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BURBANK- With the new school year less than two months away and the summer-league season coming to a close, it’s a good time to look back on the past school year.
With the 2010-11 campaign came remarkable achievements, successful teams and outstanding athletes who made the year memorable.
As is the yearly tradition, these deserving individuals and accomplishments from the four local high schools — Burbank, Burroughs Providence and Bellarmine-Jefferson — should be recognized.
In fact, many deserve awards for their feats. So here it is, a list of the best of the best, winners of what I affectionately call the Tully Trophy. 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 What-were-you-thinking trophy goes to the Burroughs High assistant baseball coach to allegedly served players alcohol during a spring tournament trip. The school cancelled the Indians’ season, fired coaches and players were suspended because of the incident. What a lapse in judgment.
•The Over-the top trophy is given to the Burroughs administration and local school board for their reaction to the drinking incident. Cancelling the season was definitely an overreaction and suspending players who didn’t take part in the drinking — but who know about it and didn’t come fourth — was not the appropriate thing to do.
•The Repeat-performance trophy is awarded to Burroughs placekicker Christobal Escobar. Escobar kicked what appeared to be the winning field goal against rival Burbank in the 2010 Big Game. However, the Bulldogs had called for a timeout just prior to his kick. With just 4.7 seconds remaining and the score tied, he made good on a 21-yard attempt — and his time it counted — to lift Burroughs to a 38-35 win.
•The Major-collapse trophy is given to the Burbank football team. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter against Burroughs in the Big Game, only to see the Indians battle back for the 38-35 victory.
•The Appropriate-name trophy is given to Burroughs cross-country and track runner Kristen Burroughs.
•The I-bet-your-name-is always-misspelled trophy is awarded to Burbank swimmer Bell Mingcharaenwong (I hope that’s the right spelling).
•The Oh-brother trophy goes to Burroughs siblings Tyler and Lucas Yanez. The talented duo helped lead the Burroughs football and boys’ volleyball teams to Pacific League championships during the 2010-11 campaign.
•The Triple-threat trophy is given to Burbank multi-sport athlete Jordan Card. Card not only won the Pacific League Player of the Year award in girls’ water polo, but she also captured a league discus title in track and field and was a member of the Bulldogs’ girls’ golf team.
•The Good-guy trophy goes to Providence Coach and Athletic Director and girls’ basketball Coach Andrew Bencze. Win or lose, Bencze is always accommodating, upbeat and a pleasure to work with. Bencze is a man who obviously loves his work, loves Providence and generally cares about the athletes he assists.
•The Comeback-of-the-year trophy is awarded to Bell-Jeff baseball player Philip Diaz-McTague. He bounced back from a devastating ankle injury as a junior to have a successful senior year this past season, winning Santa Fe League Player of the Year honors and All-CIF Southern Section first-team accolades.
•The Out-of-nowhere trophy goes to Burbank softball player Katie Hooper. A success in soccer for the Bulldogs, Hooper had a breakout softball campaign, hitting .539 to earn first-team All-CIF Southern Section accolades.
•The It’s-about-time trophy is given to the new Memorial Field project. After years of delay, the reconstruction of the stadium finally got underway and the project is moving at a feverish pace.
•The Dedication-to-team trophy goes to the senior members of the Burroughs boys’ volleyball team. On the evening the seniors were scheduled to take part in graduation ceremonies, the Indians were instead in San Diego County taking part in the state playoffs. Now that’s team dedication.
•The Breaking-a-drought trophy is awarded to the Bell-Jeff boys’ basketball team. The Guards broke a longstanding title drought by capturing their first Santa Fe League championship in 13 years.
•The Sharp-shooter trophy goes to Providence boys’ basketball player Patrick Gonzalez. The junior averaged 37.8 points a game and had the highest scoring average in California.
All the winners can step forward and claim their awards. And please, keep your speeches brief.
BURBANK LEADER
BURBANK — Deep CIF playoff runs, league championships and individual titles highlighted list of accomplishments for area schools. What a way to end the 2009-10 school year.
