By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
Artesia Emerges as No. 1
The Artesia boys basketball team entered the season with a roster full of future collegiate players, a daunting schedule, and a goal - capturing California's Division III title at Arco Arena in March.
After a convincing, 60-41, victory over St. Mary's of Stockton Saturday night, the Pioneers can sit back and enjoy what truly was a dream season for the Lakewood school.
"To beat the teams we beat and have the kind of season that we did, we feel like we are one of the best teams in the country," Artesia head coach Scott Pera said Tuesday.
The Pioneers finished 33-1, ranked No. 1 in the state of California and No. 3 nationally by MaxPreps. Artesia knocked off teams from Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, as well as in-state powers Fairfax, San Joaquin Memorial, Santa Margarita (twice), and Westchester.
"Our kids worked very hard on concentrating on the next thing all season," Pera said. "We didn't get caught up in talking about what people expect from us. It was always about our next opponent and getting better."
Junior swingman James Harden, who is being recruited by Division I powers Connecticut, Texas, and UCLA, led Artesia in scoring at nearly 19 points per game, but was far from the team's only threat. Super sophomore Malik Story, already committed to Southern California, and point guard Derek Glasser also averaged double figures. Big man Shawntell Norman, a 6-11, 300-pound center, was an intimidating presence in the paint.
"I don't think I could ever have a better combination," Pera said. "Obviously we had tremendous talent, a great point guard, coachable kids. This group had all the ingredients."
With Harden and Story returning, along with juniors A.J. Gasporra and Tremayne Johnson, and sophomore guard Jason Pruitt (7.5 points per game), the Pioneers could be eyeing a return to Sacramento next year. But that can wait.
"We are still in celebration mode right now," Pera said. "We are three days away and just enjoying what we have accomplished. We will talk about that in a few weeks."
Changing of the Guard
Illinois' Class AA state basketball title was pursued by a trio of All-American-caliber guards this season, John Scheyer of Glenbrook North, Sherron Collins of Crane Tech, and Derrick Rose of Simeon. In the end, youth won out.
Scheyer and Collins, both seniors, led their schools to the AA finals a year ago and were undoubtedly anticipating a return in 2006. But instead it was Rose, just a junior, upstaging the Land of Lincoln's biggest stars and leading Simeon of Chicago to its first state title since 1984. Rose connected on the game-winner with eight seconds left to lift Simeon past Richwood, 31-29, in overtime, Saturday night in Peoria.
Scheyer, headed to Duke next fall, saw his dreams of back-to-back state titles end in the quarterfinals as Rose and Simeon held him to 18 points (11 below his season average) in a 61-44 loss.
Rose was also a thorn in the side of Collins and Crane Tech this season, taking two of three meetings, including a 31-point thrashing in the Chicago Public Schools Tournament.
All in the Family
When senior Theresa Lisch of Althoff High School in Belleville, Ill., was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Girls Player of the Year, it marked the fourth time in five years that a member of the Lisch family took home the honor - and it may not be the last.
Theresa was also named the top girls player in the St. Louis-area as a junior, while sister Stephanie earned the title in 2002 and 2003.
Basketball is obviously in the blood with the Lisch's. After racking up a school-record 2,629 points at Althoff, Stephanie went on to become the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year at Indiana State in 2004. Now a junior, Stephanie is ISU's second-leading scorer, averaging 10.1 points per game and helping the Sycamores to a 27-6 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
It doesn't stop there. Brother Kevin is a freshman guard for Saint Louis University, starting 19 games and averaging 11.1 points per game for the 16-12 Billikens. Kevin closed out his prep career by averaging over 24 points per game as a senior and being named Illinois' Class A Player of the Year.
Carrying the torch at the high school level will be a fourth sibling, Daniel - a sophomore at Belleville West High this year.
Back to where this story all started, Theresa averaged 21 points per game this season, leading Althoff to a 33-2 record and a trip to the state finals. She will join Kevin at Saint Louis University next fall and is expected to play a major role in helping turn around a team that recorded a 7-20 record in 2006.
Tuna Contacts Dodge
The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that the architect behind one of the nation's most successful high school football programs was interviewed by legendary NFL head coach Bill Parcells for an opening with the Dallas Cowboys.
Todd Dodge, head coach at Southlake Carroll High School near Dallas, was considered by Parcells for the vacant tight ends coaching position. Parcells and the Cowboys opted for another candidate, disappointing rivals of the Texas prep powerhouse.
Dodge has guided the Dragons to a 63-1 record over the past four seasons, with state titles in 2002, 2004, and 2005. Southlake Carroll should be potent again in 2006 with potential stars in senior defensive back Arius Ford and junior running back Tre' Newton. Dodge's son, Riley, is expected to man the quarterback position.
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