Group Earns Accolades!

BURBANK — Bell-Jeff’s Landini leads list of locals for all-league accolades. The Bellarmine-Jefferson High softball team was able to be successful this past season because of some new blood. Read more

Duo Gets All-CIF Honor!

BURBANK — The baseball coaches at Burbank and Bellarmine-Jefferson highs would probably not want to ponder what their seasons would have been like without their star players.
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Former Hoops Star Returns As Athletic Director!

BELLARMINNE-JEFFERSON HIGH — Her exploits on the hardwood at Bellarmine-Jefferson High, in college and in professional basketball are well known at the school.
A former standout All-CIF Southern Section girls’ basketball and volleyball player for the Guards,  Jaclyn Johnson has kept tabs on her alma mater and stayed close to individuals who helped shape her as a person.

Although 13 years removed from Bell-Jeff, Johnson enjoyed something of a homecoming this week. Taking over for Bryan Camacho, Johnson has been named the school’s new athletic director.

“Bell-Jeff is where it all started for me,” said Johnson, who graduated in 1997. “I just want to do all I can to give back to the athletes who are at the school, and who will be coming in next year. It’s really nice to be back.”

Johnson steps into a position held by Camacho, who also served as the school’s boys’ and girls’ basketball coach. He stepped down less than three weeks ago to take an assistant coaching job with the Cal State Northridge women’s team.

Since Camacho’s departure, Bell-Jeff and its principal, Sister Cheryl Milner, have wasted little time starting to fill the Guards’ open positions.

“We are very happy to have Jaclyn with us at Bell-Jeff,” Milner said. “Jaclyn is just one year removed from playing basketball all over the world. She is quite a basketball player. We know she will be a great addition at Bell-Jeff.”

This is the first administrative job for Johnson. However, with a background in athletics and good organizational skills, she believes she will be able to do a fine job at Bell-Jeff.

“I was an opportunity that I jumped at,” she said. “I like challenges, and challenges drive me. I plan to be there for the students at the school, like the ones who were there for me when I went here.

“I know it’s going to be a lot of work. Coach [Jim] Couch has been kind enough to give me some wisdom and just some guidance, and hopefully I’ll be able to do a good job.”

Couch was Johnson’s coach at Bell-Jeff. He was also served as the school’s track and field and cross-country coach, as well as athletic director.

As a senior at Bell-Jeff, Johnson helped the Guards girls’ basketball team win the 1997 CIF Southern Section Division IV championship — on her last-second buzzer-beater. She was also the division’s player of the year.

The title was the first championship won by the school in any sport.

Along with earning All-CIF Southern Section honors in basketball, she was also an All-CIF choice in girls’ volleyball.

After Bell-Jeff, she went on to the University of Kansas, where she became one of the most successful women’s players in school history.

In her senior season, she led the Jayhawks by averaging 16.1 points a game, to go along with 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals and almost a block a game. Johnson also scored in double-digits in 19 of 24 games and led Kansas in scoring 17 times.

In her four-year collegiate career, the 6-foot-1 Johnson finished fifth on the Jayhawks’ career rebounding list with 846 and 11th on the all-time scoring list with 1,378 points. She was also fifth in career free-throws made (382), fifth in free-throws attempted (555) and fifth career games played (123).

In 2001, she was selected in the WNBA Draft in the third round — 42nd pick overall — by the Orlando Miracle.

She also played professionally over seas for a number of teams, the last in Israel.

Johnson takes over athletic-director duties at a school that had its share of sports success during the 2009-10 season. The girls’ basketball, softball and girls’ volleyball teams won league championships. In addition, the volleyball squad advanced to a CIF championship game and the basketball team went as far as the semifinals.

Milner said with the athletic-director position filled, the school could name new boys’ and girls’ basketball coaches as soon as next week.

Jeff Tully

And The Winners Are!

BURBANK - Summer is almost here, and most local high school athletes are finally getting some time to relax after an eventful 2090-10 school year.

The year saw its share of remarkable achievements; successful teams and outstanding individuals who helped make the campaign memorable.

But along with the successes were disappointing moments and unique happenings that deserve recognition.

As is the yearly tradition, these deserving athletes, coaches and events from the four high schools — Burbank, Burroughs, Providence and Bellarmine-Jefferson highs — should be given special treatment.

So here is this year’s list of Tully Trophy winners. To be a recipient, an individual, team or school has to exhibit meritorious or worthy accomplishment. Either that, or they have to have done something stupid or strange.