The spring sports season was one of the most productive for the local schools — Burroughs, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence highs — in decades. Deep CIF Southern Section playoff runs, league championships and individual titles were only some of the accomplishments that highlighted the spring campaign.
The accomplishments read like a laundry list of success:
•Two squads were able to advance to CIF Southern Section championship contests for the first time.
•Three teams captured league crowns, two going undefeated in the process.
•Another team advanced to the playoff semifinals for the first time in program history.
•Yet another squad moved on to the playoff quarterfinals for the first time in four years.
•An area golfer advanced through three CIF postseason tournaments and came a step away from qualifying for state competition.
•All four softball teams qualified for the postseason.
•Athletes won nine individual titles in track and field and Burroughs boasted both the singles and doubles champions in boys’ tennis.
Leading the way in the spring was the Burroughs High boys’ volleyball team. Under Coach Joel Brinton and led by talented brothers Tyler and Lucas Yanez, the program — which has been in existence for just five years — trumpeted its arrival on the Southern Section scene.
The Indians rolled to a Pacific League title, going undefeated in the process. Burroughs then marched its way through the Division III playoffs, advancing to the championship match against Cerritos Valley Christian at Cypress College. Although the Indians lost, 27-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16, just getting to the title contest is a huge accomplishment.
It was the Indians’ first trip to the finals after previously not getting out of the second round of the playoffs.
Burroughs also participated in the Southern California Regional Championships for the first time. The Indians showed they belonged in state competition, upsetting Thousand Oaks, 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, in the first round.
It was also a record-breaking season for the Bell-Jeff softball team. The Guards posted an undefeated record in the Santa Fe League to claim their second straight championship.
Bell-Jeff also made its way to its first CIF title game. Unfortunately for the Guards, they fell in the Division VII championship to Pomona Catholic, 7-6.
Staying with the record-breaking theme, the Burroughs boys’ tennis squad also enjoyed the finest postseason run in the history of the program. Led by singles player Garrett Auproux, the Indians pulled off some upsets and advanced to the semifinals of the Division II playoffs, losing to eventual champion Paul Desert, 14-4.
Auproux also won the Pacific League singles title and advanced to the round of 16 in the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament. In doubles, Indians Oscar Lam and Wen Yao Lin took the league doubles crown.
Another Burroughs athlete, Kelsey Danzeisen, enjoyed a successful postseason, advancing to the Southern California Golf Assn. Regional Qualifier on May 31. In the event at Brookside Golf Club, he shot a one-over-par 73 to finish 27th, missing the cut for the state tournament.
Despite placing fifth in the Pacific League tournament this year, Danzeisen did well in the first two playoff tournaments. He took part in the CIF Individual Final on May 24, which took place at Industry Hills Golf Club’s Babe Zaharias Course. Danzeisen fired a three-over-par-74, tying him for the fifth-best score of the day and a tie for 17th place.
Danzeisen qualified for the final by earning a spot out of the CIF Southern Section Northern Individual Regional at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo on May 16. Danzeisen fired a five-over-par 76 to finish tied for 20th in the event.
Burroughs also secured a share of a Pacific League title in softball.
Providence enjoyed a solid playoff run with its boys’ volleyball team. The Pioneers placed second in the Liberty League and won two matches in the Division V playoffs before falling to Pasadena Poly, 25-21, 26-24, 25-22.
Burbank didn’t have much team success in the spring, but its track and field athletes were able to pick up individual league accolades. Pacing the group was McKenzie Paul, who won crowns in the girls’ 800- and 1,600-meter races. The championship in the 800 was her third straight. She also advanced to the CIF finals in the 800.
Bulldogs also earning titles were Brandon Weiss (boys’ discus) and Jordan Card (girls’ discus).
For the Indians in track and field, Shannon Kermah was a double league champion in the girls’ triple jump and the long jump. Teammates also winning league championships were Austin Allen (boys’ pole vault), Justice Shank (girls’ high jump) and Amoni Alexander (girls’ 100 hurdles).
In boys’ swimming, Burbank’s Alex Lambert advanced to the CIF Masters Meet and broke two school records along the way. Burroughs’ Chad Wilson also qualified for the Master’s Meet.
