Boys' Baseball Extends Winning Streak To Seven Games

With a series sweep of the Westchester Comets and a dominant victory over the Venice Gondoliers, the Boys' Baseball team has quickly ascended the ladder in the Western League taking sole possession of second place in the process.
After beating up on the lower level league opponents to ignite their winning streak, the Cats pounded the Comets in a two game set. On Apr. 17, led by senior Jose Medina's 6 RBI day, the Cats scored sixteen runs en route to a 16-6 victory. A seven-run explosion by the Cats in the third inning quickly put the game out of the Comets' reach. In the second game of the series, on Apr. 20, the Comets put up a fight answering every scoring rally put up by the Cats. After a three run top half of the fifth inning put the Cats on top 5-2, the Comets answered with two in the bottom half of the inning and another run in the sixth inning to send the game into extra-innings. Junior Chris Navarro, who had four strikeouts in four previous plate appearances, won the game for the Cats with a sacrifice fly to left-field in the top of the ninth inning in his fifth at-bat.
A dominant 8-2 victory over the Gondoliers on Monday moved the Cats into second place in teh Western League. The Cats dominated from the outset as their first five batters reached base. Senior Stephon Brown knocked in Navarro for the early 1-0 advantage but the Gondos were able to escape a bases loaded situation after a double play groundout by sophomore Nolan Flashman. After not taking advantage of their first inning oppotunity, the Cats blew the game open in the second inning with a five run rally. Navarro drove in two runs with the bases loaded and one out. After a groundout by Medina, Brown drove in two more runs with a ground rule double into the ivy on Uni's Lower Field right-field wall. A flare single into right field by senior Michael Chun drove in Brown to extend the lead to 6-0.
"We've gotten better and worked hard on all areas of our game, especially hitting," said Brown.
Poor fielding, however, allowed the Gondos to maintain hope of a victory. Senior shortstop Justin Moore, who is the Cats' most touted star, had two errors and a critical mistake in the fourth allowed the Gondos to score two runs in that inning. Medina was able to get out of every jam he was in and a two run sixth inning put the game out of reach. "Every play hasn't been perfect but we seem to make up for it," said Brown. "Errors are going to happen, we just need to move on with it."
The Cats continue their final stretch of single game match-ups against league opponents tomorrow at home against the Fairfax Lions. The Cats will hope to avenge their 12-2 loss in their last meeting against the Lions. "After we started league 1-5 we thought to ourselve, 'This is not us, this is not the team we really are, and that we would not make playoffs playing like we were," said Brown. "After that we've just taken off and started winning."

STANDOUT PLAYER (vs. Westchester W 16-6, 4/17/09)
Although senior center-fielder Stephon Brown hit a three run homerun, his first of the season, senior pitcher/second baseman Jose Medina was the standout after going 3-5 with 6 RBI's with 1 stolen base.

STANDOUT PLAYER (@ Westchester W 6-5, 4/20/09)
Senior Justin Moore went 1-3 but walked twice, stole two bases and hit a triple in the bottom of the ninth inning which put him in position to score the game winning run on the sac. fly by Navarro.

STANDOUT PLAYER (vs. Venice W 8-2, 4/27/09)
Medina pitched a great game going seven innings, allowing two runs (one unearned), on six hits with six strikeouts, but Brown had a strong day at the plate, going 2-4 with a double, 3 RBI's and a run scored.

Four Game Winning Streak Keeps Baseball Playoff Hopes Alive

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT COMMITTMENT: Freshman Richard Caldaza (Top) gets caught in a rundown against LACES on Apr. 2. Junior Alex Fernandez (Bottom) continued the Cats' success against the Unicorns pitcher en route to a 9-1 win.

After a disappointing and inconsistent start to the season and league play, the Boys' Baseball team is rising with a four game winning streak as their season enters the final stretch.
The Cats are showing they have the skills to fulfill some of the high expectations from earlier in the season. With four All-League candidates in seniors Justin Moore, Jose Medina, Michael Chun and Stephon Brown, the Cats expected to challenge the rival Palisades Dolphins for the Western League title.
They showed their ability to compete with highly ranked opponents in their Mar. 5 home meeting against the perennial City powerhouse Roosevelt Roughriders. The Cats took the Roughriders the distance losing 1-0. Medina pitched a gem going seven innings, striking out seven and allowing only one unearned run. Although there have been bright spots such as Medina's performance against the Roughriders and the play of All-City candidate Justin Moore ( .528 BA/3 HR/8 RBI/15 R) the Cats have not been able to sustain success until this current four game streak.
Three losing streaks of three games or more, including a five game losing streak during the non-league schedule, and a 1-4 record in games decided by one run highlight the Cats inconsistency. The Cats' losing streaks have been fueled by a slumping offense. Throughout the Cats' five game losing streak from Mar. 3 to Mar. 11, the Cats were outscored 35-6 during that span.
League play has not been any easier for the Cats suffering sweeps at the hands of the Dolphins and the Venice Gondoliers, but their current four game winning streak has kept the Cats in the playoff hunt. Despite a 7-12 overall record, the Cats are 5-5 in league play which puts them in fourth place and trail second place by a half game.
Only one home and home series remains on the schedule for the Cats which begins on Apr. 17 at home against Westchester before the season ends with one game sets against every league opponent. If the Cats can continue their recent run, in which they have outscored the LACES Unicorns and Hamilton Yankees 17-5 over the last three games, and snatch second place from the hands of the Gondoliers and Fairfax Lions (who are tied for second at 4-3) then all of their early season struggles will be forgiven.

