Article 365: Serra holds serve at home

March 16, 2014

Montgomery built leads of 15-12 after the first quarter and 29-23 at halftime against Serra in the second round of the NorCal Division II playoffs in San Mateo. The Vikings had all the momentum and a game high lead of ten points of 33-23 in the early moments of the third quarter, but Serra made a run to end the quarter with a 40-38 advantage. Turnovers, poor free throw shooting, and stagnant offense by Montgomery allowed the Padres to close out a 59-54 victory.

Montgomery finishes the season at 25-7 after dominating the North Bay League. The Vikings will regret the 14 free throw misses in the game with nine coming in the first half. In addition, untimely backcourt turnovers led to multiple Serra fast break attempts. Senior forward Alec Raven was efficient with both his perimeter shot and post moves as he accounted for 26 points. The Vikings started five seniors as they look to reload for next season.

Serra overcame early foul trouble to key starters and had balanced scoring as five players scored more than seven points. Senior guards Sean Watkins and Danny Mahoney accounted for 16 and 13 points respectively. The Padres were able to throw enough players and fouls at Raven to slow him down.

The Padres essentially play a four guard set that needs good perimeter shooting and ball control to succeed. The interior play is undersized, but was solid in this game as forwards Trevor Brown and Jake Killingsworth combined for 19 points.

Folsom cruised against another West Catholic Athletic League opponent in defeating St. Ignatius 66-40 to setup a Tuesday semifinal matchup with Serra in Folsom. Top seed Folsom averages over 70 points per game and is balanced both inside and outside. If Serra can control the tempo, get enough perimeter scoring, and win the battle for the defensive rebounds in the post, then the Padres will have a solid chance to advance. 

Article 364: Kone on Mitty's throne

February 4, 2014

Archbishop Mitty has averaged one league loss in each of the past three seasons in West Catholic Athletic League play. As the current season passes the midway point, the Monarchs are maintaining that pace with a 8-1 WCAL record and 16-3 overall. A big reason for this season's success is the play of sophomore Ben Kone.

The 6-foot-8 and 240 pound power forward transferred from Salesian to Mitty during the summer due to his mother's work situation. Despite having to adjust to a new school and system, Kone has been averaging a double-double this season with 12 points, 12 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.

Mitty Coach Tim Kennedy says this about his primary post player, "Ben's main strength right now is that he is a big, powerful forward who is a force on defense when he is active and a force on offense when he gets deep post position. He also averages double digit rebounds and we think he still has room to grow. Ben is also very coachable and continues to improve so that is one of his best attributes."

Originally, Kone was an avid snowboarder before he started playing organized basketball as a sixth grader. His height and size were evident advantages on the court. Last season as a freshman on a talented Salesian team, Kone was logging significant minutes off the bench. But on last season's Salesian team, it was a wake up call going from middle school to high school as he says, "In 9th grade I played varsity on a high level senior based team. It was difficult adjusting to the pace and the seniors especially were tough on me. It's easy to think you are great as an 8th grader, but try getting dunked on in practice every day by Jabari Bird or doing charge drills with Mario Dunn as a freshman. The hardest part was showing up every day for the punishment. A couple months in something just clicked inside me. I was going to make people think twice about stepping to me or trying to defend against me. I put in a lot of extra work outside of practice and I got better. It was tough, but getting through that time made me stronger mentally and physically."

During the past two summers, Kone has been playing for the Oakland Soldiers. In addition, he trains with Glen Graham, who was affiliated with the Salesian program and the Oakland Soldiers. Kone attributes to Graham for pushing him the hardest and taught him the most before coming to Mitty. The exposure has helped him garner attention that has led to one offer from New Mexico State (Assistant Coach Aerick Sanders).

Only a sophomore, Kone's college destination will largely be determined by how much he develops skill wise and also if he gets bigger and taller. When asked what his college trajectory is, Coach Kennedy says, "We're not big on labeling players, especially as a power forward or center. At the college level, we think he could play both positions but we want to make sure he's a basketball player and can be successful where ever he ends up. He has the size right now to be a power forward and even a center for smaller D1s."

Only 15 years old, Kone has yet to really explore and to narrow his college preferences. Kone says, "My mom and I are going to sit down with Coach Kennedy and my trainer over the summer to sort that out. Because I'm only a sophomore, she wants me to have a little more experience in different situations before we narrow things down."

Kennedy thinks Kone still has room to improve as he states, "We want to see him improve on all his skills during the next few years at Mitty. On defense, he needs to improve his on-ball as well as off-ball positioning. He needs to be able to chase wings or guards around screens because we want him prepared for all situations that can come up in basketball. His ball handling and shooting definitely need to improve and footwork is a constant area of focus. We want him to develop his wing skills to make him a well-rounded basketball player and confident in any situation."

For college coaches and recruiters who have yet to seen Kone play in person, Kone likens his game to another former Bay Area product, Leon Powe. The similarities are in their size and physical style of play in the post. In addition, Kone is focused on his craft and is coachable.

Mitty has been dominating enough the past few years to be able to reach the state title game. When asked what his individual and team goals are for his sophomore year, he mentions not about championships or the postseason. Rather, he says, "I want to bring as much to the team as possible from scoring and rebounding to supporting my teammates. For me it's about absolute dedication this year. Our goal as a team is to be a great team. By that I mean staying focused on the team and getting it done one possession at a time."

When the Super Bowl ends, the basketball season usually takes center stage as league play is wrapping up and the postseason commences. The Monarchs are looking to remain dominant in WCAL regular season play, WCAL postseason play, and CIF postseason play. With Kone in the lineup, Mitty looks to retain their throne in San Jose, Calif.

Article 363: Crusaders streak to five

January 30, 2014

The story lines coming into the West Catholic Athletic League showdown between Serra and Archbishop Riordan were that both teams had four game winning streaks and could the Crusaders avenge a 64-63 double overtime loss to the Padres earlier in the season.

The results were positive for Riordan as it pulled away in the fourth quarter to a 52-44 victory after the third quarter ended in a 33-33 tie. The win pushes the Crusaders to 12-6 (5-3 WCAL) while Serra drops to 13-5 (6-2 WCAL).

After losing their first three league games, Riordan has won its last five by outscoring those opponents by 58 points or close to 12 points a game. The win puts the Crusaders in fourth place and in the upper half of the league. A road win against league leader Archbishop Mitty in the next game could tighten the league standings.

Most successful basketball teams have at least three scoring options in order to be successful as Riordan's offense continues to run through their primary two scorers in Chiefy and Jiday Ugbaja as they accounted for 41 points in the victory. The team missed several free throws in the fourth quarter to keep the game interesting. Riordan had not defeated the Padres since they swept the 2008-2009 season series.

Serra had defeated St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral in their previous two games but could not pull off the trifecta of San Francisco WCAL teams. The Padres look to bounce back with their next game against St. Francis before taking on Mitty next week.

The Padres are guard oriented as 39 of the points came from that position. Expect Serra to live or die by the perimeter game the rest of the season. Senior guard Danny Mahoney led the team with 15 points.

Players of Note

Jiday Ugbaja 6-foot-0 G Riordan (2014): The senior had 23 points as he was able to score with both his dribbling and his pull up perimeter shooting. Ugbaja goes to the basket hard and displayed good upper body strength when getting off shots in the paint. Defensively, he battled screens and was able to hound the Serra backcourt.

Chiefy Ugbaja 6-foot-5 F Riordan (2014): Ugbaja had 18 points as all his scoring was on drives to the basket or shots in the paint. His length and athleticism will allow him to have an advantage in most man-to-man situations. His perimeter shooting development will keep defenses honest and increase his recruiting stock.

Danny Mahoney 6-foot-0 G Serra (2014): Mahoney played in control and crafty as he had 15 points that was a mix of perimeter shooting and drives to the basket. The senior uses his body well to get positioning in different situations.

Article 362: Lawrence navigates for Mariners

January 16, 2014

Young but talented sports teams always have the urgency to fulfill the team's potential now rather than later. For the Moreau Catholic Mariners, the program has a roster of talented underclassmen as they start four sophomores and one freshman.

One of those talented sophomores is 6-foot-3 and 165 pound shooting guard, Brandon Lawrence. Lawrence was thrown into the starting lineup as a freshman when the Mariners went 18-10 that ended with a second round North Coast Section playoff loss to Salesian. As the team's main perimeter threat, Lawrence is averaging 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists during the current season as the Mariners are 10-4.

Moreau Catholic Coach Frank Knight has been coaching at the high school level for fifteen years while at Moreau Catholic for four years. Coach Knight comments about what Lawrence has done well for the team, " Brandon's strengths are in his offensive game. He is a really good shooter and his stroke is effortless and the same every time he shoots it. He has added a two-to-three dribble pull up that really keeps the defender of balance. Because of his ability to hit shots from 21feet, defenders close hard to him, and he is able to lift them with his shot fake, and knock down 15-18 footers off of the bounce. Defensively, he is long and this allows him to defend bigger players."

Lawrence plays a finesse game as he models his game after Stephen Curry and Deron Williams. He feels that both of those players are great shooters, have solid ball handling skills, and can break defenders down to create open shots. Also, their leadership skills are effective even though not reflected on the stat sheets.

Coach Knight confirms this by saying, "I compare Brandon to a Allen Houston. Silky, smooth release. Consistent shot form. He has a flow to his game that is natural. Brandon is now rebounding better and taking pride in hitting the glass. Being a sophomore and a returning varsity player, his leadership skills are starting to blossom. Brandon wants to compete and puts his all on the floor. "

During the offseason, Lawrence works on all aspects of his game. In addition, he has been playing for the Oakland Soldiers 15U team during the summer. He hopes that those efforts will help the Mariners to a state title run.

In addition to Lawrence, Moreau Catholic features fellow sophomore Oscar Frayer and freshman Damari Milstead. As a result, many college recruiters will have the opportunity to view the Mariner team. The recruiting process is early for Lawrence but he likes the style of play of the west coast schools. He currently has a 3.40 GPA and plans on majoring in Engineering in college.

Lawrence intrigues the college level as Air Force, Creighton, Nevada, New Mexico State, Pepperdine, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Washington State have contacted Coach Knight. Coach Knight has this take on his college potential, "I think Brandon is a lock at playing at the D-1 level. Will it be high, mid, or low major will depend on his development and how much he grows. If he gets to 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5, then he can play mid to high because of his developed basketball skills. Either way, he will be a good pick up because of the range of things he can do defensively and offensively. He has a huge upside and will only get better as he matures and grows into his frame."

Moreau Catholic joined the Mission Valley Athletic League last season as Newark Memorial has consistently dominated league play. A big step for this Mariner program would be to dethrone the league favorites with the help from Lawrence. Watch for Lawrence to navigate the Mariners through the MVAL in Hayward, Calif.

Article 361: Monarchs rule over Riordan

January 11, 2014

Both Archbishop Mitty and Archbishop Riordan started the week ranked in the NCP Top 20 rankings. But the week went in opposite directions for each team as Mitty opened West Catholic Athletic League play with two convincing wins while Riordan lost both league games including a 52-31 defeat to the Monarchs on Friday evening in San Francisco. NCP No. 7 Mitty strengthens its top 10 position as they move to 10-2 while NCP No. 14 Riordan drops to 7-5 and has a tenuous stay in the rankings.

The game was close in the first half as the Monarchs had 11-10 and 20-17 leads after each of the first two quarters respectively. But the second half saw Mitty's offense get into gear as they extended the lead to 38-25 after the third quarter before finishing off Riordan 52-31.

Mitty has won their two WCAL games by a combined 48 points. The guard play is consistent with seniors Connor Peterson and Matt McAndrews while sophomore Ben Kone aptly mans the interior. The question mark may be the depth of the bench if the team has foul trouble or injury.

Going into league play, Mitty may have been the de facto favorite due to their dominant play during the past few seasons. But after a week, the Monarchs have earned that standing with its dominant performance. Next week, Mitty will have a home game with Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Riordan lost in double overtime to Serra earlier in the week and then failed to show up in the second half against Mitty. Chiefy and Jiday Ugbaja accounted for 21 of the 31 points in the defeat to Mitty but the athletic cousins will need offensive support from teammates. In addition, Riordan only made one three-point shot as the perimeter shooting was severely deficient.

Going into the season, Riordan looked to have a good balance of playmakers and size. The season is at a critical junction as Riordan battles for San Francisco bragging rights with games against Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Ignatius on Tuesday and Thursday before ending the week against St Francis on Saturday. Losing two or more of next week's games can have a Titanic effect on the rest of the season

Players of Note

Ben Kone 6-foot-8 PF Mitty (2016): Kone led the game with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The sophomore runs the floor well, attacks rebounding aggressively, and makes emphatic blocks. Kone can be a college level center with a few more inches or he can be a power forward with some refinement in his ball handling and face up offensive moves.

Connor Peterson 6-foot-3 G Mitty (2014): The Azusa commit had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Peterson attacked the basket and was aggressive in his perimeter defense. The senior will be a steady floor leader to guide the Monarchs through the season.

Chiefy Ugbaja 6-foot-5 F Riordan (2014): Ugbaja had 13 points and 6 rebounds in the defeat as he was aggressively attacking the basket. His athleticism is noticeable but will need some perimeter shooting to complement his attacking offense. Ugbaja's athleticism and size should tempt at least lower division college programs.

Jiday Ugbaja 6-foot-0 G Riordan (2014): The senior had an off night shooting as he had 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Will Ugbaja be forced to be a scorer during the rest of the season or will he be able to facilitate the offense for his teammates. Ugbaja can be a solid contributor as a guard at the next level with his plus quickness and plus size.

