Foothills Christian boys basketball rapidly rebuilds in San Diego

For four years Foothills Christian (El Cajon) ran with the CIF-SDS elite, stacking up four consecutive Division V section championships. A year ago, Foothills dribbled all the way to the SoCal semifinals where the Knights eventually were eliminated by Los Angeles Windward 78-73 in overtime.

The mainstays of that star-studded cast have since graduated, leaving coach Brad Leaf to rebuild his one-time power. This guy is an architect – a master of the basketball blueprint.

Not surprisingly, it has been a gradual building of the blocks, but the results are beginning to tell of Leaf's handiwork. Fact is, Leaf isn't afraid to say it – "We are a different team than we were in the Grossmont Christmas Classic in December."

Interpretation: Leaf meant "better."

Much better, in fact, as the Knights crushed El Cajon Christian, 61-44, in a nonleague game. When these teams met on Dec. 21, the Knights escaped with a 48-47 win.

The Knights won only four of their first nine games (on the court despite being tagged with five forfeits). They have since won 11 of 14.

Granted, Foothills Christian (officially 12-11) is barreling its way through the hapless Citrus South League with ease. Leaf, who coached teams at Foothills and Steele Canyon before that, is closing in on a sixth league championship in seven years. During that stretch the only time one of his clubs failed to wear a league crown was when it was allowed independent status one season.

"My guys are working hard to get better and I know for sure that we are a completely stronger team than we were six weeks ago," Leaf said. "We are going the right direction. We are raising our intensity big time."

Foothills Christian is riding a 37-game winning streak in the Citrus South League.

Led by muscular 6-foot-6, 215-pound sophomore Jamal Aytes, who banged in 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds against Christian, the Knights maintained a steady lead with an 8-to-10 point margin most of the evening.

"This was a great game to play in," Aytes said. "We had an exceptional crowd and that made the intensity even higher."

Aytes figures to be a Division I prospect by the time he's a senior. He understands the game and contributes in all phases.

"I really like getting my teammates the ball," he said. "When I can do that it helps them gain more confidence."

Junior guard Dalton Mosser, who punched in 15 points, logged five assists, and recorded four steals, has grown into a solid floor leader for Foothills Christian.

"He is really coming on," Leaf said. "He's settling down, becoming the leader we need out there. He can handle pressure now and is distributing the ball well."

Mosser mostly watched from the bench last year when Troy Leaf (now at UC Santa Barbara), Kalob Hatcher (Irvine Valley CC) and 6-7 center Jvonte Brooks handled the Foothills leadership.

"Playing in a game like this is tons of fun," Mosser said. "We don't get that much competition in our league. But regardless of who we play, we just work hard to get better."

Filling the shoes of Hatcher – the state's all-time leading assist man – has been no small chore for Mosser.

"Of course I like to score," Mosser admitted. "But I also like paying attention to getting my teammates the ball as much as I can. I know I'm trying to fill some big shoes, but I'm giving it my best."

Not to be overlooked was the sharp shooting of Caleb Hoffman, who nailed four 3-pointers on his way to a 16-point finish.

"He's a freshman," coach Leaf remarked. "So you can see we have a bright future. But our goal now is getting better for this year. That's as far ahead as I want to look."

Aytes and Mosser have seen their playing time cut short on occasion due to the lopsided nature of these circuit contests.

"In those games I try to focus on areas of my game where I can get better rather than concern myself with the outcome," Aytes said.

MOUNT MIGUEL GIRLS CAGERS CONTINUE DYNASTY
When it comes time to award Grossmont League girls basketball championships, Mount Miguel (Spring Valley) coach Robbie Sandoval is at the front of the line. It's not like Sandoval sits there and counts up victories, but he knows his teams are better than the majority of those he faces. And he's not one to set a soft schedule.

Thus, following Friday's 61-54 Grossmont Valley League victory over hard-charging Spring Valley Monte Vista, Sandoval has all but wrapped up his 11th straight league title in as many years as he has coached the Matadors.

One thing Sandoval can count on when games are important is the performance of seniors Danielle Miller and Myishia Watkins. He wasn't disappointed Friday night as Watkins hit 7 of 16 shots from the floor – including a pair of 3-pointers – and all four free throws for a 20-point output to go along with six assists. Miller also scored 20 points, many of which came off her nine steals.

But the unsung hero of this victory was Chantel Yell, who tallied a career-high 10 points – seven of which came in the pivotal fourth quarter.

Three games remain in Mount Miguel's Grossmont Valley League season. A sweep is all but a sure thing, which, if it does unfold that way, would elevate Sandoval's league ledger to 101-1.

Sandoval is hardly a statistician.

"Really?" he said when informed by the UNLV-bound Miller. "I've never thought about stuff like that."

