GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: FOCUS KEY FOR JAMES LOGAN
James Logan has been so dominant in the primary half of the season that the Colts are faced with a brand new dilemma: staying competitive and competitive in league play.
The Colts, who began this season 17-1, haven’t lost a game within the Mission Valley Athletic League in two years. Since 2015, the Union City school has only lost a complete of 4 league games.
On Wednesday, the Colts defeated Newark Memorial with a dominant performance of 25-7, 25-10, 25-13.
Led by outside batsmen McKenzie Anderson (4.8 kills per set) and Emma Tran (30 aces in 21 games), the Colts were probably the greatest offensive teams within the Bay Area.
“That's really always our problem, like, 'How do we stay competitive when sometimes we're not as challenged in our league,'” Logan coach Matt Guzman said. “Our girls must be self-motivated. We attempt to set an ordinary every game, like, 'Is this ok for the playoffs?' Is this championship volleyball?'
“It’s difficult because most of the schools in the NCS playoffs are East Bay Athletic League schools. Every week is like a playoff game for them. We try to find that competitiveness in our tournaments and we just try to push ourselves in practice.”
But unlike most years where they progressed through their league after which fell victim to a talented EBAL or Diablo Valley Athletic League program, this yr the Colts proved they will compete with the most effective, the East Bay too has to supply.
Logan defeated Foothill and Amador Valley – two top teams within the section. Logan defeated the likes of Campolindo and St. Francis-Sacramento en path to a first-place finish on the Bishop O'Dowd Invitational two weeks ago.
“When we put our roster together in the preseason, I realized we were complete and had everything we needed,” Guzman said. “I have been coaching for 10 years now and I can tell when we have a team that is capable of winning the championship. I made it clear to the girls early in the season that we could really compete. This pre-season was more about making it clear to the whole team that we can actually be a really good team and actually challenge for the title this year.”
– Nathan Canilao
FLAG FOOTBALL: BASKETBALL ON LAWN
The Priory offensive scheme is straightforward, exciting and effective: throw the ball to tall and athletic basketball stars-turned-receivers and rating flag football touchdowns.
Ugreat Daniels caught a touchdown in a Priory win over Notre Dame-Belmont, and he or she's not the one basketball standout who has taken a liking to flag football. Freshman Sasha Johnson also left her mark on the sector.
“We may train in the offseason, but doing another sport like this keeps my body active and ready for basketball season,” Daniels said.
In the East Bay, Californian Lana Vu shows she doesn't should have a basketball in her hands to, because the saying goes, break her ankles.
Instead of using a killer crossover, she used a deft stutter step to freeze a defender and rating a touchdown against Monte Vista.
California reached the NCS Division I title game in basketball last season, and Vu is hoping the Grizzlies — along together with her two-sport teammate Sofie Addiego — will make their second straight appearance in 2025.
“I have high hopes, but I know it will be tough,” Vu said.
– Joseph Dycus
REFEREE: NOT ENTIRELY FROM THE BAYOU
Victor Coronado's unique accent drew greater than a couple of murmurs from Monte Vista's flag football players every week ago.
“Uh, is he from Louisiana?” was the phrase heard a minimum of a couple of players utter in confusion.
To the surprise of some, the person with 25 years of experience in office just isn’t from New Orleans, Ruston or Vacherie.
He's from Pittsburg and has no idea how he developed this unique accent.
Coronado has experience as a coach. But when he went back to school, Coronado began taking up officiating to remain involved in the sport.
What began as just officiating freshmen games on Thursdays grew right into a quarter century of highschool, youth and semi-pro sports.
Although many individuals in East Contra Costa County are acquainted with his unique rhythm, he still gets the occasional comment when he ventures into the 680 corridor.
“Most of the places I go, people know me,” Coronado said. “But when I meet someone who doesn’t know me, they often ask me this question.”
– Joseph Dycus
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