Connect with us

Sports

Sierra Canyon’s ‘Juju farewell tour’ faces its toughest test against Country Day

Published

on

Sierra Canyon’s ‘Juju farewell tour’ faces its toughest test against Country Day

Two months in the past, when her Chatsworth Sierra Canyon Excessive’s workplace was filled with containers of jerseys and a run at back-to-back state championships was hypothetical, Eleventh-year women’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki leaned in opposition to her desk and mused that — gasp — the Trailblazers would possibly truly lose just a few video games this season.

She knew going into the season that it might be the hardest schedule any of her groups had performed. And Sierra Canyon performed 13 straight video games to begin the season in opposition to out-of-state groups, three of which have been ranked in ESPN’s nationwide prime 25. They didn’t play a house sport till the tip of December. Komaki half-joked she slept in her personal mattress solely thrice final month.

So she took it a step additional.

“I believe it’s the hardest schedule anyone’s ever put collectively,” Komaki stated.

Advertisement

There was a particular alternative this season, Komaki stated, to place collectively that schedule in nationwide anticipation of transcendent USC commit Juju Watkins’ senior season, which the coach has dubbed the “Juju farewell tour.”

In some way, the tour bus hasn’t hit a single pothole. The Trailblazers have gone 14-0 however will face their hardest check but Saturday, taking over a 16-1 La Jolla Nation Day crew in The Chosen-1s Invitational at USC’s Galen Middle — Watkins’ stomping floor subsequent season.

May Saturday deliver that first loss Komaki anticipated?

“One-thousand p.c,” Komaki stated. “They’re one of many prime 5 groups within the nation. We’re not untouchable. And that’s sort of the enjoyable a part of this 12 months is, we’re not simply doing this [schedule] figuring out we’re routinely getting wins all over the place we go.”

The Sierra Canyon-La Jolla women sport is at 6:30 p.m., a part of a schedule of 4 video games within the LeBron James- and Nike-sponsored event. The Mater Dei women and boys play the Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary, women and boys at 3 and 4:30 p.m., respectively, whereas the Sierra Canyon boys tackle Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler at 8 p.m.

Advertisement

Saturday might deliver probably the greatest video games in latest women’ basketball showdowns. The final three Nation Day-Sierra Canyon video games, courting to 2019-20, have been determined by a complete of 4 factors. This season options two of one of the best groups in every program’s historical past, cores intact and improved from the Trailblazers’ one-point win over the Torreys within the CIF Open Division state event final 12 months.

Again for Nation Day are 4 gamers averaging double figures: the athletic Taj Roberts, shooter and UC San Diego commit Sumayah Sugapong, artful guard and NIL star Jada Williams, and 6-foot-4 inside presence Breya Cunningham. Williams and Cunningham are each dedicated to Arizona, and share a particular level guard-big connection — La Jolla coach Terri Bamford known as Cunningham, who averages 19.4 factors and a pair of.8 blocks a sport, “probably the greatest publish gamers within the nation.”

As at all times, La Jolla’s protection must throw the kitchen sink at Watkins — but it surely’s not that simple. Final 12 months, Bamford stated, they tried to double crew Watkins through the use of Cunningham to assist off Sierra Canyon senior ahead Crystal Wang. It didn’t work. Wang, a gifted scorer who simply led the Trailblazers with 21 factors in opposition to Studio Metropolis Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday, had “the sport of her life,” Bamford remembered.

Then there’s guard Izela Arenas, junior daughter of former NBA All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, who modifications gears and instructions on her drives to the rim like a Chevrolet from the “Quick & Livid” motion pictures. Or Mackenly Randolph, junior daughter of former All-Star ahead Zach Randolph, who’s honed an inside-out sport and is relentless on the boards.

Plus, the Trailblazers have an intriguing piece to throw at Cunningham in freshman heart Emilia Krstevski, who held her personal in an early-season matchup in opposition to South Grand Prairie (Texas) and star junior heart Adhel Tac.

Advertisement

“Placing that sort of expertise on show … folks will probably be enthusiastic about it,” Bamford stated. “It’s enjoyable basketball, it’s high-scoring basketball. I believe as position fashions for each excessive faculties, youthful gamers rising up proper now watching them play, [it] conjures up younger youngsters to be, ‘Hey, I need to be like that.’”

