Bell-Jeff Getting Back Into Its Own League This Week

Bell-Jeff High prepares to open Santa Fe League boys’ basketball play on Monday night after losing five of six games, including four in a row.

The Guards (6-6), a preseason top-10 pick by The Times, lost all of their games at the Best in the West tournament last week.

Before that, they lost to Eagle Rock in the semifinal of their tournament before defeating Leuzinger in overtime of the third-place game.

Coach Eli Essa remains optimistic.

“We’re not going to play Morningside, Washington, Pasadena and Burbank in our league,” Essa said, referring to the last four teams Bell-Jeff has faced.

“We have been truly tested six games in a row. If you are concerned about your record, you don’t get in a tournament like [the Best in the West]. We could have been in another tournament and been 9-3 now, but that doesn’t matter to me.”

*

V for Valencia: With its 9-2 start, the Valencia High boys’ basketball team has surpassed its total of victories from its 1995-96 inaugural varsity season that saw the Vikings finish 5-19.

The Vikings have made 50% of their shots while outrebounding their opponents by an average of 36-24.

Four starters--Jason Richardson, Eskias McDaniels, Jerrohn Jordan and Fabian Leon--are scoring in double figures.

But Coach Gary Spindt is not looking at this season through rose-colored glasses.

“If you had told me we would start the season 9-2, I would say ‘No way,’ ” Spindt said. “At the same time, we have a lot of talent.”

Valencia might have enough talent to make the playoffs and ease the disappointment of the school’s football team, which faltered after a 4-0 start.

*

Bad to worse: Senior guard Armen Haghnazarian of Glendale (6-7) suffered a sprained left ankle last week against Littlerock and might be sidelined for some time, Coach Steve Snodgress said. Haghnazarian is averaging 17 points.

The Dynamiters have lost five games after being tied or trailing by one point in the final minute.

*

Three-peat: Crespi (3-7) lost two games in the Ventura tournament on last-second three-point baskets.

Louay Keilani of Calabasas made a basket with eight seconds to play in a 48-47 win by the Coyotes. Two days later, Mike Paul of Highland connected from 28 feet to beat the buzzer and sink the Celts, 65-63.

*

Some consolation: Antelope Valley High opened some eyes with its performance in the Best in the West tournament last week.

The Antelopes lost, 70-69, to Inglewood in the first round and then beat Burbank, St. John Bosco, Washington and Clovis West to win the consolation title.

“It probably would have been tougher to win four games in the winner’s bracket, but our side [of the bracket] was not too shabby,” Antelope Coach Tom Mahan said.

Ziaire Williams, who averaged 18.6 points in five games for the Antelopes, was the only all-tournament player from the consolation bracket.

*

Oh, brother: With a Meneses brother as a key contributor, the Burroughs boys’ soccer team is tough to beat.

Daniel Meneses, the oldest brother and the first to play for the Indians, helped them to a Southern Section semifinal as a junior in 1993 and the final as a senior in 1994. He plays professionally in Mexico.

Miguel Meneses is the leading scorer on this year’s team with five goals and five assists. A junior striker, Miguel is only 5 feet 5 and 130 pounds, but has excelled for the Indians (7-3-1).

Amed Meneses, a sophomore midfielder, should help the Indians challenge defending champion Saugus for the Foothill League championship.

Next season, there will likely be four Meneses brothers on the varsity, when sophomores Alan and Raul are promoted.

*

Back for seconds: The second annual Andria’s Kickoff pro golf tournament is scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. Monday at Buenaventura Golf Course.

Paul Holtby of Braemar Country Club is defending champion. Other contenders are Marc Sipes of River Ridge Golf Course, Lee Harlow of Olivas Park Golf Course, John Fiedler of the Las Posas Country Club and Steve Vigiano of Spanish Hills Country Club.

Hoop it up: A basketball clinic for boys and girls 10 to 17 is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Crespi High.

Information: (310) 202-6375.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Girls Basketball Top 10

Ranking of regional high schools by sportwriters of The Times:

*--*

RK LW TEAM (League) REC. 1 1 Buena (Channel) 6-1 2 3 Crescenta Valley (Pacific) 12-2 3 2 Palmdale (Golden) 11-3 4 4 Quartz Hill (Golden) 10-1 5 6 Bell-Jeff (Camino Real) 11-1 6 9 Moorpark (Frontier) 11-1 7 7 Thousand Oaks (Marmonte) 6-3 8 NR Alemany (Mission) 9-2 9 NR No. Hollywood (Valley Pac-8) 10-2 10 5 Kennedy (Northwest Valley) 10-3

*--*

Boys Basketball Top 10

Ranking of regional high schools by sportwriters of The Times:

*--*

RK LW TEAM (League) REC. 1 1 Harvard-Westlake (Mission) 15-1 2 5 Simi Valley (Marmonte) 11-0 3 2 Antelope Valley (Golden) 10-5 4 NR Cleveland (Northwest Valley) 11-3 5 4 Channel Islands (Marmonte) 10-2 6 3 Canoga Park (Valley Pac-8) 8-6 7 NR St. Francis (Mission) 10-3 8 8 Moorpark (Frontier) 9-4 9 NR Royal (Marmonte) 8-6 10 6 Hart (Foothill) 10-4

*--*