June 6, 2014-Photo by Tracey Roman/for the Press-Telegram
Frankie Palmer of La Serna and the East Al-Stars team looks for an open teammate as the East takes on the West in the 605 All-Star Football Game Friday night.

Here are the local players suiting up one last time on the football field for the 48th annual 605 All-Star game on Friday, June 5th at Cerritos College:

East Roster: 

Vincent Brown – Athlete – Artesia

Landon Jones – Wide Receiver – La Mirada

Querale Hall – Athlete – Mayfair

Christian Lara – Quarterback – La Mirada

Jeremy Williams – Running back – Mayfair

Esteban Brosiles – Tight End – Norwalk

Morris Amete – Linebacker – La Mirada

David Laugheed – Not Listed – Norwalk

Ryan McDowell – Linebacker – Norwalk

Kevin Cabot – Defensive Back – Norwalk

Ron Reddy – Defensive Back – Cerritos

Jaydon Logan – Defensive Back – Artesia

Cannon Plooster – Kicker – Mayfair

Joey Guajardo – Linebacker – La Mirada

Christian Veazie – Linebacker – Cerritos

Dillon Faamatau – Defensive Line – Norwalk

Nick Pettaway – Offensive Line – Mayfair

Gabriel Silva – Offensive Line – Norwalk

Rodrigo Sanchez – Offensive Line – Norwalk

Ernest Bagner – Defensive End – Mayfair

Niko Nau – Defensive Line – La Mirada

West Roster: 

Head Coach – Jack Williams – Downey

Elijah Walker – Defensive Back – Cabrillo

DeAngelo Buchanan – Defensive Back – Lynwood

Jason Thomas – Defensive Back – Downey

Donte Spotville – Wide Receiver – Lynwood

Justin Huff – Running Back – Downey

Eddie Preciado – Athlete – Downey

Joseph Williams – Defensive Line – Paramount

Grandy Niupuluso – Linebacker – Dominguez

David Escobedo – Wide Receiver – Warren

Ualeni Pahulu – Defensive Line – Jordan

Ryan Tilton – Linebacker – Mayfair

Josh Ford – Running Back – Dominguez

Rodrick Ashford – Running Back – St. Anthony

Jonathan Castillo – Linebacker – Bellflower

Dominque Leggitt – Linebacker – Cabrillo

Uniate Leiataua – Linebacker – Wilson

Ty Sanchez – Running Back – Lynwood

Chris Blanton – Defensive Line – Downey

Daniel Moore – Defensive Line – Wilson

Manny Ramirez – Defensive Line – Downey

Tanner Lautua – Offensive Line – Dominguez

Zach Schnoberger – Offensive Line – Los Alamitos

Andres Garcia – Offensive Live – Wilson

Jason Sitala – Offensive Line – Bellflower

Malofoa Aina – Offensive Line – Cabrillo

Kyle Lanterman – Offensive Line – Wilson

Anthony Palei – Defensive Line – Paramount

Angel Baez – Offensive Line – Downey

Jacob Hines – Offensive Line – Cabrillo

Francisco Padilla – Offensive Line – Bellflower

Jaylen Watson – Wide Receiver – St. Anthony

When Janice Parks walked into the Mayfair High School gym early Tuesday morning there were three retired jerseys hanging on the wall. By the time she left, hers was up there as well.

Mayfair honored the local softball legend and one of the best athletes to come out of Lakewood in Parks, who led a distinguished career at UCLA and at the international level.

The school held an assembly Tuesday morning attended by students, teachers, former teammates, and friends and family.

“It’s been surreal. It’s been a full circle. I’ve spent pretty much my whole life here,” said Parks. “It’s a huge honor to come in here and see all the students, and teachers and friends and family. It shows how much they care.”

The former Bruin’s resume goes on and on, highlighted by three All-American nominations, two national championships, a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year and UCLA’s Athlete of the Year.

Parks, enshrined in the Lakewood Hall of Fame, also revealed that she was being inducted to the UCLA Hall of Fame, an achievement bestowed on just eight athletes ever year, featuring John Wooden, Troy Aikman and Jackie Robinson.

Parks, a current teacher at Mayfair, said she found out the day before Tuesday’s ceremony.

Parks was also named college softball’s Honda Award winner as the top player in the sport and played with both the U.S. and Puerto Rico national teams. Parks played in the very first softball game offered at the Olympic level at the 1996 games in Atlanta.

In addition to speaking herself, fighting back tears on several occasions, speakers included Mayfair principal Matt Eeles, current softball head coach Erin Brown, a former student of Price, and current UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez.

“Over the 56 year history of Mayfair athletics there have been thousands of athletes that have come through here,” said Eeles, “and she is one of the best to ever do so.”

“Back then the mound was closer…the technology wasn’t as good,” said Inouye-Perez. “If Janice were playing today, I can’t imagine all the records she would be breaking.”

The crowning moment was the reveal of Parks’ No. 14 jersey being added to the gym. Parks became the first female athlete in Mayfair history to have their jersey retired, joining former NBA player Josh Childress, current NFL cornerback Alterruan Verner and current L.A. Dodger Justin Turner.

