December 15, 2006

Evergreen Sports

Buzzer beater wins it for Silver Creek girls’ basketball team

Silver Creek’s Victoria Pham nails three-pointer at the buzzer for 57-54 comeback win over Evergreen Valley

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

Silver Creek sophomore guard Victoria Pham sank a buzzer beating three-pointer, as part of a late fourth-quarter comeback to give the Lady Raiders a 57-54 win at home over neighborhood rival Evergreen Valley on Dec. 12.

Silver Creek’s Victoria Pham (5) hit the game-winning shot, a three-pointer, at the buzzer to defeat Evergreen Valley 57-54 on Dec. 12. Photo by Diego Abeloos

The final play of the game by Pham was part of a late comeback for the Raiders, who scored 11 points in the final minute and 12 seconds of the game. The win improved Silver Creek’s record to 2-4 in non-league play.

“That last shot, she was worrying me because she looked a little too composed for a sophomore,” Silver Creek head coach Garrett McKenzie said jokingly of Pham, who finished with 10 points in the game. “She was just dribbling the ball down the court, and I don’t know if she even saw the clock, and then she just shot it. She just stepped up, and she did that all of last year as a JV player. …She’s just growing more and more mentally.”

Pham played a pivotal role in the final minute of the game, reaching the free-throw line twice in a five-second span, with 23 seconds and 18 seconds left in the game respectively, and dropped in all four shots for a 54-52 lead. Evergreen’s Krista Frausto responded quickly, dropping in a layup with eight seconds left to tie the game at 54-54, before she went up court, stepped to the three-point line, and sank the game-winning three-pointer as time expired, giving the sophomore guard a seven-point performance in just 23 seconds.

The final minute of play was part of a wild fourth quarter that saw several lead changes, including Silver Creek’s first lead with 4:09 left in the game, when junior forward Monica Erezo dropped in a layup for a short-lived 43-42 lead. Erezo, who finished the night with a game-high 25 points, also played a crucial role in Silver Creek’s game-winning scoring stretch, contributing four points – on a layup and two free throws – to get the 11-2 scoring streak going.

“She’s very athletic,” McKenzie said of Erezo. “…When she goes off the court, we sputter a bit offensively and defensively. The key tonight is that she didn’t get into foul trouble.”

For Evergreen, turnovers were the main culprits in the team’s first loss of the young season, said Cougars head coach Dan Johnson. The Cougars’ record dropped to 5-1 with the loss.

Leading 52-50 after Erezo’s four points at the end of the fourth quarter, Evergreen turned the ball over on a Silver
the first pair of Pham’s four free-throws. Pham again reached the free-throw line five seconds later on another steal, giving the Raiders a 54-52 lead with 18 seconds left.

Silver Creek forward Monica Erezo led the Lady Raiders with 25 points in a 57-54 win over Evergreen on Dec. 12. Photo by Diego Abeloos

“A close ballgame like this, you can’t give away free points,” said Johnson of the turnovers leading to free throws. “They also played with a lot more composure than we did. Hopefully, we’ll learn from this. …They trapped us pretty hard.”

“We’ve got the foot speed and everything clicked right there defensively,” added McKenzie. “We made some plays on the ball and we didn’t commit stupid fouls. We got some good turnovers and everyone was on the right page.”

Evergreen led the game from the early going, posting a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, before going into halftime with a 25-22 advantage. Silver Creek continued to stick close in the third quarter, getting within one point of tying the game at 31-30 when Sandy Mach hit a layup with 2:50 to go as part of a modest 8-2 scoring run by the Raiders.

Evergreen’s Sherina Summers, a senior transfer from Mt. Pleasant, led the Cougars with 16 points, while Frausto chipped in 11 points in the loss.

Prior to the loss at Silver Creek, Evergreen was riding a five-game winning streak to start the season, highlighted by the Cougars’ three-game sweep in the Los Altos Tournament to take the tournament championship. The Cougars, who will play in the Mt. Hamilton Division this season, took wins over Mt. Pleasant, Gunderson and East Side College Prep during the three-day tournament, which ran Dec. 7-9.

“The Los Altos Tournament was a great tournament for us because we got to play two close games and pull them out,” Johnson said. “We need to learn how to win and that was a big step. …It’s huge. Every game in A-league (Mt. Hamilton Division) is going to be tough, and we’re going to have to learn how to play in those close games.”

EVERGREEN SPORTS
SCHEDULES 12-19 to 12-29

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
12/19 – JV boys’ basketball at Homestead Tournament, time TBA
12/19 – Varsity girls’ basketball at Cambria Tournament, time TBA

12/20 – JV boys’ basketball at Homestead Tournament, time TBA
12/20 – Varsity girls’ basketball at Cambria Tournament, time TBA

12/21 – JV boys’ basketball at Homestead Tournament, time TBA
12/21 – Varsity girls’ basketball at Cambria Tournament, time TBA

12/22 – Girls’ basketball at Willow Glen, JV 3 p.m. and varsity 4:30 p.m.