Article 360: Wilcats cruise at Bruce Mahoney

January 8, 2014

Both Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Ignatius came into the annual Bruce Mahoney matchup with only one loss but the Wildcats looked the part as they easily won 70-39. St. Ignatius took it to NCP's No. 12 ranked Fightin' Irish by storming to a 26-11 first quarter advantage. Senior point guard Trevor Dunbar helped set the pace for the Wildcats as they built their lead to 45-20 at the half.

Sacred Heart Cathedral was able to narrow the deficit to 45-26 to start the third quarter but St Ignatius built the lead back to 60-33 at the end of the quarter. The final quarter was mostly bench play as the Wildcats closed it out to win 70-39 to move to 8-1 while Sacred Heart drops to 8-2.

St. Ignatius was the unranked team going into this game but the Wildcats have the formula to be a solid team in West Catholic Athletic League play. They start five seniors headlined by Division I prospect, Dunbar. Senior forward 6-foot-8 Troy Rike mans the post while senior forward 6-foot-2 Julian Marcu is undersized in height but has 220 pounds to throw around. The bench has sophomore forward 6-foot-8 Arash Poorsina to provide solid defense and rebounding.

The Wildcats run their winning streak to six as their lone loss in the season is against an undefeated Jesuit team. The WCAL is loaded but balanced this season. This win is a good start for the Wildcats but it will be a tall order for them or any WCAL team to go through league play without a blemish.

Before the night, Sacred Heart's lone loss was to a Bishop Montgomery team from Torrance who is considered a national power this season. For the Irish to play this poorly, this loss can be considered an aberration. The team will still be one of the favorites in WCAL play.

The Fightin' Irish has a balanced starting five but the roster lists no one taller than 6-foot-5. But the group is a versatile and athletic bunch that is headlined by starting senior point guard Deondre Otis and senior forward Liam O'Reilly. But the development of the bench with freshmen Alfred Hollins and Ramzi Carter Jr will be key as they are both 6-foot-5, lean, athletic, versatile, and more skilled than their freshmen grade.

Players of Note

Trevor Dunbar 5-foot-10 PG St Ignatius (2014): Dunbar played effectively in the first half to pace the Wildcats to victory as he ended with 17 points. He had a few steals, directed the offense with his dribbling and passing, and was able to connect from the outside. The senior primarily holds several mid-major offers currently but is trying to breakthrough with a high major offer.

Troy Rike 6-foot-8 Post St Ignatius (2014): Rike helped set the early tone with a few scores in the post. The senior is undersized in the post and needs to develop his face up dribbling and scoring. But his frame and athleticism is serviceable at the lower college level as he scored 10 points in the win.

Arash Poorsina 6-foot-8 Post St Ignatius (2016): The sophomore went scoreless but came in when Rike had early foul trouble. Poorsina provided instant rebounding, had a few block shots, and was a defensive presence in the paint. He runs the floor well and looks to have a high ceiling as he still has another few years to develop.

Liam O'Reilly 6-foot-5 F Sacred Heart Cathedral (2014): O'Reilly was the only starter who was in sync early on as he displayed his offensive arsenal both in the post and perimeter. He led the Fightin' Irish with nine points. His ball handling and perimeter skills have potential as his future would have to be a wing or small forward at the next level.

Alfred Hollins 6-foot-5 W Sacred Heart Cathedral (2017): Hollins has the physical frame and potential to develop into one of the better 2017 prospects. He looks comfortable both inside and outside as he was aggressive in his offensive moves. Hollins looks to project to be more of a face up prospect.

Ramzi Carter Jr 6-foot-5 F Sacred Heart Cathedral (2017): The freshman is very similar in his physical frame and potential with classmate Hollins. But Carter Jr is more of a post player and did not handle the ball as much. He projects as more of a power forward prospect.

Article 359: Winter Classic report

December 22, 2013

The Second Annual Catholic School's Winter Classic at Cal State East Bay in Hayward featured Catholic programs from throughout Northern California. Here is a rundown on the games and some of the featured players.

St. Patrick St. Vincent 81, Valley Christian (Dublin) 45
The Bruins cruised to an 81-45 victory as they run their record to 5-1. This game was never in doubt as St. Patrick St. Vincent had a 21-7 advantage after one quarter and then a 46-20 lead at the half. The Bruins had superior size, speed, and athleticism against the Vikings as they drop to 5-3.

St. Patrick St. Vincent will play the rest of the season without Jalen Canty. Canty did play during the football season and also the first five games in the current basketball season. Apparently, he does not have eligibility for the rest of the season as he has already played eight consecutive semesters, which came down in a recent ruling by the California Interscholastic Federation.

Even without Canty, the Bruins have height in the post with junior Ryan Stewart who is 6-foot-8 but lacks the bulk of Canty. In addition, the Bruins have athletic and sizeable perimeter players in Jordan Hickman and Jose Flores. The bench also has some depth in size to offset this loss.

The Tri County League has El Cerrito undefeated currently at 9-0. Salesian and St Joseph Alameda will also battle with the Bruins in league play. St. Patrick St. Vincent has a deep enough roster to make a run for the upper half of the league this season.

St. Francis 52, Central Catholic 38
St. Francis struggled early as the Lancers were trailing 7-0 late in the first quarter before rallying to take a 23-21 halftime advantage. After the intermission, The Lancers played stifling defense to limit Central Catholic in winning 52-38. Both teams look solid for their league as the Lancers move to 5-0 while the Raiders drop to 7-2.

The Lancers have a plethora of interchangeable guards who play scrappy, drive to the rim hard, and are not afraid of launching form deep. Junior guard Matt Tripaldi is undersized at 5-foot-7 but made a few three point shots while his backcourt partner sophomore Curtis Witt was equally effective from outside or going inside. The Lancers also have two forwards in Eric Morgan and Peter Hewitt who are both 6-foot-8 that give them rebounding and post options.

Archbishop Mitty has dominated the West Catholic Athletic League in the past few years. But this season is fairly open for the WCAL as the Lancers have a balanced squad with enough playmakers to compete for the top spot.

Central Catholic never got any offensive rhythm and key forward Jonathan Boddie had early foul trouble. This Raider team is trying to replace last season's post player John Fenton who is at Colgate this year. With that said, the Raiders look to have enough pieces to be the favorites in the Western Athletic Conference League.

St. Mary's 63, Serra 54
Despite a late run from Serra, St. Mary's (Stockton) held on in a 63-54 victory. UC Santa Barbara signee Gabe Vincent was dominant in the win with 23 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3FG), six rebounds, and three assists. He was the only double-digit scorer for the Rams.