Although the schools did lose their share of talent to graduation, there are a number of athletes from these teams who will be returning next season.
Jeff Tully
BURBANK - Bellarmine-Jefferson High has garnered a reputation as a successful girls’ basketball Read more
BURBANK — Hector Perez has built a winning baseball program at Bellarmine-Jefferson High over the last 11 years.
Along with turning out a crop of players who have won league player-of-the-year honors and players who have gone on to compete on the college level, Perez has a postseason track record that no other area baseball coach can match.
Under Perez, the Guards have qualified for the CIF Southern Section players for eight straight years.
“I’ve just been fortunate to have been able to coach some pretty good players over the years,” said Perez, a Burroughs High graduate.
Bell-Jeff, along with Burbank, Burroughs and Providence, has its share of talented players this season. Here is a look at how the teams are shaping up.
BELL-JEFF
Perez has surrounded himself with some new assistants this season, including Bell-Jeff graduate Matt Magallon and former St. Francis and Glendale Community College standout Andrew Sember.
One of the most positive storylines with the Guards (11-7 last season) this season is the return of senior Philip Diaz, who severely injured his ankle last season only two games into his junior campaign.
“I think they had to put a cadaver bone or something in his leg,” Perez said of the player who will pitch, as well as play catcher and shortstop. “Just for him to be able to come back is inspirational for the whole team. He’s worked extremely hard to come back.”
As a sophomore in 2009, Diaz, a former All-CIF Southern Section pick, hit .311 (19 for 61) with 25 runs scored and 13 runs batted in.
Also returning for the Guards are sophomores Johnny Karalis (outfielder/pitcher) — .353 with 18 hits and 15 runs scored last season — Mitch Kellog (catcher/pitcher), Adolfo Bermeo (second base) and Ryan Okiishi (first base), along with juniors Sam Kachikian (third base) and Matt Landini (shortstop/pitcher).
Other players Perez hopes will contribute are sophomore Damean Sanz (outfield) and freshman Demitri Moreno (outfield).
Last season, Bell-Jeff placed third in the Santa Fe League. Perez is hoping his squad will have enough talent to make another postseason run.
“Definitely Salesian is going to be good,” Perez said. “But St. Anthony could have a good team and Verbum Dei may be the sleeper of our league.”
Jeff Tully (read whole story)
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — As leaders on the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team, Rishonda Napier and Jasmine Smith have experienced the rigors and pressure of compiling deep runs in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
The two were instrumental in leading the Guards to a state championship in 2009, as well as helping the team to the semifinals a year ago.
With Bell-Jeff trailing Antelope Valley on Wednesday in a Division III-A quarterfinal contest, the Guards needed Napier and Smith to step up. And step up they did.
Both juniors led the way with fine performances in the fourth quarter to fuel a torrid and gutsy comeback by the Guards in a 77-73 victory at Bell-Jeff.
“That’s why they’re our team captains,” said first-year Bell-Jeff Coach Jaclyn Johnson about the talented pair. “They know we expect a great deal from them and they are always willing to step up when we need them.”
The win puts the No. 4-seeded Guards (22-6) — who won the Santa Cruz League championship this season — into the semifinals for the fourth straight season. The Guards will take on No. 1-seeded Orange Lutheran at 7:30 p.m. today in a semifinal game at Concordia College in Irvine.
The Guards will likely have their hands full with the Lancers (23-6), who finished second in the Trinity League behind powerhouse Mater Dei. Orange Lutheran has sliced its way through the playoffs, getting wins against Los Altos, 79-31, Northview, 68-31, and Alemany, 61-47. In addition to outscoring their opponents, 208-100, the Lancers are averaging 68 points a game in the postseason.
The Guards definitely showed some resiliency against Antelope Valley (24-6), the Golden League champion. Trailing heading into the fourth quarter, Napier scored nine of her 23 points in the final stanza and Smith tallied seven of her 17 in the frame.
