December 7, 2006

SPORTS

Mustangs end Fremont-Sunnyvale hoops tourney with 59-47 loss

Pioneer boys’ hoops earns wins over Los Altos and Wilcox in earlier rounds of tournament play;
Mustangs look for consistency as league play approaches

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Pioneer boys’ basketball team ended play at the 49th Annual Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament on a down note, dropping a 59-47 loss to Lynbrook on Dec. 22.

Pioneer point guard Matt Montelongo goes up for a shot during a 61-39 win over Wilcox on Dec. 20 during the 49th Annual Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament. Photos by Dan Miranda

The loss came on the heels of two straight wins over Los Altos and Wilcox, respectively, during tournament play, leaving the Mustangs with a 7-4 overall record. The loss to Lynbrook saw the Mustangs take a 29-25 lead at halftime before being limited to just 18 points in the second half. Senior Gilbert Mendoza led the team with 14 points in the loss.

Pioneer head coach Joe Berticevich said the loss stemmed from, in part, a lack of consistent play by his squad, despite the halftime lead.

“Obviously we were up, but we didn’t have the energy like we should have,” Berticevich said. “We’re not good enough to go out and just go through the motions, and that’s what we did against Lynbrook. If we don’t get that straightened out before league (play), it’s going to be a challenge for us.”

In addition, Berticevich said his team has struggled against bigger lineups this season, as was the case with Lynbrook.

“We obviously got hurt by their size,” Berticevich said of the loss to Lynbrook. “If you take a look at our losses, three out of the four losses we have this year, we are outmatched on size, especially when they have more than one big guy. …We’re struggling with that and we have to find a way to overcome that.”

To that end, Berticevich said part of the problem in playing bigger teams has been his team’s confidence, or lack thereof.

“We have to understand that we can do well against bigger post players and we can’t go into a game thinking that just because they’re bigger than us, we’re going to have a tough time stopping them,” Berticevich said. “We have to go in with the attitude that we can get the job done.”

Berticevich said his team missed the presence of both Mike Collins and Pierre Woods during tournament play. Collins missed the entire tournament because of a sprained ankle he sustained approximately two weeks ago, while Woods has missed nearly three weeks because of a knee sprain.

Pioneer senior Gilbert Mendoza received all-tournament honors for his play during the 49th Annual Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament. Mendoza led the team in scoring in wins over Los Altos and Wilcox and a 59-47 loss to Lynbrook to end tournament play.

“What it does is it weakens your bench, meaning that minute-wise, guys are playing more minutes and we’re not getting fresh bodies in there,” Berticevich said of the absence of both Collins and Woods. “…It’s a big loss to have those two guys out.”

The Mustangs started off well in the second round of tournament play, posting a 61-53 win over Los Altos on Dec. 18, which saw Mendoza lead the team with 21 points. Senior T.J. Watson chipped in 15 points in the win as well, while junior Mike Beltramo contributed 11 points off the bench.

That was followed by another win for the Mustangs, a 61-39 decision over Wilcox on Dec. 20, in which Pioneer grabbed an early 32-14 lead at the half. Once again, Mendoza, who received all-tournament honors, led the team in scoring with 16 points. In addition, Watson contributed 12 points, while junior guard Nick Maggipinto scored 11 points in the win over the Chargers.

Aside from those two wins, Berticevich said he hopes his team has a better understanding of what works, and what needs to be worked on some more as league play approaches at the turn of the year. Berticevich added that he hopes to get his team’s inconsistency problems fixed to some extent this week, when the Mustangs host the Pioneer high School Holiday Classic, which runs Dec. 28-30.

“The positive is that hopefully we know our weaknesses and hopefully, we’ll get them squared away this week, before league starts,” Berticevich said. “We have some weaknesses, whether it’s mentally or physically. I think we definitely have them on both ends, and we have to get them squared away or it could be a long season.”

