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Corcoran - Bell-Jeff of Burbank took 10 days worth of frustration out on Corcoran in the opening round of the Southern California Div. IV girls’ basketball regional playoffs Tuesday night.
Freshman Leslie Lopez-Wood hit six 3-pointers and led Bell-Jeff with 24 points in a 76-55 victory over the Central Section Div. IV champion Panthers, setting up a third showdown this season in Thursday’s regional quarterfinals with top-seeded Harvard-Westlake of Studio City (30-1).
“We’re anxious, we’re ready and Thursday night we’re going to give it everything we’ve got,” Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said. “We know we’re going up against a monster, a phenomenal, but we’re excited about the opportunity. We’re going to give Harvard-Westlake our very best.”
Bell-Jeff, the defending Div. V state champion, rebounded from a 61-57 loss Feb. 27 to Windward in the Southern Section Div. IV-A semifinals to knock off host Corcoran (24-6).
Jasmine Smith had 14 points, Layana White added 10 points and Julia Tani contributed nine points for the Guards, who put the game away by outscoring Corcoran 17-9 in the third quarter.
Margeaux Gupilan added eight points and Rishonda Napier had seven points for Bell-Jeff, which suffered a 69-47 loss Dec. 21 to Div. IV-AA champion Harvard-Westlake and a 66-62 setback Jan. 5.
- Erik Boal
There are those in the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball program who felt their season wasn’t a complete success.
The Guards, who captured California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section and state championships in 2009, fell short of accomplishing those feats this season, losing in the Division IV semifinals of the playoffs.
The team was beaten by Windward, 61-57.
However, the Bell-Jeff players and coaches should be proud of their playoff accomplishment. It was the third consecutive season the Guards have advanced to the semifinals.
In addition to its fine postseason run, Bell-Jeff also captured a third straight Santa Cruz League title.
The Lady Guards take their first step towards another State championship on Tuesday night @ 7pm when they go on the road to face the Corcoran Panthers.
Bell-Jeff wasn’t the only area team that enjoyed success during the fall season.
Despite being seeded 11th in the Division IIAA playoffs, the Burbank High boys’ basketball team played its way to the semifinals for only the second time in school history.
Burbank made the semifinal appearance for the first time in 43 years.
Both teams should be saluted for their fine seasons.
Burbank Leader
OJAI - Despite holding a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter, the visiting Guards couldn’t overcome Andre Frazier being sidelined with foul trouble in the second and fell in the quarterfinals at Thacher High in Ojai.
Besant Hill (24-2), the No. 2 seed, scored 28 second-quarter points to take a 38-28 halftime lead. Although the No. 7 Guards (19-6) cut the deficit to two in the third, Ivan Matip (27 points) and Yannick Atanga (16 points) were too much down the stretch.
Kevin Yuenyongsakul led the Guards with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Aaron Cosme added nine points and Chris Issakhanian contributed eight points for Bell-Jeff.
Daily News
After defeating the visiting Capinteria 65-17 on Saturday night, the Bell-Jeff Lady Guards will take the next step in their championship journey Wednesday night @ 7 pm.
They will host the Marymount Sailors who beat Crossroads and Morro Bay to earn their ticket to the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Div IV-A playoffs!
Eric “Rico” Reed
CIF-SS DIV. V-A
TOP FOUR SEEDS
1. Renaissance Academy
2. Besant Hill
3. Brethren Christian
4. Sierra Canyon
Locals: AGBU, Bell-Jeff, Hillcrest Christian/Granada Hills, Holy Martyrs, Newbury Park Adventist, Valley Torah
Player to watch: Gil Tacita, Renaissance Academy — Tacita, averaging 18 points, is explosive in the open court and also a top defensive player.
Team to watch: Bell-Jeff — To start the season, the Guards proved they could win under pressure by winning the St. Monica tournament, and they’ve finished strong with seven consecutive wins heading into the playoffs. Coach Bryan Camacho has plenty of postseason experience after leading the Guards girls’ basketball team to the Div. V state title last season.
