By Richard Paolinelli
MaxPreps.com
In Hollywood, the Golden Globes often serve as a prelude to which actors will be taking home Oscars in April.
In Central Coast Section boys soccer action the Homestead Christmas Cup tournament usually sports a field equal to that of the Section's end-of-season tournament and could be an indicator of which teams to watch out for come March.
The Alisal Trojans 2-0 victory over Watsonville to capture the title in the 40-team field just before Christmas may have sent a message to Bellarmine - the only top CCS team not in the event - that they will have some serious competition for the Section's Division I title.
The tournament began in 1990 as an eight-team tournament, expanded to 16 by 1994 and has increased incrementally ever since. The field is expected to increase to 48 as early as next year, especially if Alisal meets Bellarmine for the section crown later this spring.
Holiday Hoops Scene
Holiday tournament also highlighted the action on the hardcourts between Christmas and New Years and provided plenty of fireworks for basketball fans.
The Burlingame High girls team found itself matched up against two-time Division III section champion St. Ignatius in the championship game of the Leo LaRocca Sand Dune Classic in San Francisco.
The Panthers took an early lead over the Wildcats but couldn't hold off the St. Ignatius squad all night, eventually falling to the Wildcats 67-43.
A 26-point second quarter by St. Ignatius (8-2) ended any hopes of a Burlingame upset, but the Panthers left feeling that they had proved themselves despite the final score.
The Westmoor High girl's team posted a 64-48 victory over Sunrise Mountain High (8-3) from Chandler, Ariz., and captured the Seaside Sweet Sixteen Tournament championship. Westmoor (11-3) got a game-high 27 points from tournament MVP Rose Thompson.
Half Moon Bay (7-6) captured the consolation championship of the Surf `N Slam tournament in San Diego thanks to a 13-point effort from all-tournament selection Abby Enright in a 47-40 victory over Kentucky Country Day School from Louisville in the consolation championship game.
Terra Nova (9-4) traveled to Brentwood for the West Coast Jamboree and returned with a third-place trophy to show for their efforts thanks to 18-point efforts from both all-tournament players Stephanie Lum and Val Broder, and another 17 points from Ekelani Laolagi for a 74-68 victory over San Joaquin Memorial in the Onyx Division.
Pacifica's other high school team, Oceana upended La Jolla's Bishop School 67-55 in the fifth-place of the same tournament.
The section's boys teams also fared well in tournament play over the holiday break with Menlo(10-3) reaching the finals of the Chaminade Christmas Classic before falling to Riordan 47-34.
At the Tim Cole Memorial, Serra captured the consolation title thanks to the efforts of Phoenix O'Rourke, 19 points, and Bobby McCarthy, who had 14.
Serra's boys soccer team also tasted victory over the holidays, capturing a 3-1 victory over Mountain View as Andy Mendez tallied all three of the Padres' goals.