February 9, 2008 | 6:53
pm
There are few surprises in the boys' basketball City Championship Division playoff bracket, and seemingly few opportunities for upsets in the early rounds.
However, there are two first-round games that get my attention and a potential quarterfinal matchup that intrigues me.
No. 13 King-Drew at No. 4 Fremont is the closest thing I see as an upset special if the Golden Eagles ( 15-11) play with the same energy they did in splitting two Marine League games with Gardena, and the Pathfinders (19-6) don't take the game seriously enough.
February 9, 2008 | 6:46
pm
A Monsoon whirled into the gymnasium like an unstoppable seasonal force.
And just prevailed.
His name is Charles Odum, who scored a possible school-record 48 points as the Mayfair Monsoons stormed past Artesia, 120-65, Friday night and seized their first Suburban League crown since 2004.
February 9, 2008 | 6:37
pm
Not everyone was happy with Saturday's City Section boys' basketball playoff seedings, especially if they didn't get in.
Count Elizabeth Coach David Galley among the disenchanted.
"I want to express my anger and disappointment over the fact our team did not get chosen to participate in this year's small schools tournament," Galley said in an e-mail. "My boys went 3-1 against small schools, only losing a close game to USC-MaST. We played 28 games this season, mostly against schools three to five times larger than ours."
February 9, 2008 | 6:31
pm
We all have our favorite bugs. Some of us dig ladybugs. Others love butterflies. And many adore Bugs Bunny. My fav is Coach Carl Buggs, the salt-and-vinegar leader of the top-ranked Long Beach Poly girls' basketball team -- a guy who can answer a question with all the bluntness of a mallet to the noggin.
Here's a partial transcript of our phone chat last night...
Me: "Things looked bleaked earlier this season, didn't they?"
Buggs: "What bleak? What do you mean bleak?"
Me, stammering: "Uh, you know, you entered the season with all that hype, then lost a couple games, including the one to Millikan."
Buggs: "The hype came from the media. You guys looked at us and said this is how Poly's supposed to be."
February 9, 2008 | 5:16
pm
El Camino Real is still on top in City Section girls soccer. Today, the Conquistadores were awarded the top seed in the 32-team draw, ahead of Sylmar, San Pedro and Palisades. The first round is 3 p.m. Friday, with winners advancing to the second round and losers dropping to the Invitational bracket.
Here are the first-round matchups:
February 9, 2008 | 5:10
pm
View Park was awarded the top-seeded position in the Small Schools Division of the City Section's girls' basketball playoffs, followed by No. Los Angeles CES, 3. Harbor Teacher Prep and No. 3 Sherman Oaks CES.
First-round games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday. The matchups:
No. 16 Middle College (2-7) at No. 1 View Park (20-5)
No. 9 New Designs (6-6) at No. 8 Downtown Magnets (10-2)
No. 12 Maywood (8-5) at No. 5 Community Harvest (10-4)
February 9, 2008 | 4:58
pm
El Camino Real (11-12) was selected as the top seed for the girls' City Invitational playoffs, followed by No. 2 Cleveland (15-13), No. 3 Los Angeles Roosevelt (12-9) and No. 4 Los Angeles Marshall (13-11).
First-round games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday. The matchups:
No. 1 El Camino Real (11-12), bye
No. 17 San Pedro (9-17) at No. 16 North Hollywood (7-12)
February 9, 2008 | 3:11
pm
Chatsworth was named the top-seeded team for the City Section's Championship Division girls' basketball playoffs, followed by No. 2 Washington, No. 3 Narbonne and No. 4 Fairfax.
First-round games will be played at 7 p.m. Friday. The matchups:
No. 16 Banning (10-13) at No. 1 Chatsworth (20-5)
No. 9 Wilson (17-1) at No. 8 Poly (15-6)
February 9, 2008 | 2:41
pm
View Park was awarded the top-seeded position for the Small Schools Division of the City Section boys' basketball playoffs, followed by No. 2 LACES, No. 3 Downtown Magnet and No. 4 Community Harvest.
First-round games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. The matchups:
No. 16 Marlton (6-11) at No. 1 View Park (17-12)
No. 9 Anneberg (7-13) at No. 8 Harbor Teacher (13-7)
No. 12 Maywood (5-14) at No. 5 SOCES (12-10)
No. 13 Discovery (8-7) at No. 4 Community Harvest (17-2)
February 9, 2008 | 1:47
pm
Bell (16-6) was awarded the top seed for the City's Invitational Division boys' basketball playoffs, followed by No. 2 University (18-12), No. 3 Venice (14-14) and No. 4 North Hollywood (20-7).
First round games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday. The matchups:
No. 1 Bell (16-6), bye
No. 17 Kennedy at No. 16 Huntington Park
There are few surprises in the boys' basketball City Championship Division playoff bracket, and seemingly few opportunities for upsets in the early rounds.