By Gerry Gittelson and Jacob H. Pollon,
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: Bell-Jeff clinches third straight title in blowout, 73-25.
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — Technically, the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team clinched its third straight Santa Cruz League championship Thursday evening.
Ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section IVA Division, the Guards were no doubt the favorites to capture the league title again this season.
Maybe it was that expectation, or the fact the clinching game came with a 73-25 blowout win against St. Mary’s Academy at Bell-Jeff, but the moment was definitely anticlimactic.
The Guards (21-5, 7-0 in league) didn’t storm the court and they didn’t scream and yell after the win. Instead, the players appeared to take the title in stride.
But Bell-Jeff Coach Bryan Camacho said don’t take the lack of emotion from his team as an indication that the championship doesn’t matter to it. On the contrary, he said it means a great deal.
“We are very appreciative that we have been able to win our third straight Santa Cruz League championship,” said Camacho, whose squad captured Southern Section and state titles last season. “We know it’s a big accomplishment to win a league title, and we definitely don’t take it for granted.”
Camacho said his squad will relish its latest crown because one never knows what the future might hold for the program.
“I tell the girls that sometimes success comes in cycles,” Camacho said. “You might be winning now but you never know what’s going to happen down the road. So, I told them to enjoy the moment and be proud of what they accomplished.”
After finishing up the regular season Friday, the playoffs are next up for the Guards. The postseason is set to begin next week, and it’s likely that Bell-Jeff will get a bye for the first round.
Against St. Mary’s (8-13, 3-5), the Guards took charge early. The hosts jumped out to a 27-12 lead after the first quarter, and increased the advantage to 48-15 at the half.
After leading, 62-21, after three quarters, a running clock was implemented for the final quarter.
“In games like this it’s all about getting better and learning,” Camacho said. “We just want to get better with each and every game.”
Freshman Leslie Lopez-Wood paced Bell-Jeff with a game-high 14 points. Another freshman, Tiffany Kho, added 13 points and sophomore Kiah Jones had 10.
Jeff Tully
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Jackrabbits’ defensive pressure and superior size eventually tire Guards.
Don’t tell Poly High girls basketball coach Carl Buggs that Bell-Jeff is a small school.
“The size of the school’s got nothing to do with it,” Buggs said minutes following Saturday’s narrow 62-57 victory over the Guards in the final game of the night at the Ayala Extravaganza in Chino Hills.
Poly, one of the largest public schools in the state and the four-time defending CIF State Division I champion, had to rally from a fourth-quarter deficit to finally knock off Bell-Jeff, the defending State Division V champion with an enrollment around 400.
“They’ve got some solid players and are a very well-coached team,” Buggs added. “They shoot the ball, they handle the ball and they’re disciplined.”
The Guards (17-5) held a two-point lead (37-35) at halftime and a three-point advantage (51-48) after three quarters, thanks mostly to some accurate shooting. Bell-Jeff sank five 3-point shots through three quarters, including three from freshman Leslie Lopez-Wood.
“They weren’t missing in the first half,” said Buggs.
But the Jackrabbits (16-2) turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth and held the Guards to just one field goal. Sheila Boykin had five of her game-high 11 rebounds in the fourth and added three steals. Ariya Crook-Williams scored nine points in the fourth - she had 18 for the game - and was 5-for-6 from the foul line. Destiny King added two crucial offensive rebounds in the fourth, including one following a missed free throw as Poly nursed a late three-point lead.
“That was huge,” Buggs said.
Poly regained the lead, 56-55, on a bucket from Crook-Williams with 3:51 remaining. The Guards’ Rishonda Napier tied the game with a free throw before King and Crook-Williams scored consecutive baskets, the second on a nice assist from Brittany Wilson.
Bell-Jeff, ranked No. 1 in the latest CIF-SS Division IV-A poll, finally began to wilt under Poly’s constant pressure and superior size in the fourth. Beside their poor shooting from the field, the Guards were just 4-for-11 from the foul line in the fourth.
