SMALL SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK: THIS SEASON WAS THOMAS' LAST DESERT CHRISTIAN COACH RESIGNS AFTER FIVE YEARS, IS `PHYSICALLY DRAINED'.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer LANCASTER - Desert Christian High boys' basketball coach Devin Thomas won't return for a sixth season. Thomas made the announcement after an emotional 63-45 loss to Oak Park in the second round of the Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs. He will remain as athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic and will continue to coach softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' . He cited concerns about his physical health as a key factor in his decision. ``I'm not tired of coaching, I'm just physically drained,'' said Thomas, who began his 15-year coaching career in the San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l  `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. area. He took over the Knights' program in
its inaugural 1996-97 season.
Thomas said he was ``ecstatic'' to end his basketball-coaching career with a team as cohesive as the Knights were this season. ``This is one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of,'' he said, ``to see young men come together and love each other.'' Cohesiveness helped Desert Christian (18-4) win its third consecutive Desert Mountain League title. The Knights were 10-0 in league, becoming the first team in school history to go unbeaten in league. Desert Christian entered the playoffs unseeded, despite being ranked among the top 10 teams in their division by SoCal Hoops. Their loss Tuesday ended a winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" at 15 games. Thomas said he's looking forward to following the careers of collegiate prospects Brian Waugh and Mike Spears and supporting his school's teams in the future. Seniors Waugh and Spears averaged more than 23 and 19 points per game, respectively. --Eagles fall: Perennial small-school power 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 Christian won't be in the semifinals for the first time in four years. The Eagles lost 64-56 to Orangewood orangewood, n the wood of choice for the working tips of porte polishers, due to its resistance to splitting and its ability to carry polishing agents. See porte polisher. Academy of Garden Grove Garden Grove, city (1990 pop. 143,050), Orange co., S Calif., a suburb of Long Beach and Los Angeles, on the Santa Ana River; founded 1877, inc. 1956. Many of its residents work in nearby aerospace and defense installations, and there is light manufacturing. in a Southern Section Division V I-A quarterfinal game Tuesday. A.V. Christian, which was seeded third, had reached the Southern Section championship game two of the last three years. Eun Sik Yoo scored 14 points for the Eagles, who were seeded third in their division. Tony Uebelhardt had 12 points and Philip Okanma added 10. --Tearful goodbye: The Desert Christian girls' soccer team's season ended sadly Saturday. The Knights' 4-2 first-round Southern Section Division V playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. loss to Flintridge was junior forward Joelle Wheeler's last game with the team. She's moving to the Victor Valley and will transfer to Apple Valley Christian. ``I think they were more sad about that than about the season ending,'' coach Rachel Edwards said. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Devin Thomas, who has resigned as Desert Christian coach, said he'll follow the careers of college prospects Brian Waugh and Mike Spears (pictured) in the future. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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