Balanced Cats Too Much For Guards!

BURBANK - Four Renaissance players in double-digits leads to double-digit win over Bell-Jeff. As it’s been for most of this Read more

Niya Butts Adds Four for Next Season!

TUCSON - Three freshmen and a junior transfer will join the Wildcats next season.

University of Arizona Wildcat women’s basketball head coach Niya Butts has announced the addition of four National Letter of Intent student-athletes to the squad for the 2011-12 season.

Erin Butler, Kama Griffitts, Aley Rohde and Layana White will join the Wildcats next season. Three will enter as true freshman and Griffitts is a junior transfer.

Butler is a 5-10 guard from Mission Viejo, Calif. She competes for Mission Viejo High School and during the 2009-10 season, she averaged 13.9 points and four rebounds per game. She was a 2009-10 first-team All-CIF and first-team All-Trinity League honoree.

“Erin Butler is a player we are very excited about,” head coach Niya Butts said. “She brings a lot to the court and a lot to our team. She’s a great shooter and a great student. She’ll be an asset off the court, too. We are eager to start working with her and improve her game. But she has skills you just can’t teach, the intangibles.”

Griffitts is a 6-0 guard/forward from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. She will transfer to Arizona from North Idaho College. During the 2009-10 season, she averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She also made 72 three-pointers. While playing for NIC, she was a 2009-10 first-team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference selection and an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American.

Playing for Coeur d’Alene High School, she was a two-time Idaho Player of the Year and her team won back-to-back state championships. She earned first-team all-state honors all four years of high school. As a sophomore, she was nominated for the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year award. Griffitts also earned the Jack Blair All-Star Game Most Inspirational Player award as a junior

“Kama Griffitts is a great kid who can flat out shoot,” Butts said. “She brings great size on the wing with a solid frame. She has the ability to score points in bulk. We are excited to get her here and make her a part of our family. She’s an all-around great player.”

Rohde is a 6-5 center from Cave Creek, Ariz. She competes for Pinnacle High School and during the 2009-10 season, she averaged 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game. She is a member of the ESPN Hoopgurlz Top 100 and is the No. 36 prospect in the country. She is also ranked as the No. 9 center according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.

She is a 2007-08 and 2008-09 member of the All-Arizona team and the 2009 Scottsdale Player of the Year by the Arizona Republic. Her Pinnacle team was the state runner-up in 2008 and 2009 and Rohde was named team MVP. She earned first-team All-Pima Region honors is 2008 and 2009. Off the court, she has logged 170+ hours of community service and was named an all-academic team member in 2008 and 2009. Rohde also earned the AIA Dr. Voie Stuart Chase Coy Scholar-Athlete Award in 2008.

“Aley Rohde obviously adds great size to our roster,” Butts said. “She’s a skilled post player who can also shoot the three. She’s also a solid rebounder. She can be dominant at the five position for us and that’s what we’ll need next year when we lose Ify, Soana and Amanda. She also brings great character and a strong academic background.”

White is 5-8 guard from Lancaster, Calif. She competes for Bellermine Jefferson High School and during the 2009-10 season, she average 12.6 and 4.2 steals per game. She was named second-team All-CIF for her performance during the 2009-10 season.

“Layana White is super athletic,” Butts said. “She moves really well up and down the floor. And she is also a solid defender. She does things you just can’t teach. We’re excited to see her game develop as she grows and learns in our system.”

Arizona opened the regular season with an 81-72 overtime win at Wichita State on Fri., Nov. 12. The Wildcats will return to McKale Center on Mon., Nov. 15 for a contest against Northern Arizona, at 7 p.m. For tickets to the Arizona Wildcat women’s basketball games, call 800-452-2287.

Bell-Jeff Filling Vacant Coaching Positions!

BURBANK - In the wake of athletic director and boys’ and girls’ basketball coach Bryan Camacho leaving to take an assistant position with the CSUN women’s program, Bell-Jeff has filled its vacant boys’ position with Julian Andrade.

Andrade was head coach at Eagle Rock in 1995-96, leading the Eagles to two Northern League titles and 20 wins each season.

Andrade has also assisted on the Pierce College women’s staff, Beverly Hills boys’ staff and Sylmar boys’ staff.

David Jensen was hired earier this summer to take over the successful Bell-Jeff girls’ program.

Jensen most recently coached at San Marino and has also coached at Blair and Renaissance Academy.

Erik Boal

Guards Beat Terry Fox!

BURBANK: Bellarmine-Jefferson 59, Terry Fox (Canada) 56: The Guards were able to pull out the win Monday in pool play of their own Read more

Basketball Madness Kicks Off The Season!

Bellarmine-Jefferson High School - The Bell-Jeff Guards 2009-2010 Basketball season officially gets underway Saturday November 21, 2009 at 6pm with Basketball Madness.

“The Small School with BIG Results” will use this annual event to introduce both the defending Div 5A CIF-SS and Div V CIF State Champion girls varsity team along with the new and improved boys basketball program.

