Page 6 January 30, 2014 Joe’s Sports Local Gridders Shine at Lions Classic By Joe Snyder Several local prep football standouts participated in last Saturday’s 50th Annual West Torrance Lions All-Star Football Classic. All of the local stars played on the winning Blue team that held off the Red Stars 14-12. It was Hawthorne wide receiver Eddie Thomas who made a key 38-yard pass reception from quarterback Ian Estucia from Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula that set up the first Blue touchdown on Estucia’s oneyard run with 5:16 left before halftime. “It feels good to be surrounded by people from other schools,” Thomas said. Thomas has not made any official college commitment, but he is leaning toward San Jose State University. It was satisfying for Thomas, whose Cougars finished 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the Ocean League over this past season. Inglewood running back/wide receiver Trevon Benton had a few good gains that Runnng back Trevon Benton of Inglewood makes a big gain for the Blue team. Photo by Joe Snyder. also aided the second Blue TD on an 18-yard pass from quarterback Louie Soto (Bishop Montgomery) to wide receiver Preshay Houston (Gardena) that gave the Blues a 14-6 advantage with 31 seconds remaining before intermission. Hawthorne was also represented by defensive back Rian Smith, defensive lineman Saul Sierra and offensive lineman Deshawn Smith. Representing Lawndale were running backs Richard Fitzgerald and William Self, offensive lineman Winston Brown, defensive lineman Justin Traylor and defensive back Richard Rivera. Morningside had one player in linebacker Sione Soffle. The Whites grabbed a 6-0 lead when quarterback Harrison Faecher (Redondo) tossed a 16-yard pass to Marvelle Lias (Narbonne). On the last play of the third quarter, Torrance’s Bobby Wilson intercepted a pass in the end zone and sprinted 100 yards for a touchdown to cut the Blue lead GSC Hawthorne Harold Vert Ad 1-25-14.indd 1 1/26/2014 12:18:16 PM to two points. The Whites attempted a two-point conversion, but a pass by Faecher was broken up by Harrison Morrow (Mira Costa). Defense came up big, as the two teams combined for eight interceptions--five by the Blues and three from the Reds. Two of those interceptions came from defensive back Jalen Jones from Gardena Serra on the Blue squad. Jones also completed the game with a blocked field goal attempt from the Whites’ Jesse Montesdeoca (Banning) on the game’s last play. HAWTHORNE GETS SWEPT BY CULVER CITY Hawthorne High’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams fell to Culver City last Friday at Hawthorne. The Lady Cougars, who started the season in a promising fashion with wins over Beverly Hills and Morningside, lost the services of Deonshana Sadler who rolled her ankle in Hawthorne’s 34-32 road win over Morningside on January 22. They had to play first place Culver City without her and the Lady Centuars took it to the Cougars 64-24. Culver, which is ranked seventh in the CIFSouthern Section Division IIAA, dashed to a 43-11 halftime lead and led by as many as 45 points (62-17) early in the fourth quarter before clearing the bench and having a mercy rule running time clock in that period. The Cougars were led by Kristina Brown with 11 points, but only two other Hawthorne players scored in Deanna Ray (eight points) and Nuton Johnson (five points). Culver was led by Kate Lin with 19 points. Hawthorne fell to 2-2 in league and is 10-9 overall. In the boys’ game, the young Cougars were unable to get their defense going in their 77-66 loss to Culver. Hawthorne stayed close, but Culver led by as many as 23 points early in the fourth period and that proved too much of a hole to dig out of that late. Behind the strong shooting of Brian Ross and Ricky Bryant, the Cougars (4-14 overall and 0-4 in the Ocean League) got as close as six points, but the Centaurs scored the game’s final five points to put it away. Hawthorne managed to have four players score in double figures, led by Ross with 15 points. Bryant added 12 points. Patrick Washington and Marlon Jones chipped in 11 and 10 points, in order. “Hopefully we can get some wins,” Washington said. “We just gave up too many baskets.” Culver (11- 8, 2-2) was led by Armani Nichols with a game-high 23 points. Bryant led Hawthorne with 25 points, while Ross contributed 19, but the Cougars fell at Morningside 96-79 on January 22. James Brown led the Monarchs (6-13, 1-3) with 22 points and 16 rebounds and Gabe Solache had 22 points. Dararia King tallied 17 points and nine rebounds. The Cougars played at Santa Monica Wednesday and visit Beverly Hills (a team that routed Hawthorne 65-24 on January 15) Friday at 7:30 p.m. Hawthorne hosts Inglewood next Wednesday at the same time. Hawthorne’s girls are also at Beverly Hills for a 6 p.m. game on Friday and host the Sentinels next Wednesday at the same time. COUGAR KICKERS TIE CULVER Hawthorne High’s boys’ soccer team is currently in a tie for first place with Culver City as the host Cougars and the Centaurs battled to a 3-3 tie last Friday. At Morningside on January 22, Hawthorne blanked the Monarchs 4-0. The Cougars will visit Beverly Hills Friday at 6 p.m. and host Inglewood next Wednesday at the same time. •
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