2001: LOCAL SPORTS POWERHOUSES RETURN DOMINATING VALLEY SQUADS CONTINUE THEIR REIGN.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

The year in local sports began as 2000 ended: Paraclete and Hart won football titles, the Valley's domination of city baseball and boys' volleyball continued, the Mission League kept the girls' soccer title in the family for a fifth straight year, and there were plenty of individuals who made their marks.

Paraclete and Hart have dominated area football for years now, and this year was no different. Paraclete won its fifth consecutive Southern Section title, something no other Southern Section school ever has done. The Spirits used a strong running game with Curtis Brown and Erick Jackson to dominate opponents. Brown finished his four-year career with 7,025 yards, establishing a new area record.

Hart has passed its way to domination, and quarterback Matt Moore continued the tradition by throwing for more than 3,000 yards and helping the Indians win their fourth section title in a row.

Taft was supposed to reach the city championship game next year, when its talented skill players were seniors. But quarterback Cary Dove, receivers Steve Smith, Noah Smith and Paul Pratt didn't wait and helped the Toreadors reach the finals. And with seven seconds to play, it appeared they would win their second championship. But Dorsey blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to shock everyone and steal the title.

``It was shock and disbelief,'' Taft coach Troy Starr said. ``We lost on a miracle.''

There was other shock and disbelief, too. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 caused the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Catholic Archdiocese to cancel all athletic contests.

The Valley has won every city baseball title but one since 1973, and Chatsworth's strong pitching helped the Chancellors outlast Roosevelt 2-1 for their fourth title.

In boys' volleyball, Grant made the Sunset Six League proud when it became the first league school to be top-seeded in any sport for any city playoffs. But despite the efforts of middle blocker Mike Charleston, now redshirting at CSUN, the Lancers couldn't stop Taft from winning its third consecutive city title.

For four years, Chaminade had won the section girls' soccer title. Harvard-Westlake would challenge and sometimes defeat Chaminade, only to falter in the playoffs and helplessly watch as its Mission League rival won the section title. But that changed this year when the Wolverines finally got past the second round and shared the Division IV title with league rival Louisville.

Louisville had been a league doormat and underachiever for years, but this time, the Royals rose up and tied Harvard-Westlake, 2-2, for the section title. Under section rules, teams that tie in the championship match share the title.

There were plenty of other memorable performances, too. Valencia's boys' volleyball coach Kevin Kornegay brought in former CSUN coach Walt Ker to assist, and the Vikings won the Foothill League and reached the Division I finals before falling to Long Beach Wilson.

In girls' basketball, Harvard-Westlake and Alemany used to have memorable games, but that changed when Alemany coach Melissa Hearlihy took over at Harvard-Westlake. With several players, including Karina Siam, transferring, the competitive balance tipped in the Wolverines' favor, and they won the Mission League and the Division III title.

Hart had owned the Foothill League for years, but that ended for now when Saugus, led by guard Brusta Brown, tied with Valencia for the league title. Hart, however, ended the year looking like it would redominate the league with freshman guard Ashlee Trebilcock, who scored 30 points against Buena, long an area power.

The Agoura girls' water polo team returned everyone and became the first area team to win a Southern Section championship.

El Camino Real's girls' soccer team ended Chatsworth's run of five consecutive city titles and 10 in 12 years by winning for the first time. El Camino Real's boys' team made it a sweep when it won the city as well. The Conquistadores became the first top-seeded team in at least a decade to win.

Additionally, St. Francis' Ryan Shaw set the school's scoring record in helping the Golden Knights win the section title.

In track, Hoover's Anita Siraki won the state two mile and finished with the nation's fastest time; and Palmdale resident Lashinda Demus, who attended Long Beach Wilson, became the first high school hurdler to finish the 300 hurdles in less than 40 seconds (39.98). Allyson Felix of L.A. Baptist became the first sophomore to win the state 100-meter title since Marion Jones.

Taft's boys won their second consecutive city title, and Birmingham's girls won for the first time.

James Jenkins of Crescenta Valley considered swimming a hobby, but he turned that hobby into section titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.

In city swimming, Granada Hills' boys won the title despite Tyler Clark being injured and unable to swim. Steven Park and Tony Kim picked up the slack and won an event apiece.

In golf, Emma Stachowicz of Harvard-Westlake and Nikki Imaromna of Notre Dame reached the CIF-WSCGA match. Burbank's Grace Woo became the second consecutive Bulldogs freshman to win the Foothill League, and Jee-hee Wang of Birmingham won the city individual title. Granada Hills won the team title.

The year also saw the departure of longtime Hart golf coach Dennis Ford, who didn't lose a Foothill League match from 1989-2000. But this year, Valencia ended Hart's consecutive undefeated league seasons. Hart, however, still won the league.

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Hart High's Chris Steck breaks away from valencia High's Kevin Ciccone on a touchdown run during Hart's championship victory Dec. 6.