Change my location
Sports
Los Angeles Examiners
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Examiner
Most Recent Post
Rummage sale: Angels should seek insurance at shortstop
Los Angeles Sports Examiner
Most Recent Post
Dodgers add Greg Maddux to Pennyless rotation
Wong felt the momentum coming for Washington
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - To hear Vince Wong tell it, the turnaround actually began during a 25-point loss.
The coach of the Washington girls’ basketball team has guided the Eagles to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in Academic Athletic Association play. But he watched as the Eagles scuffled en route to a 1-11 start this season.
The final defeat was a 66-41 decision to Central of Fresno in the West Coast Jamboree, a game in which Wong finally saw some signs from his team despite the lopsided result.
“It doesn’t show in the final score, but we were really competitive in that game for three quarters,” Wong said. “I was never really worried. I knew we were capable of playing better.”
And since the loss to Central, the Eagles have done just that. Washington (5-11, 3-0 AAA) crushed Valley of Sacramento 55-22 in its final game in the West Coast Jamboree and has followed that up with wins in its first three league games (in which it has outscored opponents by a combined 162-86). Center Tierney Jones is gaining confidence and controlling the paint, while Wong calls Stephanie Truong “our point guard/everything.”
Suddenly, the Eagles are starting to resemble the team that has gone 26-0 in regular-season league play the past two seasons and has won four of the last six AAA championships.
Next up for Washington is today’s 5 p.m. home game against International Studies Academy (9-7, 2-2). Looming on the schedule is a Jan. 26 showdown at Kezar Pavilion against rival Lowell (19-1, 5-0). The Eagles beat the Cardinals during the regular season last year but lost a 56-46 overtime decision in the AAA title game.
SPRINTING MUSTANGS: The Lincoln boys’ basketball team is also off to a fast start in league play, paced by the frenetic, up-tempo style of new coach Mike Gragnani. Gragnani formerly coached at Redwood of Larkspur and learned the system from former Clovis West coach Vance Wallberg (now at Pepperdine).
It’s a scheme predicated on creating chaos and turnovers and Lincoln (11-8, 5-0 AAA) has thrived in it thus far.
Kevin Robinson is averaging a team-leading 19.2 points per game, while Drew Bologna (11.0) and Aaron Hall (10.6) are also consistently reaching double figures.
“I’m extremely pleased with my guys,” Gragnani said. “This group has picked up the system faster than any group I’ve coached.”
The Mustangs face a huge challenge today at 5 p.m. when they host defending league champion Lowell (15-3, 4-1).
GIRLS’ WRESTLING: The CIF girls’ wrestling regional tournament will take place Friday and Saturday at Liberty High School in Brentwood. The event, which is not connected with the March 2-3 CIF state tournament, should draw a number of the top individuals from NorCal, including several from The City.
Information about the tournament is available online at the CIF web site.
E-mail Matt Elliser at melliser@examiner.com.
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:16 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 20, 2007 re: "Stuart Hall suffers off-court losses"
Report as inappropriate
7:24 PM MST on Sat., Jun. 16, 2007
re: "Stuart Hall suffers off-court losses"
Report as inappropriate
10:49 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 4, 2007
re: "Powell booted from Stuart Hall"
Report as inappropriate
7:55 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 2, 2007
re: "Powell booted from Stuart Hall"
Report as inappropriate
2:28 PM MST on Thu., May. 17, 2007
re: "Lowell keeps rolling"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
The kid stole laptops from the school. Should he really be getting a second chance? Parents paid a gain amount of money to send thier kids there. He gets a free ride and steals from his own peers.
184 agree | 231 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
i think that stephen powell should get to play because what he did was so late in the school year that the school should of asked him to leave instead of kicking him out.
196 agree | 196 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
what did he do to get the boot? beat up a kid or something?
210 agree | 193 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Depending under what circumstances the student transfers under should dictate whether or not the student has to sit out ! If the student is going from private to public, and there are no issues which caused the transfer - No sitting out. But if it's within the same league, possibly, especially is there aren't any unusual cirmcumstances.
235 agree | 190 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
yin yang is from lincoln not ballboa.
236 agree | 223 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree