Some of the best in this installment have come in playoff losses, including 48 points from Santa Ana Saddleback's Antoine Johnson.

By Steve Brand & Harold Abend
(Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Bob Barnett, Mark Tennis

(For games played Feb. 15-Feb. 21)

Boys Basketball

Chris Adams (Damien, La Verne): Adams knocked down seven 3-point shots en route to a game-high 25 points as Damien, an at-large team out of the Sierra League, shocked host Mayfair of Lakewood, 66-64 n their CIF Southern Section Division II-A quarterfinal matchup earlier this week.

Noah Aguirre (Fillmore): Despite scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, Aguirre could not prevent Price (Los Angeles) from scoring a 76-59 CIFSS IV-A victory.

Yannick Atanga and Francois Tchoyi (Besant Hill, Ojai): Both had big all-around games in a 77-39 win over Shalhevet (Los Angeles) in CIFSS VI-A action. Atanga scored 28 points and had 15 rebounds while Tchoyi added 20 points and 16 boards.

Bak Bak (Village Christian, Sun Valley): Was the main man as he scored 31 points in a 70-58 victory over Templeton in a CIFSS V-AA playoff match.

Marcus Beaird (Bear Creek, Stockton): Has helped make this season a special one for the Bruins as every one of his 34 points was greatly needed in a 63-59 win over Tracy to get ready for the postseason. He als grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

Rodney Black (Perris): Although the 6-5 Panther senior was the leading scorer with 29 points, it was his timely block of a shot with four seconds to play that proved the difference in Perris' 66-65 upset of Centennial (Corona) in a CIFSS I-AA playoff game.

Joseph Burton (West Valley, Hemet): Burton, a 6-8 center, swept down 22 rebounds to go with 24 points in a win over Rancho Cucamonga and then came back with 25 rebounds and 22 points in a 55-51 win over Alhambra in CIFSS I-A play. West Valley needs one more win before leading scorer Eric Lawton, who signed with San Diego State, returns from a broken wrist.

Jamar Cannon (Redondo Union): Certainly did all he could do but his eight three-pointers that led to 34 points still fell short as Redondo exited from the CIFSS II-A playoffs with a 63-60 loss to Huntington Beach.

Andy DeAnda (Nogales, La Puente): DeAnda buried seven three-pointers en route to scoring 31 points as Nogales held on for a 73-70 win over West Torrance in CIFSS III-AA play.

Johnny Dee (Rancho Buena Vista , Vista): The 5-11 sophomore put on a dazzling display of accuracy against Vista but his 34 points weren't enough against the Panthers (see Quincy Lawson) in an 89-69 Palomar League shootout.

Joshua De La Torre (Washington, Los Angeles): Tossed in 32 points to lead the Generals to an 87-74 win over Dorsey (Los Angeles) in the L.A. City playoffs.

Julian Demalleville (San Luis Obispo): Stole a pass and went length of the court to score with 15 seconds remaining to give SLO a 43-40 win over Bishop Amat (La Puente) in a CIFSS IV-A game. He finished with 14 points.

Lucas Devenny (Piner, Santa Rosa): The big fella has been in Stat Stars before but this time he makes it after being the linchpin in Piner's knocking North Bay League rival Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) from the ranks of the unbeaten. The 6-9, 250-pound UC Santa Barbara-bound senior had big outing in Piner's two losses in league to Newman this year, but in last Saturday's NBL playoff championship he couldn't be stopped a third time. Devenny, Piner's all-time leading scorer, was unstoppable, scoring 22 points and pulling down 24 rebounds with eight blocks. Add to that blocks total the missed Newman shots as a result of his intimidating defense and you begin to understand why he is considered one of the best big men ever in the Redwood Empire.

Elijah Escobar (New Harvest, Norwalk): Despite his 32 points, 23 after intermission, New Harvest's season ended with a 63-47 loss to Immanuel Christian in CIFSS VI-A play.

Luke Evans (El Camino, Oceanside): Wrapped up the regular season with a 33-point effort against Carlsbad as the Wildcats won 69-57 in Palomar League play. Evans will lead El Camino into the San Diego Section playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Division I.

Gary Franklin (Mater Dei, Santa Ana): Scored 50 points in two games as he tossed in 26 against San Clemente, helping to overcome a two-point Tritons lead at the half, 75-48, but adding 24 points to go with David Wear's 23 in an 85-52 CIFSS I-AA win over Upland.

Bryan Gonzalez (Lindsay): Tied his career high by scoring 31 points and making seven three-point field goals against Farmersville. Lindsay won the non-league game, 75-38.

 Shawn Grant (St. Francis, Mountain View): For his performances last week in the WCAL playoffs, the 6-4 forward was named the San Francisco Chronicle Athlete of the week. He scored big baskets on consecutive nights as the Lancers won the WCAL playoff title. Grant scored 15 points, including a three-pointer with a minute remaining, as the Lancers beat Mitty (San Jose) 63-62 in the semifinals. The WCAL Co-Player of the Year scored 25 points, including a 17-footer that broke a 66-66 tie, in the Lancers' 70-66 victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral 9San Francisco) in the final.

Cezar Guerrero (Workman, La Puente): Guerrero took matters into his own hands, scoring his club's final 13 points to give him 34 in the game as Workman downed
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in the CIFSS IV-A playoffs.

Tyler Gursky (Clovis Christian): Pumped in 32 points against Alpaugh in a East Sierra League game that Clovis Christian won by 58-57.

Wesley Hanspard (Oakland Tech, Oakland): The 6-5 senior forward scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the second half for the Bulldogs in a 44-42 nail-biter over Oakland.

Niyi Harrison (Bellarmin, San Jose): The 6-7, 220-pound senior did everything he could, scoring 30 points, with 13 rebounds and five blocks in the WCAL semis against St. Francis (Mountain View) but the Bells lost a close one, 63-62.

Brandon Herzberg-Brovold (College Prep, Oakland): This 6-6 European-style junior had 29 points, including 18 of his team's 24 in the second half, but it wasn't enough, as his team fell 60-51 to cross-town rival Head-Royce in the Bay Counties League-East final.

Carl Hoffman (Loyola, Los Angeles): Hoffman simply could not be stopped as he flooded the basket with 36 points to lead the Cubs to an 86-71 win over North (Riverside) in a CIFSS II-A match.

Antoine Johnson (Saddleback, Santa Ana): Although the 5-8 junior lit up the basket with 48 points, it still wasn't enough as the University (Irvine) Trojans used balanced scoring in an 82-79 CIFSS II-A win.

Cody Kessler (Centennial, Bakersfield): Racked up 36 points, including 30 of them in the second half on 12-of-23 field goals, as the Golden Hawks rolled past Ridgeview of Bakersfield, 81-64, in a Southwest Yosemite League game.

Jeremiah Kreisberg (Head Royce, Oakland): This 6-9 junior has been attracting Ivy Leagues and even a coach from USF who saw him drop in 30 points, grab 11 boards and dish four assists in the Jayhawks' 60-51 victory over cross-town rival College Prep in the Bay Counties League-East championship game.

Sean Landberg (Delta, Clarksburg): Despite his team not winning as many games, he continues to do all he can in leading the team as he scored 35 points in a 79-52 loss to Vacaville Christian and then followed that with a 44-point outburst nearly outscoring Woodland Christian on his own in the Saints' 90-48 victory.

Quincy Lawson (Vista): After a slow first quarter, the Panthers rode Lawson's 38 points to an 89-69 win over Carlsbad in the Palomar League finale.

Troy Leaf (Foothills, El Cajon): Just a junior, Leaf, who starts for his father-coach Brad Leaf, continues to crank up the big points in leading Foothills. He scored 40 points as the Knights buried Lutheran (San Diego), 97-25, in Citrus South League play. Leaf has already orally committed to San Diego State.