League Play Proving To Be Difficult For Girls' Softball

Boys' Baseball Struggling With Consistency

Nwaba Selected To All-City Second Team

Sophomore forward David Nwaba was named to the All-City Second Team after an outstanding season.
The standout sophomore makes it two straight years that a Wildcat has been made an All-City selection (former Wildcat center Kaimyn Pruitt was an All-City selection last season).
Nwaba averaged 14.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting a astounding 65% from the field this season.
Nwaba also raised his level of play in the postseason, producing memorable game-changing moments on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He averaged 19.2 points, nabbing 12.2 boards, with 3.3 blocks per game.
There is plenty of reason to believe Nwaba will only continue to get better.
He was the only sophomore named to either of the All-City teams in his first full season at the Varsity level. He was the Cats most athletic player and major post presence despite only being 6-3. Despite matching up against bigger players such as 6-10 USC commit Renardo Sidney, Nwaba still managed to lead the league in rebounding and blocked shots.
He should continue to grow in the final two years of high school and could develop into an even more dominating player if he gains a couple of inches and develops a consistent jump shot over the summer.

Boys' Basketball Falls At The Hands Of Eisenhower

A tremendous season for the Boys' Basketball ended with a 102-72 loss to the Eisenhower (Rialto) Eagles.
The Eagles, who have since gone on to claim the Southern California Division-II State Championship, used their high-powered offense to outlast the Cats for the victory. The Cats matched the Eagles intensity and offensive output early, ending the first quarter trailing closely, 26-21.
After the opening quarter, the Eagles conitnued to score in high numbers while the Cats, who scored in modest bunches, could not get enough defensive stops.
By halftime the Cats trailed 53-39 and the deficit would only continue to grow until the rout was complete.
In most games the 72 points scored by the Cats would have been enough to win or keep it close, but the Eagles are highly ranked and proved it by going on to win the entire tournament since the March 10 game.
Seniors Andre Harris and Alex Brooks and sophomore David Nwaba were the only Cats to score in double figures scoring 16, 15, and 14 points respectively. Nwaba also pulled down 10 boards.
It was a heartbreaking end for the Cats, mostly for the six departing seniors who have been able to witness the basketball program's return to relevance, with three straight deep playoff runs, an Invitational title in '07-'08 and the first ever appearance in a State playoff for any Wildcat team after a second place finish in the City Division-II playoffs.
More success looms in the future for the Cats, who will return three starters next season and will be a formidable squad yet again for Head Coach Steve Ackerman.

Boys' Basketball Falls In City Title Game, Defeats Oceanside In First Round Of State Playoffs

No repeat for the Boys' Basketball squad after a 79-66 defeat at the hands of the Reseda Regents in the Los Angeles City Division-II Championship game.
Both squads came out with intensity on the defensive side of the ball that made for a close and low scoring first half. The Regents put the pressure on the Cats with a full-court defense, while the Cats defensive intensity held stifled the Regents high-powered offense. The first half was a seesaw battle, with the Cats taking a 14-13 lead into the second quarter and maintaining a one-point lead before allowing the Regents to end the half on top, 29-28.
In the second half, the Cats could not continue their defensive success while made to many mental errors that allowed the Regents to take over the game. The Regents full-court press forced the Cats to commit 26 turnovers which allowed them to heat up offensively. The turnovers were the Cats undoing as they were outscored 50-38 in the second half to seal their 13-point defeat.
Sophomore David Nwaba had an impressive night scoring 17 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking 5 shots. Junior Anthony Harris Jr. continued his recent surge with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks while seniors Alex Brooks and Andre Harris scored 15 and 11 points respectively. Despite the impressive performances by those four, the Cats were hurt by the inability of their other players to contribute. The four other Cats to see the floor scored a combined 7 points on 2-for-12 shooting.
With a short turnaround between the City Championship and the Division-II State Playoffs, the Cats could not afford to dwell on their defeat. The Oceanside Pirates from Oceanside, CA (just outside of San Diego, CA) made the long voyage to the West Gym on the Uni Campus with hopes of pulling off an upset and moving on to the next round.
The Cats opened the game with unsuccessful attacks at the rim, but took control after a timeout by Head Coach Steve Ackerman with the Cats trailing 5-3. The Cats outscored the Pirates 24-6 for the remainder of the period thanks to great outside shooting from Brooks and sophomore Jamie Harper as well as a strong defensive effort that forced the Pirates to miss shot attempt after shot attempt.
Down 42-28 to start the second half, the Pirates made their move, scorching the Cats with a fury of three pointers. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Pirates only trailed 55-48. The Cats tried to put the Pirates away, but were unable to as the Pirates hot shooting continued. The Pirates finally tied the score, 66-66. Brooks would come back by draining a huge three that seemed to be the dagger in the Pirates heart, but unfortunately the Pirates would tie the score again on their next trip down. Andre Harris would work the Pirates defense in the Cats final possession, but did not run the clock down enough before scoring. The Pirates would come down the court with around 8 seconds left and score on a controversial play.
A lay-up attempt by Pirates guard J.J. Whitaker tied the score although the make was affected by a no-call from the referees. A Pirate player grabbed the rim while the ball was still in the cylinder which should have warranted a goaltending call. After a few confusing seconds, the referees allowed the basket to count saying that the grabbing of the rim did not affect the ball's travel through the net. The no-call sent the game into overtime.
The Cats did not allow the Oceanside rally and referee's controversial decision to affect them, dominating the overtime period 12-3 to seal their 83-74 victory. Brooks and Nwaba dominated the all game long with Brooks scoring 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting while Nwaba poured in 24 points with 16 rebounds.
The Cats move on in the State playoffs, but have to travel for the first time this postseason, to Rialto, CA, to take on the 28-3 Eisenhower Eagles from the Citrus Belt from the Southern Section.