Becoming the first female Monsoons athlete with her jersey retired is a major accomplishment in its on right for the Parks.

“It’s a huge honor to be able to represent the girls sports,” said Parks.

Damien’s coach Matt Dunn with the trophy at Haas Pavillion in Berkeley, CA on Friday, March 27, 2015. 2nd half of CIF State Division III boys basketball final between Damien and Campolindo. Damien won 70-57. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)

After more than a month a searching, St. John Bosco announced Tuesday that they have their new head basketball coach in Matt Dunn of Damien High School

“I am excited and honored to be the coach at St. John Bosco High School,” said Dunn in a statement released by the school. “To have the opportunity to work at a school whose mission shares my belief in the formation of young men, while attaining tremendous athletic success in programs across the school could not be more attractive to me.”

“We at Bosco are excited to bring in a leader for the basketball program that possesses a demonstrated ability to be successful on the court as well as a notable dedication to the formation and development to his players as persons,” said Bosco principal Casey Yeazel, who knows Dunn from his time at Damien, in the school’s press release.

Dunn comes to Bosco after 12 years at Damien, including a rise over the last five seasons where Dunn and the Spartans won 129 games, a CIF title in 2013 and a state title this past season, going 29-5 along with a Top 10 state ranking. Damien did make the Open Division like St. John Bosco.

The search for a new coach started in late March when Bosco and Derrick Taylor, who brought the program its first state championship in 2014, decided to part ways. As a school with growing athletic success and playing in the Trinity League, the Braves position was a highly sought after one, the school receiving more that 160 applications.

Should nothing change on the roster, Dunn will inherit blue-chip recruit and rising senior Vance Jackson on his first Bosco team.

The Braves finished 18-13 this season and 5-5 in the Trinity League this season.

The always fun San Gabriel Valley League opens today with baseball and softball. Here is the full slate of games:

Baseball:

No. 10 Gahr (10-7) at Warren (14-7), 3:15 p.m.

The premier series this week between the two favorites for the league crown. Warren has won three straight games while the Gladiators started as one of the top two teams in the division. But don’t let Gahr’s record fool you, the Gladiators played one of, if not the toughest non-league schedule in the area. Both teams pride themselves on defense and both have excellent pitching staffs. Don’t be surprised if both games are low scoring affairs.

Downey (8-11) at Lynwood (11-1), 3:15 p.m.

The Vikings are the defending champs but graduated the best pitching combo in the league last season. They still have a really good ace in Randy Labaut (4-3) who should be in line to start. Lynwood has the best mark at the start of league at 11-1, winning 11 straight before falling to Saddleback Valley Christian last Friday.

Dominguez (2-2) at Paramount (9-10)

Dominguez has been improving the last few seasons but with just four games under its belt it’s hard to get a read on them. The Dons have given up 28 runs in their two losses. Paramount is always one of the toughest teams in league and will be favored to jump out to a 2-0 lead in league with Gahr looming next.

Softball: 

Gahr (10-5) at Warren (9-3)

The Gladiators and Bears also dominate the softball side as the top game on slate. The two teams shared the league crown last year, both boasting big offenses and some of the top players in the area.

Downey (8-9) at Lynwood (2-4)

The Vikings are the biggest challengers to Gahr and Warren and will face their rivals the Bears on Thursday.

Paramount (1-12) at Dominguez (2-5)

Long Beach State’s Jack Williams,35, takes a shot against UCLA, during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Los Angeles Calif., Sunday November 23, 2014.
(Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze)

Former Chaminade star and Long Beach State freshman Jack Williams announced via social media that he would be leaving the school.

Williams, a three-start recruit, wrote “Thank you to everyone at LB State for the past year. It was a great year, but I will not be returning next year. Thanks to everyone.” 

He added that he was not kicked off the team or left for academic reasons, that it was his own decision.

Williams averaged 2.9 point per game and 2.4 rebounds, playing in 32 games for the 49ers, starting five including the first two of the season. Williams averaged 13 minutes per contest.

Despite the graduation of David Samuels and Eric McKnight, Williams’ minutes were unlikely to increase with highly regarded forward transfers Gabe Levin and Roschon Prince becoming eligible as well as incoming recruits LaRond Williams and Mason Riggins joining the front court depth.

Long Beach is also expecting to return Travis Hammonds, the team’s fifth leading scorer, and bruiser Temidayo Yussuf, who started 10 games and was consistently the first freshman off the bench for the 49ers.

La Mirada at Compton CIF-SS Division 2A semifinal basketball playoff game Tuesday March 3, 2015. La Mirada’s Kendall Lauderdale throws down a monstrous dunk in first half.
Photo By Robert Casillas / Daily Breeze

La Mirada will try to continue its historic run in the Walter Pyramid against No. 4 seed Lawndale. Here is a breakdown of the Cardinals team looking for some major redemption:

Opponent: No. 4 seed Lawndale

Record: 23-11

League: Ocean League (7-3, 2nd)

Coach: Christopher Brownlee

Common Opponents: 

Mayfair: Lawndale (1-0); La Mirada (2-0)

Canyon: Lawndale (0-1); La Mirada (2-0)

Compton: Lawndale (0-1); La Mirada (1-1)

Gahr: Lawndale (1-0); La Mirada (1-0)

La Costa Canyon (1-0); La Mirada (1-0)

Redemption

If Lawndale sounds familiar to you it’s because they are the team that squandered a 28-point lead in the second half of the CIF Division 2AA title game, eventually losing in double overtime to Canyon. No doubt that is on the Cardinals minds, so La Mirada can expected a focused opponent on Saturday.