Others to observe

—Santa Ana Mater Dei 6-foot guard Addison Deal, a summer time switch from Santa Monica Pacifica Christian, is among the prime guards within the nation. She’s a triple-double risk flanked by senior guard and Concordia commit Hannah Vela and senior guard and Tennessee Chattanooga commit Caia Elisaldez on a deep 13-2 Monarch women’ crew that’s only a tier beneath Sierra Canyon and Etiwanda within the Southern Part women’ basketball hierarchy.

—The Sierra Canyon boys aren’t the one crew at The Chosen-1’s Invitational with royal bloodlines. The 13-2 Mater Dei boys embrace freshman Cole Leinart, son of USC Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart; freshman Malloy Smith, son of NBA champion Kenny Smith; and freshman Che Brogan, son of Mater Dei nice Tom Lewis. Brogan, specifically, is a 6-foot-6 standout making an instantaneous influence on a younger Monarch crew.

—USC hoops followers in attendance can have a lot to get enthusiastic about. They will see future Trojans in Watkins and 2023 USC males’s commits Isaiah Collier and Arriten Web page, gifted gamers for an 8-4 Wheeler crew that’ll give the Trailblazer boys one in all their hardest opponents of the season.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sports

Knicks reunite Mikal Bridges with Villanova teammates in blockbuster trade with Nets: reports

Published

on

Knicks reunite Mikal Bridges with Villanova teammates in blockbuster trade with Nets: reports

Join Fox News for access to this content

Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

Having trouble? Click here.

There’s just something the New York Knicks love about those Villanova products in the NBA. 

The Knicks have reportedly struck a trade with the Brooklyn Nets to bring Mikal Bridges, a former teammate of Knicks stars, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo during their time at Villanova, to Madison Square Garden in a blockbuster deal. 

Advertisement

In this first trade between both teams since 1983, the Knicks will send veteran forward Bogdan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick via the Milwaukee Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-round pick in exchange for Bridges, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks talk to Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets after the game on March 23, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.  (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Knicks saw exactly what former college teammates could do on the floor together in the NBA last season, as Brunson, DiVincenzo and Hart all had stellar campaigns during the team’s playoff run. 

Now, Bridges reunites with teammates he won multiple NCAA national titles with during his college days. 

Advertisement

KENDRICK PERKINS CALLS BRIAN SCALABRINE ‘COWARD’ AFTER FORMER TEAMMATE CLAIMS HE’S BANNED FROM CELTICS PARADE

Bridges’ reaction was likely that of all Knicks fans, as he posted on social media. 

“This is crazy lol,” Bridges simply posted on X. 

Bridges, the 10th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft who was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns on draft night, has developed into a star with the Nets since he was dealt before the deadline in the 2022-23 campaign. 

He jumped from 17.2 points per game to 26.1 over 27 contests that season as a Net, and last year’s production was solid as well. 

Advertisement
Mikal Bridges gets rebound

Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats grabs a rebound in front of teammates Donte DiVincenzo #10 and Jalen Brunson #1 against the Providence Friars at the Wells Fargo Center on January 23, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Bridges averaged 19.6 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 43.6% from the field over all 82 regular-season games. 

The Philly native, who was a 2021-22 All-Defensive team honoree, figures to slot right into the starting lineup alongside his Villanova brothers, including the All-Star Brunson who exploded for an All-NBA nod after averaging a career-high 28.7 points per contest. 

The news of Bridges’ addition comes as OG Anunoby, the Knicks’ traded-for wing last season, reportedly opted out of his contract and decided to test free agency. 

Bridges, at 6-foot-6, has the ability to guard just about any player on the floor, and head coach Tom Thibodeau loves players with that extra hustle, which he provides every night. 

New York is clearly a win-now team after going 50-32 last season to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. But they’ve lost in the conference semifinals in back-to-back seasons, so adding another playmaker who can thrive on both ends of the floor was paramount for their squad this offseason. 

Advertisement
Mikal Bridges runs on court

Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates after making a shot in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 01, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

That box is checked with the addition of Bridges, who shouldn’t have any trouble getting acclimated with his new team.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Sika Anoa’i, WWE Hall of Famer and father of Roman Reigns, dies at 79

Published

on

Sika Anoa’i, WWE Hall of Famer and father of Roman Reigns, dies at 79

WWE Hall of Famer Sika Anoa’i, who won multiple WWE tag team titles with his brother Afa and is the father of current WWE star Roman Reigns, died Tuesday. He was 79.

