MaxWire National Blog

Covering High School Sports in America

Tag: California Los Angeles City Section Basketball

Apr. 14^th
Richard Samudio belts his first 4 home runs - in one game

File photo by Steve Silva
Richard Samudio, San Pedro
Senior Richard Samudio never had hit a home run - until Saturday.

Once he got the "scent," however, Samudio belted an amazing four home runs as San Pedro (Calif.) routed Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.) 24-7 during pool play in the San Fernando Tournament.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound first baseman batted a perfect 6-for-6 and drove in eight runs. He collected two of his home runs - including a grand slam - during a nine-run seventh inning. Three of his team members also hit for the distance.

Samudio told the Daily Breeze, "I never thought that was going to happen. After each one, I was just thinking, 'Hopefully I'll get another one' and I just took my hacks and hit some."

San Pedro coach Lefty Olguin added, "He's been hitting all year. He's a line-drive hitter. But I've personally in my 30 years of coaching never seen anyone hit four home runs."

*Junior shortstop Daniel Patzlaff hit four straight home runs over a two-game span against Huntington Beach (Calif.) - two in his final two trips to the plate as Fountain Valley (Calif.) posted a 12-11 win and two in his first two at-bats during a 9-8 win. The 5-9, 170-pounder had only one homer previously this year.

*Javier Alvarez pitched a perfect game as Lakewood (Calif.) blanked West Torrance (Torrance, Calif.) 7-0. He struck out eight and went to a 3-ball count just once.

*In softball, Brittaney Dahle struck out 21 batters as Wake Forest-Rolesville (Wake Forest, N.C.) nipped Millbrook (Raleigh, N.C.) 2-1 in eight innings.

*Senior Katie Sutherland-Finch struck out 19 and yielded just one hit as Glencoe (Hillsboro, Ore.) blanked Century (Hillsboro, Ore.) 5-0. Just for good measure, she slammed a two-run homer and drove in four runs.

*Coach Jo Ann Byrd notched her 600th victory as Corona (Calif.) defeated Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 3-1.
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By Dave KriderApr. 14^th, 2013, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Baseball, California, California Baseball
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Daniel Patzlaff, Richard Samudio, Brittaney Dahle, Javier Alvarez, Wake Forest-Rolesville, Glencoe, San Pedro, Fountain Valley, Lakewood, Corona
Mar. 8^th
Friday Playoff Rundown: Simeon slams Whitney Young in Illinois 4A playoffs

File photo by Jann Hendry
Jabari Parker notched 29 points and 13 rebounds Friday night to help Simeon advance past rival Whitney Young in the Illinois Class 4A state tournament.
In a highly anticipated rematch between nationally ranked rivals, No. 11 Simeon (Chicago) ran away from No. 5 Whitney Young (Chicago) 69-51 in an Illinois Class 4A sectional final game Friday night.

Senior phenom Jabari Parker may have turned in his best performance of the season for the victorious Wolverines (27-3), tallying 29 points and 13 rebounds.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Simeon went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter that put things out of reach.

The Wolverines also beat the Dolphins (27-4) in January 44-41. A state playoff do over seemed inevitable and anticipation heightened when Simeon was knocked out of the city tournament in the semifinals by Morgan Park, who went on to face Whitney Young in the final.

Simeon is marching toward its fourth straight Class 4A state title. The Windy City powerhouse needs three more victories – including a super sectional meeting with New Trier (Winnetka) on Tuesday – to make it happen.

Other ranked teams in action Friday

* No. 2 Germantown improved to 27-0 and advanced to Wisconsin's Division 1 state title game with an 80-60 win over Oshkosh North. Future Indiana Hoosier Luke Fischer piled up 32 points and 16 rebounds in the win.

* West Linn stunned previously unbeaten No. 3 Lake Oswego 37-36 in Oregon's Class 6A state semifinals. The upset is being discussed as one of the biggest in state postseason history.

* Senior Martez Walker hit a shot at the buzzer to help No. 8 Pershing (Detroit) beat Cass Tech (Detroit) in a Michigan Class A district final. The Doughboys improved to 23-0 on the season.

