, has eight goals.
January 31, 2008 | 6:08
pm
USC-bound guard Romeo Miller from Beverly Hills is no longer playing for the Normans.
Coach Luis Turcios said Miller last played in a game on Jan. 19.
He said Miller's father told him Miller was injured.
Miller was suspended four games by Trucios for missing a tournament, then came back to play sparingly in two games.
-- Eric Sondheimer
-- Image by Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times
January 31, 2008 | 6:05
pm
It seems a few Santa Clarita Valley football coaches aren't too happy with some of the things going on at Alemany the last couple of months.
According to Gerry Gittelson at the Daily News, Valencia Coach Larry Muir, Saugus Coach Jason Bornn and Canyon Coach Chris Varner have complained to Southern Section Assistant Commissioner Rob Wigod about possible recruiting violations in regard to the Alemany football team. They contend a December meeting at Alemany with SCV-based football players and their families violated the CIF's rule regarding undue influence (page 78 of Southern Section Blue Book).
Alemany Coach Dean Herrington and the school's principal, Frank Ferry (also a Santa Clarita city councilman), have denied any wrongdoing.
It was a split decision for USC regarding two Long Beach Poly standouts. Defensive back Vaughn Telemaque has made Miami his college choice and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey has picked the Trojans.