Cross Missouri in six days

Almaden Cycle Touring Club members conquer Katy Trail in style

By Karl Laucher
Special to the Times

It was almost exactly 200 years after Lewis and Clark returned from their two-year Corps of Discovery mission to evaluate the Louisiana Purchase that Larry Brandt and I, grizzled warriors in neon spandex from the Almaden Cycle Touring Club, followed the final miles of the same path to a triumphant finish in St. Charles, Mo.

On the Katy Trail near Rocheport. From left, Kathy and Karl Laucher, Larry and Sally Brandt. Inset below, right: Laucher, right, of Willow Glen and Almaden Cycle Touring Club president Brandt pause in front of the Lewis & Clark statue in St. Charles, Mo.

Larry is the genial ACTC president, who, at age 71, was making but another pilgrimage to his home state. And I, at age 66, am the beneficiary of a great organization—the ACTC—that inspires an elevated level of fitness and companionship, particularly in the golden years.

Lewis and Clark’s return after two years of braving the harsh landscape and tense encounters with the natives was met with a tumultuous celebration in St. Charles. Larry and I got a cheerful greeting and souvenir plaques from our wives, Sally and Kathy, respectively.

But still, by completing some 230 miles in six days last October on the Katy Trail, a former railroad line nicknamed for the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad that runs somewhat parallel to the wide Missouri River, we cyclists could at least sample the terrain scrutinized by Lewis and Clark, who traveled some 8,000 uncharted miles under somewhat more challenging circumstances.

So, yes, we stayed with our wives (who traveled in the four-door sedan “sag wagon”) in luxury accommodations, including three bed and breakfast inns, and ate like hungry black bears that, fortunately for your defenseless duo, no longer exist in Missouri. But as dandy bike riders we did at least self-propel ourselves along at about 12 mph on the mostly flat and mostly shaded trail with a grand appreciation for our good fortune to live in such a day and age. We had nothing to fear but our own old bones.

Larry, a retired grade-school teacher, was making his second traversing of the Katy Trail, calling this holiday his “10 Cousins Tour” as he and Sally visited numerous relatives during their travels to and from the nation’s longest Rails-to Trails project.

For me, a retired journalist (and former Almaden Times editor), the journey was a grand tour in a quest, in my ever-more calcified state of flexibility, to replace my 35-year fetish for an all-systems stimuli on the rugby pitch. But, I still have a hankering for the game so my wife and I are headed for France in the fall for the Rugby World Cup and some social rugby with the California Bald Eagles.

With the ACTC this year, I will have completed nearly 5,000 miles in the saddle to rank in the club’s top 10 among 1,000-plus participants in miles completed. It is a ranking not of caliber, but of time and commitment. That’s why, comparatively, riding the mighty Katy Trail was an achievement of—dare I say it—historic proportions.

Sports Briefs

REACH Youth Scholarship nomination forms available online from San Jose Sports Authority
Nomination forms for the San Jose Sports Authority’s 2006 REACH Youth Scholarship Program, sponsored by Bridge Bank, which has provided college funds to 50 high school students over the past 10 years, are now available for downloading from the Sports Authority’s Web site at www.sjsa.org.

Last year, 31 Santa Clara County high school seniors were nominated, and six who overcame adversity through participation in sports were awarded scholarships through the REACH program, an acronym for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard Work. Scholarships are awarded based on an essay competition in which nominees explain how sports helped them overcome adversity.

The nominees and scholarship winners for 2006 will be honored at the REACH Awards Breakfast, chaired by former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott, on Thursday, May 3, 2007.

Only Santa Clara County high schools may nominate students for the award, with a maximum of five nominees per school. Nominees must then complete an essay and student information form.

Nominees must:

Be high school seniors,

Maintain a 2.5 GPA,

Participate in at least one sanctioned high school athletic activity,

Demonstrate community involvement,

Show the ability to overcome adversity or obstacles to reach his or her goals.

