Welcome to this edition of Prep Rally, where we dive into the dynamic world of high school basketball. I’m your host, Eric Sondheimer, and a thrilling showdown is planned for Friday at the brand new Intuit Dome.
High school basketball games are heating up, and fans will have their first opportunity to feel the excitement at the newly opened Intuit Dome this Friday. Rivals from the Mission League and the Trinity League will face off, providing an unmissable opportunity for enthusiasts. Would you like to attend? Here is the link for tickets.
Take a moment to admire the vast collection of jerseys adorning the walls – the spirit of almost every high school in the state is represented.
The highlight match of the evening could well be that of JSerra against Santa Margarita. JSerra recently welcomed Brannon Martinsen, a transfer from Mater Dei, to strengthen its team. The winner of this matchup will have their eyes on the prestigious victory against St. John Bosco for the Trinity League title.
Speaking of rankings, a new No. 1 team has emerged in Southern California. The Eastvale Roosevelt Mustangs took first place following a dramatic overtime win over St. John Bosco in Damien, coupled with three straight victories in Arizona. Under the leadership of coach Stephen Singleton, the Mustangs boast an impressive 18-1 record, attesting to their championship aspirations. Discover the story of their triumph in Damien here.
A notable turning point came from Harvard-Westlake, which triumphed over nationally ranked teams Perry of Arizona and Gonzaga of DC, before handing Northern California’s top-ranked De La Salle its first loss. As defending state champions, the Wolverines have high ambitions for another title campaign as January unfolds.
Fans were treated to a sensational night Saturday at Inglewood High, where they witnessed thrilling performances from Alijah Arenas, Tajh Ariza and Jason Crowe Jr. Arenas dazzled with an impressive total of 40 points, Ariza followed up with 28, and Crowe set the scoreboard ablaze with 43 points, thrilling the crowd.
Ontario Christian responded to its only loss of the season by getting revenge with a victory against Archbishop Mitty on Saturday. For more details, here is the report.
Etiwanda, the reigning state champions, are stepping up and should not be underestimated, despite a slow start to the season.
Highlighting standout individual performances, Etiwanda’s Aliyanna Morris scored an impressive 36 points in a win over Carondelete, while San Juan Hills’ Anna Shreeve added 29 points against Santa Margarita.
The Villa Park team sits comfortably at 15-3 and 1-0 in league play, and Sierra Canyon, currently at 14-1, prepares for a crucial matchup against Windward this Saturday, a likely clash for a spot in the open division.
Home favorites Camarillo are thriving with a 17-1 record. Their camaraderie, forged since third grade, translates into exceptional team chemistry that could pose challenges to more seasoned opponents in the playoffs.
High school football transfer tracking for the 2025 season is officially live. With the spring semester starting this month, expect plenty of transfers, especially as the end of the school year approaches in June.
The most significant transfer to date involves star junior quarterback Wyatt Brown, who is moving from Santa Monica to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Curious to know which coaches were pleasantly surprised by a new quarterback over the Christmas break? Find out here.
As 2025 approaches, it’s time to plan for what to expect in high school sports. Here’s a look at my predictions in my crystal ball.
In women’s water polo, Mater Dei recently ended Orange Lutheran’s remarkable 38-game winning streak with a thrilling 10-9 victory in the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup semifinals. The winning goal was scored by none other than Paige Segesman, Mater Dei freshman and daughter of coach Chris Segesman.
In the other semifinal, Newport Harbor defeated Oaks Christian. Mater Dei continued its winning streak in the final, defeating Newport Harbor 15-9, with Kirra Pantaleon adding five goals, while Emerson Mulvey scored four for Newport.
Soccer saw an impressive week for Birmingham sophomore Carlos Esnal, who scored three goals leading the Patriots to a 3-2 victory over Montclair in the Nike Tournament championship. He followed it up with another hat-trick in a non-league match on Friday. Check out this story detailing the transfer of El Camino Real.
Loyola made waves in Texas by capturing a prestigious tournament title. The Cubs remain undefeated and emerge as contenders for the Southern Section Division 1 title.
Reigning Division 1 champions Mater Dei also got off to a flying start at 8-0, displaying a dominant offense. They face a tough challenge on Wednesday against Servite in a Trinity League clash.
While Santa Margarita (9-0) is expected to dominate Trinity League women’s soccer competition, JSerra (8-4-1) shows potential and could give the Eagles a run for their money.
The Harvard-Westlake women’s team, with an 8-2-1 record after a successful trip to Texas, has Kaia Santomarco-King shining this season.
As the West Valley League women’s soccer season begins, Cleveland (6-1-3) emerges as the team to beat.
In coaching news, Verbum Dei alum Gary Parks is ready to return to his roots by taking over the football programs, aiming to revive a team that had to suspend its season due to a number insufficient players. Here is a report on his expected return.
Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly named Justin Utupo as their new football coach. Utupo, a former head coach at Lakewood and Long Beach Millikan, has a football pedigree with a playing career at Lakewood and Notre Dame.
On the women’s volleyball front, Morgan Wijay is making the coaching transition at Bishop Alemany to take the reins at Harvard-Westlake.
In basketball, St. John Bosco star Elzie Harrington moved her college commitment from Harvard to USC, while former Culver City quarterback Zevi Eckhaus made a splash in the Holiday Bowl, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns for Washington State. Eckhaus, once a backup after transferring from Bryant University, has positioned himself as the likely QB1 for next season.
Finally, according to Footballscoop.com, news is emerging regarding potential changes that could grant junior college players their two years back, allowing them to enjoy four years of eligibility at an NCAA institution.
