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.