* No. 9 Iowa City West beat Dubuque to set up a battle of unbeatens Saturday in Iowa's Class 4A state title game. The Trojans – who have won 51 games in a row – will meet 25-0 Bettendorf.

* No. 13 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) dominated El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) 79-54 in the opening round of California's new open division championship.

* In another game that ended on a buzzer beater, Oregon-bound senior Jordan Bell hit the game-winner as No. 15 Long Beach Poly got past St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 61-59. The Jackrabbits will now face aforementioned Mater Dei in a Tuesday showdown.

* No. 18 Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park) led 40-12 at the half and cruised to a 73-36 win over Derby in the Kansas 6A semifinals.

* No. 21 Morgan Park reached the Illinois 3A super sectionals with a 67-31 win over Perspectives Charter (Chicago).

* Simeon's potential four-peat is child's play for No. 25 Miller Grove (Lithonia), who won its fifth Georgia state title in a row with a 61-57 championship game victory over Gainesville. Incredibly, it was a freshman in Alterique Gilbert leading the Wolverines with 19 points as head coach Sharman White got one for the thumb.

* Tied with Miller Grove for the No. 25 spot last week, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) beat Steele (Cibolo) 60-43 to advance to Saturday's Texas Class 5A state championship game against Fort Bend Travis (Richmond).
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By Jason HickmanMar. 8^th, 2013, 10:00 P1 Comment
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Basketball, California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, California Basketball, Georgia Basketball, Iowa Basketball, Illinois Basketball, Kansas Basketball, Michigan Basketball, Oregon Basketball, Texas Basketball, Wisconsin Basketball
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Luke Fischer, Alterique Gilbert, Martez Walker, Jabari Parker, Jordan Bell, Pershing, Iowa City West, South Grand Prairie, Blue Valley Northwest, West Linn
Mar. 8^th
Canoga Park boys soccer makes improbable run to SoCal Regional final

File photo by Vince Pugliese
Paul Leiva (right) and Canoga Park have put together an improbable run and can cap it off with a regional title tonight.
Need proof that the regular season isn't everything?

Canoga Park (Calif.) had an eight-game winless streak at one point this season and finished fifth in the Valley Mission League. Now the Hunters are in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern California Regional Soccer Championships final.

There is no state title in California, so the regional final is the pinnacle.

The Hunters (15-10-4, 4-5-3) were cruising at 7-3 before hitting a tough spot that saw them go 0-7-1. A 3-0-2 push got them into the Los Angeles City Section playoffs, and that was the start of the magic.

Four victories earned them the City Section title, and they bested Coronado 2-0 to advance in the regionals before gutting out a 3-1 penalty-kick victory over Servite (Anaheim) to get to tonight's final against San Jacinto (26-2-3).

See the MaxPreps SoCal Regional Soccer brackets

Coach Jake Gwin told the LA Daily News: "I try telling them it's a bigger stage, but it falls on deaf ears I think. This group of kids seem to be immune to pressure, or rather, maybe my guidance has helped them learn to use the pressure, the 'stage' whatever you want to call it and focus it as much into positive energy as possible.

"For high school, I don't think there can be more pressure or more of a stage than we dealt with Wednesday against Servite. I was very impressed with the maturity of our group. They are ready for (tonight's) challenge."

Bryan Suarez scored the only goal in the Servite win, on a penalty kick in the 48th minute. Servite tied the game in stoppage time. Freshman Ezequiel Quijada leads the team with an amazing 27 goals.

See the MaxPreps national boys soccer leaderboard

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By Leland GordonMar. 8^th, 2013, 10:56 A1 Comment
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Soccer, California, California Soccer
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Ezequiel Quijada, Bryan Suarez, Canoga Park, Los Angeles City Section Soccer
Feb. 24^th
Jahlil Okafor has 21 points, 7 rebounds in his church

Highly recruited Jahlil Okafor had a very unusual experience Saturday night - he played a regular-season basketball game at his church.

Photo by Ken Rutt
Jahlil Okafor, Whitney Young
The 6-foot-11, 270-pound junior scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds while leading Whitney Young (Chicago) to a 61-46 victory over Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) during the City-Suburban Showdown. He also held Benet's talented 6-9 junior, Sean O'Mara, to 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting.