Each nominee is required to write an essay of one to three pages based on his or her experiences. The essay should focus on the obstacles they have overcome and how sports have helped them achieve their goals. Essays will be judged on content.

Nominations must be postmarked by Friday, March 31.

Visit the San Jose Sports Authority Web site at www.sjsa.org for more information.

Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose now registering players
Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose is now registering players for its spring 2007 season. The club, which plays under the name San Jose Extreme, has openings remaining for its new developmental team for third and fourth graders (second graders by permission), and for its fifth and sixth grade team. In addition, it has a short wait list for its 7th and 8th grade team and a second high school team.

Girls’ lacrosse is a fast-growing, non-contact field sport played with a webbed stick and ball that combines elements of basketball and field hockey. Girls Lacrosse of San Jose started five years ago with one team. In 2007, it will have five teams for girls of all ages.

The club practices at Kirk Community Center on Foxworthy Avenue and is part of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association. The season will run from February through mid-May.

For information, go to www.sjextreme.org or contact club President John Fensterwald by email at john@sjextreme.org or call (408) 265-2224

South San Jose Hotshots seek experienced girls’ soccer players
The South San Jose Hotshots, a girls U11 comp soccer team, is looking for experienced players for its 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons.  The Hotshots play in the Delgado competitive league and finished as one of the top U10 girls’ teams in the 2006 fall season.  The team has a positive coaching environment, with a focus on teamwork and player development.  Interested players should contact head coach Mike Bunge at awalt80@yahoo.com.

San Jose Strikkers 18U tryouts
The San Jose Strikkers, a youth girls fast-pitch softball team based in San Jose, will hold tryouts for its’ 18U summer ball team. Summer ball tryouts are Dec. 17, Jan. 7 and Jan. 14 at Oak Grove High School. Tryouts for pitchers and catchers are at 9 a.m. and all position player tryouts start at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call Frank King (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo (408) 274-9301, or e-mail fgking25@aol.com or rfangonilo@sjm.com

Bret Harte seeks boys’ junior lacrosse coaches
Bret Harte Middle School in San Jose is looking for boys' junior lacrosse coaches for the 2006-2007 season. Multiple positions are available for both head coaches and assistants. Previous lacrosse coaching experience recommended. If you are skilled in lacrosse, kid-oriented, and motivated to create a winning team from the ground floor up, we would love to talk with you! This is an exciting, and rapidly growing sport in California, and these Bret Harte boys are ready to go!

For more information, please contact Wayne Schatz at (408) 623-4691 or email wayne_schatz@sbcglobal.net

Valley Flag Football now accepting Spring 2007 registration
Valley Flag Football is the premier youth football league for boys and girls ages 5-14. The program provides young players a fun and exciting opportunity to engage in continuous action while learning lessons in teamwork. It’s an excellent way to introduce players before playing tackle and keeping tackle players active in the off-season.

Launched in 1996, the FLAG Football program is designed to educate young people about football while emphasizing participation and sportsmanship. Players learn skills and lessons that help them succeed both on and off the field.

NFL FLAG Football is played across the United States and is a fun and exciting sport that teaches great life lessons, such as sportsmanship, dedication and discipline.

This five-on-five game is recognizable to football fans everywhere. Participants learn about formations, pass patterns and different types of offense and defense. All teams are actual NFL team names. Players keep their team logo jerseys. Sign up today and be part of the Valley Flag Football Family. The first 100 players to register online receive a free league T-shirt. The season starts March 25, 2007

Visit our website for more information and registration: www.valleyflagfootball.com or contact us at (408) 531-0417 or via email at tmorgan_valleyflag@hotmail.com

Superstar Basketball League signups
Superstar Basketball is a fundamental basketball league for boys and girls from grades 1-6. Instruction in this league is intended to improve the fundamental skills in shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding, defense, and teamwork. Instruction begins on Jan. 6, 2007 and ends on Feb. 24, 2007, and is held at Santa Teresa High School. Cost is $99 if postmarked before Dec. 1, 2006 and $110 after Dec. 1. If you have any questions, please contact Camp Director Dan Walker at (408) 268-7634 or e-mail at dwalker@apr.com

