Emily Anderson scored from inside or outside during the last week for Clovis West, helping the team to at least a share of its eighth straight league crown. Photo by John Neale courtesy of school.
For game reports, please go to our twitter page @CalHiSports and for other updates please visit our Facebook page.
To subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, click here.
By Mark Tennis & Paul Muyskens with contribution by Bob Barnett.
We collect these highlights in support of the Cal-Hi Sports state record book, which is the exclusive home for state records and has been published seven times since 1980.
These highlights are for games played mostly from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8 with some performances from this week.
To send in a stat star of your own, email highlights to markjtennis@gmail.com.
For game reports, please go to our twitter page @CalHiSports and for other updates please visit our Facebook page.
BOYS BASKETBALL
JoJo Ballestero (Canyon, Anaheim)
His basket with seven seconds left pushed the Comanches past Foothill of Tustin 66-65 in a big Century League game. Ballestero finished with 29 points, making 7-of-7 on free throws and four on 3-point shots.
Gabe Bealer (Antelope)
In a 72-52 win over Cordova of Rancho Cordova, Bealer found the basket for 30 points. He is averaging 20. 5 points per game and led the Titans to a 10-0 record in the Capital League.
John Fenton (Central Catholic, Modesto)
The 6-foot-10 center dominated for the Raiders with 22 points and 26 rebounds as they topped Patterson 77-66 in a Western Athletic Conference game. His presence will be tough for all teams to deal with in the upcoming CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs.
Jordan Franklin (Trinity Prep, Napa)
One of the state’s top reported scoring leaders, Franklin rolled up 36 points for Trinity Prep in a 70-51 triumph against Global Youth Charter of Antelope.
Silas Gaines (Webb, Claremont)
In a 62-60 loss to Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia, Gaines kept the Gauls close with his hot scoring and wound up with 34 points.
Daniel Hamilton (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
One of the state’s top junior college prospects, Hamilton fired in 23 points and had 10 assists and eight rebounds to lead the state-ranked Braves past Santa Margarita of Rancho Santa Margarita 79-61.
Connor Haupt (Burlingame)
Haupt got hot from beyond the 3-point line and tied a school record with nine shots made from that far out in Burlingame’s 70-39 win over San Mateo. Haupt, who finished with 31 points, tied the school record held by 2004-05 Cal-Hi Sports State Athlete of the Year Drew Shiller.
Kyle Hurt (Kings Christian, Lemoore)
Talented junior scored 35 points with five 3-pointers in a 49-48 win over Orange Cove and came back with 25 points (including 8-for-8 on free throws) in a narrow 62-55 loss to McFarland.
T.J. Leaf (Foothills Christian, El Cajon)
A promising 6-foot-7 freshman, Leaf raked Madison of San Diego last week for 41 points and had 11 rebounds and six assists to lead his team to a 79-57 triumph. He later added a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 87-42 romp past Lutheran of San Diego.
Sam Kunz (Alameda)
The 6-foot-3 senior forward had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Hornets in their 62-43 win against Tennyson of Hayward. He also had 21 points and 14 rebounds when Alameda avenged an earlier loss by beating arch-rival Encinal 69-50.
Jaron Martin (Chaminade, West Hills)
With eight 3-pointers, Martin set a new school record at Chaminade during last week’s 67-51 victory against St. Francis of La Canada. Martin also finished with 33 points and set another school record for career scoring that was previous held by Chaminade assistant coach Scott Borchart (he played for the Eagles from 1998 to 2001).
Sean McDonnell (San Dieguito Academy, Encinitas)
He’s already had a big game this week with 28 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Escondido Charter, but makes the stat star honor roll for getting 31 points and 14 rebounds when he led the Mustangs past San Pasqual of Escondido 71-60.
Michael Meserole (Liberty Ranch, Galt)
Although Cosumnes Oaks of Elk Grove won the game 68-59, Meserole stole much of the spotlight with 40 points, seven rebounds and seven steals. He made 15-of-22 shots from the field and topped his previous single-game best of 39 points.
Alec Palchikoff (Pilgrim, Los Angeles)
He swiped 20 rebounds to go with 32 points in a dominating effort for the Patriots in their game with San Fernando Valley Academy, but it wasn’t enough as SFVA won 62-55.
