Two of this week’s top stat stars are Ambreece Gaskins from Stevenson (Pebble Beach) and Jonah Mathews of Santa Monica. Photos: PassThaBall.com & thesamohi.com.
Considering the circumstances (his father passed away less than 24 hours earlier), D.J. Wyatt from Sierra of Manteca turned in one of the best performances of the year last Friday. Other boys on the honor roll include Fabian Arciniega of Calexico Vincent Memorial, who had a 60-point game three weeks ago and 38-point game this week. Among girls, one of the state’s hottest scorers in recent weeks has been L.A. Price’s Dawnyel Lair.
Note: Writeups this week from Paul Muyskens, CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett and Mark Tennis. We will collect totals from MaxPreps, newspapers, tweets and from those sent in to us. We also will compile single-game highs from this post throughout the season and of course we use our weekly State Stat Stars collection as an aid for the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book. That is the only state record book anyone has ever done and we have published it seven times with full copyright protection. To report totals to us for this feature and for the record book, email markjtennis@gmail.com or call 209-463-9050. You can also text to 209-608-1317.
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BOYS BASKETBALL
Fabian Arciniega (Vincent Memorial, Calexico)
We got a confirmation from athletic director Jesus Gonzalez that Arciniega did indeed score 60 points in a 109-21 win back on Feb. 5 vs. Warner of Warner Springs. That would be the second-highest total in the state this season behind the 71 for Noah Valencia of California School for the Deaf (Riverside). Arciniega also already has had a more impressive outing this week (considering the opponent) with 38 points in a CIF San Diego Section playoff win vs. Calexico. While Arciniega’s 60 points doesn’t make the state record book, he also had 15 steals in the same game, which does. “We don’t normally like to see someone do that in a game like that,” Gonzalez said. “But in that game we had some bench players who weren’t there so there were only six players in all. Fabian just got hot from the outside (making 7-of-9 on 3-pointers).”
Lonzo Ball (Chino Hills)
It was another week and another 100-point performance by the national No. 1 Huskies with a big game as well from one of the Ball brothers. This time, big bro Lonzo scored 30 points and had seven assists during a 100-66 win over Santa Margarita in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs.
Junior Ballard (Lathrop)
Finishing a sophomore season that saw him earn one of our weekly Player of the Week honors, this sophomore scored 35 points during a 74-69 loss against Sierra of Manteca. He had 51 against the same team earlier this season. See below for how Sierra was able to avenge the defeat.
Jamie Jaquez is a freshman who is now putting up big numbers in the playoffs. Photo: ACHS Basketball.
Jamal Brower (Rancho Christian, Temecula)
A four-year starter who has accumulated more than 1,400 points so far in his career, Brower knocked down a school record 32 points when his team beat Calvary Murrieta of Murrieta 98-33 two weeks ago. Brower made 15 for 21 shots and had seven assists and six rebounds. Seniors Trace Redfield and Greg Walter also had big Senior Night games with 24 and 22 points, respectively.
Jordan Griffin (Centennial, Corona)
Committed to Long Beach State, he is hoping to make sure this season lasts as long as possible as he was 9-of-12 from 3-point range and finished with 33 points during a 83-64 win over Compton in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs.
Robinson Idehen (Modesto Christian, Modesto)
Earlier this season, he was named as our NorCal Boys Basketball Player of the Week but last week saw him score a season-high 30 points during a 94-49 win over Johansen of Modesto. If MC goes far in the postseason, Idehen could be mentioned as a NorCal Player of the Year candidate.
Chibueze Jacobs (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks)
His first name might not be the easiest to say, but Lompoc had an even tougher time from stopping him as he scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds during the Knights’ 76-59 road win against the Braves to advance in the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs.
Jaime Jaquez (Camarillo)
Come postseason play you would expect your seniors to step up and lead the way to keep the season going but in the Scorpions’ 80-50 win over Beckman of Irvine in the CIF-SS Division IA second round it was this 6-foot-5 freshman who put up huge numbers with 35 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Mike Lightbody (Fountain Valley)
Despite lights out shooting from behind the three-point arc, his eight 3-pointers and 29 points wasn’t enough to prevent a loss to San Clemente in the CIFSS Division IAA playoffs.
Jonah Mathews (Santa Monica)
A 6-foot-3 guard who has signed with USC, Mathews hit for 30 points to lead the Vikings past Cabrillo of Long Beach 74-59 in the opening round of the CIFSS Division 1A playoffs. Mathews, who is the younger brother of Cal standout Jordan Mathews, has also helped Santa Monica break into the latest State Top 20 rankings.
A.J. Mintz (Westmont, Campbell)
Helping his team capture a share of the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division championship, he had 28 points during a 62-47 win over Independence of San Jose.
Ryan Murphy (Calabasas)
Making sure the Coyotes would survive the first week of the CIF-SS Division 3AA playoffs, he scored 29 points during a 76-53 win over La Sierra of Riverside in the quarterfinals.
Rob Prince (Las Lomas, Walnut Creek)
A sophomore to watch, the 6-foot point guard notched his second triple-double of the season in a 82-77 triumph vs. Miramonte of Orinda. Prince had 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his triple-double.
Jushan Samra (Dougherty Valley, San Ramon)
Samra’s team at Dougherty Valley won its first-ever league title last week and capped a 24-2 regular season with a 55-45 win vs. Las Lomas of Walnut Creek. The senior power forward had a great night in the clincher with 27 points and 18 rebounds. The Wildcats are currently playing in the CIF North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Trey Semien (Clovis East, Clovis)
This player is approaching 1,000 career points and had a huge game last week with 30 points to lead the Timberwolves past Central of Fresno 76-64. Central came into the game as one of the highest ranked teams in the CIF Central Section.