Although it was a strong showing from Vincent, St. Mary's has other key pieces that shouldn't be overlooked. Junior transfer Lance Coleman can also provide scoring, with eight points in the win, while guard Devin Williams was a spark off the bench with nine. The Rams are guard heavy, as the 6-foot-6 Coleman is the tallest player on the roster, but can be scrappy on the defensive end and force turnovers that result in fast break opportunities. With an 8-1 record, St. Mary's should be the favorite in the Tri-City Athletic League.

Serra lived behind the three-point line as the Padres attempted 27 of their 48 field goals from behind the arc; however, only seven of those tries were successful. They're led by senior guards Danny Mahoney and Sean Watkins who both had eight points. Junior posts Seth Barlett and Trevor Brown were solid down low to compliment the guard play. Serra should contend for a WCAL title, but will need to shoot better than it did against St. Mary's.

Moreau Catholic 77, Marin Catholic 61
The host of the Winter Classic, Moreau Catholic, led Marin Catholic 31-14 after the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 77-61 win.

Moreau is a very young squad, as the Mariners started three sophomores and two freshmen, yet extremely talented. Sophomore wing Oscar Frayer dominated in the win with 25 points (10-11 FG) and nine rebounds. He used his athleticism to finish above the rim with multiple dunks but also flashed a mid-range jumper. Fellow sophomores Brandon Lawrence and Armond Simmons were also solid with 10 and eight points respectively. Freshman point guard Damari Milstead showed that he'll be one of the top youngsters to watch with 14 points (4-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) and six assists. The youthful Mariners will compete with a veteran Newark Memorial squad in the Mission Valley Athletic League.

It was a tough day for Marin Catholic which struggled against the Mariners full court press. Seniors Josh Walewander and Keegan Mulcahy led the Wildcats with nine points apiece.

Riordan 53, St. Joseph Notre Dame 46
In the most competitive game of the day, Riordan defeated St. Joe's 53-46. Unsigned senior point guard Jiday Ugbaja led the way with 24 points (7-13 FG, 3-7 3FG), four assists, and three rebounds.

The Crusaders lean heavily on the Ugbaja cousins who combined for 39 of Riordan's 53 points. Chiefy Ugbaja was also key on the boards with 11 rebounds. Junior Karim N'Diaye provides size inside with his
6-foot-8 frame while senior Zach Masoli is a glue guy who chipped in six points. Riordan should be in the WCAL title race this season.

St. Joe's is a much younger team but is led by Long Beach State signee Temidayo Yussuf, who had a team-high 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Pilots have a solid backcourt as well with Marcus Harris to go with freshmen Darne Ducket and Jade Smith. Senior Rafie Herbert provided instant offense off the bench with a trio of threes. The Tri-County League Rock Division will be an interesting league to follow with St. Joe's, El Cerrito, Salesian, and St. Patrick-St. Vincent battling it out.

Players of Note

Jordan Hickman 6-foot-5 G St Patrick St Vincent (2014): Hickman is a long and lanky guard who uses his height advantage well. He can disrupt the passing lanes and also help in interior defense. His ball handling, scoring, and lateral movement as a guard needs improvement for the college level.

Jose Flores 6-foot-3 G St Patrick St Vincent (2014): The senior was active and athletic on the floor. He seems to have another gear as he had a few steals, could elevate, and was hard to stop going to the basket. He has good size and quickness to be a point guard at the college level.

Ryan Stewart 6-foot-8 Post St Patrick St Vincent (2014): The junior displayed a few turnaround post moves to score. He needs bulk for college but has another year to do so as he will be the main rebounder for the Bruins in Jalen Canty's absence. His ball handling and face up scoring will need improvement but his current size as a junior will force some colleges to look at his potential.

Jonathan Boddie 6-foot-6 PF Central Catholic (2014): Boddie is undersized as a power forward but was the main offensive threat in the post for Central Catholic. He has good strength, length, and athleticism. With continued improvement for his ball handling and perimeter game, the senior can transition to the college game.

Curtis Witt 6-foot-0 G St. Francis (2016): Witt displayed good ball handling skills as he took the ball aggressively to the rim and was also comfortable in his perimeter scoring. Witt plays scrappy and smart for the Lancers.

Matt Tripaldi 5-foot-7 G St. Francis (2015): The junior is undersized at the guard position but was fearless in his shooting as he hit a few perimeter shots several feet from the line. Like Witt, Tripaldi plays aggressively and provides good pressure defense. The Lancers have a few other interchangeable guards to complement Tripaldi and Witt.

Eric Morgan 6-foot-8 PF St. Francis (2014): The senior was active on both ends of the court. He was the recipient of a few lob passes that he converted into easy layups. At the high school level, Morgan has enough height and size to dominate most teams but needs to either improve his size or his face up skills when moving to the college level.

Lance Coleman 6-foot-6 W St. Mary's (Stockton) (2015): A transfer from Salesian, Coleman showed potential with his size and skill set. He has a lengthy frame that helps him on the defensive end and has some nice moves to attack the basket. Coleman had eight points and five rebounds, but could develop a three-point jumper as he was 0-of-3 from deep.

Oscar Frayer 6-foot-6 F Moreau Catholic (2016): Frayer is an ultra-athletic sophomore who affects the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can finish above the rim or from mid-range which showed in 25 points (10-11 FG). On the defensive end, he blocks shots or corrals rebounds. He will be a highly coveted wing prospect due to his size, length, and athleticism. If he adds a perimeter game with a deep jumper and handle for the ball, Frayer will be one of the best in the country for his age.

Marcus Harris 6-foot-0 G St. Joseph Notre Dame (2015): Harris had nine points for St. Joe's on Saturday. He's a strong, fearless guard with a decent handle for the ball. He'll be a key piece for St. Joe's this season.

Brandon Lawrence 6-foot-2 SG Moreau Catholic (2016): Lawrence is a threat from three point range with a 3-of-6 showing from behind the arc. He has good length and an advanced jumper for his age. He'll need to add a couple inches to be a true shooting guard prospect, but still has plenty of time to add to his game.

Danny Mahoney 6-foot-0 G Serra (2014): Mahoney is a quick guard with a good handle and jump shot. He's crafty with a good motor.

Damari Milstead 6-foot-1 PG Moreau Catholic (2017): As a freshman point guard with good size and length, Milstead already has a good feel for the game. He can slash to the basket or knock down the open look from behind the arc. Milstead had 14 points (4-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) and six assists in Moreau's win. With an early offer from Cal, Milstead will be on the national radar for the upcoming seasons.

Armond Simmons 6-foot-0 PG Moreau Catholic (2016): Simmons is a strong, bulky floor general with a good handle for the ball. He gets his teammates involved, attacks the rim, and also had a three in the contest. Simmons finished with eight points, including five free throws, in addition to five rebounds and two assists.

Chiefy Ugbaja 6-foot-4 W Riordan (2014): The bouncy wing is a great athlete who can block shots or finish above the rim in transition. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Riordan and is a true get-it-done type of player.

Jiday Ugbaja 6-foot-0 PG Riordan (2014): Ugbaja is an explosive point guard with great vision and passing ability. He's an exceptional ball handler who can blow by defenders off the dribble. Ugbaja had 24 points (7-13 FG, 3-7 3FG), four assists, and three rebounds against St. Joe's. With offers from the Citadel, Tulane, and Sacramento State, Ugbaja will be a late steal.

Gabe Vincent 6-foot-3 G St. Mary's (Stockton) (2014): The UC Santa Barbara signee spent most of his time at point guard for St. Mary's which is a good sign due to his size. Vincent has shown improvement as a primary ball handler and distributor. He can create his own shot off the dribble or find his teammates for an open look. Vincent finished with 23 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3FG), six rebounds, and three assists in the victory on Saturday. He'll be a good fit for the Gauchos as a knock-down shooter who can also get out and run in transition.

Sean Watkins 5-foot-10 SG Serra (2014): Watkins is a heady guard with range on his jump shot. He moves well without the ball and reads screens well. Watkins is signed with Loyola Marymount for baseball.

Devin Williams 5-foot-9 PG St. Mary's (Stockton) (2015): The junior point guard was key off the bench with nine points on 2-of-2 shooting.
He's quick and attacks the basket off the bounce. Williams does a good job getting to the free throw line but should add a jump shot from three-point range to improve.

Temidayo Yussuf 6-foot-7 F St. Joseph Notre Dame (2014): The Long Beach State signee looks much bigger than his listed size due to his bulk and broad shoulders. Yussuf is a terrific rebounder, which showed in his team-high 15 boards, and also has a face-up game. He was most dominant on the block and had the highlight of the day with a dunk over multiple defenders. Yussuf finished with 16 points and showed good hands to go with a soft touch.

Article 358: Tip-Off Classic recap and Player reports

December 1, 2013

Newark Memorial and Monte Vista posted season opening NCP Top 20 wins to highlight the 2013 NorCal Tip-Off Classic. Also see Jalen McFerren's heroics and a monster game from Shon Briggs to start another basketball season.

No. 2 Newark Memorial made an early statement in the 2013-2014 season with a 64-48 win over No. 3 Modesto Christian. The Cougars were paced by their senior guard duo of Joey Frenchwood (15 points) and Mike Pickney II (13 points). Matthew Thomas added 18 points and nine rebounds.

Modesto Christian forward Anthony Townes had 19 points and 11 rebounds in battling the size of Newark Memorial throughout the game. Guard Mason Washington had 15 points for the Crusaders.

Newark Memorial shot 52 percent from the field compared to 27 percent from Modesto Christian. Both teams combined to shoot 5-for-33 from three point range.

The Cougars play Arroyo on Tuesday while Modesto Christian will host No. 4 Capital Christian on December 7.

Rabb leads O'Dowd past Bullard

In the first game of his junior season, 5-star power forward Ivan Rabb had 28 points on an array of dunk finishes as No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd beat Bullard 90-76. The Dragons started the game on a 14-0 run and saw Rabb and fellow junior Paris Austin scored the first 18 points for Bishop O'Dowd. It led by 14 points after one quarter, 12 points at halftime and 15 points after three quarters. Austin also had 28 points, including three made 3-pointers.

Humboldt State signee Calvin Young Jr. had 17 points as the best player for Bullard, who was without junior star Austin Armstead. Sophomore Pardeep Gill made six threes in a losing effort.

The Dragons, playing with Isaiah Thomas and Sebastian Flores due to transfer ineligibility, are off until December 19 when they travel to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic.

Monte Vista wins Top 20 matchup

No. 5 Monte Vista controlled the action from the beginning in a 75-56 win over No. 20 Moreau Catholic. The Mustangs relied on a senior quartet led by player of the game Grant Jackson with 22 points and six rebounds. Cal Poly signee Trevor John had 19 points, including three early 3-pointers to open up the early lead. Spencer Rust had 14 points and Rishi Satoor had 15 points.

Freshman point guard Damari Milstead scored 21 points in his varsity debut for the Mariners, which started four underclassmen. Armond Simmons added 14 points and Oscar Frayer finished with 11 points .

Monte Vista shot 6-for-10 from beyond the three point line and was +15 in the rebounding battle. At times, Moreau Catholic's pressure caused Monte Vista some issues, but Monte Vista always had a counter and executed well on offense.

The Mustangs head to Santa Rosa for the Russ Peterich Tip-Off Classic this week. Moreau Catholic plays Antioch on Tuesday.

Freedom overwhelms Granite Bay

No. 17 Freedom jumped out to 26-13 lead after the first quarter en route to a 77-60 win over Granite Bay, which lost 2015 shooting guard Kendrick Jackson to transfer out of the area over the summer. Going 0-for-4 from three point range, Freedom shot over 50 percent from the field led by 23 points from Elliott Smith. Steven Roxas chipped in with 18 points and Rodney Pope had 15 points with five rebounds and five assists.

Granite Bay was led by 18 points from sophomore Charlie Tooley and 10 points from senior Aidan Naughton.

Freedom takes on No. 13 Salesian on Tuesday while Granite Bay takes on No. 15 Sheldon in its foundation game. The Grizzlies will return to regular season action on December 10 against No. 10 St. Mary's-Stockton.

Oakland holds off Briggs, Heritage

Oakland had a size disadvantage but its guard play and quickness allowed them to defeat Heritage 66-59. The Wildcats ran out to a 36-23 advantage at the half before Heritage was able to close to within six points in the second half. Oakland made its free throws to close out the Patriots.

Game MVP Keith Hunter led Oakland but the Wildcats have a rotation of athletic and versatile guards and wings to throw at their opponents. The Wildcats have a lack of height and size as they will have to outrun and to be more athletic than their competition. Oakland was runner up in the Oakland Athletic League last season but will be formidable again this season.

Shon Briggs had 39 points as the Patriots did not have another double-digit scorer. Opposing teams should key their defense on Briggs and force others to score. Heritage finished third in a competitive Bay Valley Athletic League last season and should be the main challenger against league favorite, Freedom.

Rams start fast, beat College Park

St. Mary's had double digit leads after both the first and second quarters as the Rams led 40-29 at the half. College Park made a strong defensive stand to take the lead briefly against the Rams in third quarter, but St. Mary's was able to counter to lead at the end of the third quarter and to eventually win 65-56.

St. Mary's will lean on Gabe Vincent and game MVP Lance Coleman as they look to repeat and go undefeated in the Tri-City League. The Rams have a good rotation of interchangeable guards and forwards that complement the two main stars. St. Mary's has a spread offense that will fast break when available but look for the 3-point shot in the half court set. Close to half of its field goal attempts were 3-point shots.