Division-II Championship Game Should Be One For The Ages

Only the Reseda Regents stand in the way of the Boys' Basketball's quest for back-to-back Division-II Championships. The Cats were favored when they defeated the Eagle Rock Eagles 48-41 in the finals last season, but this season the championship comes down to the No. 1 seed against the No. 2 seed. Before the season began the Cats (23-9, 6-6) and Regents (22-7, 9-1) where picked as favorites to reach this point, and those predictions have been fulfilled.
In the regular season, the Regents won the Valley Mission League, while the Cats finished in a tie for third in the Western League. The Cats strength of schedule is impressive compared to the Regents, with four games against nationally ranked Westchester and Fairfax on the schedule.
The Regents have dominated in the playoffs, defeating Roosevelt 72-41, North Hollywood 82-60, and the Venice Gondoliers 69-56 in the semi-finals.
The Cats have had a tougher path in the post-season, defeating the Locke Saints 67-55, the Granada Hills Highlanders 69-55, and the Narbonne Gauchos 73-63.
Head-to-head, both teams stack up pretty even. The Regents have a better offense and create more turnovers. The Cats are better on the glass and are better at helping out in the paint with blocked shots despite having shorter players.
The Regents get off to fast starts, averaging 43 points in the first half, while the Cats get defensive in the second half and close the game with an average of 20 points in the fourth quarter, their highest scoring quarter.
The Cats are a slightly lower scoring team with decent balance. Seniors Alex Brooks and Andre Harris score right around 15 points per game, while sophomore David Nwaba pitches in with 14 per game. Head Coach Steve Ackerman can go as much as seven men deep, with junior Clayton Schindler-Nizon, who can heat up in a hurry from behind the three point line, and freshman Keywhon Powns coming off the bench with confidence they will be able to execute.
The Regents do not have the depth that the Cats enjoy, but they are able to play confidentally with six players averaging either more or around double-figures scoring. They are led by 6'7" senior forward Ryan Watkins. Watkins averages 23 points and 11 rebounds per game.

KEYS FOR A WILDCAT VICTORY:
- The most critical individual match-up is between Nwaba and Watkins. Nwaba, 6'3" will have the task of not only defending Watkins, but of keeping him off the glass as well. All indications are that Nwaba is up to the challenge. Watkins is not the biggest, nor most athletic, player Nwaba has had to defend this season. With previous match-ups against 6'10" Renardo Sidney, 6'6" Solomon Hill, and 6'7" Dwayne Polee Jr. under his belt, Nwaba is used to playing much taller opponents with success. Nwaba led the Western League, despite the aforementioned players being in the same league, in rebounding and was a blocked shot machine. Nwaba has the leaping ability and length to be able to disrupt Watkins.
- The Cats live and die by the three but, in this game, playing against the most potent offense they've seen since league play, they cannot afford to start hoisting up three balls as they had the tendency to do during the regular season. Brooks, Nizon, and sophomore point guard Jamie Harper are all deadly sharpshooters, but the Cats are efficient from inside the three point line shooting 56% compared to 37% from behind the arc. They have to try and establish their interior scoring and make each possession count. Brooks needs to be an agressive facilitator. He has shown the ability to make plays by taking defenders off the dribble and is automatic whenever he gets to the free-throw line. If the Cats can pound the ball down low with Nwaba, Harris and junior Anthony Harris Jr., who was impressive against the Gauchos, then they can take advantage of their shooters.
- DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! And so does good decision making. The Cats have the ability to dominate with their defense. They must see what defense is effective, either man-to-man or zone, and stick with it. If they go man, Brooks is a lockdown on the ball defender with Nwaba reinforcing the paint with intimidating shot blocking. On offense, they cannot allow the Regents to create turnovers. The Regents get 12 steals per game and can transition that to easy offense. The Cats allowed the Gauchos fight back from a 19-point deficit with lazy uninspired play in the third quarter before putting the game away in the fourth.