Robbie Lemons (Sacramento Country Day): Did his best LeBron James impersonation as he helped stop the Cavaliers three-game losing streak by scoring 33 points in a 61-37 victory over Faith Christian of Yuba City.

Chris Manresa (Tesoro, Rancho Santa Margarita): Ran up 25 points, collected 19 rebounds and had six blocked shots in a 66-40 win over Great Oak (Temecula) in a CIFSS I-A showdown.

Fabio Mazzarilli (Cathedral City): The 6-3 senior collected 34 points but it still wasn't enough as Centennial (Corona) scored a 76-69 overtime victory in CIFSS I-A playoff action.

Troy McClanahan (Estancia, Costa Mesa): Buried 12 three-point field goals en route to 38 points but Lawndale still prevailed, 72-71, in CIFSS IV-A play as Markeither Cungious had 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Dean Miller (Granite Hills, El Cajon): A scoring machine, the 6-3 Miller added another 50 points to his total, almost single-handedly outscoring Mount Miguel, 76-53, in a Grossmont South League game.

Darius Nelson (Sacramento, Sheldon): The talented sophomore put up 30 points for the third time this season, and first time since back to back games in mid-December, as he shot 50 percent from the floor in a 69-33 win over Florin.

Peter Pappageorge (Burlingame): It seems like this 6-foot senior has a reserved spot in this feature. Last week he led the Panthers to their 18th-straight win and the Peninsula Athletic League championship. In the semifinal 65-59 victory over Aragon of San Mateo, he scored 29 points, including key baskets down the stretch.

Keon Pledger (Lynwood): Collected 33 points and Lynwood needed every one of them in a 70-69 victory over Los Alamitos in CIFSS I-AA play.

Rafael Rodriguez (Army-Navy Academy, Carlsbad): Chucked in 35 points as the Warriors wrapped up the Coastal North League title by coming from behind to top Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach), 61-49.

Jordan Sachs (La Habra): Scored three points as the clock drained to give the Highlanders a 61-56 victory over Dos Pueblos (Goleta) in the CIFSS II-A playoffs. In practice the next day, he suffered a dehydration-caused seizure but still managed to recover to play in a 49-47 loss to Damien (La Verne), scoring 16 points.

Dillon Sabia (Drake, San Anselmo): Had 20 points and 16 rebounds but his Pirates were upset 47-38 by Terra Linda in the Marin County League semis.

Brandon Smith (De La Salle, Concord): Showed why Cal wants him and his ability to control the game's tempo with excellent ballhandling, while also being a scorer who plays lockdown defense on the other end. Nowhere were his skills more evident then on Senior Night Feb. 17 against San Ramon Valley.  With the Spartans Trailing 10-9 after the first basket of the second stanza, Smith and the boys woke up after a stern lecture by Coach Frank Allocco and went on a 16-0 run behind the play of Smith to take command of the East Bay Athletic League matchup in a 71-49 win. The soon-to-be Bear finished with 19 points, nine assists and nine steals, barely missing a triple-double.

Mike Snaer (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley): The McDonald's All-American scored 31 points as Rancho Verde rallied to stop Jordan (Long Beach), 72-63, in CIFSS I-AA play. He scored 27 earlier in the week in a 55-46 win over Paramount.

Robbie Tarte (Point Loma, San Diego): Tarte, a 6-2 senior, has led the turnaround for the Pointers, as his 32 points led Point Loma to a 56-48 Central League victory over Coronado.

Joseph Vitug (Cerritos): The 5-8 senior stood tall by scoring 37 points but Apple Valley's Absalom Smith tossed in 28 and had more help in a 90-76 CIFSS III-A playoff victory.

Taijuan Walker (Yucaipa): Rolled in 32 points as Yucaipa outscored Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) in a CIFSS II-AA 82-72 victory.

Derrick Williams (La Mirada): Previous ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Boys State Athlete of the Week helped his team reach the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division II-A playoffs with another strong performance in a 66-48 victory over Ayala of Chino Hills. The 6-7, 215-pound USC-bound power forward had 12 first-quarter points as La Mirada took a 31-16 first-quarter lead. He finished with a game-high 29 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and two steals.  