Kleem Perkins (San Bernardino)
Heading into the CIFSS playoffs, one of the region’s hottest players is Perkins, who didn’t cool off with 33 points in a 68-51 win last week against Pacific of San Bernardino.
Isaac Pineiro (Placer, Auburn)
A key member of the Placer football team as a defensive back (who was among the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section leaders in interceptions), Pineiro shined on the court with 31 points when the Hillmen beat Bear River of Lake of the Pines 58-55.
Joel Plascencia (Mendota)
He pumped in a career high of 44 points, which is also the second-best single-game total in school history, as the Aztecs beat Firebaugh 78-58.
Ivan Rabb (Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland)
It was nearly a triple-double for the nationally ranked sophomore prospect when the Dragons topped Modesto Christian last week 71-62 in a matchup of D3 state-ranked teams. Rabb finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine blocks.
Jalen Rhodes (Fillmore)
Don’t know if Jalen Rose is this player’s favorite, but he put up Jalen Rose-like numbers with 37 points to lead Fillmore last week in a 86-63 win over Grace Brethren of Simi Valley.
Scotty Roes (Grace Brethren, Simi Valley)
In the same game in which Jalen Rhodes had 37 for Fillmore, Roes had 40 for Grace Brethren. The P.A. announcer probably had a rough night with those two who have almost the same last name.
Luke Selway (Villa Park)
In a 83-71 loss to Canyon of Anaheim, Selway still had his way inside for much of the contest. He ended with 33 points and 18 rebounds.
Kris Yanku (Taft, Woodland Hills)
One of the top players in the CIF L.A. City Section, Yanku racked up a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Toreadors past Chatsworth 72-49.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Briteesha Solomon of San Diego Mission Bay will play next at San Diego State. Photo: Willie Eashman.
Emily Anderson (Clovis West, Fresno)
A 6-foot junior, Anderson has had a huge year for head coach Craig Campbell and the Golden Eagles. She had 33 points with 15 rebounds against Central of Fresno last week in a 80-44 win and then had 24 points against Clovis East. The two wins guaranteed that Clovis West would at least get a share of its eighth straight league championship.
Irene Aranda (Vincent Memorial, Calexico)
Call her the 40-40 girl of the week since she hit for 40 points in back-to-back outings for her team. Aranda first hit for 40 in a 65-28 romp past Mountain Empire. She came back to score 40 again in a 56-34 win against Borrego of Borrego Springs. Aranda began this week averaging 23.9 points per game.
Halie Bergman (Turlock Christian)
The University of Pacific-bound senior rolled up 30 points and had 14 rebounds and 12 steals in a 67-20 win over Waterford.
Chyanne Butler (St. Bernard, Playa del Rey)
There was at least some positive news for the Vikings in their 56-45 loss to Serra of Gardena last week and that was the spectacular outing by Butler. Despite the team struggling, Butler still ended with a game-high 30 points.
Morgan Green (Pacific Collegiate, Santa Cruz)
It wasn’t a high-scoring game but that didn’t prevent Green from posting 34 points to go with 11 rebounds and 10 steals in a 46-33 triumph against Santa Catalina of Monterey.
Ahlisha Henderson (Reseda)
Consistent performer stayed hot with 27 points and 27 rebounds as the Regents rolled past Panorama of Panorama City 66-22.
Dejza James (Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove)
The University of Arizona signer was on her game and finished with 34 points to lead the Eagles past St. Francis of Sacramento 75-41.
Sabrina Johnson (Ocean View Christian, San Diego)
In a 43-18 victory over San Diego Academy, Johnson was credited with a triple-double. She had 18 points, 14 steals and 10 rebounds.
Ashley Kelsick (Highland, Palmdale)
The regular season ended for Kelsick on the same high she’s been on since December. In her next to last game, Kelsick poured in 42 points in a 72-56 victory against Antelope Valley of Lancaster. She then finished with 38 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and seven assists as Highland defeated Lancaster 86-43.
Erika Larsen (Sutter)
Although her team lost 59-45 to fellow state stat star Baylee Opperman and her team at Winters, Larsen still shined with 20 points, 22 rebounds and eight blocks. Earlier in the week, Larsen led the Huskies with 21 points, 25 rebounds and eight blocks when they topped Orland 51-35.