So without further ado, here are the lucky winners:

• The Never-say-die trophy goes to venerable Memorial Field. Just like a creature in a horror movie that just never seems be killed off, the stadium lives on after construction on a new facility was postponed until the winter. Will the 2009 football season be the last for the worn-down relic? Stay tuned.

• The Breaker-of-the-drought trophy goes to Burbank High junior Adam Colman. As a quarterback, he helped lead the Bulldogs football team to a share of their first league title in 37 years. As a member of the boys’ basketball team, he assisted Burbank in getting to the CIF Southern Section Division IIVV semifinals for the first time in 43 years.

• The Freshman-impact trophy goes to Providence first-year athlete Marylin Petrov. Running the girls’ 100-meter hurdles, she was the first Pioneers track and field athlete in years to advance to the CIF Southern Section finals.

• The American-Idol trophy is given to Bellarmine-Jefferson girls’ basketball player Jasmine Smith. Along with being an All-CIF and an All-Area standout for the Guards, Smith has also has signing talent, as she often belts out an excellent rendition of the “National Anthem” at Bell-Jeff home games.

• The Upset-of-the-year trophy is award to the Burroughs boys’ volleyball team. The Indians defeated perineal-league-champion Claremont — which was ranked No. 5 in Division II — at home, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-1. The win helped Burroughs earn a share of the Pacific League championship.

• The Surprise-surprise trophy goes to the Bell-Jeff girls’ volleyball team. It wasn’t surprising that the Guards won their fourth straight Santa Cruz League championship. However, it was a surprise when Bell-Jeff advanced to its first CIF Southern Section title match. Unfortunately, the Guards fell in the Division IVA final to Upland Christian Academy, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23.

• The Gutsy-call trophy is awarded to Burbank football Coach Hector Valencia. In a Pacific League game against Muir, Valencia called for a two-point conversion attempt in overtime. The play worked, as Burbank scored to win the contest, 29-28.

• The Do-a-little-dance trophy goes to Burbank softball player Kassy Uchida, who does a little bunny hop dance every time she steps into the batter’s box.

• The What-in-the-world-is-that trophy is awarded to the new Burroughs mascot. At football games, the school trotted out a person in a character costume, complete with a big black hat and suit and white hair and beard. It is suppose to be John Burroughs, the naturalist and essayist. However, the mascot looks more like Rip Van Winkle.

• The Versatility trophy goes to Burbank runner Greg Dotson. An accomplished distance athlete, he placed second in state in the 800 meters. But the senior proved he has some speed as well, winning the 200 in a league meet against Burroughs.

• The Thanks-for-the-advice trophy goes to Burroughs track and cross-country Coach John Peebles, who often suggests what would make for a good Tully Talk column.

All this year’s recipients can now come up and accept their awards, and please, make your speeches brief.

Jeff Tully

Camacho Steps Aside!

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — After building a girls’ basketball dynasty at Bell-Jeff, coach and athletic director leaving school to accept an assistant job at CSUN.

There have been a lot of sleepless nights the past few weeks for Bellarmine-Jefferson High’s Bryan Camacho.

Faced with a tough decision, the longtime coach and the school’s athletic director agonized about a possible move.

Ultimately, the decision came down to what would be best for his future. With that in mind, Camacho said Friday that he is leaving Bell-Jeff and has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Cal State Northridge women’s program.

“Being able to be the first assistant at CSUN is just a great opportunity for me,” Camacho said. “It is just a different challenge and I’m fortunate to be able to have this opportunity. The timing of this and the opportunity that I have, it’s just too tough to pass up.”

Along with being Bell-Jeff’s girls’ basketball coach for a total of right years — serving two four-stints — Camacho also headed the boys’ basketball program last season and served as the school’s athletic director.

A 1992 Bell-Jeff graduate, Camacho said because of his close ties and the long standing relationships he has cultivated at the school, leaving was a monumentally difficult decision.

“The decision was very hard on me,” he said. “Just working with such great kids and with [Bell-Jeff Principal] Sister Cheryl [Milner], it was just such a special time in my life to be at Bell-Jeff.

“It has been the toughest two weeks of my life, just deciding what to do. I really thought long and hard about what I should do.”

Although Milner said she is happy with Camacho’s new opportunity, she is also sorry to see him go.

“With his charisma and his talent, we have no doubt that he will be successful in his new endeavor,” Milner said. “But at the same time, we’re sorry to see him go.

