Well, I told you the updating here might be slow in the early-going. Didn't mean for it to be quite this slow, but you know how things go around the holidays.
Speaking of which, how was everybody's Christmas (or holidays, if you prefer)? I went up to the Bay Area for the first time in my life and had a great time. But I'll bet everybody is ready to get going with high school sports again.
I've spent the past two days at tournaments in town, a boys event at Garces and a girls tourney at Stockdale. Been pretty impressed with what I've seen. Centennial and Ridgeview look for real on the boys side, both with entertaining, athletic rosters, and I didn't even get a chance to see Garces, which was the highest-ranked Central Section team at the tourney. Centennial played L.A.-Washington Prep tonight, which should have been a great game (Washington is ranked sixth in the L.A. City Section). Either way, if Garces gets its expected win in the quarterfinals nightcap, it'll make for a great semifinal tomorrow night at 8:45.
As for the girls, Stockdale seems to have mastered "32 minutes of heck." The Mustangs punished San Mateo-Aragon this afternoon, racking up 86 points and numerous turnovers that had the Aragon players looking like they'd never picked up a basketball before. I'd definitely look for Stockdale to challenge for a section title and maybe even do some damage in the state tournament. If SHS has a weakness, though, it's definitely size and youth. We'll see how much that holds them back. They'll play either Bullard or Atascadero on Friday, with plenty of tough teams waiting in the rest of the bracket, including BHS, Centennial, Monache and Visalia-El Diamante.
Other than that, check out http://www.bakersfield.com/...>The Californian's All-Area selections for fall sports. There will be a few more coming in the next two days, including the volleyball team Saturday and the football team Sunday. Congratulations to all honored.
Also, Independence and Mira Monte, the two Bakersfield high schools opening their doors next fall, have hired football coaches. Mira Monte chose Foothill JV coach and basketball coach Tony Varela and Independence went with Bakersfield High offensive coordinator Sean McKeown. Neither has any head coaching experience at the varsity level. Both teams will play JV schedules next year, but it's worth asking now: Did the schools make good choices? How long will it take them to be competitive? Feel free to share your thoughts below.