Kendall Williams (Los Osos, Rancho Cucamonga): Although the UCLA junior commit scored 32 points, Mike Melones' layup with a half-second left gave Ventura a 74-73 win in CIFSS I-A play.

Girls Basketball

Keani Albanez and Kacie Sowell (Buena, Ventura): Albanez' 8-foot jumper with 32 seconds remaining was the big shot but Sowell's 17 rebounds and 11 points kept the game close as Buena edged Katella (Anaheim), 42-41, in the CIFSS II-AA playoffs.

Michelle Anaya (Washington, Easton): Stat star regular from the CIF Central Section scored 33 points against Sierra of Tollhouse in a North Sequoia League game that the Panthers won by 53-45.

Erica Banks (Clovis East, Clovis): Just a sophomore, Banks scored 39 points as the Timberwolves beat Buchanan of Clovis, 61-48. But Banks wasn't done for the week. She came back with 36 more points in a 77-51 win against Madera.

Markeisha Barbee and Keran Natividad (Citrus Hills, Perris): Natividad pulled down 18 rebounds and Barbee added 17 in a 59-45 win over South Pasadena in CIFSS IV-A action.

Nisha Barrett (Barstow): Whether it was the 15 rebounds or the 18 points or the 10 assists or even the six steals, they all combined for a 73-59 win over Gahr (Cerritos) in CIFSS III-A action. Earlier she had 24 points in a 64-30 rout of Heritage Christian.

Brianne Beridon and Jillian Alleyne (Ayala, Chino Hills): Beridon scored 32 points and Alleyne collected 23 rebounds and 14 points as Ayala opened the I-AA playoffs with a 91-21 crushing of Fontana.

Darshae Burnside and Layshia Clarendon (Cajon, San Bernardino): Burnside was dominant on the boards with 24 rebounds and 23 points and Clarendon, bound for Cal, wasn't bad either with 11 points, 10 boards and a whopping 14 assists in a 73-34 dismantling of Wilson (Long Beach) in a CIFSS I-AA game.

Lauren Bushong (Yucca Valley): Controlled the boards at both ends as Bushong collected 16 rebounds to go with 13 points as Yucca Valley downed San Luis Obispo, 64-53, in the CIFSS IV-AA playoff second round.

Keyahndra Cannon (Mission Bay, San Diego): Freshman had herself quite a week as she pitched in a season-high 40 points (six from beyond the arc) and added 16 rebounds, five assists and seven steals to a Western League 71-41 win over Lincoln (San Diego). She wrapped up the week with another 28 points in a 69-58 loss to University City.

Lashari Clayborne (Roosevelt, Fresno): This team and player's dream season continued as scored career high of 38 points and made nine three-point field goals in a game against Fresno High. The Rough Riders won the North Yosemite League matchup, 74-44.

 Raechelle Davis (Orangewood Academy, Garden Grove): With 29 points, Davis single-handedly outscored CIFSS VI-A opponent New Harvest Christian (Norwalk), 60-22.

Ashley and Lauren Engelin (Laguna Hills): The sisters were omnipresent in two victories. Ashley scored 23 points, 15 on three-pointers, and Lauren 14 points in a 72-54 win over Burroughs (Burbank) in the CIFSS II-AA opener. Ashley had another five treys while scoring 18 points and Lauren scored 16 in a 59-52 win over Rio Mesa (Oxnard).

Courtney Fisher (Vallejo): Broke the 40 points plateau for the third time this season in a game as the Apaches senior scored 17 field goals and made seven free throws for a total of 41 points in their 61-49 win over Hogan.

Porsha Grayson (Golden Valley, Merced): Seemed to have the cruise control on in the Cougars' 57-43 win over Atwater as she scored a season high 28 points.