12/27 – JV girls’ basketball at Monta Vista Tournament, time TBA
12/27 – Varsity girls’ basketball at Wilcox, 4 p.m.
12/27 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Las Vegas Tournament

12/28 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Las Vegas Tournament
12/28 – JV girls’ basketball at Monta Vista Tournament, time TBA

12/29 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Las Vegas Tournament

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
2/22 – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Mercy, 7 p.m.

Silver Creek High sports schedule
12/19 – Varsity girls’ basketball vs. Skyline, 7 p.m.
12/19 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Fremont Holiday Classic, time TBA

12/20 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Fremont Holiday Classic, time TBA

12/21 – Varsity boys’ basketball at Fremont Holiday Classic, time TBA

12/27 - Varsity girls’ basketball at Del Mar Dons Club Holiday Tournament, 8 p.m.

12/28 - Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Prospect, 7 p.m.
12/28 - Varsity girls’ basketball at Del Mar Dons Club Holiday Tournament, time TBA

12/29 - Varsity girls’ basketball at Del Mar Dons Club Holiday Tournament, time TBA
12/29 - Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Lincoln, time TBA

For more information on local games, log on to the BVAL Web site at http://www.bval.org/

For more information about CCS Playoff schedules, go to the CIF/CCS Web site at http://www.cifccs.org/

Note: the Evergreen Times has not received schedules from every Silver Creek High and Mt. Pleasant High winter sports team. Therefore, not all sporting event for those schools are listed. Coaches are encouraged to email schedules to Evergreen Times Editor Diego Abeloos at diego@timesmediainc.com or fax at (408) 494-7078.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Superstar Basketball League signups
Superstar Basketball is a fundamental basketball league for boys and girls grades one through six. Instruction in this league is intended to improve the fundamental skills in shooting, dribbling, passing , rebounding, defense, and teamwork. Instruction begins on Jan. 6, 2007 and ends Feb. 24 at Santa Teresa High School. Cost is $99 if postmarked before Dec. 1; $110 after Dec. 1. If you have any questions, contact camp director Dan Walker at (408) 268-7634 or e-mail at dwalker@apr.com.

REACH Youth Scholarship nomination forms available online from San Jose Sports Authority
Nomination forms for the San Jose Sports Authority’s 2006 REACH Youth Scholarship Program, sponsored by Bridge Bank, which has provided college funds to 50 high school students over the past 10 years, are now available for downloading from the Sports Authority’s Web site at www.sjsa.org.

Last year, 31 Santa Clara County high school seniors were nominated, and six who overcame adversity through participation in sports were awarded scholarships through the REACH program, an acronym for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard Work. Scholarships are awarded based on an essay competition in which nominees explain how sports helped them overcome adversity.

The nominees and scholarship winners for 2006 will be honored at the REACH Awards Breakfast, chaired by former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott, on Thursday, May 3, 2007.

Only Santa Clara County high schools may nominate students for the award, with a maximum of five nominees per school. Nominees must then complete an essay and student information form.

Nominees must:
- Be high school seniors,
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA,
- Participate in at least one sanctioned high school athletic activity,
- Demonstrate community involvement,
- Show the ability to overcome adversity or obstacles to reach his or her goals.

Each nominee is required to write an essay of one to three pages based on his or her experiences. The essay should focus on the obstacles they have overcome and how sports have helped them achieve their goals. Essays will be judged on content.

Nominations must be postmarked by Friday, March 31.

Visit the San Jose Sports Authority Web site at www.sjsa.org for more information.

South San Jose Hotshots seek experienced girls soccer players
The South San Jose Hotshots, a girls U11 competitive soccer team, is looking for experienced players for its 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons.  The Hotshots play in the Delgado competitive league and finished as one of the top U10 girls’ teams in the 2006 fall season. The team has a positive coaching environment, with a focus on teamwork and player development.  Interested players should contact head coach Mike Bunge at awalt80@yahoo.com.

Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose now registering players
Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose is now registering players for its spring 2007 season. The club, which plays under the name San Jose Extreme, has openings remaining for its new developmental team for third and fourth graders (second graders by permission), and for its fifth and sixth grade team. In addition, it has a short wait list for its seventh and eighth grade team and a second high school team.

Girls’ lacrosse is a fast-growing, non-contact field sport played with a webbed stick and ball that combines elements of basketball and field hockey. Girls Lacrosse of San Jose started five years ago with one team. In 2007, it will have five teams for girls of all ages.

The club practices at Kirk Community Center on Foxworthy Avenue and is part of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association. The season runs from February through mid-May.

