Page 6 November 8 , 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Lake Show Running Dry Up and Adam By Adam Serrao doing just that when Mitch Kupchack signed Saxons Secure Championship Seasonhim to become the next Lakers’ head coach.No one ever said it was going to be easy. Import a bunch of stars from different cities Last year was obviously a failure for a team By Adam Serrao the night. Jenkins had seven catches for and bring them together to play with Kobe that was expected to make it back to the Finals The North High Saxons came into their 98 yards and five of those six touchdowns. Bryant under a Mike Brown system that is, and this year he has implemented a Princeton matchup with the Torrance Tartars looking Torrance starting quarterback Jacob Kalama once again, completely new this year in the offense that has never been used by this squad pretty good. In first place in the Pioneer League was 10 of 22 for 123 yards in the loss. Princeton offense and you’re going to get a or Steve Nash, for whom Brown originally this season, they had already clinched at least The Tartars will take their third place slow start. But no one ever thought it was installed the system. If Nash had all of his a share of the league title before they stepped finish in the Pioneer League and hope to going to be this slow. To start the season, success running a different offense, why would onto the field to face off against the Tartars. hold on to an at-large bid to get them into the Lakers not only lost in their opener to Brown think that the best idea would be to The only problem was that Torrance was in the playoffs. the Dallas Mavericks and Mark Cuban--who change it now? Besides, Princeton has made second place. With two straight victories, SOuth high later quoted, “I just hope they suck,” while the NCAA tournament only one time in the the Tartars were coming in with momentum, The South High Spartans were trying to speaking about the Lakers’ outlook this year, history of the school. Why adopt that offense looking to take a share of the league title salvage all that was left of their season and but they also lost to their in-house rivals, the for Bryant, Nash and Howard? away from North. Six touchdown passes and of league play, but unfortunately ran in to L.A. Clippers, which dropped their record All negativity aside, there is still some sort 54 points later, though, starting quarterback an extra motivated El Segundo team last to 0-3 on the year at the time. Alas, there of guarded optimism around the Lakers’ camp Jorge Hernandez and the North High Saxons Friday night at South High. Prior to the were still 79 games left to be played on the these days. Common presumption is that a (8-2, 5-0) blew the Tartars (5-5, 3-2) out by game, it was announced that Centennial would schedule after that loss and thus a lot of time team with Kobe, Howard, Nash and Gasol will a final score of 54-0 at Zamperini Stadium forfeit a win it previously notched against for Kobe and company to get things turned indeed eventually figure things out and when to demonstratively secure this year’s Pioneer El Segundo because of an ineligible player League crown. that was used in the game. The extra win not The Saxons came out with the desire to only gave the Eagles more motivation, but “All negativity aside, there is still prove that they were the best team in the also would launch them into second place some sort of guarded optimism Pioneer League. While they relied on their in the Pioneer League with a victory over around the Lakers’ camp these days.” explosive offense to prove their point, the the Spartans. Tartars relied on defensive tactics that never Both teams were held scoreless in the first quite worked out for them all night long. While quarter, but it was the Eagles who jumped around, but could this Dwight Howard/Steve they do, they will be quite lethal. In dissecting focusing on double-teaming the starting wide out to a 10-7 lead at the half. All of the Nash experiment be nothing more than a the team’s first three-game losing streak alone, receiver for the Saxons, Michael Jurado, it momentum was given to El Segundo (6-4, failure in the end? it became clear that offense may not be the was Devante Jenkins who wound up having 4-1) in the second half when it recovered a If there was anything to take away from the problem. Looking at only those three games, a field day for North. The double team on fumbled punt by the Spartans. The Eagles game in which the Lakers lost to the Clippers the Lakers have scored more than 100 points Jurado opened Jenkins up for a quick and scored on their ensuing possession to push last Friday night at Staples Center, it was twice, they are connecting on nearly 50 percent easy 21-yard touchdown pass to get things them ahead by 10 points at 17-7. South (4-6, that the new-look Clippers team looks a lot of their shots from the field, and both Howard going in the first quarter. Jurado was able 1-4) was unable to get on the board for the better than the new-look Lakers team does. and Bryant are shooting 60 percent from the to escape his defenders for a touchdown of entire second half, with its only opportunity Kobe Bryant was being his normal self as he field and scoring more points per game than his own next before Jenkins and Hernandez being a missed field goal. The Eagles tacked dropped 40 for the Lakers, but the stars on they did last year--even with Kobe’s injured foot hooked up again to give the Saxons a 21-0 on a defensive touchdown toward the end of the other bench--such as Chris Paul, who had and Howard’s newly restored back. Granted, lead with 7:25 left in the first half. Wanting