LET THE GAME BEGIN -- Jaguar Juan Peredo and Eagle Jeff Stabler vie for the tip-off at the start of the boys game. Carlos Hugo Vaca, Cambridge
All Stars stage spectacular show
In future years the trappings of the SCISL All Star the games will no doubt become fancier. Players will probably wear All Star uniforms instead of black and green pinnies. Fans may watch them enter the arena through twin lines of hysterical cheerleaders, while strobe lights flash and tinsel confetti falls through the air.
But there's room to doubt whether there will be a game quite as good as Thursday night's boys All Star contest any time soon.
The "Green" team composed of players from Christian Learning and International defeated the "Black" team of players from Cambridge and Cooperative 42-40, but the outcome was in doubt until the final second.
The boys game was one of several attractions on offer at the Cooperative gym, which included a well executed girls contest, a three-point shooting contest for boys, and a free throw contest featuring six coaches. The fun evening was designed for building camaraderie and promoting sportsmanship.
In the boys game, the Black team had jumped out at the start to a quick 7-2 lead, and was ahead 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to baskets by Benjamin Ezpeleta and Juan Manuel Salas of Cambridge and Juan Peredo and Pablo Taborga of Cooperative. .JPG)
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AERIAL BATTLE -- David Lotz goes up for a shot against Alvaro Lopez. Jonatan Muñoz, InternationalBut a successful counter-offensive by the Greens in the second quarter -- led by David Lotz of Christian Learning and David Huang of International -- had the Greens out in front 20-14 at halftime.
The teams battled almost evenly through the third period, at the end of which the Greens led, 31-26. Midway through the fourth quarter the Greens still held the advantage, 37-32, after Mario Rohrman scored on a lay-up.
At that point Salas put on display of how he had won the league scoring title. He scored the Black team's next eight points, with two three-pointers and a lay-up.
The lay-up was the most spectacular basket of the night. Opposing fans often want Salas called for traveling on his "sky jumps," but the fact of the matter is that he simply stays aloft for an uncanny length of time. On this shot he actually jumped past the basket, and tossed the ball back over his head with two hands, apparently without looking.
The teams battled almost evenly through the third period, at the end of which the Greens led, 31-26. Midway through the fourth quarter the Greens still held the advantage, 37-32, after Mario Rohrman scored on a lay-up.
At that point Salas put on display of how he had won the league scoring title. He scored the Black team's next eight points, with two three-pointers and a lay-up.
The lay-up was the most spectacular basket of the night. Opposing fans often want Salas called for traveling on his "sky jumps," but the fact of the matter is that he simply stays aloft for an uncanny length of time. On this shot he actually jumped past the basket, and tossed the ball back over his head with two hands, apparently without looking.
"Don't let him shoot!"
There was a momentary silence after it swished through the basket while everyone in the Jaguar gym shared a single thought: "That didn't go in, did it?"
Just before Salas went up for his second three-pointer a plaintive female voice wailed, "Don't let him shoot!" She probably spoke for many.
But Salas' points did not go unanswered. Tim Swope of the Greens tossed in two fairly artistic shots of his own, and with about a minute to play the Greens still owned a one-point lead, 41-40.
The Blacks frantically tried to get the ball back one more time, and in the process fouled Paul Estes of Christian Learning. Estes made one of his two shots to make the Green lead two points, but the Blacks got the ball and called time out with 7.6 seconds on the clock.
There was a momentary silence after it swished through the basket while everyone in the Jaguar gym shared a single thought: "That didn't go in, did it?"
Just before Salas went up for his second three-pointer a plaintive female voice wailed, "Don't let him shoot!" She probably spoke for many.
But Salas' points did not go unanswered. Tim Swope of the Greens tossed in two fairly artistic shots of his own, and with about a minute to play the Greens still owned a one-point lead, 41-40.
The Blacks frantically tried to get the ball back one more time, and in the process fouled Paul Estes of Christian Learning. Estes made one of his two shots to make the Green lead two points, but the Blacks got the ball and called time out with 7.6 seconds on the clock.
Two inches too long
The ball was inbounded to Ezpeleta, who got off a beautiful, high-arcing shot from the left of the key. No one knew it would miss -- until it did, clanking off the back of the rim (about two inches too long) as the buzzer sounded.
David Huang of International led the Green scorers with ten points, and showed everyone how well he can play with a strong supporting cast. Tim Swope finished with eight; David Lotz and Paul Estes scored five apiece; Jeff Stabler, Ernando Tesch and Danny Canaviri had four each, and Rohrman had two. The Greens coach was Chad Jackson of Christian Learning.
For the Blacks, Salas finished with 19, including three three-pointers. Ezpeleta was next with 12, including two three-pointers. Juan Peredo had four points, Pablo Taborga three (on a three-pointer), and Alvaro Lopez had two. Jose Ribera of Cambridge, and Cristobal Roda and Daniel Linggi of Cooperative also played for the Blacks. The Black team coach was Max Farfan of Cooperative.
The ball was inbounded to Ezpeleta, who got off a beautiful, high-arcing shot from the left of the key. No one knew it would miss -- until it did, clanking off the back of the rim (about two inches too long) as the buzzer sounded.
David Huang of International led the Green scorers with ten points, and showed everyone how well he can play with a strong supporting cast. Tim Swope finished with eight; David Lotz and Paul Estes scored five apiece; Jeff Stabler, Ernando Tesch and Danny Canaviri had four each, and Rohrman had two. The Greens coach was Chad Jackson of Christian Learning.
