Page 4 October 18 , 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Kobe’s End May Be Near Up and Adam By Adam Serrao plays the Lakers because of Kobe Bryant. West High Headed SouthOnce his time is done, that awe factor mayAs the preseason begins and the Lakers get ready to kick off a season that, according no longer be existent and all that comes with By Adam Serrao High in the game just before league play to their roster, may be one of their greatest the brand of the Lakers may slowly start Everything was looking great for the West began, the North High Saxons would be years in quite some time, there is some to diminish. His odometer now has 51,000 High Warriors. A team full of fresh faces, looking just about flawless this year. Last hesitation sprinkled in with all of the minutes and counting tacked onto it. Who a new attitude and a killer instinct that got Friday night at Lawndale, they put that cheerfulness going around camp. At the knows how much longer it’ll be before the them out to a 5-0 record to start the season. unblemished style of play into action to age of 34, Kobe Bryant believes that his transmission fails. The “Black Mamba” that The offense was at an all-time high for the attain their second league play victory in as career as one of the best basketball players was once unstoppable and invincible may, team. The offense, however, is not what many opportunities. in the league may be coming to an end. for the first time in this upcoming season, the problem has been. Over the last three The story of the game was the play of It’s certainly no secret that he’s getting up begin to feel vulnerable. If you haven’t games, the Warriors have allowed exactly quarterback Jorge Hernandez. Hernandez there in age and that at some point soon he already started, begin to appreciate Kobe 100 points for an average of 33 points given threw for 416 yards and five touchdowns will have to retire, but the fact that he was before it is simply just too late. up per opponent. Having to score more than on the night, making wide receiver Devante in a reflective mood about it after just the Kobe’s still quick to remind everyone that 33 points every game has certainly put some Jenkins his primary target. Jenkins torched second day of training camp leads fans to this Laker team is his team and that nothing stress on that amazing offense. So much the Lawndale secondary for 10 catches, 149 believe that the 17-year veteran may just is going to get in the way of his chase for a stress that with their 34-31 league loss at yards and three touchdowns en route to the be calling it quits sooner rather than later. sixth championship. So at least his mind is Redondo last Friday, the Warriors have now 49-21 North High victory. It was really no Back in 1996, Kobe Bryant was like a still focused on the here and now. But even dropped two straight league games and have contest from the start as North jumped out brand new Ferrari. Rearing and ready to go. when he talks about what is to come for plummeted into what is recorded as a fifth to a quick 28-0 lead early on in the second His tires had barely laid tread to the ground the Lakers, he uses terminology like “when place standing in the Bay League. quarter. By halftime, it was 42-6 and the and everything on the inside was in perfect I’m gone” to express how he will expect The game started out great for the Warriors, game was all but over. working condition. Fast forward 17 years to hand the team over to newcomers like as most games typically have this year. With North’s victory moves the team to 5-2 on later, however, and the car has been to the Dwight Howard. Usually, when someone an eight-play, 55-yard drive, West drove down the season and 2-0 in league play as it sits in shop a multitude of times. A bum knee, begins speaking of retirement, especially the field and scored a touchdown for the first first place in the Pioneer League standings. broken fingers and now a sore shoulder. as much as Kobe has been doing in the score of the game on its first drive of the game. It will take on the second place El Segundo All of the aches and pains that Bryant is past couple of weeks, it means you’ve Though West had an early 7-0 lead, Redondo Eagles in what should be a competitive game experiencing must lead the 14-time NBA basically already retired. So to hear a player fired right back with a score of its own and this Friday at El Segundo. All-Star to want to drive into the garage and who was once likely the most competitive by halftime had taken the lead with 14 second SOuth high just rest for a bit. The Kobe of years ago, and cutthroat basketball player of his time quarter points. At the end of the third quarter, The South High Spartans are slumping sporting an afro and soaring well above the speak of retirement so much means that the the score was 28-21 in favor of Redondo and and searching for any way to get out of the rim, has now been hobbled down to an older, desire and need to win is slowly beginning that’s when all the fun really started. downward spiral that they have been on lately. bald edition that can’t get up much off the to extinguish--and if that’s the case, Kobe With just under 11 minutes remaining in the A matchup against the team that was at the ground anymore. So when Kobe says that will quickly become only a fraction of his final quarter of play, the West High offense time in last place seemed to be the perfect three years might be it for him, we should former self. really began to hit a high gear. None other elixir for the Spartans, but ultimately the probably believe him. “It’s just that three Kobe may be in the mood to count down than star running back Barry Thomas got Centennials’ running game proved to be too more years seems like a really long time his playing days, but head coach Mike the team going with a 43-yard gallop for a much for South in a 33-10 loss last Friday to continue to stay at a high, high level of Brown doesn’t exactly reciprocate those touchdown to tie the score up at 28 apiece. night at Centennial. training and preparation and health,” an same feelings. Brown is just like the rest of With all of the momentum, the Warriors were The Spartans’ woes began early in this one explanative Bryant related. “That’s a lot of us and when asked about his star player’s able to hold Redondo scoreless until West