TORRANCE TRIBUNE January 12, 2017 Page 3 Up and Adam Follow Us on Twitter @heraldpub Attempt Sexual Assault Arrest On Monday, January 9 at approximately 12 p.m., Torrance Police Officers responded to the 18200 block of Kingsdale Avenue regarding reports of a male sexually assaulting an elderly female. Officers quickly arrived at the location and detained a suspect matching the description in the vicinity. The suspect was subsequently positively identified as Duncan Walton, a black male 35 years of age, and a transient of Torrance. Duncan Walton was ultimately arrested for attempted sexual assault and kidnapping. Hate Incident On Monday, January 9 at approximately 7:40 a.m., Torrance Police Officers responded to the area of Calle De Arboles Park in regards to large lettering on the hillside depicting “KILL WHITES.” Officers arrived at the location and quickly determined the material used to spell out the hateful language to be toilet paper. There were no immediate suspects identified. The scene was photographed and ultimately cleaned. Officers completed an incident report to conclude the preliminary investigation. Both of the above incidents are being investigated under the command and direction of Captain Martin Vukotic of the Special Operations Bureau. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Torrance Police Department Detective Division at (310) 618-5570. • Police Alert Lady Warriors Topple Tartars in Division Opener By Adam Serrao Competition in the Pioneer League is something that is always heated and fairly unpredictable on a year-in, year-out basis. Under head coach Riki Murakami, the West High Warriors girls’ basketball team is trying to make predicting the winner of this year’s divisional race a little bit more conventional. West got out to a great start in doing just that last Friday night when it traveled to Torrance High for a road game against the rival Tartars. It took both teams a little while to hit their strides and find their shots, but ultimately it was West that was able to hit second gear. The Lady Warriors blew out their adversaries from Torrance by a final score of 53-30 to attain their first league-play victory of the season. The Lady Warriors basketball team has been on a mission every since losing in last year’s CIF Division 1AA championship game to the Ventura Cougars. This season, there has been nothing else on the team’s mind except avenging that loss and bringing home a trophy to West High. Step one of the team’s ultimate goal has now been accomplished with a victory in the opening game of league play. Despite missing their fair share of shots in the opening period of play and letting the Tartars stick around, West was able to turn it on late in the quarter when it went on an 11-0 run to take a 17-7 advantage. Both teams struggled from the field in the second quarter, but the Tartars’ shooting was borderline disastrous. Torrance, which has been competitive with an 8-5 record this year under head coach Rick Momohara, was only able to put five points on the scoreboard in the quarter. The Tartars’ woes turned into West’s advantage as Murakami and her team opened up a 14-point lead going into the half. “I just told them that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” Murakami said. “We just have to go out with an intensity and work ethic that we’re just going to outwork the other team.” The Lady Warriors certainly ramped up their intensity in the third quarter, spearheaded by junior guard Lani Lum. Lum led the team with 13 points on the night and guided West to its biggest quarter of the game when the team put up 19 in the third. The Warriors’ 45-21 advantage going into the fourth put the game out of reach. The Warriors’ size, rebounding and defense are what ultimately won the game on the night, as has been the case for the team all season long in the quest for a Pioneer League crown. “It felt really good to get this one,” Lum explained. “This is our first league game, a lot of us are new and we worked really hard for this.” The Warriors have been working hard all season long, which has the team in a tie with North High for first place in league standings after one game of play. West will meet the Saxons this week in what may just be the matchup of the year with first place on the line. Torrance will look to get back on track with a road matchup against Centennial. North High vs. South High The first round of Pioneer League play was full of great rivalry matchups in the city of Torrance, including a game between the Lady Saxons and the Lady Spartans. The Saxons feel like the team to beat in the Pioneer League this season after coming off a Pioneer League championship one year ago. Their rivalry with the Warriors will certainly steal the headlines all year long. South, on the other hand, was overrun a year ago in league play despite an otherwise successful season. Head coach Bobby Imamura has a talented team, but can’t seem to get past his rivals on the Pioneer League schedule. Imamura and South’s matchup against their rivals from North High was just another example of how the Saxons have excelled against their league foes while the Spartans have faltered. A home matchup against North was all that South could possibly ask for, but the Spartans came out flat while the Saxons came out on fire. At the end of the day, a 56-34 final handed South a 22-point defeat for the team’s fourth Pioneer League loss in a row, dating back to last season. Despite their inability to beat their foes from within the Pioneer League, the Spartans continue to enjoy success against non-divisional opponents. Last year, the team went 3-7 in league play, but finished with an 18-11 record and reached the quarterfinals of the CIF Division 3AA playoffs. This year, the team is 8-6 out of league play and looking for similar success. South will take on Leuzinger this week. North (11-4, 1-0), on the other hand, will continue its quest for another Pioneer League championship with a matchup at home against its hated rivals from West. – asixlion@Earthlink.net • Community Briefs State Selects SBWIB as One of Highest Performing Workforce Investment Boards The South Bay Workforce Board (SBWIB) has once again been recognized by the California Workforce Development Board as one of the highest performing workforce investment boards in the state. The State Board made the announcement in late December in Sacramento and also indicated the SBWIB will receive a $54,383 incentive award provided by Governor Jerry Brown along with the prestigious certification. “It is indeed gratifying to receive this high honor from the State Board and it reflects the professionalism and dedication of not only our staff, but also the volunteer board members who establish the policies we operate under while monitoring our progress year round,” said Jan Vogel, SBWIB Executive Director. Upon learning of the State Board recognition, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., who serves as the Chief Local Elected Official of the South Bay Workforce Investment Area, extended his congratulations and noted, “Our SBWIB has consistently exceeded the goals and performance standards of the State Board in the areas of employment placement and retention. I am very proud of the SBWIB staff and Mr. Vogel.” The SBWIB service area includes the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne, El Segundo, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Gardena, Manhattan Beach, Lawndale and Carson. Meet the Authors at Torrance Historical Society & Museum What? Los Angeles was the original wine country of California, leading the state’s wine production for more than a century? Los Angeles County was the agricultural center of North America until the 1950s? And where today’s freeways soar, cows calmly chewed their cud? How could that be? Los Angeles, the capital of asphalt and Kleig lights, was once a paradise filled with grapevines and bovines, so abundant with nature’s gifts that no one could imagine a more pastoral place? Los Angeles County was the center of an agricultural empire. Today, it is the nation’s most populous urban metropolis. The Torrance Historical Society will host Rachel Surls and Judith Gerber, authors of From Cows to Concrete to tell us what happened, and where all the green has gone. This program will take place on Sunday, January 15 at the Torrance Historical Society & Museum--1345 Post Avenue. The presentation will begin at 2 p.m., with light refreshments served. The authors will share history of the epic tale of how agriculture forged Los Angeles into an urban metropolis, and how the Los Angeles farm empire spurred the very growth that paved it over, as sprawling suburbs swallowed up thousands of acres of prime farmland. And how, on the same land once squandered by corporate greed and “progress,” urban farmers are making inroads to a greener future. This event is free, and open to the public. No reservations are necessary, but seating is limited to first-come/first-served. • Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com
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