“We do our best to keep everyone positive, and we tried to set a good tone for that fourth quarter,” Napier said of the roles of herself and Smith. “But it was all a team effort. We had a lot of people who were able to step up, and that’s why we won. It wasn’t just the two of us, but everyone.”
The Lopes began the game with a fine display of outside shooting, coupled with a solid inside game. The Bell-Jeff pressure defense didn’t seem to affect Antelope Valley, as the Guards had trouble stopping their opponent’s transition game, which led to some easy lay-ups.
At the end of one quarter, Bell-Jeff trailed, 24-15.
“We didn’t stick to our game plan, that’s for sure,” Johnson said. “But that is a very, very good team in Antelope Valley. They played very hard. But we didn’t stick to what we wanted to do in the game.”
The Lopes even converted their free-throw attempts, making their first 10 in a row.
Things got worse for the Guards in the second quarter, as the Lopes scored their fourth three-pointer of the first half.
The outlook was definitely bleak or Bell-Jeff when they fell behind by 16 points, 38-22, with 3:46 remaining in the second after a bucket by Keiona Mathews. Mathews led all scorers with 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Smith said despite the deficit, her teammates were able to keep a positive attitude.
“I think we all came together mentally,” Smith said. “We knew what we had to do, and we all came together and got the job done at the end of the??? day.”
The Guards battled back toward the end of the second quarter behind some big baskets form Napier, Smith and Leslie Lopez-Wood in the final minutes. By halftime, Bell-Jeff had whittled the lead down to a manageable three points, 40-37.
“That was huge what we were able to do at the end of that second quarter,” Johnson said. “I think it proved to our players that we had enough to come back against this team.”
Despite getting to within a point of the lead twice in the third quarter, Bell-Jeff was never able to jump out in front.
It appeared the Lopes began tire in the fourth quarter, and the Guards were able to get some steals and defensive stops.
Bell-Jeff was able to enjoy its first lead of the game, 61-60, in the opening seconds of the fourth when Napier hit a jump-shot. The Guards lost the lead briefly in the fourth, 62-61, and trailed, 67-63, following a lay-up by Nakira Johnson with 5:53 remaining.
Again the Guards came roaring back, retaking the lead, 69-67, at the 3:31 mark and were up, 75-73, in the final minute. The Lopes had a chance to take the lead with just over 30 seconds left, but a three-point attempt by Selina Gonzalez fell short.
Following a lay-up by Smith with 27.6 remaining, Bell-Jeff’s Tiffany Kho was able to steal the ball on the Lopes’ next possession.
University of Arizona-bound Layana White added 11 points for Bell-Jeff. (see more photos here)
Jeff Tully LA Times/photos by Cheryl A. Guerrero and Vince Pugliese
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON - In her first season as coach of the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ basketball team, Jaclyn Johnson is in the midst of a new experience with her Guards in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
But when it comes to deep playoff runs, Johnson knows the excitement and exuberance of the postseason. She was a member of a Bell-Jeff team that captured a Division IV-A championship in 1997. In fact, Johnson hit a shot at the buzzer to lift her team to a 47-45 victory against Cerritos Valley Christian.
Across town, Burroughs High Coach Vicky Oganyan never won a playoff game when she was a player for Glendale High.
“Oh, no,” Oganyan said. “At Glendale we were one and done.”
However, in her seven years as the Indians’ head coach, Oganyan’s teams have a fine track record of qualifying for the postseason.
Those differences have led both coaches to similar successes this season. Johnson and Oganyan not only guided their respective teams to league championships, but their groups are also both in the CIF quarterfinals.
Burroughs (25-5) will travel to Inglewood for a Division II-AA game at 7 p.m. today. Bell-Jeff (21-6) will host Antelope Valley at 7 p.m. today.
This is the fourth straight season that Bell-Jeff has advanced to the quarterfinals. In contrast, it is the first time in nine years that the Indians find themselves in the quarterfinals.
Both Oganyan and Johnson deserve a great deal of credit for piloting their teams to highly successful seasons, and getting the most out of their players. The league titles and fine playoff runs support that point.