Bayli McClard (Hanford)
It wasn’t that impressive that McClard piled up 27 points and had 10 rebounds, six steals, four assists and two blocks in Hanford’s 79-31 win last week over Hanford West. It sure was, though, that she did all that without committing a foul. With the win, McClard and her teammates won their eighth straight West Yosemite League title.
Madison Michelis (Woodside)
Wildcat fans are mad about Madison after she connected for season-high 36 points and had 12 rebounds in a 65-54 triumph over Menlo-Atherton of Atherton.
Allyson O’Brien (La Habra)
She had the best week of any player in Orange County, beginning with 40 points in a 55-42 win by the Highlanders over Fullerton. O’Brien came back with 32 in a 61-41 victory against Buena Park.
Baylee Opperman (Winters)
Top scorer from the CIF Northern Section made 15-of-15 free throws on her way to 31 points when the Warriors beat Gridley 60-43. In the same game, she also had 21 rebounds and blocked three shots. Opperman also dominated in a 47-37 win by Winters over Wheatland. She had 29 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
Mar-Jana Phillips & Beverly Ntagu (Rolling Hills Prep, San Pedro)
Phillips nearly recorded a quadruple-double in the Huskies’ 68-36 win over New Roads as she scored 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, came up with nine steals and had eight blocks. Ntagu had a big double-double of her own as she scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
Kelsey Plum (La Jolla Country Day)
Considering that the opposing team was Bishop’s of La Jolla (another top D4 team from the CIF San Diego Section), Plum’s sweet stat line of 32 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in the Torreys’ 72-66 win over the Knights was among this week’s most impressive outings. Her scoring average also continues to creep up and is now getting near 28 points per game.
Fineone Prescott (Hawthorne)
Scoring 14 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Prescott led the Cougars to a 48-45 overtime win against Santa Monica in Ocean League action. She makes it as a stat star, though, for recording a triple-double since she had 10 steals and 10 rebounds to go with her points.
Briteesha Solomon (Mission Bay, San Diego)
This talented senior guard was listed in this feature many times last week because she was playing on one of the top D3 teams in the state and the coaches there at the time made sure to let us know of her numerous top performances. Solomon, who has signed with San Diego State, remains a top all-state candidate even though Mission Bay as a team has dropped below .500. She had a breakout game last week with 48 points to lead the Bucs past Cathedral Catholic of San Diego 76-68.
Aubri Smith (Buena, Ventura)
She doubled the scoring output of the opposing team by scoring 32 points when the Bulldogs crushed San Marcos of Santa Barbara 80-16 in the Channel League game.
Reyna Ta’amu & Rachel Nagel (Whitney, Cerritos)
Leading the offense with 19 points, Reyna also grabbed 16 rebounds as the Wildcats clinched their third straight Academy League championship with a 71-27 victory over Crean Lutheran. Rachel was just shy of a triple-double as she scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had eight assists.
Tia Tucker (Brookside Christian, Stockton)
Earlier this season when Brookside played Millennium of Tracy the score was 105-14 and Tucker scored 73 points, the fourth-highest in state history. Last week it was more routine (and with no questions about running up the score) as she hit for 43 points in a 91-10 win over the same squad.
Ruth Waters (Ripon)
Ruth’s outing may have been the biggest of the week in one respect because it came when the Indians beat Modesto Christian 61-58 to end Modesto Christian’s 98-game league winning streak. The MC boys already have an ongoing league win streak of more than 100 games and the girls were trying to join them. It would have been a first in state hoops history. In the historic win, Waters knocked down 27 points and had eight rebounds and six assists.
Rachol West (Garces, Bakersfield)
By the time many are reading this, Rachol could be getting very close to 2,000 points for her career at Garces. Last week, she scored a season high of 39 points and had seven assists, seven steals and six rebounds in a 81-28 win over North of Bakersfield. Rachol came back in the second game of the week to score 30 points as the Rams beat Foothill of Bakersfield 69-18.
Antuanisha Wright (Emery, Emeryville)
The sophomore standout racked up 37 points and yanked down 10 rebounds in a 69-40 triumph against Fremont Christian.
