By Joe Snyder
Last season, North Torrance High’s girls’ basketball team tied for the Bay League championship with Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, then advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division IIAA finals before falling to Oak Park. The Saxons made the Southern California Regional Division I playoffs but lost in the first round to host Windward in Mar Vista.
The Lady Saxons are off to a good start after capturing the highly competitive Battle at the Beach Classic last Saturday with a 58-48 win over Westchester last Saturday at Redondo High.
North, which is 5-0, was led by Shay Tokeshi with 14 points, followed closely by Leila Fitzgerald with 12. Camryn Shimazaki, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, added 10 points, and Daniel Dixon contributed eight points and nine rebounds.
Tokeseshi and Fitzgerald, both returning starters along with Shimazaki, were also all-tournament.
In the championship semifinals a day earlier, the Saxons downed Leuzinger from Lawndale 67-54.
Takeshi led North with 21 points, followed by Fitzgerald with 18. Shimazaki chipped in 11 points.
The Olympians were led by Tatyama Aubry with 19 points.
Sydky Matzamoto is also a key returning starter for the Saxons.
“We’re going to work hard for 32 minutes,” North head coach Lauryn Lauren Kamiyama said. “We got to be disciplined and tough. We have good team stars.”
The Saxons are currently in the Burlingame Tournament in Northern California where they opened against Mercy on Wednesday. The classic lasts through Saturday.
After losing its first three games of the tournament, Serra High’s girls basketball team avoided last place with a 52-48 win over Riverside Liberty on Saturday.
The Lady Cavaliers, who also have a good display of returning starters from a squad that advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA finals before falling to Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro and losing in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division IV playoffs to host Santa Paula, were led by Surri Davis with 13 points and Kali Carter with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
A day earlier, Serra rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie Rolling Hills Prep at 54, but a foul right before time expired put Leah Suahi on the foul line. She made one of two free throws as the Huskies, last year’s CIF-Southern Section Division IIA champions, pulled off a 55-54 win.
The Cavaliers were down 31-21 at halftime.
Davis sparked Serra with 16 points. Manjah Lewis and Carter each had 14 points.
Carter, who was an all-CIF Southern Section Division IVAA selection as a sophomore last season, was named to the all-tournament team.
Etiwanda won the Platinum Division by defeating Newport Beach Sage Hill Prep on Saturday.
Serra, which is 2-3 overall, begins the Camino Real League at St. Mary’s Academy in Inglewood today at 7 p.m. before visiting Bishop Amat in La Puente on Saturday at the same time. The Cavaliers will play their first home game in league against Ramona Convent from Alhambra next Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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2nd quarter lifts Carson to title
Carson High’s football team scored all its 36 points in the second quarter and shut out Crenshaw 36-0 to win the CIF-Los Angeles City Open Division championship last Friday at L.A. Southwest College.
The surprising Cougars, who were just sixth seed in the playoffs before pulling off upset wins over No. 3 San Pedro and No. 2 Lake Balboa Birmingham, held the Colts scoreless in the first period before Carson let loose from the first play of the quarter. That was when running back Zach Brock scored on a 12-yard run. A few minutes later, quarterback Chris Fields, III threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Royal Moore then the Colts added a two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead. Carson would add three more TDs before halftime; a 28-yard punt return by Darren Panton, a 23-yard run from Craig Walker and a 30-yard interception return by Panton.
The Colts used mostly reserves in the scoreless second half.
It is the 12th overall City title but first since 2003 for Carson.
Carson will play in the Southern California Regional Division IIIA Bowl Championship game at home against Robert F. Kennedy from Delano, located just north of Bakersfield, on Saturday at 6 p.m. Kennedy won the CIF-Central Section Division III crown. The winner will play the Northern California Division IIIA champion on Dec. 12 or 13 at a site to be determined.
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North 2nd in San Gabriel Tournament
North Torrance High’s boys’ basketball team finished in second place at the San Gabriel Valley Thanksgiving Classic after falling in the championship finals to Bishop Amat High from La Puente Saturday at San Gabriel High.
The Saxons, who are 6-1, began the classic with a 62-56 victory over Pacifica Christian High from Santa Monica on Nov. 25, A day later, North rolled to a 58-33 victory over Eagle Rock. A day after being off for Thanksgiving Day, the Saxons returned to down La Serna High from Whittier 66-48 before the 65-56 loss to the Lancers on Saturday.
Jordan Staub and Malachi Harris were named to the all-tournament team for North.
The Saxons are currently playing in the Bellflower Tournament where it began against Gahr High from Cerritos last Monday. North faced a very good St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy team from Downey on Wednesday before another very tough one against Northridge Heritage Christian, which played in the prestigious CIF-Southern Section Open Division last season, today at 7:45 p.m. North faces Los Angeles Cathedral Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
Gardena also played in the tournament losing two of three games. On Nov. 25, the Panthers fell to Downey 70-53. Last Friday, Gardena lost to West Covina 47-42 before topping South Hills High from Covina 44-41 last Saturday.
The Panthers opened the Bellflower Tournament against El Segundo last Monday. Gardena begins the Marine League at Narbonne in Harbor City next Wednesday at 6 p.m. before coming home for another league contest against San Pedro on Dec. 12 at 4:30 p.m.
After losing its first two games of the AGBU Classic in Canoga Park, Serra went on to win three consecutive games, two in the tournament and a non-league contest at home against St. Monica Academy from Montrose 78-48 last Monday.
In the tournament, the Cavaliers began with a 61-52 loss to Granada Hills Charter on Nov. 24. A day later, Serra fell to Holy Martyrs Armenian 78-62. Serra bounced back with wins over Palmdale Highland 46-38 last Friday and Hawthorne Math and Science Academy 75-35 on Saturday.
Serra hosted Downey last Tuesday and will play in the Calvary Baptist Tournament against Royal High from Simi Valley Friday at 6 p.m. in San Dimas.