“I think it was more mental fatigue than physical fatigue (in the fourth),” Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said. “We broke down a couple times on our (defensive) rotations and Poly was able to get couple (baskets).”
Wilson added 16 points for Poly, Tajanae Winston scored nine and King had seven points and five rebounds. Jasmine Smith led the Guards with 14 points and eight rebounds. Napier and Margeaux Gupilan each scored 11.
By David Felton, Staff Writer Press Telegram
BURBANK - The Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team is getting its share of respect this season.
This week, the Guards are ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division IVA poll. Bell-Jeff is ahead of Santa Maria St. Joseph (No. 2), Oaks Christian (No. 3) and Windward (No. 4).
Bell-Jeff won Santa Cruz League, Southern Section and state championships last season.
Another local team that is ranked is the Burbank boys’ basketball squad. The Bulldogs are No. 11 in this week’s Division IIA.
Burbank defeated Crescenta Valley, 54-52, in a Pacific League game on Wednesday. The Falcons are ranked No. 13 in Division IA.
The Bell-Jeff boys’ basketball team is also ranked. The Guards are tied for seventh in the Division VA .
— Jeff Tully
BURBANK - Despite rain, baseball event to honor the memory of Steve Aiello draws more than 165 players.
Children laughing and having a good time, the crack of the bat and young baseball players dotting the diamond were some of the images that Steve Aiello held dear.
This past weekend, more than 165 players from 14 teams came together not only to play, but to pay tribute to a man who dedicated his life to helping youth athletes.
Aiello passed away five months ago at the age of 49. He dedicated a large portion of his life to being a coach, administrator and volunteer for a variety of organizations, including Toluca Baseball, East Valley Baseball, Bellarmine-Jefferson and North Hollywood highs and the Tournament of Roses Assn.
In a celebration of what would have been his 50th birthday Monday, Steve’s wife, Joyce, and son, Anthony, wanted to do something in the spirit of their husband and father.
They founded the Steve Aiello Memorial Fund and thought it would be fitting to hold a tournament in his honor.
Although rain washed out some of the tournament games Sunday and Monday, Joyce Aiello said even the inclement weather couldn’t spoil the celebration.
“We are just so grateful for everyone who helped us put together the tournament, and all the players and parents who came out to take part,” she said. “It was just wonderful to see all the people, especially the young players.”
All the proceeds from the tournament will go to benefit the youth baseball in the San Fernando Valley area.
Because Steve was so involved in youth sports, particularly baseball, Joyce said they wanted to do something that brought together young players. Along with the games, those involved in the event also took time to tell the participants about Steve and his life.
“The tournament was fun and a fitting tribute to my husband,” Joyce said. “It was a great way to get a wonderful message out — not just to the community, but to the next generation. That’s a “pay it forward” that I sure hope we all get to see.”
There was no tournament championship game, no trophies and no awards given out. Instead, the intention of the event was to let the players have fun and enjoy themselves.
To celebrate Steve’s birthday, players were given cupcakes and a goody bag.
Joyce said she was touched by the turnout, and the dedication of a large group of individuals who came out.
“Everybody that helped us volunteer did it for free,” she said. “From the umpires, to the people running the concession stand to the group that helped pick up trash, they were all volunteers. It was really something to see.”
Hoping to continue the tradition, Joyce said she would like to make the tournament a yearly happening.
“I think Steve would have liked that,” Joyce said
By Jeff Tully
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bell-Jeff’s Jasmine Smith made a layup with one second remaining in Saturday’s game to give the Guards a 64-62 nonleague victory over Santa Monica.
Smith had 21 points and 27 rebounds and Layana White and Margeaux Gupilan each scored 15 for Bell-Jeff. UCLA-bound Thea Lemberger scored 21 points and Moriah Faulk had 15 points and 15 rebounds for Santa Monica.
Bell-Jeff (15-4) trailed by 10 points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, but rallied back against Santa Monica (11-5) to claim the win.
–Melissa Rohlin/LA Times
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