Willow Glen Resident

Sports

BBVAL players figure to put on a show in basketball showcase

By Dick Sparrer

Bill Murray almost seemed surprised.

"Jones and Landrine really put on a show," said the Del Mar girls basketball coach just moments after watching the two perform in last year's Dons Club Senior Showcase.

He was referring to Stevone Jones of Del Mar and Marshawn Landrine of Oak Grove who had put on an awesome display in the slam-dunk contest.

But then, what would Murray expect from the finest senior basketball players in the Blossom Valley Athletic League?

It was supposed to be a showcase of basketball talent, and that's just what it was last spring when Del Mar High School put on the first-ever Senior Showcase.

Landrine won the slam-dunk competition, and Steffi Mattern of Pioneer and Aaron Katayama of Leigh were the three-point contest winners. In the boys game, the West beat the East 75-69, and in the girls game East best West 47-36.

Now, with the second all-star event coming up this weekend, who will it be stepping up to showcase their talents?

The question will be answered on April 26 at Del Mar when the top senior basketball players from the BVAL take the floor one more time.

Play begins on Saturday with the girls showcase game at 2 p.m. The three-point contest begins following the girls game at about 4 p.m. with the slam-dunk contest at 5 p.m. The boys showcase game will tip off at 6 p.m.

Del Mar's Murray is the girls game director, and Del Mar boys basketball coach Eric Ostrowski serves as the boys game director.

Playing for the girls West team will be: Elli Batinich, Del Mar; Kathleen De La Cruz, Maria Mamaril and Monica Erezo, Silver Creek; Kelly Gregg, Alyssa Kanzaki and Stephanie Priest, Westmont; Candice Marquez, Evergreen Valley; and DeAndra Perkins, Oak Grove.

Members of the girls East team include: Alexa Abraham, Gunderson; Mhary Alcaide and Marissa Montenegro, Yerba Buena; Tanisha Bisbee, Desiree Collins and Rosa Tirado, Santa Teresa; Katie Emick, Live Oak; and Brittany O'Brien and Hayley Tharp, Willow Glen.

The boys North team consists of: Dallin Blank, Del Mar; Tom Buich, Sobrato; Billy Dick, Silver Creek; Daniel Ginn, Sean Visser and Devon Mynhier, Piedmont Hills; Michael Montenegro, Yerba Buena; Khoi Nguyen and Derek Pauli, Evergreen Valley; Tyler Nii, Leigh; Max Schneider, Westmont; Abubaker Shirur, Andrew Hill; and Nate Taye, Prospect.

Those on the boys South team are: DaShawn Duncan and Christian Silva, Gunderson; Kelly Kaigler, Stacy Long and Tyree McCrary, Oak Grove; Tony Lorr, Mt. Pleasant; Nick Maggipinto and Andrew Springer, Pioneer; Drew Marino, Leland; Adrian Packer, James Lick; Eli Rivera, Overfelt; Irie Sanders, Independence; and Gino Valletta, Branham.