Here’s some record updates and highlights of top coaches, players & teams from the past week as reported to us from CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett of Fresno. Bob has done phenomenal work on behalf of CIF Central Section schools, athletes and coaches for more than 40 years.
BOYS & GIRLS FRESHMAN RECORD
Fresno Clovis West’s Cole Anderson became the sixth player in section history to score 500 points or more in a season (507) and he set a school record by passing Terry Reason of 502 in 1978. Anderson, the brother of 2017 Golden Eagles’ girls standout Megan Anderson, also has set a section record for most points by a freshman.
Cole Anderson looks like one of the top freshmen in the state. Photo: Mark Tennis.
On the girls side, freshman Jazmine Soto of Strathmore has done the same. She became the first freshman player to score 700 points in a season when she finished with 712 points. Soto passed Aarion McDonald of Bullard, who scored 694 points in 2013. McDonald later transferred to Brookside Christian (Stockton) and is now at Washington.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Junior Jaedyn Pineda of Visalia Mt. Whitney scored a career high of 39 points, the sixth best in school history and set a school record by making 22 of 25 free-throws in a 83-66 section playoff win last week over Dinuba.
Sophomore Ben Yurosek of Bakersfield Christian scored a career high of 40 points in an 84-53 win over Sierra Pacific (Hanford) and had 15 points against McFarland in a 66-48 triumph. Yurosek was on the Cal-Hi Sports all-state sophomore team in football as a defensive end. It looks like he’ll be a grid-hooper to watch for the next two seasons as well.
Continuing to shine, Justin Greiner of Centennial (Bakersfield) scored a game high of 31 points and set a section record with 119 three-pointers for the season in a 78-70 playoff loss to Clovis North of Fresno. Greiner made five three-pointers in that game. Senior William Pallesi of Selma tied Greiner two days later by making five three-pointers and scoring 22 points against Lemoore in a 75-58 win, two days later. Pallesi was expected to set the new record earlier this week.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Junior Hannah Hurley of Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) finished her season by leading the section in scoring with a 30.4 average (also second best on all-time section list). Hannah scored 30 points and had six steals in a 70-24 win over Immanuel Christian and scored 42 points against visiting Firebaugh in a 78-60 losing effort 78-60. Junior Makenna Allen led Firebaugh in that game with 30 points. She’s the little sister of quarterback Josh Allen, who could be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
GIRLS SOCCER
Congratulations to head coach Sara Carter and to the players of Orosi High in winning their first section championship in school history by edging Sierra Pacific (Hanford) 1-0 in the Division V section final.