For information, go to www.sjextreme.org or contact club President John Fensterwald by e-mail at john@sjextreme.org or call (408) 265-2224.

San Jose Strikkers 18U tryouts
The San Jose Strikkers, a youth girls fast-pitch softball team based in San Jose, will hold tryouts for its’ 18U summer ball team. Summer ball tryouts are Dec. 17, Jan. 7 and Jan. 14 at Oak Grove High School. Tryouts for pitchers and catchers are at 9 a.m. and all position player tryouts start at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call Frank King (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo (408) 274-9301, or e-mail fgking25@aol.com or rfangonilo@sjm.com.

BVAL All-League honorees for spring

Evergreen football – Santa Teresa Division
Most Outstanding Defense - Justin Stephens
First Team Offense - Derek Pauli
First Team Defense – Jaime Gomez
First Team Defense - Gabe Delgado
Second Team Offense - Emmanuel Scott
Second Team Offense - Eugene Wright

Mt. Pleasant football – Santa Teresa Division
Junior of the Year - Travis Driskell
First Team Offense - Terry Lovelace
First Team Defense - Tyler Miller
Second Team Offense - Marco Sousa

Silver Creek football – Santa Teresa Division
Most Outstanding Utility - Nathan Brown
First Team Offense - Paulo Semedo
First Team Offense - Darren Suimda
First Team Defense - Chris Rafter
First Team Defense - Richard Jennings
Second Team Offense - Ricky Washington
Second Team Defense - Deonte Sweeney

Evergreen girls’ volleyball – Mt. Hamilton Division
Co-Senior of the Year - Krista Frausto
First Team - Lilea Eshoo
Second Team - Inanna Eshoo

Mt. Pleasant girls’ volleyball – Mt. Hamilton Division
First Team - Puneet Pataria
Second Team - Lucy Nguyen

Silver Creek girls’ volleyball – Santa Teresa Division
Junior of the Year - Monica Erezo
Freshman of the Year - Bianca Raynes
First Team - Oanh Nguyen
Second Team - Bianca Raynes

Evergreen boys’ water polo – Mt. Hamilton Division
First Team - Klayton Tang
Second Team - Nick Burgland

Mt. Pleasant boys’ water polo – Mt. Hamilton Division
Freshman of the Year - Kevin Saldiver
First Team - Kyle Floersch
Second Team - Gabriel Soto

Silver Creek boys’ water polo – Santa Teresa Division
First Team - Reginald Nisperos
Second Team - Jonathan Ng

Evergreen girls’ water polo – Santa Teresa Division
First Team - Michelle Friccia
Second Team - Dana Pham
Second Team - Amanda Bukur

Mt. Pleasant girls’ water polo – Santa Teresa Division
Freshman of the Year - Samantha McCluskey
First Team - Brittney Gustus
First Team - Summer Stagner
Second Team - Tela Sanchez

Silver Creek girls’ water polo – Santa Teresa Division
Coach of the Year - Mike Abrigo
First Team - Sabrina Mercado
Second Team - Tiffany Nguyen

Silver Creek wrestlers thinking big in 2006-07 season

Wrestlers Andre Gonzalez, Peter Hoang, and Tina Linhsamount look to improve this season

By Val Esquivel
Special to the Times

In early March of 2006, three Silver Creek juniors, Andre Gonzalez, Peter Hoang, and Tina Linhsamount, who were eliminated from competition, watched as their teammate Michael Rico captured a seventh place finish at the 2006 CIF State Wrestling Meet.

Returning CCS medalist Peter Hoang (135 lbs.), Tina Linhsamount (112 lbs.), and Andre Gonzalez (119 lbs.) lead the Silver Creek Raider wrestling team this season.

This accomplishment is something that very few athletes merit in their prep careers as California features a “true” state championship tournament, making it unique from most states.

With lofty expectations and a summer of preparation, Gonzalez, Hoang, and Linhsamount along with a mix of polished veterans and hungry underclassmen lead a field of wrestlers that look to embark on another successful Silver Creek wrestling campaign this season.

“I want a state title,” said Gonzalez, who has already amassed a tournament title at the prestigious Curt Mettler Invitational in Elk Grove and compiled an undefeated 5-0 record this season. Gonzalez, who returns to the 119-pound weight division, is currently ranked No. 2 in the Central Coast Section and combines a unique style of mat prowess and strength. An explosive wrestler, he has defeated numerous state medalists and high-caliber wrestlers in his prep career.

Returning CCS Champion Hoang also looks to improve upon his performance at last year’s state meet.
“You never know about Peter,” said Raiders head coach Eddie Luna.