The site was House of Hope Arena, a 10,000-seat church that was rearranged so a basketball game could be played there.

Okafor told the Chicago Tribune, "This is actually the church I attend. I was kind of hoping I had a good game here. It looks totally different. It was really weird when I walked in the gym and saw all that open space. It was unique."

* Six-foot-3 senior forward Ahlisha Henderson had 30 points and an amazing 38 rebounds on Saturday as Reseda (Calif.) defeated Gardena (Calif.) 50-35 during the Los Angeles City Section Division III semifinals. Henderson is averaging 31.8 points and 32 rebounds - with three games of more than 40 rebounds - this season.
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By Dave KriderFeb. 24^th, 2013, 10:06 PAdd a Comment
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Basketball
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Jahlil Okafor, Ahlisha Henderson, Reseda, Whitney Young, Los Angeles City Section Girls Basketball
Jan. 28^th
Video: Crowd goes crazy for one-handed 3/4 court buzzer beater

Who says JV games aren't as exciting as varsity games?

Sophomore Angel Saldana provided a thrill for the crowd as the clock ticked down in Reseda High School's JV basketball game at Beverly Hills High.

There may not be many spectators in the stands, but those that were in attendance went absolutely insane when the 3/4-court one-handed heave went through the net.

Watch the shot below, and listen to the crowd erupt afterwards.

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By Colin Ward-HenningerJan. 28^th, 2013, 05:28 PAdd a Comment
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Basketball, California, California Basketball
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Reseda, Los Angeles City Section Basketball
Dec. 29^th
Video: MaxPreps Holiday Classic

Check out highlights of Ryan Lough, a 5-foot-8 guard from King (Riverside, Calif.) who won the dunk contest at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic on Friday night.

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This is Ronnie Pinkerton from Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.)

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By Staff ReportDec. 29^th, 2012, 08:00 PAdd a Comment
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Basketball
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Ryan Lough, Ronnie Pinkerton, Fort Bend Travis, Cardinal Hayes, Westchester, King, Los Angeles City Section Basketball, Region III Basketball, Southern Section Basketball, Catholic Basketball
Dec. 23^rd
Tyra Buss scores 49 points in championship game

Courtesy photo
Tyra Buss, Mt. Carmel
Mt. Carmel (Ill.) nipped Bosse (Evansville, Ind.) 77-76 in overtime on Saturday night to win the Toyota Gibson County Teamwork Classic in Oakland City, Ind. The victory gave the Aces a perfect 16-0 record.

Mt. Carmel's outstanding junior guard, Tyra Buss, scored the winning point on a free throw with 26.4 seconds left and finished the game with 49 points. The 5-foot-7 standout, who is among the nation's leading scorers, shot 15-ot-31 from the field and 17-of-24 from the free throw line.

Buss told the Evansville Courier & Press, "I twisted my ankle. I came down on it wrong. I played through the pain. You start playing and you forget about it. I knew Bosse would come at me the whole game. I wanted the ball in my hands."

Janisha Lindsey led the Bulldogs with 31 points.

*Ahlisha Henderson is entering the spotlight as a senior at Reseda (Calif.).

On Friday the 6-3 forward compiled 27 points 22 rebounds and six blocks to help her team defeat Chatrsworth (Calif.) 47-30 in the championship game of the Reseda Winter Shootout. Her other games produced 47, 41 and 38 points to finish the four-game tournament with a dominating 38.2 average.
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By Dave KriderDec. 23^rd, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Girls Basketball
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Ahlisha Henderson, Tyra Buss, Reseda, Mt. Carmel, Los Angeles City Section Girls Basketball
Nov. 12^th
MNF video rewind: Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs

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Veteran quarterback Matt Cassel was a two-sport prep star in Southern California.
Quarterback Matt Cassel's ascent to starting in the NFL has been anything but typical.

A two-sport star at Chatsworth High School (Calif.), Cassel had his choice of colleges at which to play either baseball or football. Rather than enrolling at a smaller program where playing time was all-but guaranteed, Cassel chose to play football at national powerhouse USC.