Boys' Basketball Headed To City Division-II Finals

Back-to-back Division-II Champions has a nice ring for the Boys' Basketball squad and the entire Wildcat Nation. A 73-63 win over the Narbonne Gauchos has given the Wildcats a chance to claim another City Division-II title, which would be their second in a row and third in the since 2002. The Cats also clinched a berth in the State Division-II Playoffs.
Although it didn't look good early, the Cats made sure the Gauchos would not ruin a their playoff run. Narbonne jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first couple of minutes and had the Cats on the ropes. Head Coach Steve Ackerman jumped into action by calling a timeout to which the Cats responded with a 23-0 run into the second quarter and by outscoring the Gauchos 37-13 to end the first half.
The Cats used their length on defense to disrupt the Gauchos' smaller guards while forwards David Nwaba, Anthony Harris Jr. and Andre Harris used their power and advantage in athleticism to control the paint. "We're a much bigger team and we were able to [control the paint]," said Nwaba
In the second half, the Cats had to withstand a rally by the Gauchos that began with a 19-11 Gauchos third quarter. The Gauchos would cut the Cats' lead down to single digits but could not make a final push to retake the lead.
The intensity in the final quarter picked up as supporters on both sides rallied their troops. Senior Alex Brooks helped put the game away with clutch free-throws. Brooks, the Cats' leading scorer, struggled all game long with a feisty defenders shadowing his every move, but he managed to go 8-for-8 from the free-throw line to help the Cats hold the Gauchos off.
Nwaba finished the game with 14 pts, 8 rebs. and 5 blks. while Harris Jr. scored 13 pts with 8 rebs. Andre Harris led all scorers with 19 pts, with 6 rebs and 6 ast. Brooks added 11 pts.
A classic No. 1 vs. No. 2 match-up will take place in the Division-II Finals as the Cats will take on the top-seeded Reseda Regents this Saturday, Mar. 7, at 4 p.m. at the Edward Roybal Learning Center. The Cats' will be underdogs for the first time this postseason in what should be a phenomenal game with two unfamiliar opponents from respected leagues going at it for the championship.

Boys' Basketball Advances To Division-II Semi-Finals

ELEVATION DOMINATION: Sophomore David Nwaba put the Cats' quarterfinal game against the Granada Hills Highlanders on ice with a spectacular breakaway lay-up and a pair of thunderous dunks.


As expected, the Boys' Basketball team is moving through the City Division-II playoffs, handling their opponents' best shot and pulling off thrilling wins.
On Tuesday Feb. 24, the Cats pulled away from the Granada Hills Highlanders in the second half, after an even first half, for a 69-55 win.
Things were not shaping up to pretty after the Highlanders jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first quarter. The Cats' struggled to knock down their shots and were not intent on pounding the ball in the post. Sophomore David Nwaba kept the Cats in the game early with his rebounding and putback ability and the Highlanders lead would be cut down to 19-16 by the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, it was more of the same for the Cats' with poor shooting from behind the arc being their achillies heel. Despite their struggles, the score was tied 32-32 at halftime after senior Alex Brooks' buzzer beating three pointer.
The tide turned in the second half as the Cats' finally began making an effort to pound the ball down low and take it in the lane.
"We came out sluggish [in the first half]," said senior forward Andre Harris. "Through the first second half minutes, we came out tougher...we matched that intensity."
After an even third quarter in which the Cats' took a 49-47 lead, the fourth quarter was completely one-sided.
The Cats picked up their defensive intensity, staying in front of their men by switching to a zone, closing out on shooters and getting critical blocks from Nwaba, who had a monster fourth quarter.
Nwaba took control in the closing minutes of the game, first on defense where his shot blocking began to intimidate the Highlanders. His defensive effort translated to the offensive side of the ball where he was able to extend the Cats' lead and put the game away. Nwaba made a spectacular lay-up on a fast break and followed it up with a wide open dunk after securing a steal to extend the lead to 63-53 with two minutes left. Nwaba got ahead yet again on a fast break and capped it with another dunk that put the finishing touches on the Highlanders.
Nwaba finished with 22 points on 10/11 shooting and added 14 rebounds and 2 blocks while Harris added 13 points on 5/6 shooting.
Only the Narbonne Gauchos stand in the Cats' way of clinching a berth to the City Division-II Championship game and a second consecutive trip to the Los Angeles Sports Arena, as well as a berth in the State Division-II playoffs. The semi-final match will be on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The Cats are heavy favorites but will be getting their best shot from the Gauchos and will have to maintain a level of intensity they have played with in the second half of their previous playoff games to keep the Gauchos from getting any confidence.
"We play tough opponents no matter who wins and who loses," said Harris. "I'm looking forward to it."

Boys' Basketball Survives First Round Thriller

HE MUST LIKE PAINTING: Sophomore David Nwaba controlled the paint with his 24 point, 12 rebound, 6 block effort. Without his interior the presence, the Cats' may have left the West Gym upset.