College Park has a good balance of inside and outside play, as the Falcons will also look to repeat and to go undefeated in the Diablo Valley Athletic League. The guard play struggled offensively in this game but forward Joe Demers stepped up with a game high 27 points. The Falcons were also outrebounded by seven and had six fewer free throw attempts as they had trouble controlling the paint.

McFerren makes game winner

Castro Valley looked to be outmatched and outsized against Fairfield as the Trojans trailed by seven after one quarter and by four at the half. However, Castro Valley rallied in the second half to win 55-53 on their last shot by senior Jalen McFerren, who was the game MVP.

Castro Valley made 14 field goals out of 20 attempts including four 3-point shots in the second half to rally. The Trojans are undersized and will depend on a multi guard set to pressure and to outpace opponents. Castro Valley finished in last place in the West Alameda County-Foothill Division last season and will look to be a stronger challenger, as Bishop O'Dowd will be the favorites.

The Falcons are undersized as well but have some bulk in the paint that looked to be the difference in this game. They out-rebounded Castro Valley 36 to 24. Fairfield also committed nine more turnovers and had more fouls that allowed for the rally. Fairfield finished second in the Solano County League last season and should be a challenger again.

PLAYER REPORTS:

Plenty of talented prospects opened their seasons at Newark Memorial on Saturday, led by nationally ranked prospects Ivan Rabb and Oscar Frayer. Also see what unsigned seniors stood out, including Shon Briggs, Joey Frenchwood and Elliott Smith.

Keilan Banks 6-foot-1 W Oakland (2014): The senior had 16 points and seven rebounds as he played physical despite being undersized in the paint. Banks will need to improve his ball handling skills and perimeter game, but he can be a lower division college prospect.

Shon Briggs 6-foot-6 PF Heritage (2014): Briggs had 39 points on 17-for-24 shooting and 5-for-14 from the free throw line. He also had 11 rebounds and was often bringing the ball up the court for his team. Despite his bulk, Briggs was comfortable dribbling and creating his shot off the dribble. He will need help from his teammates offensively as opposing teams should focus their defense on him and try to get him into foul trouble. If Briggs continues improvement on his dribbling and lateral movement, then he would be a solid Division I small forward prospect.

Joe Demers 6-foot-2 SF College Park (2015): The junior had a game high 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting with two 3-point shots and three made free throws. Demers also led the Falcons with six rebounds despite being undersized. Demers' best sport is not basketball as he is a highly rated pitcher who has already committed to Washington.

Joey Frenchwood 6-foot-0 PG Newark Memorial (2014): The veteran point guard finished with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds against Modesto Christian. He was able to get to the basket consistently while knocking down a pair of mid-range looks and helping set up the Cougars offense. Add in his stellar defense and Frenchwood continues to establish himself as one of the top lead guards in the region.

Demoriaye Hart-Spikes 5-foot-11 PG Fairfield (2014): The senior had 14 points in the loss. He plays aggressively and tough as he was not afraid to draw contact with seven free throw attempts, but he also had six turnovers and a few offensive charges. Hart-Spikes will need to play more in control and more efficiently to maximize his output and more importantly his teammates.

Keith Hunter 6-foot-1 G Oakland (2014): Hunter had 17 points and eight rebounds as the senior plays efficiently and smart. He had four assists against only one turnover as he ran the team quite well. As a college prospect, Hunter is undersized but is versatile enough to contribute.

Grant Jackson 6-foot-1 G Monte Vista (2014): Jackson is a tough point guard and finished with 22 points and six rebounds. He scored from different areas and handled the ball well while getting Monte Vista into its offense. He started to gain confidence in the second half and carried the action for stretches at a time.

Trevor John 6-foot-3 G Monte Vista (2014): John has legit three point range and a quick release as seen in three early 3-pointers to stake the Mustangs to an early lead. He moves well without the ball and spaces the floor well. He also saw some looks in the post. John can impact the game more defensively as a two-way guard. He is signed to Cal Poly.

Demareyeh Lane 6-foot-0 G Castro Valley (2014): The senior chipped in with 12 points as he was perfect in his six field goal attempts. With Derrick Clayton transferring, the Trojans will need other offensive playmakers to step up. An efficient performance by Lane in this first game will definitely help.

Jalen McFerren 5-foot-9 PG Castro Valley (2014): The Chico State signee had 13 points that included the game winner. McFerren is undersized height wise but he goes hard to the rim and is not afraid of contact anywhere on the court. He ran the team well and plays smart basketball to be a coachable college prospect.

Mike Pickney II 5-foot-11 PG Newark Memorial (2014): Transferring into Newark Memorial this year, Pickney gives the Cougars another dimension. He can break down defenders off the dribble and is a creative playmaker. He can over-dribble at times, but helps make Newark Memorial a tough matchup in the backcourt.

Spencer Rust 6-foot-9 Post Monte Vista (2014): A post in constant motion, Rust is an active 6-foot-9 and finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. He is a very good offensive rebounder and served as a good press break option at midcourt on Saturday. He has good hands, but can sometimes get knocked off his spot on finesse finishes. Good post option left unsigned in 2014 class.

Elliott Smith 6-foot-6 SF Freedom (2014): The unsigned 4-star prospect had 23 points and nine rebounds in picking his spots during an up and down game. Smith is a smooth athlete with a good frame and is becoming a more polished finisher. He is a good defender, but can improve on his outside shot. Smith said he has offers from Nevada, Pacific, Cal State Fullerton and Northern Colorado. He is also hearing from Weber State.

Matthew Thomas 6-foot-8 Post Newark Memorial (2014): Following a good summer, Thomas started his senior season off well with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. He runs the floor well and is finishing better around the basket. Still with plenty of room to add bulk in the coming years, Thomas is the type of post prospect that can blossom at the college level. He would be a good low major option.

Gabe Vincent 6-foot-3 SG St. Mary's-Stockton (2014): The UC Santa Barbara signee had an off night shooting but still had 11 points and eight rebounds. Vincent looked for his shot and can create his own shot with ease. He is athletic and moves well on defense.

Paris Austin 5-foot-10 PG Bishop O'Dowd (2015): Playing with more assertiveness than last season, Austin finished with 28 points highlighted by three made 3-pointers. He got to the line for double digit attempts on Saturday night and played well in an up tempo attack. After hauling in his first offers over the summer, Austin may be the x-factor to the Dragons' state title chances.

Lance Coleman 6-foot-6 W St. Mary's-Stockton (2015): Coleman had 17 points that included three 3-point shots and also had 13 rebounds. He should project as a wing or small forward on the college level but will be a versatile player at the high school level. Coleman is wiry but has a good wingspan and length to be disruptive on defense.

Kendall MacIntosh 6-foot-6 F Freedom (2015): MacIntosh has a raw, but projectable frame and was able to put together a couple of finishes inside. The junior forward certainly needs to add strength and play tougher to take the next step. He can also improve as a shot blocker. He finished with nine points and three rebounds.