“He has meant so much to our school over the years and he has given so much back. He definitely will be missed.”

Camacho built the Bell-Jeff’s girls’ basketball team into one of the top programs in the state. Since coming back to the school for the 2006-07 season, Camacho and the Guards have enjoyed a wealth of success.

In those four years, Bell-Jeff has captured state and Southern Section championships, advanced to division title games twice and won three straight Santa Cruz League crowns.

In the four-year stint, Camacho led the program to a 104-21 record. In his eight years with the Guards’ program, Camacho accumulated a 183-50 record and had a .785 winning percentage.

“I am just so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish at Bell-Jeff,” Camacho said. “More important to me than the banners that were able to put up and the championships that were able to win, was the kids were able to help, and the joy in seeing them become successful off the court.”

After making the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals in 2007, the Guards advanced to the Division IVA championship game in 2008. In the title contest, Bell-Jeff fell to league rival St. Mary’s Academy, 70-38.

Bell-Jeff rebounded to put together the finest season an area basketball program has experienced during the 2008-09 campaign.

In the final game of the season, Bell-Jeff defeated Pinewood, 55-47, in the CIF State Basketball Division V Championships at Arco Arena in Sacramento. It was the first state title by any team — in any sport — in city history.

The win gave Bell-Jeff a 34-1 record, which set a new school record. In addition, the team ended the season on a 20-game winning streak.

The Guards also won the CIF Southern Section Division VA championship against Santa Clara, 61-31. It was the program’s first crown in 12 years.

Bell-Jeff advanced to the playoffs after winning the Santa Cruz League championship.

Last season, the Guards went 25-7, won a league title, advanced to the Southern Section Division IVA semifinals and qualified for Southern California regional quarterfinals of the Division IV state playoffs.

Camacho also helped the Guards boys’ team become successful in his first season last fall. Bell-Jeff (19-6) was the runner up in the Santa Fe League and advanced to the Division VA quarterfinals, losing to No. 2-seeded and eventual-champion Besant Hill, 73-56.

Camacho has a knack for helping teams achieve success. He took over the Bell-Jeff girls’ program during the 2000-2001 campaign, and inherited a team that went 28-45 the previous three seasons.

In four seasons, Camacho’s teams went 79-29 (a .731 winning percentage) and the Guards made the playoffs all four years.

In 2003, the Guards reached the Division IVA championship for the first time in six years, losing to Westlake Village Oaks Christian, 53-44, at the Long Beach Pyramid.

Camacho left Bell-Jeff after the 2003-04 school year to take a men’s assistant basketball position at University of Great Falls, a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics college in Montana.

Feeling the job in Montana wasn’t the right fit for him — and missing his friends and family back home — Camacho left his position after one year and returned to Southern California.

With a background in criminal justice, Camacho decided to pursue a career as a law enforcement officer. After graduating from the Sheriff’s Academy, he was assigned to the Men’s Central Jail in Downtown L.A.

Although he said he found the Sheriff’s job challenging, he decided to make a change.

In the two seasons before Camacho’s return in 2006, Bell-Jeff went 9-30 (3-19 in the Sunshine League) and failed to qualify for the postseason both years.

“We can look back and say we did some great things at Bell-Jeff,” Camacho said. “But I will continue to be involved with Bell-Jeff I just love the school.”

In Camacho’s new position at CSUN, he will work with first-year Coach Jason Flowers. Last season, the Matadors went 4-24 and were 2-14 in the Big West Conference.

Jeff Tully

Guards Fall In CIF!

BASEBALL: Vasquez 15, Bellarmine-Jefferson 0: The Guards had a tough time in suffering a CIF Southern Section Division VI first-round Read more

Opening Blowout!

GROSS PARK - Bell-Jeff starts out slowly but pours it on in notching an 18-7 win in first-round CIF game at home.
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Only Bell-Jeff Moving On In CIF Baseball Playoffs!

BURBANK - All three area boys’ baseball teams that made the CIF Southern Section playoffs had to play wild-card games Tuesday.
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Haney Tosses A No-Hitter!

BURBANK- Patrick Haney was two batters away from throwing a perfect game Monday for the Bellarmine-Jefferson High baseball team in a Santa Cruz League contest against Read more

Teams Ready For CIF Action!

BURBANK: Burroughs, Bell-Jeff have home games and Providence will be on the road.  League champions get rewarded — at least in the CIF Southern Section playoffs they do. Read more

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