For the Blacks, Salas finished with 19, including three three-pointers. Ezpeleta was next with 12, including two three-pointers. Juan Peredo had four points, Pablo Taborga three (on a three-pointer), and Alvaro Lopez had two. Jose Ribera of Cambridge, and Cristobal Roda and Daniel Linggi of Cooperative also played for the Blacks. The Black team coach was Max Farfan of Cooperative.
KEEP AWAY -- Juan Manuel Salas is guarded by Mario Rohrman and Danny Canaviri. David Huang lurks inthe background. Carlos Hugo Vaca, Cambridge
The girls contest, while well played, lacked the suspense and drama of the boys contest after the first half, which ended with the team composed of Cambridge and Christian Learning leading the team made up of Cooperative and International, 12-9..JPG)
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SLIPPING ONE BY -- Eagle Jennifer Lau (18) tries to get a pass past Cecelia Aponte (6). Jonatan Muñoz, International
In the second half the Cambridge-Christian Leaning combo, wearing red, took command of the game, which they eventually won 28-16.
The game ended up being something of a mis-match because International's two biggest stars, Daniela Zelada and Melissa Roca, were no-shows, leaving the Cooperative stars to more or less carry the full load. Only one International girl scored a basket.
Christian Learning senior Roxy Jien bade farewell to the SCISL with what may well have been the best game of career, as she generaled the Red offense with speed and authority, while scoring eight points and picking up several assists.
Jien and Cambridge senior Raquel Lopez, who also had eight points, proved to be a potent combination. The niftiest play of the night may have been a fast break on which Jien shot a pass to Lopez, who took the ball in full stride and finger rolled it into the basket in one smooth, continuous motion.
Cambridge sophomore Maira Lino contributed six points to the Green effort, while Jennifer Lau, Sabrina Hallock, and Ann Marie Hawthorne, all of Christian Learning, had a basket each.
Mariana Escaño, Karen Aliaga, and Camila Johnson, all of Cambridge, also played for the Greens, who were coached by Victor Coronado of Cambridge. Carla Limpias was the top scorer for the Blacks with six points. Hailey White and Nataly Noguer had three points; Cecelia Aponte and Adriana Ocampo had two points each. All were Cooperative players, except Ocampo. The Green team was coached by Eduardo "Presi" de la Riva of International.
Christian Learning senior Roxy Jien bade farewell to the SCISL with what may well have been the best game of career, as she generaled the Red offense with speed and authority, while scoring eight points and picking up several assists.
Jien and Cambridge senior Raquel Lopez, who also had eight points, proved to be a potent combination. The niftiest play of the night may have been a fast break on which Jien shot a pass to Lopez, who took the ball in full stride and finger rolled it into the basket in one smooth, continuous motion.
Cambridge sophomore Maira Lino contributed six points to the Green effort, while Jennifer Lau, Sabrina Hallock, and Ann Marie Hawthorne, all of Christian Learning, had a basket each.
Mariana Escaño, Karen Aliaga, and Camila Johnson, all of Cambridge, also played for the Greens, who were coached by Victor Coronado of Cambridge. Carla Limpias was the top scorer for the Blacks with six points. Hailey White and Nataly Noguer had three points; Cecelia Aponte and Adriana Ocampo had two points each. All were Cooperative players, except Ocampo. The Green team was coached by Eduardo "Presi" de la Riva of International.
BEATING THE CROWD -- Camila Johnson dribbles past Cecelia Aponte (6), Hailey White (15) and Nataly Noguer. Carlos Hugo Vaca, CambridgeDuring halftime of the girls contest the top three-point shooters in the boys division tested their skills against one another, with each player given one minute to shoot 12 times from outside the three-point line, with the 12th ball (the "Money Ball") counting double.
In the initial round both David Lotz of Christian Learning and Juan Peredo of Cooperative both had five points. In a tie-breaking round of six shots Lotz prevailed in a six-ball tie-breaking round, sinking two while Peredo made one.
The other competitors (with their score in the first round) were: David Huang of International (3), Pablo Taborga of Cooperative (3), Juan Manuel Sala of Cambridge (2), Jose Ribera of Cambridge (2), and Tim Swope of Christian Learning (2).
Four coaches put on a display of shooting precision in their free throw contest during halftime of the boys game. Again the format was 12 shots in one minute.
Jackson has the hottest hand
All of the coaches made at least six points in the first round, with Chad Jackson of Christian Learning and Mike Vande Loo of Cooperative tying for the lead with 10 points. Jackson won in the six-ball tie-breaker, making five of six shots, while Vande Loo made four of six. Both sank the "money ball."
The other contestants (and their first-round scores) were Victor Coronado of Cambridge (7) and Eduardo "Presi" de la Riva of International (6).
There was a nice feeling to the entire event, which was well attended. After the games were over players who had been opponents all season hugged one another and mugged together for snapshots.
At the conclusion of the game the coaches accepted certificates of participation for their players. Winners of the poster contest (see below) were also introduced. .JPG)
BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT -- Paul Estes artfully passes the ball in to Mario Rohrman (16), Cristobal Roda (10) defends. Jonatan Muñoz, International
BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT -- Paul Estes artfully passes the ball in to Mario Rohrman (16), Cristobal Roda (10) defends. Jonatan Muñoz, International
