Wildcats Exhibition Schedule Ends; Mark Your Calendars Now
La Mirada's Derrick Williams Rings in the New Year in His Return to So. Cal
Tuscon, AZ~La Mirada High School Superstar Derrick Williams will be returning to Southern California when his Arizona Wildcats play USC and UCLA this New Year's weekend.
Williams, who led La Mirada to a CIF Southern Section quarterfinal berth last season, will play the team he intended to play for, USC, at the Galen Center on New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.
Williams left USC this past spring, after the Tim Floyd meltdown.
Then, on January 2nd, Williams and the Wildcats will play UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in a nationally televised morning contest beginning at 10 a.m., broadcast on CBS.
Last night, Arizona wrapped up its exhibition schedule with a 96-55 romp over Div. II Western New Mexico. Williams scored 12 points, going 6 of 7 from the field in 14 minutes.
On November 4th, against Augustana College, Williams scored 14 points in 13 minutes including; 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 7 from the stripe. He also had four rebounds.
This season the Wildcats are playing with seven true freshmen on the team and a rookie head coach, Sean Miller. Their season opener is November 15th vs. Northern Arizona at 3 p.m.
Check out the Universities website for the basketball program available at http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/ariz-m-baskbl-body.html. This site is really nice. Everything you need to know about the Wildcats basketball program. They have box scores, photo galleries, webcasts, and an abundance of information at your fingertips to follow Derrick all season long.
In the sites recent write-up about the game with Western New Mexico, check out the YouTube insert in the article. You can see Derrick back-peddling after a layup in the very short video spot.
News from El Camino High
La Mirada~ Here is some of the latest news coming out of El Camino High School in La Mirada.
-State Model Continuation High School-El Camino High School has qualified for a state visit in an effort
to extend the Model School designation for another five years.
-144 graduates in the Class of 2009 at El Camino High School. This is a new school record.
- El Camino High School has an 80 point API increase over last year for a total of 594 points.
- The senior students of El Camino High School had a campus tour at Cerritos College yesterday. It was a "hands on" event and was very successful. The tour is to expose those "at risk" students to the college and get them interested in attending college after high school. Another campus tour will be scheduled in the spring. This is a yearly event. However, beginning this year, it will take place 2 times-once in the fall and once in the spring.
- NHRA Career Day At the Races - Student Field Trip On November 13, 2009, El Camino High School students will take a student Field trip to the Pomona Raceway. Students spend time visiting Career and educational focused partners. All students also attend a 30-minute panel discussion on careers and educational opportunities. They also receive a free ticket to the NHRA finals and the Open Pit Policy of the NHRA also allows students to network with race teams and manufactures. This event takes place once a year and is a very popular field trip with our students.
Suburban League Week 9 Review; Week 10 Preview
Week 9 Review
The league this week had a few scares with the Dons of Cerritos almost pulling out a victory against the John Glenn Eagles. Then on Friday, the Pioneers of Artesia jumped out to an early lead against the Norwalk Lancers, but in the end, the game was far from close. The Buccaneers of Bellflower where manhandled by the Matadores. This has been one of the most balanced leagues in a while where every week each team has a shot at a win and the playoff seeding has come down to the final week.
Week 9 Results
Mayfair had a Bye.
Norwalk 61 Artesia 33: Early on, the Pioneers looked liked they just might upset the Norwalk Lancers. They hit big on their first play from scrimmage as WR Travon Payne toasted CB Adrian Gonzales for an 80 yard TD. The Lancers would respond with a big run from do-everything back Elihjaa Penny. The Pioneers QB Montez Hunter was causing fits for the Lancer defense in the first half as he ran all over them at will. In the second half, the Lancers defense stepped up and became stouter, as their ground game got going and they ran all over the Pioneers. Elihjaa Penny and Davion Edwards combined for over 400 yards of offense as they cleared the way for QB Dominique Diaz to use play action to hit big on a few passes for TD's.
John Glenn 35 Cerritos 29: The Eagles-in a do or die situation-came through as they walked out of Hanford Rants Stadium with a victory; and are now a step closer to the playoffs. This was a night of the running back, as senior RB Brandon Kelly from John Glenn was not to be out shined by senior running back Derek Jones of Cerritos. It was as if they kept trying to one up each other in this game. When the dust had settled, it was Kelly who was victorious on the field and on the stat sheet. His final stat line: 20 carries, 183 yards, and 4 TD's. 
Derek Jones finished with 22 carries and 146 yards and 2 TD's. Cerritos was aided by special teams when they blocked an extra point, and they received a 98-yard kick-off return from Junior Aaron Francis for a TD. This game came down to the last drive of the game, with the Eagles getting a TD from Brandon Kelly on the ground with 23 seconds left.
Unsyncables Win US Masters Synchronized Swimming Championship
La Mirada~The Unsyncables of La Mirada took the Overall High Point Award at the U.S. Masters Synchronized Swimming Championships held over the weekend of October 23-25 in Coral Springs, Fla.
The Unsyncables received 144.5 total points through a variety of competitions to earn its third consecutive High Point Title, and eighth in the past 12 years. Thirty-three teams competed in the event.
The La Mirada Unsyncables is a non-for-profit organization whose membership is open to adults 20 years of age and older. The team works out weekly at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center, creating routines for competitions and water shows, and working together to promote the sport of synchronized swimming. Current swimmers range from 20-89 years of age.