Both the girls and the boys programs are now under the direction of CIF Coach of the Year Bryan Camacho who has installed a new system for the boys based on attacking offense and suffocating defensive strategies.

Along with a repeat of last years success from the girls, Coach Camacho predicts the boys program will also do some amazing things this season. He and his coaching staff intend to compete for the Santa Fe league and CIF Championships this year. 

Basketball Madness will feature a different approach this year with the focus on recognizing Bell-Jeff alumni. Several former players from the 1960’s thru the early 2000’s will be in attendance, many who have been practicing on the weekends to scrimmage against coaches, faculty, alumni and current players alike.

Everyone is encouraged to come out and support the kick off event on Saturday night and please come early, because the Guardhouse will be packed!

Also, please mark the date 12/11/09, this will be an all day event with all level’s of both boys and girls playing on that day. The Boys program takes on Providence and the Girls will play Bishop’s from La Jolla, CA. There is also a special jersey retirement celebration planned on that day for former Lady Guard, Kansas University Jayhawk and WNBA player Jaclyn Johnson.

Story by: Eric “Rico” Reed

Top Guards - Kimberlee Van Dyke & Elijah Reed!

Once again, it is time to acknowledge yet another pair of student/athletes here on the campus of Bellarmine-Jefferson high school.

These “Top Guards”, are the special young men and women who work hard on the court as well as in the classroom to maintain a high GPA while excelling as a high school athlete.

Our “Top Guard” honorees this quarter are, senior Kimberlee Van Dyke and sophomore Elijah Reed.

Kimberlee Van Dyke

If you think that your day is tough and plate is full, Senior Kimberlee Van Dyke’s plate is overflowing!

Kim has a passion for student council and has been involved in some way each of her 4 years at Bell-Jeff and is currently the ASB President.

Kim loves to test herself in the classroom and challenges herself with hard classes.

Her freshman and sophomore years, she took as many Honors classes as she could get.  For her junior year, added AP History and in her final year, is finishing up with AP English, Honors Econ, and Honors Pre-Cal all while carrying a 4.2 GPA.

Athletically, Kim is a standout 4 year Varsity player for the Lady Guards Volleyball team, a sport she has participated in for 9 years. You can also add Soccer and Track to the list of sports that she has competed in at some point during her athletic career at Bell-Jeff.

Kimberlee’s mother Ms. Carol Van Dyke, is in charge of attendance at Bell-Jeff and two of her daughters have already graduated from Bell-Jeff. Now Kim, who use to tag along and workout with her sisters while in middle school, is following in the footsteps of Julie, Gina and her cousin Ashley who all excelled on the court as well as in the classroom.

She credits her family with keeping her motivated and focused and strives to be the best person she can be. Kim also uses her love of Volleyball as motivation to stay focused in the classroom. Kim earned 2nd team All League honors in both her freshman and sophomore years and received 1st team All League honors in her junior year. She has also received the Coaches Award from Coach Miguel for 3 years straight.

Kim is looking forward to college and has aspirations of continuing her Volleyball career at UCLA or another one of the UC schools.

Good luck and continued success Kimberlee, you are proof that hard work truly pays off!

_________________________________________________________

Elijah Reed

Sophomore Elijah Reed came to Bell-Jeff a little over a year ago from Thomas Star King Middle School Magnet where he was a straight A student.

Recognized as highly gifted in mathematics, Elijah graduated with academic honors and received the Presidents Award for Physical Fitness along with being voted the most athletic and fit student at King Middle School far exceeding the national minimum requirements set for middle school students.

Elijah has always enjoyed sports and played baseball as well as flag football, he also tried his hand at acting and was featured in a couple of music videos before falling in love with basketball at the age of 10.

Elijah began playing travel basketball in the 6th grade and eventually led the King Middle School “Lions” to a middle school championship and MVP honors plus, won the schools 3 on 3 competition his 8th grade year.

He also led his local park to their first District Championship in Boys Basketball.

When it came time to select a high school, his family chose Bell-Jeff because of it’s excellent academics and athletic opportunities. Elijah has thrived in the family oriented environment. He takes honors classes, maintaining a 3.6 GPA and received High Honors and Scholar/Athlete recognition for his freshman year.

Athletically, Elijah made his presence making the JV basketball team where his leadership and work ethic helped earned him team MVP honors. He also played JV football and received the Coaches award and was the Santa Fe League JV Champion in the long jump.

Known as one of the hardest workers on the team, Elijah begins this, his sophomore year as a starting cornerback for Bell-Jeff’s Varsity football team this year and will also play Varsity basketball as well as run track.

On campus, Elijah is well liked, makes friends easy and according to his teachers, a joy to have in class. He is also an avid reader and tutor’s fellow classmates in Algebra 2.

He also enjoys giving back and along with his mother Jacquelyn Hall-Reed, started an organization called “Elijah’s Angels” that helps feed the homeless throughout the year.