Lukas Swidler (Prospect, Saratoga)
Part of the BVAL Mount Hamilton Division championship was on the line when the Panthes took on Leigh of San Jose and Swidler made sure his team would come out on top. He scored 31 points during the 74-72 win.
Bryson Williams (Roosevelt, Fresno)
According to CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett, Williams became the first player in section hstory to score 1,000 points in one season after he scored 38 points to lead Roosevelt over host Fresno High 74-69. Roosevelt also won the North Yosemite League championship and Bryson is averaging 34.5 for the season.
D.J. Wyatt (Sierra, Manteca)
The senior grid-hoop standout came through with 37 points, including 14 in the final quarter, to lead the Timberwolves past fellow state stat star Junior Ballard and his team at Lathrop, 74-69. With the win, Sierra also avenged an earlier. It also was a perfect night for Wyatt to shine. Less than 24 hours earlier, he lost his father after a long battle with cancer. “I am so proud of our guys to rally around D.J. (Wyatt) and his tough moment,” Sierra head coach Scott Thomason told the Manteca Bulletin. “He was very inspiring and courageous today.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Nikiya Bechtle (Scotts Valley)
The senior point guard capped her regular season with a triple-double, netting 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 77-49 victory over Soquel. That came after she had 29 points and seven assists to lead her squad past St. Francis CCC of Watsonville 87-61.
Halle Brown (Las Plumas, Oroville)
It’s been a strong second half of the season for Brown, who pumped in 32 points when the Thunderbirds topped Wheatland 63-32 in their second-to-last regular season contest.
Kern Valley’s Rebecca Gallis has been a frequent state stat star for the past three seasons. Photo: Courtesy family.
Sierra Campisano (Torrey Pines, San Diego)
Averaging 29.9 points per game, this senior who is one of the top players in the CIF San Diego Section and in the state is once again listed here. This time, Campisano scored 38 points and grabbed 19 rebounds last Friday during a 71-50 win over over Canyon Crest Academy of San Diego. She has signed with Oregon.
Rebecca Gallis (Kern Valley, Lake Isabella)
A stat star regular for the last three seasons, Gallis scored a season high of 35 points in a 59-47 loss to Bishop 59-47. Rebecca now has scored over 1,800 career points in four varsity seasons.
Ambreece Gaskins (Stevenson, Pebble Beach)
She was the only freshman named to the Monterey Herald’s All-County team last year and had a big game with 37 points last week in 49-32 win over Gonzales. Gaskins is a 5-foot-5 point guard and also had 23 of her points in the second half.
Dawnyel Lair (Price, Los Angeles)
Following up a freshman season that saw her average 20.2 points and 12 rebounds per game, she is averaging 23.8 points, 14.6 rebounds and 9.3 assists this season for the Knights after two quadruple-doubles last week. Opening up the week, Lair had 39 points, 19 rebounds, 12 assists and 14 steals during a 100-17 win over Lutheran of La Verne. She then had 36 points, 25 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals as the Knights defeated Cornerstone Christian of Wildomar 95-12.
Destiny Littleton (Bishop’s, La Jolla)
While it was under her average of 36 points per game, her 34-point performance during an 85-43 win over Santa Fe Christian of Solana Beach was enough to once again get her listed in this weekly feature. Littleton is not only the leading candidate to be State Junior of the Year, but arguably would be No. 2 on the list of Ms. Basketball State POY favorites, trailing only Sabrina Ionescu of Orinda Miramonte.
Tiana Lowery (River City, West Sacramento)
A sophomore point guard to watch, Lowery connected for 33 points in River City’s final game against Rio Linda but it wasn’t enough as the Raiders fell to the Knights 79-71. Lowery averaged just over 21 points per game for the season.
Aggie Manu (Cypress)
Grabbing rebounds on both sides of the court, she had 20 rebounds during a 56-47 win in overtime against Dana Hills of Dana Point in the CIFSS Division IA playoffs.
Lillian Olson (Sacramento Waldorf, Fair Oaks)
Outscoring Delta of Clarksburg on her own, she had 29 points and 14 rebounds as the Waves defeated the Saints 52-28. Olson actually scored below her season average of more than 31 ppg.
Heather Park (Sage Hill)
Making her freshman season a year to remember, she scored 20 points in her first postseason game but her final three points came on a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lightning a 48-47 win in the CIF-SS Division 4A playoffs which was their first playoff win since 2008.
Serena Smith (Mountain View)
She scored a game-high 30 points during a 68-59 win by the Spartans over Gunn of Palo Alto in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.
Kameron Taylor (Garces, Bakersfield)
She scored a game high of 30 points when the Rams edged Wasco 50-46. Taylor is averaging more than 22 points per game.
Stephanie Umeh (Notre Dame Academy, Los Angeles)
She was the WBCA/MaxPreps Region 8 Player of the Week for her two outings from last week. Umeh, a 6-foot-1 senior, had 27 points and five rebounds in a 65-39 victory vs. California Academy of Math & Science and then had 28 points and 12 rebounds when the Regal Gryphons topped Westridge of Pasadena 71-50.
Frankie Wade-Sanchez (Huntington Beach)
Picking a fine time for a season-best scoring performance, she had 27 points when the Oilers defeated Walnut 56-49 in the CIFSS Division IA playoffs.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