After redshirting as a freshman in 2000, he was buried on the depth chart behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, and Cassel graduated in 2005 having never started a college game.

Despite not earning much playing time at USC, Cassel's skills were apparent to the New England Patriots, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. There he found himself behind star quarterback Tom Brady, one of the best to ever play the position.

Cassel finally received his opportunity during Week 1 of the 2008 season, when Brady was lost for the season after suffering a devastating knee injury. Cassel, having not started a game since high school, took over to lead the Patriots to an 11-5 regular season. That offseason the Patriots signed Cassel to a large contract, and eventually traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs who made him their starting quarterback.

Cassel has become a dependable game manager, and made the Pro Bowl in 2010. You can catch him and his Kansas City Chiefs in action tonight against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

See where Cassel's long, strange journey began in the video below.

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By Colin Ward-HenningerNov. 12^th, 2012, 04:30 PAdd a Comment
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Football
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Chatsworth, Los Angeles City Section Football
Oct. 20^th
Sean Murphy passes for 470 yards, record six TDs

Both quarterbacks passed for over 400 yards Friday night, but Valencia (Calif.) won the Foothill League showdown with a 54-41 victory over Canyon (Canyon Country).

Photo by Larry Gasinski
Sean Murphy, Valencia
The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Sean Murphy completed 26 of 38 passes for 470 yards and a school-record six touchdowns to lead Valencia. He had amassed 288 yards and three touchdowns by halftime and now has 2,405 yards and 27 touchdowns this year. He threw two scoring passes each to Malik Townsend and sophomore Jay Jay Wilson.

Canyon junior quarterback Cade Apsay held his own by completing 21 of 40 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. By halftime he had accounted for 254 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to running for a pair of touchdowns. He now has 2,554 yards and 30 touchdowns this year.

Already holder of one state receiving record, Canyon's Drew Wolitarsky made six catches for 95 yards and now is within 19 catches of tying Steve Smith's state record for career catches.
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By Dave KriderOct. 20^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Football, California, California Football
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Cade Apsay, Drew Wolitarsky, Malik Townsend, Jay Jay Wilson, Sean Murphy, Valencia, Venice, Canyon, Los Angeles City Section Football, Southern Section Football
Sep. 23^rd
One day later, McMillin's pressure PAT gives Pickerington Central win

File photo by Jim Owens
Taco Charlton, Pickerington Central
Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) sophomore placekicker Devon McMillin apparently has a heavy dose of ice water in his veins.
The 6-foot, 170-pounder was set to kick an extra point with 1:12 remaining and his team tied with Reynoldsburg (Ohio) 20-20. However, flashes of lightning suddenly forced officials to halt the game and eventually reschedule the finish for Saturday morning, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

So, he had all night to think about the big kick. Adding pressure when the game started Reynoldsburg jumped offside on the first play, then was penalized on the second try for unnecessary roughness. On the third try, though, the nervy youngster's kick split the uprights for a 21-20 lead.

Taco Charlton, a 6-6, 255-pound senior linebacker, then insured the victory with two tackles for losses, squelching the Raiders' final drive.

The Tigers actually trailed 20-7 with 4:42 left in the third quarter, but scored twice in the fourth period to set up Saturday's heroics.

*Cane Ridge (Nashville, Tenn.) defeated McGavock (Nashville, Tenn.) 32-20 for the first time in four meetings. The Nashville Tennessean reported that the game ball was presented to Cane Ridge principal Michel Wall. Her husband, Robbin Wall, is the principal at McGavock and had been used to winning in the past.

*The Los Angeles Daily News reported that Jordan Dascalo kicked a school-record five field goals as Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.) defeated Saugus (Calif.) 48-20. He also set a record for longest field goal - 48 yards - in addition to connecting from distances of 43, 29, 29 and 27 yards. He is 7-for-9 during the season after going 3-for-5 last year. The national record is nine in a single game.
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By Dave KriderSep. 23^rd, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Football, Ohio, Ohio Football
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Andrew Meyer, Jordan Dascalo, Taco Charlton, Nygel Hairston, Taft, Cane Ridge, Pickerington Central, Los Angeles City Section Football