Almaden Valley Rebels U17 girls’ soccer tryouts
The U17 girls’ Division 3 (comp.) Almaden Valley Rebels soccer team is looking for players for both spring and fall. Players must be born after 8-1-90. The Rebels have several players on the team that are “playing up,” so even if you are 14 or 15 years old, do not be afraid to try out for the team. Please contact Scott Hoyt at shoyt@cinnabarhills.com for complete details and tryout dates.
 
Almaden Valley Girls Softball League 2007 signups
The Almaden Valley Girls Softball League will be holding signups on:

- Saturday, Jan. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

All signups will take place at Graystone Elementary School, 6982 Shearwater Drive, Almaden.

First-time applicants, please bring a copy of your birth certificate. Parents, please bring your child for uniform sizing as well.

Almaden girls U11 class 1 soccer team tryouts
Open tryouts for the girls U11 class 1 (select) soccer team will be held Jan. 6 and 7 from 2 p.m.–4 p.m. at Simonds Elementary. The field is located at the corner of Little Falls Drive and Pajaro, behind Jake's Play Lot. The tryout is open to girls that are born after July 31, 1996, and that have a strong desire to play soccer at the top level. This is the perfect opportunity to try out for a select team as roster sizes grow due to increasing players on the field from 8 vs. 8 to 11 vs. 11.

The team will retain the services of a professional coaching staff. Joe Ascolese, a former Santa Clara Bronco star player, is the head coach and Kendra Sato, a DeAnza standout, is the assistant coach.

Come dressed ready to play. Bring a soccer ball and water. Any questions, call Carey Lisowski at (408) 316-3954 or e-mail at dflaadmin@att.net

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Boys’ basketball at Santa Teresa, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
Friday – Varsity girls’ basketball at WCJ Tournament in Antioch, time TBA

Tuesday – Boys’ basketball vs. Branham, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ soccer vs. Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – Girls’ basketball vs. Piedmont Hills, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
Wednesday – Girls’ soccer vs. Branham, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Boys’ soccer at Yerba Buena, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Wrestling vs. Gunderson, 6:30 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Pioneer Tournament, time TBA

Saturday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Pioneer Tournament, time TBA

Tuesday – Boys’ soccer at Leland, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday –Boys’ basketball vs. Santa Teresa, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
Wednesday –Girls’ basketball at Santa Teresa, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ soccer at Evergreen, 3:15 p.m.*

Thursday – Varsity boys’ soccer vs. Live Oak, 3:15 p.m.*
Thursday – Wrestling vs. Live Oak, 6:30 p.m.

For more information about Leland and Pioneer sporting events, go to:

Pioneer Athletics: http://www.phsathletics.com/
Leland Athletics: http://www.lelandathletics.com/
Blossom Valley Athletic League: http://www.bval.org/

Leland girls’ hoops ends three-game skid with 55-47 win over Wildcats

Los Gatos makes late push in second half; Leland senior Kristen Yoshioka’s
free throws in fourth quarter help seal close win

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland girls’ basketball team ended a modest three-game losing streak by hanging on for a 55-47 win at home over Los Gatos on Dec. 19.

Leland’s Ana Farrington drives to the basket in a 55-47 win over Los Gatos on Dec. 19. Photos by Dan Miranda

The win, which improved the Chargers’ record to 3-4, saw Leland jump out to an 18-point lead at halftime—in large part because of a 25-5 scoring outburst in the first quarter —before struggling to hold on to the lead in the second half. Los Gatos, at times during the second half, came within five points of tying the game, before the Chargers fended off the Wildcats with a late fourth quarter stretch to seal the win.