It was not easy or pretty, but the Boys' Basketball team opened up their postseason with a 67-55 win over the Locke Saints tonight that exemplified the physical style of play and level of intensity expected in the playoffs.
The Cats had to withstand a number of Locke rallies throughout the night after jumping out to a quick 17-6 lead. The Sainst fought their way back into contention, closing the deficit to 19-13 at the end of the first quarter and 32-30 at the end of the half. Most of the defensive problems for the Cats came from having to deal with the Saints' space eating forward getting easy buckets in the paint.
An adjustment by the Cats defensively led to a close third quarter, which the Cats lost 15-14, to setup the thrilling finish. The Saints gained all the momentum due to a number of Cats' turnovers, missed free throws and cold shooting. Early in the fourth, the Saints seized the lead and extended it to 53-48 before the Cats' took over with their clutch shots and sense of urgency.
Junior Clayton Schindler-Nizon hopped off the bench and provided a spark to help the Cats pull away. Schindler-Nizon knocked down two three-point attempts to give the Cats a 59-53 lead with 2:02 left in the game. The clutch shots derailed the Saints' comeback attempt as the Cats were able to keep extending their lead and holding on for the 67-55 win.
Sophomore David Nwaba dominated the game by scoring 24 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking 6 shots. Senior Alex Brooks added 17 points despite struggling from the field
If the Cats hope to continue to advance they have to cutback on simple mental mistakes, such as lazy passes, start making free throws, and hitting their shots with better consistency.
The Granada Hills Highlanders are the Cats' next opponent on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at home.

Girls' Soccer Wins First Playoff Match

The LadyCats began their quest for a championship with a 1-0 win at home over the Belmont Sentinels. The Sentinels were overmatched and failed to pose any serious threat to the superior LadyCats throughout the game.
Charlotte Toates led the charge for the LadyCats, who were missing the other half of their dynamic duo of senior strikers in star Erica Vangsness.
Toates attacked the Sentinels defense early and often but couldn't score as the LadyCats failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the first half.
In the second half, Toates finally put the ball in the back of the net to take the lead. Senior Samantha Mortimer was credited with the assist.
The win over the Sentinels continues the LadyCats' winning streak, which now stands at three games. The LadyCats have outscored their opponents 10-2 in that span. As long as the LadyCats can attack the goal and capitalize on their opportunities whether it is on runs at the goal or on set shots then they will be a tough team to take down. But, as nice as it was to win, the LadyCats now face a tougher task because of it. The win moves them into the City Division of the playoffs instead of the Invitational Division.
A road match against the Chatsworth Chancellors on Feb. 20 is the LadyCats next step in the postseason, and although they are heavy underdogs, there is still optimism for a win.

Boys' Basketball Ends Regular Season With Win Over LACES, Head To Playoffs As No. 2 Seed

All eyes turn to the postseason after the Boys' Basketball team finished the regular season with an 81-69 win over the LACES Unicorns last Friday Feb. 13. The win over the Unicorns snapped a four-game losing streak that featured a 61-60 nail-biting loss to the Palisades Dolphins on Feb. 4 and an impressive showing in a 76-58 loss to the vaunted Fairfax Lions on Feb. 11.

The Hoopsters survived a difficult schedule and tied for third place in the Western League that includes the top two teams in the City, the Westchester Comets and the aforementioned Lions, the Division-I Dolphins and Division-II Venice Gondoliers as well as the Unicorns, the top-ranked team in the Small Schools Division.

Against the Unicorns, the Cats opened up with an uninspired first quarter and trailed 15-12 heading into the second quarter. After that, the Cats' defense took over, holding the Unicorns to 26 points in the second and third quarter. The offense showed some consistency after faltering down the stretch of the season. Senior guard Alex Brooks, who had been struggling to knock down shots, lit the Unicorns up, scoring 21 points and shooting 6-for-12 from behind the arc. "It felt good but it's not even about me, it's about how the team played," said Brooks.

The Cats' attention now turns to the postseason where they are one of the favorites to repeat as Division-II, formerly Invitational, champions. Playoff seedings were released and the Cats nabbed the No. 2 seed in the Division-II bracket, getting a first round bye and home-court advantage for a majority of their playoff matches. "It's the same thing, even going farther," said Brooks when asked of his playoff expectations. " Going to state and City is no question."

LadyCats Finish Second In Western League

It is playoff time for the Girls' Soccer team after an impressive finish to the regular season. Things looked dim for the LadyCats after an 8-0 loss to the Palisades Dolphins in a critical match on Feb. 4, but without star seniors Erica Vangsness and Charlotte Toates the already difficult task of defeating the first place Dolphins became too much.
The LadyCats did bounce back from their poor performance against the Dolphins with impressive showings in their fnal two games of the regular season thanks to the return of their stars. A second half explosion gave the LadyCats a crucial win in their Feb. 9 battle for second place against the Fairfax Lions. Led by Vangsness' three goals (her fourth three goal game of the season) and Toates' sixth goal of the season, the LadyCats seized second place in the Western League, winning 4-1.
With a fragile hold of second place in their hands, the LadyCats regular season finale against the LACES Unicorns could easily have been a trap game. Instead of a letdown, the LadyCats destroyed the Unicorns, controlling the ball and attacking the goal, while preventing the Unicorns from mustering any offense for the 5-1 win. Vangsness and Toates were offensive forces yet again putting the game out of reach early. Both players accounted for the LadyCats five goals, three of which were scored in the first half, and four of which were scored by Vangsness (her sixth multi-goal game of the season).
With consecutive impressive victories to finish the season, the LadyCats are firing on all cylinders at the right time. A high-octane offense powered by Vangsness and Toates as well as solid all around play by the rest of the squad has produced championship expectations.
Even more motivation for this year's senior class is their quest for redemption to win a championship after one was within their grasp two years ago, in the 2006-07 season, when the LadyCats felt robbed of an Invitational Division championship and were defeated by the Dolphins in the finals thanks to poor officiating.
The playoff schedule has yet to be set.