the game to ultimately finish the Spartans off 18 points and 15 assists, and Jamal Crawford, that is only taking into account three games to put the nail in the coffin early on, North with a 24-7 victory. who put in 21 of his own--looked to be in a and in that same amount of time the team has head coach Todd Croce called for his kicker The only score of the game for South lot better shape to take on this season than averaged 20 turnovers per game as well. But Joey Wolfe to go for an onside kick. He did High came on a two-yard touchdown run by their counterparts whom they sent to an 0-3 while turnovers certainly lead to losses, they so and recovered his own kick. Just eight starting quarterback Kyle Nesbit that capped start to the season for the first time in 34 years also dissipate once a team gains familiarity. plays later, T.J. Young ran in a seven-yard off a three-minute drive. The Spartans finished and just the fourth time in franchise history. Right now, the Lakers are getting everyone’s score to give his team a 28-0 lead. “We their year with a disappointing record of 1-4 “We’re not supposed to coast and assume best effort without even knowing each other were pumped,” Jenkins said. “That was a in league play and fell to fifth place in the things are going to fix themselves,” a clearly well enough to get on the same page. big play. That just killed their momentum.” Pioneer League. This year was the first year peeved Bryant related. “You’ve got to push When it comes down to it, defense will If Torrance even had any momentum, Jenkins since 2009 that South finished its season at it. We’ve just got to keep working at what be the Lakers worst enemy all season long. was right--at that point it was all gone. The without making it to the playoffs. we do.” We can all forget about the Lakers Nash, if he is not injured, is clearly the worst Saxons may have gained a little bit more, as WeSt high coasting this season and catching the Bulls’ defensive player on the court for the Lakers at Jenkins hauled in another touchdown from The West High Warriors ended their season record for wins in a single season. At this all times. So far, he has gone up against some Hernandez to score in just over 30 seconds in style. With Leuzinger on the schedule, point, let’s just see them get into the playoffs. less-than-stellar point guards and still getting before the first half finally came to a close they knew they needed a big day to get It hasn’t only been hard for the Lakers to find torched. Imagine what happens when Russell for the Tartars at 35-0. themselves a chance at an at-large bid to a win in the regular season, but they are also Westbrook and Tony Parker come knocking. To start the second half, the Saxons stuck enter the playoffs. A big day is exactly what coming off of one of the worst preseasons in Howard is the Lakers’ most athletic big man to what worked and continued to pass the they got as they routed the Olympians by a recent memory when the team went 0-8 under and even he is getting beaten by the likes of ball. “We had to put the pedal all the way final score of 50-7 to get their second win head coach Brown. Sure, it’s only preseason. Deandre Jordan and Brandan Wright. It may down,” said Jurado. “We weren’t letting in a row and second league play victory But a team that can’t win when it doesn’t just be a timing issue for Howard, who had up.” Jenkins came down with two more of the season at Leuzinger (1-9. 0-5) last count surely can’t be relied on to win when been out a long time due to injury, but both touchdowns before it was decided that a Friday night. it does count. “We need a win, obviously,” he and Nash must exert themselves as much running clock would be used to speed the The Warriors had a 29-point lead in the first Brown said. “I’m not trying to fool anyone as they do offensively on the defensive end if game up for the fourth quarter. By the quarter and never looked back from there. here.” Well, Brown may not be trying to fool the Lakers will have any chance at competing time all was said and done, the Saxons had Up 36-0 at the half, the Warriors (7-3, 2-3) anyone, but he may have just succeeded in for a championship this year. • piled on 19 more points on the Tartars to finally looked like they were back to being finally bring the game to an end at 54-0. their old selves. In the last two games, West Harry’s & play for an entire game. We got one goal other teams around after a rough three-gamehas put up 106 points to their opponents’ 13.They have finally gotten back to bullying“We wanted to finish,” said Croce. “It feelsokay to play for a half, but it’s better to McCoy’s Moving week one of the playoffs. The team has night and running back Barry Thomas camestretch against stiff Bay League opponents.Starting quarterback Joey Notch led the Wayfor the Warriors with three touchdowns on theaccomplished, right? We want to keep goingin the playoffs.” The Saxons will have allthe momentum that they need going into Family Owned & Operated for 65 Years now won five games in a row capped off to life with two of his own. The Warriors by their demolition of the Tartars. will need consistent production from both “Discount to All Torrance Residents” six touchdowns and two interceptions on next week’s playoffs. •of those players should they make it intoHernandez was 22 of 32 for 355 yards, •Time Starts At Your Door •Guaranteed Price/Single Item Moves •FREE Use of Boxes & Wardrobes Harry’s & Mccoy’s Moving (310) 329-3493 Operated for 65 YearsFamily Owned & Free Estimates Licensed & Insured – CAL-T-160-989
Torrance 11.08.12
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