Prep Rally: Southern California Dominates Top Divisions At State Basketball Finals

Hi, and invited to different version of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. The champions person been crowned successful precocious schoolhouse hoops and soccer. What a play it was successful Sacramento.

Champions

Damien players observe their authorities Division I boys’ hoops title triumph complete Folsom astatine nan Golden 1 Center successful Sacramento connected March 13, 2026.

(Greg Stein)

In nan highest divisions astatine nan CIF authorities championships astatine Golden 1 Center successful Sacramento, Southern California hoops teams proceed to dominate.

Sierra Canyon and Ontario Christian were crowned Open Division boys and girls champions, respectively. Sierra Canyon overcame nan nonaccomplishment of Maxi Adams to an ankle wounded successful nan first 4th to conclusion Richmond Salesian 78-70. Here’s the report.

Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian gets affectional successful nan first half astatine Golden 1 Center against Archbishop Mitty.

(Greg Stein)

Ontario Christian received different standout capacity from inferior defender Kaleena Smith to conclusion Archbishop Mitty 56-49. Here’s the report.

Damien won Division I for coach Mike LeDuc. Here’s the report. Corona Centennial’s one-two punch of Sydney Douglas and Cyndee Bryant led nan Huskies to nan Division I girls title. Here’s the report.

Sylmar and Birmingham came up short trying to go nan first City Section teams from nan San Fernando Valley to triumph authorities titles. Sylmar was beaten successful Division V. Here’s the report. Birmingham settled for runner-up successful Division III. Here’s the report.

El Dorado’s girls’ squad collapsed done successful Division III. Here’s the report.

Soccer

Garfield goalkeeper Javier Zarate gets his photograph taken pinch CIF executive head Ron Nocetti astatine authorities shot finals. Garfield mislaid 2-0 successful Division V.

(CIF)

Garfield was beaten successful nan Division V authorities boys last 2-0 by Branson. But sophomore goalie Javier Zarate continues to impress. Here’s a look astatine his impact.

Mater Dei deserves nan sanction shot schoolhouse of nan West. The Monarchs won boys and girls authorities titles successful Division I. The boys defeated Salinas Everett Alvarez 2-1. The girls defeated unbeaten Bishop O’Dowd 2-0. Los Alamitos won Division III boys complete Watsonville 1-0. Irvine University won Division IV 3-2.

Baseball

Freshman Louis Lappe of Harvard-Westlake receives congratulations aft his first precocious schoolhouse hit.

(Craig Weston)

Freshman Louis Lappe of Harvard-Westlake, nan erstwhile El Segundo Little League prima who gained nationalist fame for his walk-off location tally astatine nan Little League World Series successful 2023, deed his first precocious schoolhouse location tally connected Wednesday.

Let’s conscionable opportunity he was a small excited.

Brody Schumaker of Santa Margarita had 4 hits, including a expansive slam, and 7 RBIs successful a triumph complete Los Osos. He has struck retired erstwhile successful 34 at-bats.

Landon Hovermale of Norco has allowed nary runs successful 18 2/3 innings this season.

(Nick Koza)

Norco has 1 of nan hottest pitchers astir successful Landon Hovermale, who has fixed up nary runs successful 18 2/3 innings. Here was his latest performance.

Foothill pitchers person thrown 3 consecutive shutouts.

There’s each denotation that nan Southern Section is going to present a caller playoff format for Division 1 shot only. It’s expected to beryllium a 16-team tourney surgery into 4 pools pinch double elimination starring to nan quarterfinals pinch nan apical 2 teams successful each excavation advancing, followed by azygous elimination. The shot advisory committee has been pushing for specified a tourney successful Division 1 for years.

Here’s this week’s apical 25 rankings by The Times.

Softball

Emily Yoon of El Dorado threw a no-hitter successful a triumph complete Villa Park successful a convention opener.

Here’s last week’s apical 20 softball rankings, pinch unbeaten Murrieta Mesa starring nan way.

Track and field

Benjamin Harris of Servite turned connected nan velocity astatine Redondo Union connected Saturday, moving a upwind ineligible 10.27 seconds successful nan 100 meters.

One of nan astir versatile way and section athletes this play has to beryllium inferior Davis Benson of Moorpark. He’s putting up bully marks successful a assortment of events. He’s already group schoolhouse records successful nan 110 hurdles of 14.30 and nan 300 hurdles successful 38.82. And he’s gearing up for a precocious jump showdown later successful nan play pinch Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s JJ Harel. Benson has gone 6-10.

Carson’s Jayden Rendon stamped himself arsenic a authorities contender successful nan 110 hurdles pinch a clip of 13.91 astatine Redondo Union.

Lawrence Kensinger of Venice, different pupil of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame throwing coach Nick Garcia, is closing successful connected 60 feet successful nan shotput. He recorded a career-best 59-8.

Jaslene Massey of Aliso Niguel, already No. 1 successful nan authorities successful nan discus, won nan Nike Indoor Nationals successful nan shotput astatine 54-2.75, seventh-best people successful California history. She besides sewage a people of 188-7 successful nan discus, second-best all-time.

Loyola’s Ejam Yohannes ran 400 meters successful a state-leading 46.24. It was a schoolhouse record.

Bob Johnson dies

Former Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson died past week. He was 80.

(Los Angeles Times)

High schoolhouse shot fans crossed Southern California were offering memories of Hall of Fame coach Bob Johnson aft his passing Wednesay. He was 80.

Johnson won 9 Southern Section titles coaching astatine Mission Viejo and El Toro.

Here’s the report.

Notes . . .

One of nan champion sporting events of nan twelvemonth happens Friday nighttime erstwhile volleyball powers Mira Costa and Loyola look disconnected astatine Mira Costa. . . .

Alfred Rowe has resigned aft 1 play arsenic shot coach astatine Long Beach Jordan. . . .

Earl Sanchez has resigned arsenic hoops coach astatine Sierra Vista. . . .

Former Gardena Serra and UCLA tight extremity Caleb Wilson has been hired arsenic an adjunct coach astatine Colorado State nether erstwhile UCLA coach Jim Mora Jr. . . .

Luis Cruz Jr. is nan caller shot coach astatine Sunny Hills. . . .

The apical shot subordinate successful nan authorities for adjacent season, Honor Fa’alave-Johnson of Cathedral Catholic, announced he has committed to USC.

From nan archives: Mason Edwards

In 2023, Left-hander Mason Edwards of Palisades was 1 apical pitchers successful nan City Section. Now he’s nan ace astatine USC.

(Steve Galluzzo)

Mason Edwards, a inferior astatine USC from Palisades High, is disconnected to 1 of nan champion starts by a pitcher successful nan nation. He entered past week having allowed nary runs and only 3 hits successful 24 innings while signaling a 3-0 record. He gave up his first tally of nan play connected Friday. He’s left-handed and has 42 strikeouts. He throws betwixt 90 and 93 mph.

Edwards has continued to amended astatine USC since his get successful nan autumn of 2023.

Recommendations

From nan Players Tribune, erstwhile El Toro pitcher pitcher Paul Skenes offers proposal to Little Leaguers.

From nan Daily Bruin, a communicative connected Brentwood hoops coach Ryan Bailey, a erstwhile UCLA hoops standout.

From nan Los Angeles Times, a communicative connected erstwhile Chatsworth defender Alijah Arenas keeping his NBA dreams alive.

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Until adjacent time....

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