Suburban League Week 8 Review; Week 9 Preview
Week 8 Review
Well, this was a terrific week of football in the Suburban League. We saw the not-so-mighty Lancers from Norwalk lose. There were two games that came down to the wire; the Mayfair vs. Artesia game went into overtime; and the Norwalk vs. La Mirada game came down to the wire. I feel that all of the teams this week played well and played as hard as they could.
Week 8 Results
John Glenn had a Bye.
Mayfair 35 Artesia 28 (OT): This one became a barn-burner, as the host Pioneers of Artesia would not be denied, giving the visiting Monsoons all that they could handle for four quarters and then came up a little bit short in overtime. The Artesia defense, which is led by MLB TJ Taimutuia, and OLB Adam Leutele, both turned in tremendous efforts. The Pioneers on offense, where led by WR Travon Payne who had seven catches for 87 yards. Unfortunately, he just couldn't find the end zone. Mayfair was able to let go a sigh of relief after the final whistle blew- because they were victorious- and the game was a just a slugfest.
Bellflower 41 Cerritos 17: The Buccaneers only needed three quarters to put this one out of reach, as they just pounded the visiting Dons. Their offense ran the ball right down the throat of the Dons defense. It seemed as if the Dons were helpless to stop them. Their offense didn't help them at all, as they fumbled the ball, and just couldn't convert on third and fourth downs when they needed to. Bellflower LB Marquis Patton returned an interception for a touchdown. QB Jeremy Allen tossed two TD passes in the win.
Here We Grow Again?
BREAKING NEWS
Norwalk~Just like four years ago when John Johnson won a seat on the NLMUSD Board, simply because he put the word "teacher" under his profession, we may have a new school board member replacing Johnson, under the same circumstances.
Margarita Rios, unknown in the community, may win a seat on the board, simply because she used the words "police officer" under her profession. The fact of the matter is, she is a "police officer" for the dysfunctional Los Angeles Unified School District. A big difference, than being a real police officer.
I'm not saying she's not a great person or unqualified-I'm just saying, you now what I mean.
As usual, the few that do vote, are uninformed,and vote for "their own kind". People get giggly when they see the words "teacher" or "police officer"-both tax-payer funded jobs. Their judgement suddenly becomes clouded, and common-sense thinking takes a back seat..
Welcome to the world of American politics.
Car vs. Train Accident at one of the Deadliest Crossings in the Country
Santa Fe Springs/La Mirada~Long considered one of the deadliest crossings in the country, there has been another train vs. auto accident at Rosecrans Ave. and Marquardt Ave.
No injuries reported at this time. Street closures in effect-avoid westbound Rosecrans and northbound Marquardt.
We Like Adams, Pflanzer, & Urquidi
Norwalk~With surprise winner from four yours ago John Johnson deciding not to run again, this ensures the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education will have at least one new member.
But does anyone really care? Traditional voter turnout seems to indicate no, but what's more important than our schools? Is it the nine percent of people that vote, who do all the moaning and groaning between elections; saying we have a lethargic school system?
Actually, it is almost a lame duck position. What can one person do to make a difference in a entrenched machine? Name one achievement by any individual school board member over the last ten years. What has Karen Morrison, Lorraine Neal, Pauline Deal, or Ed Hengler done individually, that stands out, over this last two years? Everything is collaborative.
Cerritos College to Host Vocational Programs Informational Fair
Norwalk~Cerritos College’s Career Center and Re-Entry Resource Program will host the first Vocational Programs Informational Fair on Thursday, November 5, 2009.Attendees can learn about vocational and short-term certificate programs offered at Cerritos College. Representatives from the departments and programs will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about their offering and career opportunities in each field.
Participating departments include: Computer & Information Sciences, Cosmetology, Court Reporting and Captioning Careers, Culinary Arts, Mental Health Worker, Nursing, Photography, Woodworking and many more.
Hours of the event will be from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Cerritos College Falcon Square, 11110 Alondra Blvd. in Norwalk.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Parking for the event is free in lot C-1 in white stalls ONLY.
For more information, contact Shannon Estrada at sestrada@cerritos.edu or (562) 860-2451, Ext. 2362, Elizabeth Barrera at ebarrera@cerritos.edu or Ext. 2365 or Rosie Medina at mmedina@cerritos.edu or Ext. 2365.
Car Slams Into Cabo Taco Baja Grill, Injuring Four
La Mirada~An elderly woman slammed her Toyota sedan into Cabo Taco earlier today around 1:00 p.m.
The restaurant, located in the La Mirada Theatre Center, is now closed and is expected to reopen next week.
The driver. who witnesses say looked around 80 years old, was very shaken and had little to say, if anything.
Owner Kenny Yowell said, " I saw her coming and thought she was going to stop, but she didn't. A customer who was dining was able to just twist out of the way of the car. And he ended up pinned between a wall, the table, and the car."
Waitress Sandra Zavala had just finished serving a table that was taken out and was walking away, "It's a miracle nobody was killed. The large table saved the mans life."
The vehicle entered the restaurant smashing through booths and tables and sideswiping patrons, creating a chaotic scene.
Four patrons were taken to the hospital complaining of back, rib, shoulder injuries, but none seem to be life threatening. The unidentified elderly woman and her passenger were also taken to the hospital.
It is unclear at this time what caused the driver to enter the restaurant, but age does seem to be a factor.
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