“I’m glad we were able to weather the storm and come out with a win,” Leland head coach Wade Nakamura said. “Right now, we needed a win. We haven’t lost four straight probably since my first year, and this would’ve been four straight for us. We don’t like to lose at home either.”

Leland led the game 36-18 at halftime, but struggled both offensively and defensively in the third quarter. The Chargers were limited to just six points offensively, allowing Los Gatos to cut the lead to just six by the end of the quarter, in part on a 14-2 scoring run in just over three-and-a-half minutes.

“I think it started for us on the defensive end,” Nakamura said in explaining his team’s second half struggles, particularly in the third quarter. “It’s not really our offensive struggles. We struggled on the defensive end, which in turn hurt us on offense. For us, and my program traditionally, we play defense. This year, for whatever reason, we are struggling to play a complete game defensively. …We were not communicating, like we did in the first quarter, and we were just not as prepared. We were not physically and mentally prepared to play defense in the second half, and that basically led to our offensive struggles.”

Things remained close in the fourth quarter, as Los Gatos came within five points of tying the game midway through the final period of play. But the Chargers finished the game on a modest 5-2 scoring stretch in the final two minutes of play, allowing for some breathing room in the win.

Leland senior Kristen Yoshioka played a pivotal role down the final stretch in the fourth quarter. With Los Gatos in early foul trouble, the senior guard managed to draw fouls and shot seven-for-eight from the free-throw line. Kristen Yoshioka finished the game with a team-high 24 points.

“We got the right person to the line,” Nakamura said of Kristen Yoshioka. “She’s been our best free-throw shooter and we’ve been struggling as a team at the line. With Kristen going to the line, I’m pretty confident that she’s going to shoot a pretty good percentage.”

Still, the absence of Meggie Yoshioka—Kristen’s twin—hurt the team in the second half, Nakamura said. Meggie Yoshioka left the game late in the second quarter with a leg injury and unsuccessfully tried to return for a brief span in the early portion of the second half before sitting out the rest of the game.

Nakamura said Meggie Yoshioka’s absence left the team with lesser-experienced options on the bench, both offensively and defensively.

“It hurt, obviously, not having Meggie in the second half,” Nakamura said. “It made a big difference. …She’s able to make good decisions, good passes, penetrate, create and kick out for open shots, and make shots herself.”

In spite of the win, Nakamura said problems, such as consistent free-throw performances as a team, need to be fixed soon. Nakamura also pointed to his team’s low post play offensively as an area in need of improvement. The lack of low post scoring became even more evident in the win over Los Gatos, he added.

“It’s been a problem all year,” Nakamura said of his team’s struggles in low post scoring. “We need to fix it, otherwise, we’re just going to be mediocre. If we finish 80 percent of the shots that we get five feet from the basket, which is what we should, we should shoot 80 percent 5 feet from the basket, but we’re not shooting that. We’re shooting 40 percent five feet from the basket. …If we make those, it’s a 30-point game.”

Leland boys’ hoops earns split at D.J. Frandsen Memorial Tournament

The Leland boys’ basketball team went 1-1 at the D.J. Frandsen Memorial Basketball Tournament, held Dec. 21-22 at Bellarmine College Prep, winning the Consolation Championship over Los Gatos 62-56.

Leland senior point guard Dave Janes, right, is presented with the “Spirit of D.J.” Award at the D.J. Frandsen Memorial Basketball Tournament. The award, presented by D.J. Frandsen’s brother, Kevin Frandsen, left, is given annually to the player who stands out for their heart and tenacity throughout tournament play.

The tournament, named in honor of the late D.J. Frandsen, the son of former Leland boys’ basketball head coach Dave Frandsen, saw the Chargers drop their opening round game by a score of 69-41 to Burlingame on Dec.21, before bouncing back with the win over the Wildcats the next day.