and as the Apaches scored on their first drive of years. For a guard? That’s a lot of years.” possible retirement, he said that he plans to Thomas began driving again. With just over the game behind a 47-yard touchdown run Perhaps health is the biggest question in keep Kobe in the purple and gold uniform five minutes remaining in the game, Thomas by Ronald Reed. Reed would score again that variable, for without a healthy body, for as long as possible. “I might play Kobe was carrying the team down the field on his before the half, helping Centennial to a Bryant won’t be able to prepare and train three minutes a game then, because I want back to take its first lead since early on in 13-3 lead before the break. South starting in the way that he is used to doing. That’s him here for five more years,” Brown joked. the first half. With just 15 yards to go until quarterback Ian Van Natta was able to score why this season, while Bryant nurses an “We’ll play him four minutes. We’ll give he reached the end zone, Thomas took the the Spartans’ only touchdown of the game to injured shoulder to add to the list of his him a minute each quarter and hopefully handoff from starting quarterback Joey Notch start the third quarter as he scampered for a ailing body parts, retirement has arisen as it stops his retirement from happening for and fumbled the ball to everyone’s surprise. 10-yard touchdown run. Reed broke free again a topic of conversation. another four years. Then I’ll be good.” Redondo recovered and staged its own drive for Centennial in the third quarter, though, Forget that Kobe even brought up the Certainly, every Laker fan around the world down to the West High 25 yard line, but ran helping his team out to a 20-10 lead before possibility of retirement. What really makes would echo those same sentiments, but in it on fourth and one instead of going for the the Apaches put it away for good at 33-10. his potential departure from the game even the end, it’s really up to Kobe how long game-winning field goal. Redondo and starting The Apaches rushed for 314 yards on the more ominous is the state of the Lakers he stays in that jersey. Until he decides to running back Anthony Philyaw were stuffed, night, as Reed finished with 160 yards and without him. Though it is only preseason, go, nothing will distract Kobe from getting sending the game into overtime. three touchdowns. The Spartans have now watching the Lakers take the floor without another championship. “It’s just staying in The Warriors scored first in overtime, fallen to 0-2 in league play and have lost number 24 out there just doesn’t feel right. the moment and appreciating each day as connecting on a field goal from 30 yards four out of their last five games after starting Thinking of the purple and gold without the it comes,” Bryant related. No wiser words out. All they needed was one stop. When the season 2-0. They will look to get things guy that can easily go off for 40 to 50 points that maybe all of us should soon start living Redondo’s Philyaw gained eight yards and back on track next week as they take on the on any given night and rear back and hit a by. While he is around, those who love the fumbled at the eight yard line, the Warriors Lawndale Cardinals at home. game-winner just doesn’t seem, well, fun. Lakers and appreciate all that Kobe Bryant recovered and thought that they had gotten tOrrance high In addition to the great skill and leadership has done for the team should stay in the the stop they needed as they celebrated their The Torrance Tartars came into their game that Kobe brings to the floor, he makes the moment and appreciate each day as it comes. supposed win with glee. But the officials against a strong El Segundo team last Friday game fun to watch. Even people who hate Before you know it, the incredible talent quickly ruled Philyaw down by contact, night looking to steal a victory late. The him are still scared when their favorite team that is Kobe Bryant will be gone for good. • giving Redondo possession of the ball and Tartars led early on in the second half by a another chance. “I couldn’t see it, so I’ll have score of 13-10, but it wasn’t until then that Sales Associate Wanted bean bag, which meant he thought it was a touchdown pass in the third quarter that notopposing quarterback Lars Nootbaar reallycame to life. Nootbaar threw an 81-yardto wait and watch the film,” West High headcoach Greg Holt said. “One official threw the fumble. You don’t throw the bean bag unless only changed the momentum of the game, Herald Publications, Inc. needs: an came in and overruled him.” On the next but put the Eagles up for good.In the fourth quarter, the Eagles were upyou think it’s a fumble. The other official experienced Display Advertising Associate. play, Philyaw scored a touchdown, defeating by the score of 24-16 when Torrance starting the Warriors both physically and mentally, quarterback Jacob Kalama threw a touchdown Territories include: El Segundo, Torrance, once and for all. pass to Spencer Kovacs to bring the Tartars Inglewood, Hawthorne and Lawndale won, the Warriors saw their record slip to six minutes remaining. The Tartars decidedto within two points at 24-22 with just underIn a game that they maybe should have 5-2 and worst of all, 0-2 in league play. to go for a two-point conversion to tie the • Full or part-time positions They’ll travel to take on a Palos Verdes game up, but were denied by El Segundo, • 20% commission on all sales team that is undefeated this year in league which was then able to run the clock down • Bonuses (48-13) that West lost to (62-42) two weeks play of the game.before Kalama was intercepted on his finalplay and just destroyed a Mira Costa team ago. Running back Barry Thomas finished The loss drops Torrance down to 3-4 on If interested please email your resume to with 122 yards and two touchdowns on the the season with a 1-1 record in league play management@heraldpublications.com night, while Philyaw ran for 231 yards and to put them in third place in the Pioneer five touchdowns. League standings. They will take on the No phone calls please. nOrth high fourth place Centennial Apaches next week Were it not for a three-point loss to West at home looking to improve on their record. •
Torrance 10.18.12
To see the actual publication please follow the link above