Anthony Townes 6-foot-6 PF Modesto Christian (2015): Townes competed well against good interior size for Newark Memorial in finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He is a good rebounder and moves well without the ball. Townes is slightly undersized as a four man and needs to develop his offensive repertoire, but he is among the top 2015 prospects in Northern California.

Ivan Rabb 6-foot-10 PF Bishop O'Dowd (2015): Likely the next McDonald's All-American selection to come out of the region, Rabb notched 28 points with 15 rebounds and four blocks including a number of athletic dunks. He is a quick jumper, has good hands and is very agile working around defenders. He is regarded as one of the top juniors in the country.

Oscar Frayer 6-foot-6 W Moreau Catholic (2016): Already nationally ranked by Rivals.com, Frayer doesn't need to dominate the ball to impact the game. He attacks the glass well, including two big dunks off of misses. Frayer has excellent size and is a good shot blocker. He had a game high four blocks in also seeing time inside.

Damari Milstead 6-foot-1 PG Moreau Catholic (2017): In his first varsity game, Milstead was able to get to the basket and does a good job of avoiding defenders on his finishes. He possesses a good in-between game to supplement his outside arsenal. Defensively, he plays with active hands and takes good risks. Top early prospect in 2017 class.

Article 357: Peterson is a Cougar

November 30, 2013

Archbishop Mitty has been one of the dominant national high school basketball programs recently. Star forward Aaron Gordon has moved on collegiately to the Pac-12. As a result, this upcoming Monarch season will lean heavily on senior point guard Connor Peterson who has committed to the Azusa Pacific Cougars of the Pacific West Conference.

The 6-foot-2 and 185 pound guard has good mobility and quickness that allows him to break down defenders while also being agile in his perimeter defense. Peterson transferred from Leigh to Mitty after his freshman year where he has helped the Monarchs to 31 and 28 win seasons in the past two seasons. As a senior, Peterson will be able to be the focal point as he had the advantage of playing with his older brother at Leigh and with Gordon.

Peterson believes playing with his older brothers has been beneficial, "My older brother Trevor and I used to play basketball together on an organized team for about five years. It was always harder playing in a higher age group but it was something that helped me get better. My oldest brother Leyton plays basketball at West Valley. The three of us have always battled against each other in basketball, we are always trying to beat each other one on one and challenge another to make us better."

Two summers ago, Peterson was on the Oakland Soldiers roster and coach Nick Enzweiler had this to say. "Connor is a great playmaker who can finish around the basket extremely well and has a superior ability of getting his teammates involved offensively as well. Connor is also a good shooter especially under pressure. He also plays very solid defense both on the ball and in help side situations. He has very solid fundamentals and when you couple that with his outstanding athleticism you get a dynamic, well rounded player that is a coach's dream."

For the Monarchs to come anywhere near the win total in either of the past two seasons, Peterson has to increase his output to replace Gordon. His time with Gordon was a positive learning experience as he reflects. "Playing with Aaron is truly a blessing. Playing together with somebody of his caliber is remarkable because he has taught me so much. Having grown up down the street from him, he has taught me how to lead a team and become a factor in games. He makes everybody on the team better and brings a lot of enthusiasm."

Oakland Soldiers Coach Ray Thomas had this to say about his development and his decision to commit to Azusa. "I think his biggest improvement has been his decision making. We asked Connor to be our point guard. Run the team and take care of the basketball. He did that all spring and summer pretty flawlessly. He got away from the flashy high-risk passes and became a steady guy who was hard to keep on the bench. I think he will be stud at Azusa contributing from day 1. When a guard of his size, skill set, and athletic abilities fall to D2, it has all conference player written all over him. Connor is a winner."

Azusa plays in the PacWest Conference, which is comprised of schools in California, Hawaii, and Utah. The Cougars feature a multi-guard set as they have six non-senior guards on the roster this season. Peterson's skill set will allow him to compete for playing time as he first will lead his Monarchs during his senior year in San Jose, Calif.

Article 356: Nor Cal Tip Off preview

November 20, 2013

The month of November marks the transition from the end of the high school football regular season to the start of the basketball preseason. In Northern California, the 7th Annual Nor Cal Tip Off Classic features seven games starting at 11:00am on November 30 at Newark Memorial High. The previous six events have included competitive high school programs and have featured over 50 eventual Division I prospects.

The event will have a number of NCP Boys Basketball Top 40 players from both the 2014 and 2015 classes. Ivan Rabb of Bishop O'Dowd, who is ranked No. 3 nationally by Rivals.com, will be in the evening finale. Host Newark Memorial, Bishop O'Dowd, and Modesto Christian are favorites from Northern California to watch from day one in the regular season to the spring postseason.

Game 1: 11:00 am - Fairfield vs. Castro Valley
Castro Valley is coming off a mediocre 13-13 season but the Trojans will look to Chico State commit point guard Jalen McFerren to pace them. Fairfield will counter with its own point guard in Demoriaye Hart-Spikes. The Falcons are coming off a 16-13 season.

Game 2: 12:30 pm - College Park (Pleasant Hill) vs. St. Mary's (Stockton)
St. Mary's (Stockton) features UC Santa Barbara commit, Gabe Vincent, who can light up the scoreboard and junior wing Lance Coleman. The Rams have eclipsed 20 wins in the last four seasons and will look to start the season off with a win. College Park had an impressive 27-win season last year that culminated in the state championship game as the Falcons will lean on 6-foot-6 junior forward, Kevin Crosno.

Game 3: 2:15 pm - Heritage (Brentwood) vs. Oakland
Heritage will be a team to reckon with in the Bay Valley Athletic League as the Patriots will have bruising senior forward Shon Briggs to man the post. Oakland nearly reached the 20-win mark with eighteen victories last season. The Wildcats look to make that next jump as they are led by senior sharp shooting guard, Jamaliah Brown.

Game 4: 3:45 pm - Freedom (Oakley) vs. Granite Bay
Freedom will have one of the more imposing frontcourts as the Falcons have senior Elliott Smith and junior Kendall McIntosh both standing at 6-foot-6. Granite Bay won the Sierra Foothill Athletic League last season with 19 total wins. Junior Kendrick Jackson led the Grizzlies last season but he has transferred out of state as the team will be looking for new leadership.

Game 5: 5:30 pm - Moreau (Hayward) vs. Monte Vista (Danville)
Moreau Catholic will have one of the younger teams in the field and the state. But the Mariners have nationally rated talent in 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Oscar Frayer and 6-foot-2 freshman sensation Damari Milstead in addition to promising sophomores 5-foot-11 Armond Simmons and 6-foot-2 Brandon Lawrence. Monte Vista counters with seniors Trevor John, who is headed for Cal Poly SLO, and big man Spencer Rust to help the Mustangs in their quest to dethrone De La Salle for top spot in the East Bay Athletic League.