Mia Greco (Petaluma): This 5-5 point guard, and niece of Marin Catholic (Kentfield) coach Rick De Martini, showed why she's considered the best guard in Sonoma County last week and earned the Santa Rosa Press Democrat Girls' athlete of the week in the process. Playing for longtime Petaluma Coach Doug Johnson, she's not known as a big scorer but a deliverer. What she delivered was a Sonoma County League championship with 22 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals in the title game victory over Sonoma Valley.    

Alyssa Hanson (Esperanza, Anaheim): Scored 31 points in teaming with UC Irvine signee Lauren Spinazza (15 points) as the Aztecs drilled California (Whittier), 70-43, in CIFSS I-A opening-round play.

Nicole Hicks (Saugus): Although Hicks was on her game, scoring 29 points, it wasn't enough as Saugus dropped a 69-53 CIFSS II-A game to Newbury Park with a second half charge led by Doris Park-Sherman's 23 points and 13 boards. Hicks earlier scored 25 against Peninsula (Palos Verdes).

Claire Hosinski (St. Margaret's, Rancho Santa Margarita): Pulled down 15 rebounds to go with 16 points and five blocked shots while teaming with Jenny Tedori (26 points) in a 56-45 win over Riverside Christian in CIFSS VI-A play.

Amanda Johnson (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach): Although it took overtime, Johnson's 30 points and six steals were pivotal in Mira Costa's 57-46 win over Channel Islands in CIFSS II-AA action.

Sabrino Johnson (Santiago, Corona): Hauling in 15 rebounds to go with 15 points helped Santiago post a 61-40 victory over Paloma Valley (Menifee) in the opening-round of the CIFSS I-AA playoffs.

Jashae Lee (Sultana, Hesperia): A 15-rebound, 17-point double-double led the Sultans to a 42-34 victory over Temecula Valley to open the CIFSS II-AA playoffs.

Ariel Marsh (Ayala, Chino Hills): Had little trouble piling up 33 points in a 71-50 romp over North (Riverside) in the CIFSS I-AA playoffs.

Carly and Ashley MacLeod (Packinghouse Christian, Redlands): MacLeod's triple-double of 15 points, 10 boards and 12 steals complemented sister Ashley's 13 points and 11 boards in a 62-36 win over Bethel Baptist (Santa Ana) in the CIFSS VI-A.

Ashley Mitchell (Millikan, Long Beach): Even though the Rams entered the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA girls basketball playoffs as the No. 4 seed they were still forced to travel some 100 miles for a road game at Quartz Hill near Lancaster. The ride didn't seem to bother Mitchell as she scored 24 points to lead Millikan to a 68-55 victory.

Cassie Morris (Victor Valley Christian, Victorville): Morris' 20 rebounds and 12 points went for naught as Victor Valley Christian lost to Hillcrest Christian (Menifee) in CIFSS VI-AA play, 50-42.

Lindsay Nickel (Pinewood, Los Altos): Had a career-high 30 points, 22 in the first half, in a West Bay Athletic League tournament quarterfinal win over Mercy of Burlingame. She then followed it up with 27 points, 17 in the first half to give Panthers' Coach Doc Scheppler his 370th career win as well as the WBAL title in a 61-41 triumph over Castilleja of Palo Alto.

Ericka Norman (Chino Hills): Norman's quick hands picked up 10 steals to go with 25 points in a 57-27 walk over Yucaipa in the CIFSS I-A playoffs.

Emily Osga (Patrick Henry, San Diego): The former track miler took full advantage of limited playing time as she scored 30 points to lead the Patriots to a 66-13 demolition of Hoover in a 68-13 win which had a running clock the entire fourth quarter.

Cassie Pappas (Crescenta Valley, La Crescenta): Battling through a sore knee, Pappas scored 10 of her game-high 22 points in the third quarter to lead CV to a 50-34 win over West Covina in the CIFSS I-A.

Wendy Perkins (Excelsior, Apple Valley): Despite 16 rebounds and 24 points, Perkins' 18th double-double of the season, Excelsior was eliminated from the CIFSS IV-A playoffs with a 55-49 loss to Crossroads (Santa Monica).