Running Through State

Since that double overtime loss, Lawndale has been absolutely destroying teams outscoring its three state opponents 222 to 141. They have yet to allow a team more than 50 points in the state bracket. Lawndale routed Grant by 42, Redlands East Valley by 25 and La Costa Canyon by 14 on the way to the Southern California Regional finals.

Size Advantage 

No team this season has had the size inside to match La Mirada’s 6-foot-8 Kendall Lauderdale and 6-foot-7 pogo stick Dezmon Murphy. Until now. The Cardinals deploy two, 6-foot-10 bigs in Brodricks Jones and Chimezie Metu. Metu is a four-star recruit and headed to USC next season while Jones is committed to San Diego State. Lauderdale and Murphy are good shooters so they can draw the big outside of the paint to give the Matadores chances to drive inside.

The Cardinals have great overall length as well, just one player out of 13 under 6-foot. Not including Jones and Metu, Lawndale has four players 6-foot-3 or bigger.

Senior Heavy 

The Cardinals have 10 seniors on the roster and just one underclass man, a sophomore. That’s a good deal of varsity experience.

Next

The winner on Saturday will travel to the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley for a state title shot on March 28 against either the North’s No. 1 seed Sacramento or No. 2 seed Archbishop Mitty.

You can listen to the stream via a mobile phone, laptop or tablet. Simply press the play button.

Moore League 

San Gabriel Valley League 

126: Martha Cellis – Dominguez – 7th place

150: Ophelia  Lara – Gahr -1st place

235: Chazel Becerra – Paramount – 2nd place

The 6-foot-7 forward started all 29 games at LMU averaging 11.1 points per game (third on the team) and 7.2 rebounds, which led the Lions and helped set a freshman record for double-doubles (six).

He will redshirt this season, but will be eligible to practice with the team along with other transfers Nick Faust (Maryland) and Roschon Prince (USC).

Levin initially transferred to Marquette, but left shortly into the first semester. Levin also took visits to Northwestern, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Long Beach State offered a familiar face in first-year assistant coach Myke Scholl, who ame over from LMU and coached Levin.

“Gabe has an extremely high character, and is a hard-working, big time athlete,” said Scholl in a school statement. “He’s a talented rebounder, and his numbers show his versatility both scoring and on the glass. He gives us another hybrid forward who can play inside-out at a high level.”

Levin starred at St. Thomas More Prep in Conn., collecting numerous accolades and averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds as senior.

Levin now bumps up Long Beach State’s 2015-16 class to six, which already includes Faust, Prince as well as freshman Noah Blackwell and forwards LaRond Williams and Mason Riggins.

Defending champion Mayfair opened up Suburban League play with a 72-56 win over Cerritos, needing to pull away in the second half.

• Getting off to a good start in league is always important, but both teams really wanted this 1-0 start. Both the Dons and Monsoons came in under .500. Cerritos was getting some guys back from injury and still finding its rhythm. Mayfair had also been searching for better consistency from a new group.
• The marquee matchup of the night was between Kendall Small, the Oregon-bound point guard and Cerritos’ start junior guard Evan Leonard, a Div. I prospect. Leonard won the battle, dropping 23 points to lead all scorers, but Small (11 points) won the war as Mayfair won the game thanks to a better supporting cast.
• Small did have just 11 points, but he had an off night on offense. He just couldn’t finish at the basket. He did everything else well; defending, rebounding, assists, etc.
• While Small had a quiet night, his teammates of JR Harrison (19 points), Daminique Moses (18 points) and Kendall Smith (13 points) stepped up with big nights. Head coach Tony Davis called it the difference for Mayfair, so Small did not put the pressure on himself to score at will.
• The first period was eight minutes of the teams feeling each other out. Both teams missed several point blank shots. League opening jitters. The second period was a crowd pleaser as the Dons and Soons went back and forth for 39 combined points. Smith was huge with six straight points for Mayfair while Henry Buycks (11 points) led the way for the Dons with some smooth shooting.
• With a 30-30 halftime, both teams knew they were in this, but Mayfair grabbed control with an early 10-0 run. Cerritos came back with an 8-2 run to end the third and get within five, but Mayfair responded with an 8-2 run of its own to regain the double-digit lead.
• Cerritos head coach Jonathan Watanabe said after the game that the defense collapsed was what lost them the game. His team lost because of the defensive effort not on offense.
• Davis said his defense did a better job of closing in on the Dons’ shooters, getting in their face. Cerritos employs a guard heavy lineup full of shooters so it was important for the Soons to contest shots.
• Mayfair closed out the win with clutch free throw shooting, hitting 11 of 12 attempts down the line.
• Mayfair takes on Bellflower next while Cerritos hosts Norwalk.