Two of this week’s honored players are junior guard McKel Shedrick from Hillcrest of Riverside and sophomore guard Haley Smith from Liberty Ranch of Galt. Photos: Beach City Highlights / YouTube.com & Twitter.com.
We didn’t have any entries to track for the Cal-Hi Sports Online Record Book this week, but in the other goal of this feature there was no shortage of local talent that now gets some statewide attention to go with local props. This week we visit Riverside and Chula Vista in Southern California, and in Northern California our stops are in Woodland and Galt.
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Notes: For these honors, we also consider CIF Central Section players for Northern California. To nominate anyone, email markjtennis@gmail.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Boys Player of the Week
McKel Shedrick (Hillcrest, Riverside) Jr.
The heart of the Inland Empire is where we head to find the Southern California Boys Player of the Week and it’s in Riverside at Hillcrest where we locate the honoree.
Hillcrest has taken its share of lumps in a non-league schedule that tested the Trojans, but to start River Valley League they began 2-0 and Shedrick was a big part of the two victories just like he’s been the mainstay of the Hillcrest offense all season.
Both River Valley League victories came last week and in the first game, a 78-46 win against crosstown Ramona, Shedrick poured in 38 points on 16-of-22 from the field overall and 4-of-5 from three-point range, plus he had five steals, three rebounds and three assists. Later in the week, in a 73-42 victory over Patriot of Jurupa Valley, McKel was pretty swell once again after leading the way with 34 points.
Two weeks ago Shedrick had 25 points (five three-pointers) with four assists and three rebounds in a 66-61 victory over Yucaipa, and earlier in that week, and in the one game Hillcrest has lost since December 7, a 75-68 setback to Arrowhead Christian of Redlands, McKel had 35 points (four three-pointers) with five steals and four assists.
So far this season and heading into a Tuesday night River Valley League showdown with Riverside Arlington, the 6-foot-3 junior was averaging 22.1 points per game on 51-percent shooting overall from the field and 43-percent from beyond the arc on 43 made 3-pointers, plus he was shooting 88 percent from the free-throw line and also was averaging 3.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Scoring 30 points or more in a game is becoming normal for Olympian’s Asia Darcuiel. Photo: Olympian girls basketball / MaxPreps.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Southern California
Girls Player of the Week
Asia Darcuiel (Olympian, Chula Vista) Jr.
To find the Southern California Girls Player of the Week, we venture to the far southern reaches of the state around five miles north of the US/Mexico border and land at a school in the eastern reaches of Chula Vista that’s less than 20 years old.
We strongly considered honoring Darcuiel last week for her efforts two weeks ago when she had 31 points (7-of-11 on three-pointers), eight assists, five steals and four rebounds in an 84-41 victory over San Diego Crawford and a season-high 38 points including 7-of-7 on three-pointers in a 59-46 victory over Calexico .
Since we sometimes look back on a player’s overall body of work, this made this the perfect week to make her the award winner after Asia went for 34 points including 5-of-8 on three-pointers with eight rebounds, six assists and five steals in an 84-52 victory against Hoover of San Diego.
Heading into a Wednesday match-up with visiting San Diego Cathedral Catholic for the 9-6 Eagles, the junior guard is averaging 23.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. The 23.9 points is the No. 19 reported mark in the state and No. 4 in the CIF San Diego Section.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Girls Player of the Week
Haley Smith (Liberty Ranch, Galt) Soph.
The search for the Northern California Girls Player of the Week takes us just about halfway between Sacramento and Stockton on Highway 99 to the community of Galt.
It’s at Liberty Ranch where we find our honoree, and this sophomore point guard is no stranger to being an award winner. It’s not often that a freshman makes any all metro teams, but not Smith. She was named to an all metro team, as she was named Sacramento Bee All-Metro First Team last season. Not only that, but Haley has already caught the eye of college coaches as she’s been offered a scholarship to Fresno State.
Now, after her most recent performances, Smith is getting some statewide recognition.
Last week, in a 63-34 victory over El Dorado Union Mine, the 5-foot-10 Smith went for a solid double-double 29 points (three three-pointers) and 14 rebounds with six assists, five steals and a block.
So far this season for the 14-4 Hawks and heading into this week, Smith was averaging 18.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
Last season as a freshman Haley averaged 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Of note, Smith also is a three-sport star and plays volleyball and swims. On the volleyball court this past season, the outside hitter registered 332 kills, 83 service aces and 265 digs for a Liberty Ranch team that had a 17-14 record.
Romello Bruhn’s big game last week is just part of some great times over the past month at Woodland Christian. Photo: Courtesy school / MaxPreps.com.
Cal-Hi Sports Northern California
Boys Player of the Week
Romello Brohm (Woodland Christian, Woodland) Soph.
The destination we head to in search of the Northern California Boys Player of the Week takes us to a familiar place. The place is Woodland Christian and it’s about 10-miles north of UC Davis off of Highway 113 in the southern part of Woodland.
The reason we say it’s a familiar place is because just about a month ago Woodland Christian got written up when the Cardinals won their first CIF state title. They bested Wilmington Banning, 23-13, in the CIF 5-A state championship played December 10 at El Camino College. They also capped a 15-0 season.
Brohm doesn’t play football but he sure can pound it on the hardwood and his latest performances are a perfect example.
Last week, in an 83-53 victory against Argonaut of Jackson, the Cardinals’ sophomore matched the opposition point for point and his 53 points broke the school record. He had a monster double-double after adding 11 rebounds, plus Romello had five steals and three assists.
Prior to the Argonaut win, Brohm went for 36 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a 73-65 win against Victory Christian of Carmichael. In the two games last week after the Argonaut win, Romello also had 27 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists in a 69-21 win over visiting SAEL of Nevada City, and a double-double 34 points and 10 rebounds with five assists and six steals in a 82-59 win against Encina Prep of Sacramento.
Not too shabby for a four-game week where Brohn averaged 37.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
So far this season for the 10-3 Cardinals and heading into a Tuesday night match-up with visiting Sacramento Waldorf, Brohm was averaging 30.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game. The per game scoring average sat at No. 7 in the state and No. 1 in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
Harold Abend is the associate editor of CalHiSports.com and the vice president of the California Prep Sportswriters Association. He can be reached at marketingharoldabend@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @HaroldAbend