Johnson, who is also the school’s athletic director, stepped into a tough situation this season. After popular Coach Bryan Camacho stepped down in June, Bell-Jeff took swift action to hire another coach. But for whatever reason, the new coach didn’t work out and he left — or was shown the door — depending who you talk to.
Johnson was the logical choice for the program’s coach, and she stepped in.
Often it’s tough for a team to adapt to a new coach and his or her way of doing things. But it appears the Guards haven’t missed a step, as they have been winning under Johnson. The coach has the luxury of having a team chalk full of talented athletes.
It’s just the opposite for Oganyan. The coach has been able to get the most out of a team that besides senior Lisha Elsenbach, doesn’t have a large group of superstar players
Oganyan has surrounded herself with a solid group of coaches that include former Burroughs’ boys’ Coach Art Sullivan and longtime assistant Bill Dunaway. Both assistants have helped previous Indians teams to deep playoff runs. Dunaway was an assistant on the 2002 girls’ team that advanced to the quarterfinals. Sullivan’s boys’ teams advanced to the quarterfinals in 2003 and ‘07.
That kind of coaching experience has had to have helped the Indians.
Without a doubt, it’s going to be a challenge for both the Guards and Indians to advance to the semifinals in their respective divisions. But whatever results that today’s games might bring; the teams’ coaches have done bang-up jobs leading their programs to successful seasons.
I also have to give Oganyan props on the way she promotes her team. Throughout the summer and through the regular season, the coach has rarely missed calling in or e-mailing results from the Indians’ games. She obviously realizes that her players deserve publicity, and she does what she can to make that happen.
Her dedication to the coaching profession is admirable.
If it’s true that good things come to good people, than Bell-Jeff and Burroughs will come out on top of their games — because of their coaches.
Burbank Leader
IRVINE — They set the tone with team defense. They built their lead with balanced offense. They were fast, Read more
Football: Two athletes each from Burbank and Burroughs and one from Bell-Jeff receive honors.
Bellarmine-Jefferson High senior Macah Shirley was an All-CIF pick at defensive back. Shirley was a bright spot for the struggling Guards. Bell-Jeff (2-8) finished last in the five-team Santa Fe League.
“Micah led the league in rushing, in scoring and in tackles,” said Bell-Jeff Coach Rolando Aguirre, who played the all-league and All-Area standout at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t have a quarterback that could get him the ball. That was really tough for him.”
On offense, Shirley had 119 carries for 1,210 yards (10.2 yards a carry) and seven touchdowns, hauled in 24 passes for 402 yards (16.8 yards a catch) and eight touchdowns and he completed nine of 27 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown. In addition, he scored 92 points. On defense, he had 122 tackles (12.2 a game), four interceptions and recovered two fumbles.
Jeff Tully read full story here
Bellarmine-Jefferson 40, Verbum Dei 40: The Guards jumped to an early lead Friday and rolled to a win in the Santa Fe League opener on the road.
Bell-Jeff (6-11) held a 28-15 lead at the half.
Micah Shirley had a fine game for the Guards, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Teammate Connor Linquist added 10 points and Brandon White chipped in with nine points and nine rebounds.
Daily News/Photos by Vince Pugliese
INGLEWOOD - Bell-Jeff came up just short in a semifinal against Serra at the Inglewood tournament
Serra will play the winner of Sierra Canyon vs. Santa Monica in the championship Saturday
Bell-Jeff (54) vs. Serra (57) Final
1st quarter - BJ (14) - Serra (14)
2nd quarter - BJ (28) - Serra (30)
3rd quarter - BJ (43) - Serra (42)
4th quarter - BJ (54) - Serra (57)
Rishonda Napier - 11 points
Layana White - 10 points
Kiah Jones - 2 points
Jasmine Smith - 8 points
Leslie Lopez-Wood - 13 points (3 - 3pt shots)
Johnece Miller - 6 points
Clarissa Larios - 4 points
Serra
Bria Richardson - 18 points
Simone Thompson - 9 points
Sierra Thompson - 8 points
Taylor Reid - 3 points
Rejane Verin - 6 points
Calia Hayley - 4 points
Nicole Collins - 9 points
Jack Pollon/Daily News
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