GHS enters Marine League after two wins; other sportrs for Dec. 18
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Gardena High’s head boys’ basketball coach Ernie Carr and his Panthers enter the Marine League with a positive look after non-league home victories over South Los Angeles Verbum Dei and Monterey Park Garfield last week.
On Dec. 10, the Panthers had an impressive 70-56 win over Verbum Dei. Last Friday, Gardena rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and edged Garfield 69-67 in overtime.
GHS enters Marine League after two wins; other sportrs for Dec. 18
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Gardena High’s head boys’ basketball coach Ernie Carr and his Panthers enter the Marine League with a positive look after non-league home victories over South Los Angeles Verbum Dei and Monterey Park Garfield last week.
On Dec. 10, the Panthers had an impressive 70-56 win over Verbum Dei. Last Friday, Gardena rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and edged Garfield 69-67 in overtime.
Against the Bulldogs on Friday, Gardena started out quickly in grabbing a 17-4 first quarter lead, but Garfield pecked away with the Panthers’ lead and Gardena held a 24-20 halftime edge.
The Bulldogs continued their run as, between the start of the second period and 3:43 left in regulation, went on a 49-23 run for a 53-40 lead.
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Serra handles North’s high-powered offense
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
After a 75-61 non-league loss at highly regarded Village Christian High in Sun Valley on Dec. 10, Serra High’s boys’ basketball team came home to face a North Torrance team that enjoys its fast pace offense last Friday.
The Cavaliers had to get adjusted to the Saxons as North took a 25-20 first quarter lead but once Serra was adjusted, it was able to come through with a 107-90 victory.
The Cavaliers, who improved to 3-3, came back to outscore the Saxons, who many observers pick as the Pioneer League favorites, 27-14 in the second quarter to grab a 47-39 halftime lead and never trailed from there.
The second half saw the Cavaliers continue to pull away, leading by as many as 21 points, much due to one of North’s high scorers, Ryan Burnett, fouling out midway in the fourth period.
Serra was led by 6-foot-7 center-forward Ian Carter with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots. Caleb Wilson, who was a key to the Cavaliers’ tri Mission League champion football team at quarterback and wide receiver, continued to show his basketball talent with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Jerry Ipp led North with 13 points. Burnett and Isaiah Hotmes each added 11 points.
Against Village Christian, with is ranked tied for sixth with Etiwanda in the CIF-Southern Section’s first Division IAA boys’ basketball poll, the Cavaliers held a 37-31 halftime lead, but the Crusaders proceeded to outscore Serra 28-13 in the third quarter and that ended up being the difference in the game.
Serra begins play in the Mission Prep Tournament in San Luis Obispo on Friday and will continue through next Tuesday.
After a short Christmas break, the Cavaliers play in the prestigious elite division of the Maxpreps Tournament in Palm Springs that runs from Dec. 26-30. Among the teams is one of Southern California’s United States national powers, Santa Ana Mater Dei, whose head coach Gary McKnight picked up his 1,000th victory when the Monarchs rolled over host Corona del Mar 67-44 last Thursday in Newport Beach.
Even this week’s Mission Prep Classic will be no pushover as Serra is in the tournament with its Del Rey League rival Torrance Bishop Montgomery, which won the classic last season and is rated one of the top teams in California this year. The Knights are unbeaten at 5-0 after winning the Westchester Trevor Ariza Tip-off Classic over Bellflower St. John Bosco in a battle of defending California state champions.
In the first CIF-Southern Section boys’ basketball poll, the Cavaliers are ranked 13th in the prestigious Division IAA and the Knights are still in IVAA where they are rated No. 1.
North will play in a prestigious Bishop Gorman Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas and started with Las Vegas High on Wednesday. The Saxons, however, are not expected to be in the elite division that includes powers Redondo, Corona Centennial (top ranked in Greater Los Angeles by the L.A. Times and second behind Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division IAA), Chino Hills, host Bishop O’ Gorman and other top teams including several nationally ranked from other parts of the United States.
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Sports Roundup
GHS gets first soccer victory
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Gardena High’s boys’ soccer team picked up its first win by shutting out Morningside High from Inglewood 4-0 last Thursday at Gardena.
The Panthers had two goals by Christian Guevara. Edwin and Fernando Franco each added one.
Goalkeeper Miguel Gonzalez recorded his first shutout.
The Panthers are 1-3.
ECC men outlast Grossmont:El Camino College’s men’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak by outlasting Grossmont College 75-72 in overtime last Thursday at ECC.
Pat Rittman led the Warriors’ balanced scoring attack with 12 points. Malik Wildmuth had 11 points and seven rebounds. Derrick Twiggs tallied nine points and 10 rebounds.
El Camino came from 18 points down to tie the game and send it into overtime before pulling out the victory.
Lady Warriors rout Rio Hondo: El Camino College’s women’s basketball team won the consolation championship of the Irvine Valley Tournament with a 57-37 win over Rio Hondo College from Whittier last Saturday.
Sydney Chase led the Warriors with 11 points. Shontaline Trudeau totaled nine points and nine rebounds. Nisja Bass, who made all-tournament, finished with nine points and 10 rebounds as ECC improved to 8-2.
In the championship semifinals on Friday, El Camino fell to host Irvine Valley 55-47.
With 3:28 remaining in regulation, Gardena’s ferocious rally began with a three-point basket by Christian Carating and the Panthers were in business as they went on a 17-2 run and took a 57-55 lead on another basket from Carating.
Garfield tied the game with 12 seconds to go and the Panthers missed a potential winning basket forcing overtime.
In the overtime period, Carating’s three-pointer gave Gardena a 64-61 lead but the Bulldogs came back with six unanswered points for a three-point advantage.
Carating, then, came back with two free throws to cut Garfield’s lead to 67-66 then gave the Panthers the one-point lead on another basket. With three seconds remaining, Dominic Datu made one of two free throws for the final point.
The Bulldogs’ final desperate shot missed as Gardena improved to 4-2 entering last Monday’s Marine opener at Banning in Wilmington. The Panthers were looking at winning the league opener against the Pilots, who they routed 61-18 in the Mira Costa Pacific Shores Tournament on Dec. 2.
Clarence Bookman led Gardena with 26 points, followed by Carating with 20. Jad Smith chipped in six points.
“We showed a little pride,” Carr said. “We got selfish for awhile as they outplayed us in the second and third quarters. We came back with a spurt.”
Against the Eagles, the Panthers led by as many as 23 points and coasted to an easy win.
Michael Thompson led Gardena with 17 points. Bookman and Smith contributed 13 and 10 points, in order.
After visiting Banning, the Panthers host Washington in their second league game Friday at 7 p.m.
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Serra handles North’s high power offense
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
After a 75-61 non-league loss at highly regarded Village Christian High in Sun Valley on Dec. 10, Serra High’s boys’ basketball team came home to face a North Torrance team that enjoys its fast pace offense last Friday.
The Cavaliers had to get adjusted to the Saxons as North took a 25-20 first quarter lead but once Serra was adjusted, it was able to come through with a 107-90 victory.
The Cavaliers, who improved to 3-3, came back to outscore the Saxons, who many observers pick as the Pioneer League favorites, 27-14 in the second quarter to grab a 47-39 halftime lead and never trailed from there.
The second half saw the Cavaliers continue to pull away, leading by as many as 21 points, much due to one of North’s high scorers, Ryan Burnett, fouling out midway in the fourth period.
Serra was led by 6-foot-7 center-forward Ian Carter with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots. Caleb Wilson, who was a key to the Cavaliers’ tri Mission League champion football team at quarterback and wide receiver, continued to show his basketball talent with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Jerry Ipp led North with 13 points. Burnett and Isaiah Hotmes each added 11 points.
Against Village Christian, with is ranked tied for sixth with Etiwanda in the CIF-Southern Section’s first Division IAA boys’ basketball poll, the Cavaliers held a 37-31 halftime lead, but the Crusaders proceeded to outscore Serra 28-13 in the third quarter and that ended up being the difference in the game.
Serra begins play in the Mission Prep Tournament in San Luis Obispo on Friday and will continue through next Tuesday.
After a short Christmas break, the Cavaliers play in the prestigious elite division of the Maxpreps Tournament in Palm Springs that runs from Dec. 26-30. Among the teams is one of Southern California’s United States national powers, Santa Ana Mater Dei, whose head coach Gary McKnight picked up his 1,000th victory when the Monarchs rolled over host Corona del Mar 67-44 last Thursday in Newport Beach.
Even this week’s Mission Prep Classic will be no pushover as Serra is in the tournament with its Del Rey League rival Torrance Bishop Montgomery, which won the classic last season and is rated one of the top teams in California this year. The Knights are unbeaten at 5-0 after winning the Westchester Trevor Ariza Tip-off Classic over Bellflower St. John Bosco in a battle of defending California state champions.
In the first CIF-Southern Section boys’ basketball poll, the Cavaliers are ranked 13th in the prestigious Division IAA and the Knights are still in IVAA where they are rated No. 1.
North will play in a prestigious Bishop Gorman Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas and started with Las Vegas High on Wednesday. The Saxons, however, are not expected to be in the elite division that includes powers Redondo, Corona Centennial (top ranked in Greater Los Angeles by the L.A. Times and second behind Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division IAA), Chino Hills, host Bishop O’ Gorman and other top teams including several nationally ranked from other parts of the United States.
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Sports Roundup
Gardena gets first soccer win
By Joe Snyder
Sports Editor
Gardena High’s boys’ soccer team picked up its first win by shutting out Morningside High from Inglewood 4-0 last Thursday at Gardena.
The Panthers had two goals by Christian Guevara. Edwin and Fernando Franco each added one.
Goalkeeper Miguel Gonzalez recorded his first shutout.
The Panthers are 1-3.
ECC men outlast Grossmont:El Camino College’s men’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak by outlasting Grossmont College 75-72 in overtime last Thursday at ECC.
Pat Rittman led the Warriors’ balanced scoring attack with 12 points. Malik Wildmuth had 11 points and seven rebounds. Derrick Twiggs tallied nine points and 10 rebounds.
El Camino came from 18 points down to tie the game and send it into overtime before pulling out the victory.
Lady Warriors rout Rio Hondo: El Camino College’s women’s basketball team won the consolation championship of the Irvine Valley Tournament with a 57-37 win over Rio Hondo College from Whittier last Saturday.
Sydney Chase led the Warriors with 11 points. Shontaline Trudeau totaled nine points and nine rebounds. Nisja Bass, who made all-tournament, finished with nine points and 10 rebounds as ECC improved to 8-2.
In the championship semifinals on Friday, El Camino fell to host Irvine Valley 55-47.
