BOYS' BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: LEAGUE FOES APPEAR EARLY LITTLEROCK JOINS TWO GOLDEN OPPONENTS IN HART TOURNEY.Byline: Nevin Barich Nevin Barich (born August 6, 1979) is a former American sports journalist now working as the Senior Editor of The National Notary, a trade magazine based in Los Angeles with a circulation of more than 300,000 nationwide. Staff Writer Littlerock boys' basketball coach Ben Dale wasn't too happy when he discovered two other Golden League teams would be competing with the Lobos in the San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. tournament last week. This week, Dale faced the same situation again when the Lobos joined Highland and Palmdale in the Hart of Newhall tournament. ``I try not to worry about it too much,'' Dale said. ``But my only concern is that when I schedule preseason games, I want to play nonleague teams. What's the point of having nonleague games if you play league teams?'' Littlerock has played one Golden League team already in the preseason, knocking off Palmdale at the San Bernardino tournament for third place. --On the road again: Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley , which will play Rio Mesa of Oxnard in the Ventura tournament at 4 p.m. today, has done a lot of traveling this preseason. The Antelopes opened with nine road games in its first 11 days and didn't play at home until last week, when they hosted back-to-back games against Granite Hills of Apple Valley and Upland. ``We've really been road warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team famously comprised of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis, though other members ,'' coach Tom Hegre said. ``Not only have we been playing tough teams, but with all the traveling we've done, we've had to be mentally tough.'' --Follow the seniors: Antelope Valley has been aided this season by the stellar play of senior forward Ollie Bradley and senior point guard Eric Williams Dr. Eric Eustace Williams (September 25, 1911 – March 29, 1981) was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He served from 1956 until his death in 1981. He was also a noted Caribbean historian. . Both average around 20 points a game. ``Ollie's really been key for us this year,'' Hegre said, ``and Eric runs the show for us.'' --Almost time: After its own tournament finishes, Hart has just one more nonleague game - Wednesday against Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. of La Crescenta - before starting Foothill League play. Coach Tom Kelly People named Tom Kelly include:
``With our football guys, Chris Frome and Cody Kase, back in the mix, we look to be in pretty good shape for league,'' said Kelly, whose team will open up Foothill play at home against Burbank on Jan. 4. --Crucial time: Canyon is playing in the Chaminade of West Hills tournament, and coach Chad Phillips sees it as just the first of many crunch times for the Cowboys. ``These next games are very important,'' Phillips said. ``It will definitely be the toughest games we played this year. These games are crucial not only to have momentum for league play, but to have those wins once it comes time for playoffs.'' Other teams in the Chaminade tournament include Valencia, Grant of Van Nuys, Leuzinger of Lawndale and Riordan of San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , a traditionally tough program. --A (purposely) tough road: Saugus has had a difficult schedule so far, with games against such teams as Glendora, Calvary Chapel Calvary Chapel is a non-denominational, Protestant fellowship of churches which began in 1965 in Southern California. The term "fellowship of churches" is used in contrast to a denomination. of Downey (both are ranked first in their respective divisions) and Crescenta Valley. It didn't get any easier this week when the Centurions began play in the Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. tournament, which features Santa Monica, Oxnard, East Utah, Santa Ynez, Fallbrook, Pasadena, Cabrillo, Dos Pueblos of Goleta, Point Loma, San Marcos of Santa Barbara, Desert Mountain of Arizona, West Torrance and Lincoln of Washington. Coach Jeff Hallman purposefully drew up the tough schedule in order to toughen his team. Is it working? ``Well, we'll see,'' Hallman said. ``Whatever doesn't kill you makes you better. ``Hopefully, this will pay off and will give us a tougher attitude and disposition for when we play in league.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Littlerock's Mike Creel is taken off the court Wednesday after injuring his ankle against Camarillo in the Hart tournament. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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