Game 6: 7:00 pm - Newark Memorial (Newark) vs. Modesto Christian
Both Newark Memorial and Modesto Christian who are perennial favorites in their leagues, are tough matchups in the section playoffs, and have over 20 wins a season consistently. The host Cougars are a senior heavy team with Joey Frenchwood, Matthew Thomas and Damien Banford. The Crusaders are complete and deep with a junior trio frontcourt of 6-foot-6 Anthony Townes, 6-foot-7 Leandro Amador, and 6-foot-6 Kevin Hamlet and highly regarded 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Christian Ellis.

Game 7: 8:30 pm - Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland) vs. Bullard (Fresno)
Bishop O'Dowd will present matchup problems both inside and outside as the Dragons are headlined by nationally acclaimed junior prospect, Ivan Rabb, and lightning-fast junior point guard Paris Austin. In the last two seasons, Bullard has a record of 59-7, including back-to-back Central Section championships. The Knights have a solid duo in senior Calvin Young and junior Austin Armstead.

Article 355: Padres share WCAL title

November 17, 2013

Serra got three receiving touchdowns from senior Hamilton Anoa'i and had a stifling defense to gain a share of the West Catholic Athletic League title with a 31-7 victory over Archbishop Mitty on Saturday in San Mateo. Anoa'i also had an interception on defense as he scored the first two touchdowns of the game to give Serra a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. With the win, the Padres go to 8-2 while Mitty loses for the first time ans fall to 9-1 as both teams gear up for the postseason.

Serra's offense was efficient, had a balance passing and rushing game plan, and made key plays without any turnovers. Without senior Matt Dickerson, the Padre defense limited the prolific Mitty rushing game to only 104 yards while also getting three interceptions. A complete Serra team effort helped with the dominant victory.

The game was Mitty's season low for points scored and its season high for points allowed. The vaunted running attack was scoreless as the only touchdown was on a long first quarter 66 yard pass from Trent Scharrenberg to Tommy Hudson. The defense only gave up 280 yards in total offense but the three turnovers by the offense put the defense in difficult field position.

The win propels Serra to its first share of the league title since 2008. The Padres, with a balanced offensive attack and complete defense to make them a difficult matchup in the postseason, will likely be in the Open division for the CCS playoffs.

Despite the loss, Mitty earns a share of the league title and will also likely be in the Open division. Hopefully for the Monarchs, the regular season finale was an aberration, as they will need to raise their level of play on both sides of the ball to make a deep run in the postseason. Steve Hu

Hamilton Anoa'i 6-foot-2, 225 pounds S/WR Serra (2014): The senior had three touchdown receptions, went over 100 yards receiving, and had a key early interception on defense to lead the Padres. Anoa'i has good size and versatile skills on both sides of the ball. He could be a versatile prospect on the college level.

Matthew Fa'aita 5-foot-10, 190 pounds QB Serra (2014): Fa'aita was efficient as he completed 8 out of 11 passes for his 138 passing yards and three touchdown passes. He ran for 41 yards as well but it was his scrambling that helped extend plays. His athleticism and versatility will help the offense in the postseason.

Kava Cassidy 6-foot-0, 160 pounds RB Serra (2015): Cassidy had 77 yards rushing as most of his yards helped extend drives with key first down conversions. The junior did not break a long run or score a touchdown but did go over 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He should be the featured back during his senior year and should be on the recruiting radar.

Article 354: Eight is enough for Terra Nova

November 2, 2013

Eight was the magic number for Terra Nova as the Tigers stay undefeated for the season to go to 8-0 as they scored eight touchdowns in a 57-27 victory over Menlo-Atherton in Pacifica on Friday night. Menlo-Atherton scored first and trailed 28-21 at the half, but could not slow the Tigers down in the second half as the Bears drop to 5-3.

The Tigers scored a season high 57 points and broke the 50 point mark for the third time. The offense is stacked with playmakers led by junior quarterback Anthony Gordon, senior running back John Wallace, and senior wide receiver Domenic Ortisi. Terra Nova likes to run a spread offense that is up tempo that puts pressure on opposing defenses. On defense, the Tigers were physical and got after the opposing quarterback. Senior linebacker Nick Pierotti had several bruising hits and was an active tackler to lead the defense.

Next week, Terra Nova will face an identical 8-0 Sacred Heart Prep. Expect the Tigers to play a physical game on both sides of the ball in order to keep Sacred Heart Prep on its heels. The winner will most likely decide the regular season champion in the Peninsula Bay League.

Menlo-Atherton hung tough and battled back after giving 28 unanswered points to trail 28-7 before narrowing the deficit to 28-21 at the half. The offense was led by senior running back Isiah Nash who made several big runs while senior quarterback Brian Keare was versatile in both passing and scrambling. Senior Oliver Bucka deflected a few passes as a defensive end and also was a big target as a tight end.

Menlo-Atherton will face Menlo next week as both teams are battling for third place in the league. The Bears defense will have to tighten up as Menlo has scored over 40 points in seven of its eight games so far. Steve Hu

Oliver Bucka 6-foot-5, 225 pounds DE/TE Menlo-Atherton (2014): The senior was a big target going across the middle as a tight end and showed good hands catching the ball in traffic. With his height, Bucka also swatted a few passes and proved to be a good run stopper as well. At his height, Bucka is athletic enough that he could play at the college level.

Brian Keare 6-foot-2, 175 pounds QB Menlo-Atherton (2014): Keare played gritty as he was under pressure a lot. He was able to scramble out of trouble several times while making accurate passes. The senior threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one touchdown on the night.

Isiah Nash 6-foot-1, 195 pounds RB Menlo-Atherton (2014): Nash was a bruising running back with good size and adequate speed. His highlight play was an 81-yard catch and run that he eluded and outran the defense. He could project to be a fullback at the college level.

Domenic Ortisi, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds WR Terra Nova (2014): The senior wide receiver displayed good route running and sure hands as he was the favorite target for Gordon. Ortisi had one touchdown reception, but his impact was his ability to move the chains.

Nick Pierotti 6-foot-2, 215 pounds LB Terra Nova (2014): Pierotti quarterbacks the defense at the linebacker position for the Tigers. He had several big hits on defense and kick return coverage. The senior showed good instincts for tracking down the ball carrier on defense.

John Wallace, 6-foot-0, 195 pounds RB Terra Nova (2014): Wallace had three rushing touchdowns in the first half as he sat out the second half with a minor right leg injury. One of his touchdown runs was in the wildcat formation on fourth down that he took for 56 yards. Wallace has good strength and speed at the running back position.

Anthony Gordon 6-foot-2, 185 pounds QB Terra Nova (2015): Gordon ran the offense quite well and displayed a quick release, as he was able to make his reads. Gordon had three touchdown passes in the game. Only a junior, he could make a big leap if he can add size and strength, as he looked comfortable running the offense.