ESPN RISE Magazine April Schoolbeat Article

Championship expectations are running rampant for the Wildcat’s winter and spring sports squads.
The Boys’ Basketball, Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer teams each look like respectable contenders as they head into the playoffs.
For Boys’ Basketball, playing in the nationally respected Western League with the top-ranked Westchester Comets and Fairfax Lions makes it easy to overlook the Hoopsters, but they have staked their claim as a top team in the City Section and favorites to repeat as City Division-II, formerly Invitational Division, champions.
The dynamic trio of senior guard Alex Brooks, senior forward Andre Harris, and sophomore forward David Nwaba have been impressive in leading the team this season and have made up for the lack of a true interior presence. Brooks and Harris lead the team in scoring averaging 15 points per game, while Nwaba has been a consistent force averaging 13.6 points per game to go along with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, both soccer programs are looking to improve upon last season’s early playoff exits. The LadyCats are led by senior Erica Vangsness who has scored 16 goals this season, including four games with two goals or more. Two years removed from a second place finish in the Invitational Division, the LadyCats are capable of finishing the job this time around.
The Boys’ Soccer squad is relying on a mesh of underclassmen with strong senior leadership to make a run at a title as well. The Netmen have been able to overcome an array of injuries to key players due to the breakout performance of junior Franklin Quinones, who leads the team with 13 goals scored this season.
The results of the winter Season have only heightened expectations for the spring season, specifically on the Boys’ Baseball team.
Seniors Justin Moore, Jose Medina, and Michael Chun are among the top players in the Western League and the team should benefit from the return of senior Stephon Brown, who was academically ineligible last season. With Medina and Chun’s shutdown pitching, Moore’s solid all-around play and Brown anchoring an outfield that struggled at times last season, the Cats are a formidable team that is looking to conquer a winnable league and make their first playoff appearance since the 2006 season.
Last year, the Cats winter and spring teams claimed two Invitational championships and one Invitational runner-up, and this year even more championship celebrations are on the horizon.

January Male and Female Athlete Of The Month

MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Sophomore guard David Nwaba (Boys' Basketball)
- Nwaba averaged 12 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks per game in eleven games in the month of January. He also shot over 70% from the field and recorded 8 double-doubles as well. Nwaba has been Mr. Consistency for the Hoopsters, and is continuing to get better as the Cats most athletic player and major presence in the paint.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Senior forward Erica Vangsness (Girls' Soccer)
- Vangsness was an offensive presence scoring eight goals in the month of January, over a six game span, for an average of 1.3 goals per game while also averaging 6 shots on goal per game. She had one hat-trick, her third of the season, and also added 5 assists, totaling 21 points for the month.

Boys' Basketball Struggling Down The Stretch

INTIMIDATION IS NOT A FACTOR: The Cats' have played highly ranked opponents as strong as the Comets before and junior point guard Jamie Harper (top) and freshman guard Keywhon Powns (bottom) held their own against their highly ranked opponents.

Ten days are left in the regular season for the Boys' Basketball squad and cause for concer has risen out of a two game losing streak and poor play as of late.
On Jan. 28, the Hoopsters struggled to put away a Hamilton Yankee squad they had beaten previously this season by 41 points. The Yanks led 18-15 at the end of the first quarter, which was a wakeup call for the Cats. A strong second and third quarter gave the Cats a sizable advantage and enabled them to withstand a fourth quarter rally by the Yankees. Senior guard Alex Brooks poured in 24 points and sophomore forward David Nwaba chipped in with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
A meeting against the top-ranked Westchester Comets on Jan. 30 was a highly anticipated match-up. The Comets were only able to win the previous game between the two by 17 points despite jumping out to a 14-point first quarter lead. "We're always looking for continued improvement," said Head Coach Steve Ackerman. "As we move towards the playoffs [the Comets] are a perfect opponent for our playoff preparation."
This time around, the Cats were flatout dominated by what many consider the top team in the state of California. After the Cats switched from an effective man-to-man defense to a 1-2-2 zone and a thunderous dunk by Nwaba on Comets' star, and highly ranked college basketball recruit, Dwayne Polee, the Comets took over. By the end of the first quarter, the Comets led 27-10 and did not look back.
Instead of fighting to keep it respectable in front of a packed house, the Cats could not overcome their mental mistakes to keep the Comets from lighting up the scoreboard.
Twenty-six Wildcat turnovers and a poor shooting night, albeit against one of the country's top teams, are concerning with the playoffs right around the corner. A loss yesterday, to the Venice Gondoliers, is even bigger cause for concern for the Cats.
The Cats had a lackluster performance in their previous match-up with the Gondos, but were at least able to win and solidify their third place standing in the Western League. Unfortunately, the Cats lead over the Gondos is gone now after the loss.
Fifteen turnovers and only two players, Brooks and senior forward Andre Harris, in double digits scoring was the Cats' undoing.
"As a coach, I'm always concerned about peaking too early," said Ackerman. "I'm concerned that we could get stale before the Division-II playoffs. I think that we are one of five teams that can win [Division-II]."
The Hoopsters have to right the ship in a hurry, with a key home match-up tomorrow at 4 p.m. against the Palisades Dolphins. A loss against the Dolphins can damage the Cats' quest for a top seed in the Division-II playoffs which would give them more home games throughout the tournament.