With an unparalleled set of lungs, Hoang’s endurance and unorthodox style makes him an exciting and unpredictable wrestler to watch. Hoang is currently ranked fourth in California. He finished second at the Curt Mettler Invitational, dropping a highly contested decision, which saw him and his opponent wrestling into overtime.

While making history last year with great fanfare by becoming the first female to place since the inception of the CCS Wrestling Tournament, Linhsamount will have a tough road ahead of her as she makes the move from the 103-pound weight division to the 112-pound division.

“What she gives up in strength she makes up for in heart and technique,” Luna said of Linhsamount.

In competition with other female competitors, Linhsamount’s accolades include numerous Cadet, Junior, and FILA state titles.

Other talented wrestlers who look to make a name for themselves and are currently ranked in the CCS are sophomore Evan Crockett at 140 pounds and junior Jay DeGuzman at 130 pounds. Both provide valued experience, having competed at some of the toughest tournaments in the state and nation.

Knowing the tough road that lays ahead, Luna remains very optimistic about this year’s team.

“The future looks bright for the Raiders, as this year marks the biggest team in five years,” he said. “There are many athletes who are willing to put in the time and are dedicated to becoming great wrestlers.”

Traveling to the Zinkin Invitational in Clovis, California this weekend, the Silver Creek Raiders will now have their chance to show that hard work and discipline reaps rewards.

Evergreen’s Ricardo Diaz makes international waves with handball

SJSU student, Evergreen resident captures collegiate national championship

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

There’s a handball pro among us. San José State senior and Evergreen resident Ricardo Diaz capped a stellar career in college, capturing the USHA Collegiate Open Division singles title in a finals’ tiebreaker versus Ireland’s representative, Brian Carroll, at Texas A&M University in October.

More than 300 students competed in the event, but it was Diaz who walked away victorious, billed as “the handball playa,” according to www.extremehandball.org.

San Jose State senior Ricardo Diaz sets up for a shot during practice this month. Diaz captured the USHA Collegiate Singles Championship this year, and he is currently the 13th ranked pro in the world.

“A lot of major schools were there with coaches,” said Diaz, who represented San Jose State. “Handball is big on the East Coast, Canada, Japan and other countries, but in San Jose it isn’t as big. People think of it as very physical, like they only play it in prison.”

Diaz said the sport actually employs the same rules and court dimensions as racquetball does. The absence of racquets is the only major difference.

“I like it because it is one-on-one competition,” said Diaz. “A lot of sports like soccer and football, you can blame problems on somebody else. In racquetball, if you mess up, you have nobody to blame but yourself.”

Diaz entered the collegiate championships this year better prepared, and in better shape, than he had been in the past. Last year he was knocked out in the semifinals, one round beyond the quarterfinals, where his year ended as a sophomore.

In the weeks preceding the tournament this year, Diaz’s father, a machine shop owner, granted his son two weeks reprieve from his work schedule, specifically to train in the weight room and on the track. Diaz said that his father hadn’t necessarily been interested in his handball career before that point.

“My strength overall is that I am always in good shape,” said Diaz. “You could tell in the tiebreaker that I was in better condition than [Carroll] because he started hitting sloppy shots.”

It was Diaz who forced the tiebreaker, as well. After dropping the first set 18-21 and falling behind 12-18 in the second, he stormed back to win 21-18.

The opponents flipped a coin for serve in the tiebreaker and Diaz’s luck prevailed. He then cruised to an 11-6 win and overall victory.

“He was three points from winning the whole thing,” said Diaz of Carroll. “I was nervous to begin with, and I think I played a little too defensive. When I was down 12-18, I was just thinking I had nothing to lose, so I started shooting the ball, taking more chances, and they started going in.”

Diaz got his start on the courts at his alma mater, Silver Creek High School.

“This person out of nowhere was watching me play and he thought I had skill,” said Diaz. “He gave me a flyer for San Jose State that said they had classes there.”

Within a couple of months, 15-year-old Diaz was competing with college players there. He began enrolling in tournaments soon after, where sponsors, including the Olympic Club in San Francisco, watched.

“That’s where the sponsors found me,” said Diaz.

The Olympic Club, specifically, picked him up. The organization pays for travel and tournament enrollment expenses on behalf of Diaz.

Diaz, who can be seen in his white Ford F-150 bumping up and down Santa Clara Street on weekends, turned pro to celebrate his achievement at the college finals.

He entered the circuit as the 36th ranked player internationally. Since then, he has climbed to No. 12.

However, handball does not yet demand the massive paychecks that major sports do. Diaz said that he will continue with the sport, gunning for top-four recognition.

“It’s enough to get me by, but not enough to have a family,” said Diaz.

In that case, Diaz is pursuing work as a correctional officer after graduation.

“If I make it to the top four, I will be able to just do handball,” he said.

Diaz was also a three-time all league soccer player at Silver Creek High.