In the loss to Burlingame, Leland junior Cody Tyson led the team in scoring with 11 points. The Chargers trailed Burlingame 31-23 at the half before being limited to just 18 points in the second half for a 69-41 loss. The next day however, the Chargers bounced back in winning fashion, jumping out to a 30-23 lead at halftime over the Los Gatos Wildcats, en route to a 62-56 win in the Consolation Championship game. Drew Marino led the Chargers with 22 points in the win.

In addition, Leland senior point guard Dave Janes won the tournament’s “Spirit of D.J.” Award, which is given out annually to the player who stood out for their heart and tenacity throughout tournament play. D.J. Frandsen’s brother, Kevin Frandsen, presented the award to Janes.

Pioneer girls’ hoops team stocks momentum during the holidays

Mustangs sink Santa Clara, Live Oak during winter break

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Santa brought Pioneer head coach Kim Yanda depth this holiday season.

The rejuvenated Mustangs (6-3) hammered Santa Clara 66-45 on Dec. 20, before defeating Live Oak 53-23 two days later, during the week preceding Christmas.

Pioneer head coach Kim Yanda said senior Courtney Mesa (shown here) is providing the leadership her young team needs as the 2006-07 Mt. Hamilton Division season approaches. Photos by Dan Miranda

Yanda, who returns for her second season at the helm of the program, said Pioneer flustered opponents with a full court press, fueled by reserves and a quality player rotation the Mustangs have not enjoyed in recent years.

“We didn’t think Live Oak could handle the ball as well as us, so we put the pressure on,” said Yanda. “We forced a lot of early turnovers and made the layups as a result.”

The Mustangs outscored Live Oak 31-13 in the first half never looked back.

Sophomore Mercedes Pardo shared top scoring honors with senior Michelle Rebozzi. The pair finished with 17 points apiece.

“Michelle and Mercedes have really been working well together,” said Yanda. “Their skills provide us with an outside and inside game that people haven’t been able to stop.”

Yanda said Rebozzi, a three-year starter for the Mustangs, is versatile, playing the forward position while also possessing a deft shooting touch typically reserved for guards.

“She has a really strong outside shot, drives well to the basket, and she shoots well from the free-throw line,” she said.

At 5 feet, 10 inches, Pardo has battled her opponents with both athleticism and strength in the low post.

“She has a good nose for the ball,” said Yanda. “She has a good inside game, but she can also get the rebound, take the ball full court and finish strong. She has no qualms about dribbling.”

The girls rested over the holiday, building momentum that will carry them into Mount Hamilton division play when the team’s schedule resumes at the turn of the year.

Yanda’s team returns after a hopeful campaign mounted amidst change and thin personnel in 2005-2006. Under Yanda, a first-year head coach, and with just seven girls playing one year ago, the Mustangs appeared in the Division III Central Coast Section Playoffs, after finishing fifth in the Mt. Hamilton Division.

“We have a much bigger roster than last year,” said Yanda, who now sports a roster of 10 players. “The problem this year has been that not everybody has been healthy (at the same time). There have only been a few practices where all of our girls have been there. But we definitely have a lot of talent in all positions.”

Yanda said the additional firepower on the roster has allowed her to implement the full court attack that utilizes the Mustang talent appropriately.

Seniors Stephanie Mattern and Courtney Mesa have provided additional leadership, according to Yanda, who called Mattern a three-point sharpshooter. Yanda added that point guard Mesa sets the tempo starting plays and in execution.

Sophomore Haley Schorr, meanwhile, is the brightest up-and-comer, according to Yanda.

“She is a really good shooter and also has a lot of good leadership and communication skills that our team needs,” Yanda said.

Pioneer focused its defensive attack on standout Jackie Fountain of Santa Clara in the team’s 66-45 on Dec. 20. While Fountain managed 19 pointes, the Mustangs were able to limit all other Bruin scorer to just 26 points. Pioneer led 36-19 at halftime.

“We are hoping to be one of the top competitors in the league this season,” said Yanda. “Everybody talks about Leland and Leigh, but they are kind of young now. As far as overall talent and depth, we have one of the best rosters in the league.”

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