Girls' Soccer Regains Winning Edge, Monster Match Against Palisades Looms Ahead

LIKE A WALK IN THE PARK: Junior forward Lauren Fowler blows past a Hamilton defender as she attacks the goal. Fowler took two shots in the LadyCats' victory.


After dropping the first two games after Winter Break, the Girls' Soccer team has responded by winning three of their last four, going 3-0-1 in that span.
The LadyCats rebounded from a 3-1 loss on Jan. 14 to the Fairfax Lions with a vengeance by crushing the LACES Unicorns, 6-2 on Jan. 20. Senior Erica Vangsness has been dominant all season and this game was no different as she poured in three goals against the Unicorns for her third hat-trick of the season. Vangsness has scored a goal in all but one of the LadyCats' games and has scored a Western League leading sixteen goals this season.
After a 2-2 tie with the Venice Gondoliers on Jan. 22, the LadyCats proceeded to shutout both the Westchester Comets, on Jan. 26, and the Hamilton Yankees, earlier today, winning both games by a score of 2-0.
The 2-0 win over the Comets ended a six game road trip, spanning all the way back to Dec. 15. The LadyCats went 3-2-1 in that span.
Three matches remain on the regular season schedule for the LadyCats which could have serious playoff implications. Their next match is against the Western League leading Palisades Dolphins on Feb. 4. The Dolphins are 8-0 in league play and dominated the LadyCats last time the two teams met, 6-2. Any positive result for the LadyCats could be a huge confidence booster as they look to close the season on a strong note and head to the playoffs with momentum.

Boys' Basketball Struggles In Win Over Venice

MAN AMONGST BOYS: Star sophomore David Nwaba was able to dominate Venice in the post. His strong interior play allowed the Cats to take control of the game.

A sloppy win yesterday for the Boys' Basketball squad over the Venice Gondoliers raises some concerns despite the team's outstanding record and performance in league play.
Both teams were matched evenly in height and length as was made evident by the turnovers created, shots that were blocked and rebounds that were fought for in intense scrums.
The Hoopsters made key errors throughout the game that gave the Gondos hope of staying in the game. After jumping ahead to a 9-4 lead with 3:52 left in the first quarter behind a three pointer by junior Jamie Harper. The Cats would suffer from a lack of execution in the final minutes of the quarter and eventually lose the lead and head into the second quarter trailing 14-12.
In the second quarter, both teams continued to hoist three point shots with minor success. The quarter was a low scoring affair, with both squads only scoring 13 points for a 27-25 halftime score.
After halftime adjustments, each squad came out with an elevated level of intesity that was evident by players diving and hustling for loose balls and doing their best to tie each other up. Sophomore David Nwaba, who is the Cats' most consistent player, took over in the second half, punishing Venice defenders in the paint, using his athleticism to win the rebound battle and intimidating the Gondos on offense with blocked shot after blocked shot.
The combination of Nwaba and senior Andre Harris ended up being too much for the Gondos to handle. The Cats held the Gondos to only 8 points in the third quarter and took advantage of Gondo mistakes, such as a missed dunk that led to a five-point turnaround, and put the Gondos away in the fourth quarter, winning 56-48.
Harris led all scorers with 17 points, while Nwaba poured in 14 to go along with 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
The Cats struggles against the Gondos can be attributed to a number of things. An important part of their offense is the three point shot, which was not falling.
The Gondos length forced the Cats into mistakes at times, and the Cats also seemed to open the game very sluggishly, as if they were over-confident. "Basketball is played on emotion," said said Head Coach Steve Ackerman. "We didn't come out with the proper emotion and also because of our success we are expected to win by bigger margins, so people's expectations play a role."
The final result was a win for the Cats, but with the playoffs rapidly approaching, the win over a Division-II should serve as a wake-up call that even though their opponents are not always named Fairfax or Westchester, they will be tough to beat.
The Cats will travel to Hamilton tomorrow to play the hated Yankees at 4 p.m. and will return home on Friday to take on the number 1 team in the City, the Westchester Comets at 7 p.m.



LIKE A BROKEN RECORD: Senior Andre Harris was able to contribute in the post as well. The Cats' success came when they were willing to pound the ball in the post rather than launch long range bombs.

Boys' Soccer Rolls To Third Straight Victory

Four games left in the soccer season, and the Boys' squad has picked the right time to get hot.
The Netmen have won their last three league games and are in sole possession of third place in the Western League and within striking range for one of the top two spots.
High-powered offense has been the key in their last three wins which came against the LACES Unicorns, Venice Gondoliers and Westchester Comets. The Netmen have outscored their opponents 9-3 during the winning streak.
Defensively the Cats held the Unicorns to a shutout in their Jan. 20 match, the Cats' first of the season, and the Gondos were only able to score once in their Jan. 22 meeting.
Junior striker Franklin Quinones has been a star all season long, but really broke out in the Cats three straight wins. Quinones scored six goals in the three matches, including a hat-trick yesterday against the Comets. He is one of the top goal scorers in the league as his total for the season is now up to an impressive thirteen goals.
The winning streak has provided optimism for the squad, but matches with huge implications for the final league standings loom ahead. Road matches against the Palisades Dolphins on Feb. 4 and against the Fairfax Lions, who are currently in first place in the Western League, on Feb. 9 could decide who is at the top of the league table at the end of the season.
The Cats' travel to Hamilton tomorrow to take on the Yankees at 2:30 p.m.