His death was announced by nephew Jahrus Anoa’i on Instagram.

Jahrus wrote: “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of Former Hall of Famer, Polaivao Leati Sika Anoa’i. He passed away peacefully on June 25th. He was many things: a hard working father, a caring brother, a supportive uncle, and a proud grandfather. He was a cherished friend to many, a loving family member whose warmth and kindness knew no bounds, and an inspiration to countless individuals. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations, reminding us of the impact one person’s life can have on so many. Rest in love Uncle Sika.”

Anoaʻi was born on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa on April 5, 1945. He and his family (he had 13 siblings) moved to San Francisco when he was 14 and he joined the Merchant Marines in 1963 before leaving in 1969 at the behest of Afa to become a pro wrestler.

Sika and Afa were known as “The Wild Samoans” and joined the WWE (then known as the WWWF), managed by Lou Albano, in 1980, winning the tag titles just four months after their debut by defeating Tito Santana and Ivan Putski. They lost, then won them again later in 1980, then again in 1983. He had limited success as a singles wrestler, but anyone who saw “The Wild Samoans,” with their wild hair, sarong and wrestling barefoot in the ring, will never forget them. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

Advertisement

Sika trained wrestlers after retiring and helped launch the careers of many, including Yokozuna, Virgil, Billy Kidman, Batista, Rikishi, Tonga Kid, Virgil, Michael P.S. Hayes and Snitsky.

Anoaʻi’s son, Joseph, better known as Roman Reigns, is the top star in WWE currently and members of his extended family make up the faction known as “The Bloodline,” which has led WWE to renewed success in recent years. Reigns headlined the last two WrestleManias, including the 2023 event at SoFi Stadium.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk jumps in ocean with Stanley Cup as celebration hits the beach

Published

on

Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk jumps in ocean with Stanley Cup as celebration hits the beach

The Stanley Cup is back in Florida, as the Panthers won a thrilling Game 7 over the Edmonton Oilers, 2-1, on Monday night. 

The team wasted no time parading Lord Stanley’s Cup around South Florida, as Matthew Tkachuk, Aaron Ekblad and many others were spotted in Fort Lauderdale celebrating their victory less than 24 hours after defeating Edmonton. 

And since it is summer in Florida, what other way would you celebrate than by taking the Cup to the beach. 

Matthew Tkachuk of the Panthers celebrates with the Stanley Cup after their 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Florida. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Advertisement

Tkachuk, surrounded by teammates and fans alike, took the Cup across the street to the beach, where he decided to take it into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Think of it as a sort of baptism for the Cup, as it’s the first time in Panthers franchise history they have won the hardware. 

Panthers fans were screaming as Tkachuk, Ekblad and others held the Cup above their heads, giving it the customary kiss all while the waves came rolling in from the ocean. 

PANTHERS WIN STANLEY CUP IN THRILLING GAME 7 OVER OILERS

Tkachuk said after the victory to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that winning the Cup was no longer a dream – it’s reality. And it was a grueling two years for the Panthers – they lost in the Final to the Vegas Golden Knights last season in five games – to finally get that inaugural trophy in the team building. 

Advertisement

So, this celebration is a culmination of tons of hard work, and the Panthers are clearly letting loose now that their names will forever be etched on the precious metal. 

Panthers celebrate Stanley Cup win

Panthers players share champagne after beating the Edmonton Oilers at the Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Florida. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Through the Panthers’ 24 games in these playoffs, Tkachuk posted 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) to help Florida get the job done. 

He joined the Panthers last season after the Calgary Flames traded him following six seasons with the squad that drafted him sixth overall in 2016. 

Tkachuk posted a 109-point season in 2023, and though he would have 88 this past regular season, every Panthers fan knows the importance he makes at left wing for this hockey club. 

Matthew Tkachuk raise Stanley Cup

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers lifts the Stanley Cup after beating the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 24, 2024. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Advertisement

The celebration has only begun for Tkachuk and the rest of his Florida teammates, who will have their team parade on Sunday.  

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending