By Joe Snyder
Serra High’s boys’ basketball team continued its quest for its first CIF-Southern Section title in 10 seasons after pulling away from Rancho Mirage 65-49 in the Southern Section Division V quarterfinals on Feb. 17 at Serra.
The Cavaliers began with a 21-5 lead early in the second quarter. Serra led 26-13 late in the second period before the Rattlers, who ended their season at 20-10, went on a 15-0 run to lead 28-26 about three minutes into the third quarter. Down 32-29, Serra took the lead for good when C.J. Anyikwa scored. Leading by 10 points (47-37) after three quarters, the Cavaliers continued to pull away.
Drew Carter sparked the Cavaliers with a game-high 21 points. Anyikwa added 17 points, all in the second half, and 11 rebounds. Darryl Wasson chipped in 13 points.
Rancho Mirage, located in Palm Springs, was led by Cash Gremh with 15 points.
The win moved the Cavaliers to last Friday’s semifinals where they play at Vasquez High, a team they defeated 79-66 on Jan. 3. Vasquez displays a 26-5 record.
Serra is the top seed in the playoffs. Its last Southern Section title came on the late head coach Dwan Hurt’s final season in 2016, where it topped Sherman Oaks Notre Dame for the Division IVAA crown. Hurt died the day after Thanksgiving in that year.
Gardena High’s boys’ basketball team saw its season come to an end with a 65-57 quarterfinal loss to San Fernando on Jan. 18 at Gardena. The Panthers, who tied for last place with Wilmington Banning in the Marine League, ended their season at 9-21.
In boys’ soccer, Gardena opened the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division III playoffs with a 2-1 victory over Hollywood High on Feb. 18 at Gardena.
The win moved the Panthers into the quarterfinals at home against Animo Pat Brown last Friday. Animo Pat Brown began the playoffs with a 2-1 win over Van Nuys Grant on Feb. 18.
North Torrance High’s boys’ soccer was eliminated by host Calabasas 4-1 in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division III playoffs on Feb. 11.
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North, Serra gridders sign college letters
Three Serra football players and one more from North Torrance signed college letters of intent to play there on signing day on Feb. 3.
The Cavalier players who signed included running back-defensive back De Vohn Moutra (Northern Arizona University), Anthony Pignatello (Colgate) and Marcellous Ryan (Portland State). In December, defensive lineman Khary Wilder signed at Ohio State University.
North Torrance all-purpose player Ethan Edwards signed at Utah Tech University, which is a sub-Division I college.
Serra had numerous standout players, but a rash of injuries led them to a 4-6 overall season and 1-4 in the Mission League as the Cavaliers failed to make the CIF-Southern Section playoffs for the first time since 2004.
North finished only fourth, behind champion Torrance, runner-up Redondo (CIF-Southern Section Division V finalist) and third-place Santa Monica in the Pioneer League but made the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs where it lost in the first round to host Apple Valley 21-20.
In the Daily Breeze All-South Bay girls’ volleyball, Torrance Bishop Montgomery head coach Tawnee Luafalemana was named Coach of the Year. Luafalemana guided the Lady Knights to undefeated Del Rey League championship, as well as the semifinals in the CIF-Southern Section Division II and the Southern California Regional Division I playoffs.
Luafalemana is a former standout player at Carson High and a college all-American.
Making all-South Bay first team was senior opposite hitter Arelie Hershberg from South Torrance, which won the Pioneer League title. Local players on second team included junior outside hitter Kirah Harris (Bishop Montgomery), senior middle blocker Alison Cumung (South Torrance) and middle blocker Odessa Yarnivic (Bishop Montgomery). All-area players on third team were junior middle blocker Sydney Watkins (North Torrance), senior middle blocker Ava Corsini (South Torrance) and freshman libero Irene Choe (Bishop Montgomery).
Player of the Year was Redondo senior outside hitter Abby Zimmerman. Zimmerman keyed the Sea Hawks to a co-Bay League championship with rival Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, the CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State Open Division playoffs. Zimmerman had 689 kills in her four seasons with Redondo. Zimmerman is also a standout basketball and beach volleyball player. Last season, she keyed the Sea Hawks beach volleyball to the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship with a thrilling win over Mira Costa. She also helped Redondo’s girls’ basketball team to an undefeated Bay League championship, but the Sea Hawks were placed in the prestigious open division, struggling with losses to premiere teams Newport Beach Sage Hill Prep and Santa Ana Mater Dei.
Redondo’s girls’ volleyball team was head coached by the legendary Tommy Chaffins, who retired from the program after 31 total seasons with the girls and the boys. The 55-year-old, who graduated from Redondo in 1988, guided the boys’ teams from 1995-2007 and the girls from 2001-2025. He had CIF-State titles with the girls’ squad in the 2014 and 2015 seasons and Southern Section crowns in 2006, 2014 and 2019. His best seasons with the boys were when they were CIF-Southern Section runner ups in 1999 and 2006. He has 944 total coaching wins with the boys and girls.
Serra High will be honoring its immortals and Wall of Fame on March 7. Several athletes on the Wall of Fame include Gary Boyd (Class of 1964), Marcus Jones (1975), Kim McNeal (2004), Turquoise Thompson (2009), and Dominic Smith (2013). Also expected to be inducted is former Serra High track and field coach Lori Smith-Thompson.
Turquoise and Lori-Smith Thompson were key track and field athletes at Serra, who led them to three CIF-Southern Section Division IV titles. Smith was the mainstay of the Cavaliers’ only CIF-Southern Section baseball title in 2013. Smith is currently playing Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants.
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After season struggles, GHS baseball looks to turn fate around
Over the past several seasons, Gardena High’s baseball wins were very rare, especially in the highly competitive Marine League.
This year, the Panthers have some good experience which could make them more competitive in a very tough league, led by last year’s CIF-Los Angeles City Division I champion Carson and runner-up Wilmington Banning, along with San Pedro and Harbor City Narbonne.
Among those back is fourth-year varsity player Francisco Pervon, a senior center fielder. Another is third-year varsity senior Derrick Norris, along with senior first baseman-pitcher-third baseman Jesse Aguayo.
Junior pitcher-shortstop Juan Castellanos is also back.
Lack of depth, though, is a concern but Gardena head coach Tom Anderson is looking at sophomore speedster Norell Parks to be a plus to the squad. He was a junior varsity player last season and played on the Panther football team, which finished third in the Marine League, behind champion and CIF-L.A. City Open Division champion Carson and runner-up San Pedro. Gardena lost in the L.A. City Division II quarterfinals to South Gate 32-24 in overtime.
“We worked hard during the off-season,” Anderson said. “We played in fall and winter leagues at Dorsey High, some of those games against traveling teams.”
The Panthers began their season last Friday at home against L.A. Jordan High from Watts. Last Monday, they hosted Marquez High from Huntington Park and will remain at home against Environmental Charter from Lawndale, but also having campuses in Gardena and Inglewood, Friday at 3 p.m.