Boys' Basketball Hangs Tough Against Powerhouse Fairfax, Win Against LACES

SILKY SMOOTH: Senior Alex Brooks' three point marksmanship kept the Wildcats close early in the game


The basketball season is winding down to the few final league games before the playoffs and the Varsity Boys' Basketball team has been impressive, establishing themselves as the third best team in the tough Western League and as an early favorite to take home their second City Section Division-II (formerly Invitational) championship.
The Hoopsters were impressive on Wed. Jan. 21 in a close 84-72 loss to the Number-two team in the City Section, and a top 25 team in the nation, the hated Fairfax Lions.
The Lions came into the game with clear advantages in size. Stars Renardo Sidney, 6-11, and 6-6 USC commit Solomon Hill, two top players from the Class of 2009, were hard match-ups for the undersized Cats, whose tallest player is 6-3 at best.
Despite the size issues the Cats were impressive. Right from the opening tip the Cats fell back into a 2-3 zone in an attempt to keep the massive Sidney from dominating in the paint. Early in the first quarter, the zone did not seem to be effective as Sidney scored nine of the Lions first points.
The Cats were kept in it with an assault from behind the arc by senior Alex Brooks. The Cats' leading scorer drained a pair of trifectas to keep the Lions from jumping too far, keeping the deficit low at 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter the Cats were able to show their resolve. The Lions would pounce on the Hoopsters to take a 38-19 lead. With the game getting out of hand the Cats responded by going on a 13-0 run to make it 38-32 and end the half trailing by only nine, 41-32.
The Lions would again take a huge lead, this time in the second half, before the Cats would make it close and thrilling yet again. "One thing we've had all season is resiliency," said Head Coach Steve Ackerman. "Every time we've been down to a superior team our guys don't quit and make it interesting."
Brooks was the biggest playmaker for the Cats in the loss, knocking down big shots and drawing critical fouls against the Lions. He finished the game with 21 points while senior Andre Harris added 18. 6-3 sophomore David Nwaba stood out with 12 points and 17 rebounds despite playing against the much bigger Sidney. Nwaba constantly challenged on defense and on the boards, showing his athleticism and why he is the Western League's leading rebounder.
The 84-72 final score is impressive for the Cats because although it may have been their second loss in league play this season, they kept it close against a national powerhouse.
"If they don't have Sidney in that game, we have a very good chance of pulling off the upset," said Ackerman.
The Cats followed the loss up on Fri. Jan. 23 with a 91-77 win against the lowly LACES Unicorns.
The Hoopsters used a 21-9 second quarter to put the Unicorns away early on. Four Cats scored in double digits, led by Nwaba's 26 point 25 rebound effort.
Seven games remain on the Cats' schedule and only their remaining match-up with the Lions and the Westchester Comets seem like daunting tasks. Should they win their winnable games and perform well against the top teams in the City, the Cats should be able to secure a top seed in the Division-II playoff bracket.



COURT VISION: Senior Andre Harris looks for an outlet to avoid turning the ball over to the swarming Fairfax defenders.


SCHOOL SPIRIT: Uni students made an effort to support the squad in an important match-up. Uni's "Rooter Club" stood out, painted in Wildcat colors with matching shirts.


NEXT STOP ESPN: The Jan. 21 match-up was featured on local cable channel "LA-36" as the "Prep Game of the Week".

The Home of Uni Sports

Welcome to the blog dedicated to University(LA) High School Sports.

A brief explanation on why this blog was started; I was the sports editor of the "Wildcat" newspaper, but due to scheduling circumstances for the next quarter I am no longer able to continue working on the newspaper staff which means sports will lose the usual coverage they were able to enjoy. Instead of having no coverage, this blog will be independent of the paper and will show recognition to the Uni athletes.

As a journalist, I have to be able to provide full details of the story to the readers, so I will be pulling no punches, as usual, when it comes to the stories I post (so to the teams that have been upset with my coverage while writing for the newspaper, I only give honest opinions as an outside spectator with a journalistic set of rules and personal expectations for each team). I understand that the athletes are students first and not professionals and that they work hard to put strong efforts on and off the field/court.

I will do my best to keep up with all teams that are either currently playing, or will start their seasons in the coming months. With exception to Patrick Duenas, who will provide all photos on this blog, it is a one man staff, so I will not always be able to keep updated on the sports that are not as high profile as others.

I hope that if you are an athlete on a sports team in the Winter/Spring athletic seasons that you enjoy the recognition that you will receive and are able to read the stories, either after wins or losses, with an open mind and do not take it personally. If you attend Uni, or are an alum, then hopefully you'll enjoy reading up on Uni Sports.