RANCHO BUENA VISTA'S DYNAMIC MR. DEE
Senior guard Johnny Dee of Rancho Buena Vista continues to be the darling of boys basketball in the San Diego Section. In his last two outings Dee has scored 72 points as the Longhorns swept past El Camino and La Costa Canyon.

Dee owns a section-best 32.7 scoring average including 82 3-pointers. Fourteen times in 24 games he has scored 30 or more points. Five times he has broken the 40-point barrier.

DESERT FOOTBALL SIGNING PLUS TWO
Don't think major college recruiters have blinders on when it comes to small schools or visiting isolated campuses in their quest for talent.

Case in point is Calipatria's 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back Cedric Thompson, who signed his national letter of intent to play at the University of Minnesota. Thompson is the first Imperial Valley League football player to earn a free ride to the Big Ten Conference.

"Since I was a kid I always wanted to play for the bigger colleges in the divisions like the Big Ten but I wasn't always sure I was going to make it." Thompson said. "When I got to Calipatria as a sophomore I never thought I'd be able to make it but I worked hard and got better as a junior and a senior and with all the support I had behind me I was able to make it happen."

Thompson played running back and safety at Calipatria but he will be making the move to safety, at least for the first year at Minnesota, and he is ready for the challenges ahead of him.

"Before every high school game I prayed and went out and played for my team — not for college or myself, for my team — and I think that's going to help me over there." Thompson said. "I'm ready to play. I think it's going to take a lot more hard work but for me football is football and I'm just ready to play."

Other late signees include 6-foot-7, 290-pound Mount Miguel lineman Reggie Jones (San Diego State) and Grossmont High quarterback DeSean Waters, who inked a pact with NCAA Division II Bemidji State (Minn.).

CIF-SDS COMMISSIONER AKERMAN IS STEPPING DOWN
CIF San Diego Section commissioner Dennis Ackerman finalized an agreement with the section's board of managers on his retirement schedule.

Ackerman, who earlier announced he was stepping down upon the expiration of his current two-year contract on June 30, agreed to stay on through Oct. 3 – his 60th birthday – to allow him time to train his replacement.

"I asked to have the contract extended to help the new guy, and I would have been surprised if they hadn't agreed to that,'' Ackerman told The North County Times. "I guess I could have asked to go through the football finals at Qualcomm (Stadium), but October seemed like a good time to go.''

The extra three months will also give the board additional time to find a successor.

Ackerman joined the CIF-SDS in 1996, serving five years as assistant commissioner under Jan Jessop, then taking over the top spot upon her retirement in 2001.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
* After suffering a fractured hip in December, junior Josh Miranda of Poway showed he is as good as new by posting a 7-0 decision in the 121-pound title bout in the of the Otay Ranch Invitational wrestling meet.

* Junior Shane Dillon scored a game-high 21 points and snagged 11 rebounds to pace El Cajon Christian in a nonleague duel against Foothills Christian.

* Mission Hills senior Hunter Moore punched out 13 points with three 3-pointers in a 70-46 win over San Pasqual and 19 points with two 3-pointers in a 56-51 overtime victory over Vista.

* Six-foot-5 senior Dominique Miller of El Cajon Valley ripped off a career high 33 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished six assists in a Grossmont Valley League boys basketball game against Santana.

* Junior goalie Julia Hermann of Torrey Pines logged 18 saves in an 11-3 win over Granite Hills in the semifinals and 12 more in a 10-4 loss to Bishop's in the championship match of the San Diego Girls Water Polo Open. Sheearned first-team all-tournament honors.

* Poway sharp-shooting senior guard Katie Kuklok poured in 39 points as the Titans notched wins over Westview and Mt. Carmel.

* Bishop's 6-foot-3 freshman Imani Littleton tossed in 16 points and corralled 20 rebounds in 54-36 win over El Camino.

* Melissa Allen of Mission Hills knocked down 40 points as the Grizzlies swept past Vista and San Pasqual to move into first place in the Avocado East League.

COMING ATTRACTIONS
The San Diego scene offers a couple of mainstream contests involving girls teams this week. On Thursday in a key Eastern League game, Henry (San Diego) (14-8, 5-1) visits San Diego (17-5, 5-0) at 6 p.m. On Saturday an interesting nonleague encounter pits Mission Bay (San Diego) (17-5) at La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) (20-3) at 7:30.

DICKENS' DEALINGS
One of 13 recipients of the CIF 2010-11 Model Coach Award winners is El Capitan (Lakeside) baseball coach Steve Vickery.

During his 38-year career, Vickery has coached football, boys and girls basketball, and girls softball as well as baseball. His baseball teams have captured 10 league championships, plus four CIF-SDS titles since 2002. His 588 career victories rank him third all-time among San Diego County hardball skippers.

Now in its 10th year, the CIF Model Coach Award program is designed to recognize coaches who have served as positive role models in their schools and communities. The winners were nominated through their local CIF Section office.

Long-time Granite Hills (El Cajon) tennis coach Patty Tibbitts was also among those recognized.