Felicia Pet (Montgomery, Chula Vista): The Aztecs won their 20th game of the season when Pet tossed in 32 points as Montgomery downed Olympian, 62-42, in the South Bay League.

Kaitlyn Peterson (Mission Viejo): Tossing in 24 of her 34 points in the second half, Peterson still wasn't able to deliver the win as Marina (Huntington Beach) prevailed in the CIFSS I-A playoffs.

	Kaitlyn Petersen

LaTasha Pollard (San Bernardino): Slowing normally high-scoring Jarmine Ray is no guarantee of victory as the 5-9 Pollard stepped up with 26 points to lead the Cardinals past Beaumont in the CIFSS III-AA first round playoffs. Ray scored 19.

Rachel Porter and Symone Brown (Gahr, Cerritos): Porter had 28 points and 21 rebounds and Brown had 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Gladiators in a CIF-SS Division III-A 73-54 victory over Westminster of La Quinta.

Talia Rayford (St. Mary's Academy, Inglewood): Was a force under the basket in two St. Mary's wins. Opening the CIFSS III-A playoffs against Artesia, she had 16 rebounds and 20 points in an 83-60 romp. She was even better against Rancho Alamitos, collecting 21 boards and scoring 16 in a 70-56 victory.

Erin Ruiz (West Ranch, Valencia): Although she only scored 23 points, the final three were from a half-court shot as time expired to deliver a 52-49 CIFSS II-AA win over Whittier on the road.

Brianna Salvatore (Villa Park): Four three-pointers were a big chunk of Salvatore's 27 points, including four from beyond the arc, in a 63-46 win over Santa Barbara as a 15-5 third quarter run put away the Dons in CIFSS II-A action.

Rita Sitvi (Marina, Huntington Beach): Kept pace with high-scoring Kaitlyn Peterson and got more help as Marina downed Mission Viejo, 60-52, behind Sitvi's 31 points in the CIFSS I-A.

Jasmine Smith (Dublin): Last week's performances in the league playoffs earned this 5-6 senior guard the San Francisco Chronicle Player of the week. She scored 21 points as the Gaels clinched the Diablo Foothill Athletic League title with a 48-41 victory over Acalanes of Lafayette. Smith scored 15 of her points in the second half as Dublin came back from a 19-3 deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter. She made two three-pointers in the final three minutes to complete the comeback.

Kiyana Stamps (Perris): Kiyana put her stamp on the game with double-double 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 61-48 romp over Redlands East Valley (Redlands) in the CIFSS I-AA division.

Kim Takaoka (La Salle, Pasadena): When Takaoka let loose with seven three-pointers among her 31 points, Mesa Grande (Calimesa) simply was unable to keep pace in a CIFSS V-A playoff game.

Shawnte Taylor (Wallenberg, San Francisco): The 5-11 senior forward has been solid the past week, leading the Bulldogs to three straight wins San Francisco Section league wins. She had 18 points and 14 rebounds against ISA of San Francisco, 28 points and 18 rebounds against Galileo and 27 points and 15 rebounds against Burton.

Starla Wright (Valencia): Despite a slow start, Valencia rolled past Pioneer Valley, 63-40, in CIFSS II-AA game with Wright hauling in 17 rebounds and a like number of points.

Noelani Violoria (Huntington Beach): The Santa Clara-bound senior had a game-high 30 points and seven steals but it still wasn't enough as the Oilers' season ended with a 74-69 loss to Centennial (Corona) in CIFSS II-AA play.

Cierra Windham (Norco): Windham was unstoppable, scoring 31 points as Norco cruised past Don Lugo (Chino) after she led a 14-0 Norco run and scored 22 points in a 66-46 win over Alta Loma in the CIFSS II-A.

Melissa Zornig (Santa Margarita): Did a little of everything in a 66-58 CIFSS III-AA win over Torrance by scoring 32 points, collecting seven rebounds and handing out four assists.

To report a state stat star of your own, please send info to mark@studentsports.com. For any corrections or comments, send also to that email address.