Elijah’s organization has been approved for service hours so, any students interested in becoming one of “Elijah’s Angels” to help out this holiday season, please email your information to imblested@yahoo.com

Elijah’s goals for high school are simple. Get his GPA back up to a 4.0 or better and win a CIF Basketball Championship before he graduates.

Beyond that, he plans to attend a 4 year University and continue his basketball and/or football career at the college level and beyond.

Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far Elijah, continue to set your goals high and your hard work and dedication will make your dreams come true.

Story by Eric “Rico” Reed

Girls Basketball Win FIT Championship!

Inglewood Ca.- The defending Div V champion Bell-Jeff Lady Guards, showed everyone why they are called, the Small School Read more

Girls’ Basketball Players Among State’s Best!

Harvard-Westlake, Bell-Jeff of Burbank and Oaks Christian of Westlake Village are expected to be among the area’s top girls’ basketball Read more

Bell-Jeff Gains Revenge, Reaches Quarterfinals!

It took the Bell-Jeff of Burbank girls’ basketball team a little more than six years, a trip to San Diego and two extra minutes, but the Guards finally gained a measure of revenge on La Jolla CountryDay.

After losing to a Candice Wiggins-led Country Day team in the opening round of the Div. IV state playoffs in 2003, Bell-Jeff had to patiently wait for a rematch against the San Diego Section juggernaut, but it was more than worth it Friday for the defending Div.V state champs.

Julia Tani’s 3-pointer with four seconds remaining in overtime lifted Bell-Jeff to a 43-42 victory over Country Day at UC San Diego in the third round of the Division 3A bracket at the 23rd annual San Diego Classic, the nation’s largest girls’ high school basketball tourney.

“I tried to put that game out of my mind until (Friday),” Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho said. “Country Day is a great program and they have great tradition. This is where we want to be. This is the kind of tournament we want to be a part of. We’re very proud of (this victory).”

Bell-Jeff, whose two losses this summer have come against Harvard-Westlake of Studio City and Mater Dei of Santa Ana, rallied from a six-point deficit with three minutes left in regulation to tie the score 37-37 on a layup by Rishonda Napier with 1:07 remaining. Napier had a look at a straightaway 3-pointer as the regulation buzzer sounded, but her shot hit off the backboard and rim, forcing the two-minute extra period.

Country Day built a pair of three-point leads in overtime, but Tani scored five of her nine points in the final 1:22, including the uncontested 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Guards their first lead since the 5:05 mark of the first half.

“I honestly didn’t know how much time was left. I just heard (Coach Camacho) saying `Shoot the 3, shoot the 3,’ so I did,” Tani said. “That was my first (winning shot) and it felt so good.”

Leslie Lopez-Wood, an incoming freshman, led Bell-Jeff - which plays at 11a.m. today against Brea-Olinda or Oak Ridge in the quarterfinals - with 13points, including three 3-pointers.

Boal Chatter cont…

After losing Saturday to Brea-Olinda and Villa Park in the Division 3A draw, Bell-Jeff of Burbank concluded its tournament with a 40-29 victory over Long Beach Poly in the seventh-place game.

Rishonda Napier led the Guards with 14 points, with Margeaux Gupilan and Leslie Lopez-Wood - who rebounded from suffering a head injury against Villa Park - each adding eight points.

Bell-Jeff belongs with the bestBell-Jeff of Burbank and Brea Olinda both captured state girls’basketball titles in March.

For the Guards, their Div. V championship was the first won by any team in school history. For Brea, it was the program’s state-leading ninth crown, to go along with 16Southern Section titles.

Although the teams both celebrated at Arco Arena, Brea once again found itself in the spotlight and Bell-Jeff’s performance appeared to be more of a footnote to the success of the championship teams in higher divisions.

After their performance this summer, especially this weekend at the 23rd annual San Diego Classic, the Guards are no longer playing second-fiddle to the state’s perennial powers.

After knocking off La Jolla Country Day 43-42 in overtime Friday, Bell-Jeff suffered a 39-30 setback to Div. II state champ Brea in the 3A Division quarterfinals Saturday at UCSan Diego, just its third setback of the summer, along with losses to Mater Dei of Santa Ana and Harvard-Westlake of Studio City.

“We want to make a name for ourselves. It used to be that people would pass by us and look the other way, but not anymore,” senior guard Margeaux Gupilan said. “We want to push forward and continue to (go) higher and make everybody know who we are.”

Perhaps the biggest compliment for Bell-Jeff coach Bryan Camacho came after the loss to Brea, when Ladycats coach Jeff Sink invited the Guards to compete in their annual December tournament, considered among the best in the state, if not the country.

“We’re very blessed to be in this position,” Camacho said. “We respect everybody we play, but we don’t fear any of them. That’s why I enjoy coaching this team.”

Erik Boal - Daily News Chatter -

Bell-Jeff Falls In Tourney!

The only area girls’ basketball team with more young talent than Bell-Jeff of Burbank might be Oaks Read more