February 23, 2008 | 11:51
pm
An asteroid -- the size of Texas -- blazes through space and will slam into Earth in 18 days. It will end life as we know it. Unless super-dudes like Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck can stop it. Yeah, we're talking Hollywood here and that's the central crisis in action-flick "Armageddon."
But, in the Southland, we have our own Armageddon with two asteroids zooming toward each other -- Long Beach Poly and Millikan.
Both teams won Saturday night in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division I-AA girls' basketball playoffs. So that means both teams are also just one win away from a colossal crack-up -- with each other. Already the 'Rabbits (24-2) and the Rams (26-3) have whipped each other once this season, and these are also the two top-ranked squads by The Times.
"We have one more game to take care of," said Millikan Coach Lorene Morgan. That's right, the Rams must beat Ventura in the semifinals and Poly must take out Lynwood. But I'm not sure anything can divert this collision -- Ventura and Lynwood better call in Willis and Affleck for help.
-- Anthony Stitt
- Image from http://scifipedia.scifi.com
February 23, 2008 | 10:26
pm
Here's a quick question for all you girls' basketball and 19th century English literature buffs: what do the Ventura girls' basketball team and Ebenezer Scrooge have in common?
Well, judging by the boxscore of Ventura's 47-43 Division I-AA quarterfinal victory over host Brea Olinda on Saturday night, I'd have to say the Cougars are just as stingy with points as Mr. Scrooge is with a charitable schilling.
Much has been said about Ventura's no-standout offense this season, but the Cougars' stellar defensive play is the main reason why they have advanced to the divisional semifinals for the first time since 2005. Ventura has held opponents to just over 32 ppg and held a Brea Olinda team that averaged more than 61 ppg to a season-low scoring output (Marlborough also held the Wildcats to 43 points this season).
February 23, 2008 | 10:06
pm
At San Fernando, the only necessary question about its premiere wrestling program is how many champions will it send to the state championship meet in Bakersfield?
The answer this year is six.
The Tigers, who hosted the City Section championships on Saturday, had nine wrestlers in the finals of the 14 weight classes. Six of them won titles -- Benito Mendez,103 pounds; Miguel Gallegos, 112 pounds; Mike Lee, 119 pounds; George Garcia, 125 pounds; Mike Solis, 140 pounds; Rashaad Reynolds, 145 pounds.
"I needed the other three guys to be completely happy," said Tigers Coach Fernando Gonzalez, referring to Eric Ceja, Adolfo Medina and Matt Castillo. Those three lost in the 152-, 160- and 189-pound championship matches.
"But six is good."
February 23, 2008 | 9:43
pm
Layshia Clarendon scored 27 points, but it was the final two that will send second-seeded Cajon to the Southern Section Division II-A finals.
Clarendon, a junior guard, had a steal and layup with 44 seconds remaining to give Cajon a one-point advantage in its 57-55 victory Saturday over third-seeded Perris.
Darshae Burnside, who scored 17, added a free throw with 24 seconds left for the final margin. Still, the Cowgirls had to survive those final seconds. They played good defense, and Perris failed to get off much of a shot. Finally, with three seconds remaining, Kiyana Stamps drove to the basket and put up a rushed layup that bounded hard off the glass as the final second ticked off.
February 23, 2008 | 9:37
pm
Of the three teams that still have a shot to beat El Camino Real in the City Championship Division playoffs, Cleveland might have the most confidence. Why? Because the Cavaliers have done it once already.
Cleveland handed the Conquistadores their last loss, 2-1, on Jan. 16. Since then, the reigning City champs have reeled off 10 straight victories, including a 4-1 victory over Cleveland in their second West Valley League meeting.
They play the rubber match on Wednesday in the semifinals and Cleveland Coach Hector Ramirez feels all the pressure is on El Camino Real, which is riding a 35-game winning streak in the playoffs.
"We're happy to be playing them," Ramirez said. "We won on our field and they won on theirs. We're the lowest seed left (No. 12) and they're the top seed, so we've got nothing to lose."
February 23, 2008 | 9:10
pm
Layshia Clarendon just made a basket at the buzzer from 15 feet, off balance and off the glass.
Those were the only perimeter points of the third quarter for second-seeded Cajon, which has a 44-41 lead over third-seeded Perris heading into the fourth quarter.
Perris isn't getting many second shots on the offensive end.
-- Martin Henderson
February 23, 2008 | 9:04
pm
Finally made it to San Bernardino HS for the Perris-Cajon girls' basketball playoff game.
The game looks like it is as good as I expected. Cajon is ahead, 28-27.
There won't be a scoring record tonight as I had hoped, but it could still be the best game of the playoffs.
-- Martin Henderson
February 23, 2008 | 9:02
pm
The weather is miserable and the traffic is bad as I try to get out of California Speedway. Under these conditions, I'm too close not to attend the Perris-Cajon Division II-A semifinal.
I know, you're wondering why I'm texting from my BlackBerry while driving. If you're on sidestreets stuck in a two-mile traffic jam, it's not technically driving, is it?
-- Martin Henderson
February 23, 2008 | 9:00
pm
It had already been a great night for the San Fernando wrestling team, winning individual City Section titles at 103, 112, 119 and 125 pounds.
Mike Solis then added a touch of history. He defeated Oscar Aviles of Granada Hills, 6-0, to win the 140-pound championship.
Solis becomes the fourth Tigers wrestler to win four titles. Andy Moro, Wil German and Raphael Reynolds are the others.
February 23, 2008 | 8:57
pm
The night is rainy. Chilly. Totally icky. So no thoughts of baseball should traipse into my noggin. But they do since I just perused MaxPreps.com's top-25 list of baseball players in the nation. One name is Aaron Hicks, the quicksilver-fast centerfielder of Long Beach Wilson. He can also close games zinging 94-mph octane.
“He’s a five-tool player without a doubt,” Coach Andy Hall affirms. “He possesses the inner drive to get to the next level and succeed. He’s got a tremendous body and could have been big-time in football.”
