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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: FOCUS KEY FOR JAMES LOGAN
James Logan has been so dominant through the first half of the season that the Colts are facing a new dilemma: Staying sharp and competitive through league play.
The Colts, who have started this season 17-1, have not lost a Mission Valley Athletic League game in two years. Since 2015, the Union City school has lost just four league games total.
On Wednesday, the Colts routed Newark Memorial in a dominant 25-7, 25-10, 25-13 performance.
Led by outside hitters McKenzie Anderson (4.8 kills per set) and Emma Tran (30 aces through 21 games), the Colts have been one of the top attacking teams in the Bay Area.
“That’s actually always our issue, like, ‘How do we keep ourselves competitive when sometimes we’re not as challenged as much in our league,’” said Logan coach Matt Guzman. “Our girls have to be self motivated. We try to set a standard when we play any game, like, ‘Is that good enough for the playoffs? Is that championship volleyball?’
“It is tough because most of the schools in the NCS playoffs are (East Bay Athletic League) schools. Every week is like a playoff game for them. We try to find that competitiveness in our tournaments, and we just try to push ourselves in practice.”
James Logan’s Keilani Cruz (7) and her teammates celebrate a point against Washington High at Washington High School in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
But unlike most years when they run through their league only to fall to a talented EBAL or Diablo Valley Athletic League program, the Colts have proven this year they could hang with the best the East Bay has to offer.
Logan defeated Foothill and Amador Valley – two top teams in the section. Logan defeated the likes of Campolindo and St. Francis-Sacramento en route to taking first place at the Bishop O’Dowd Invitational two weeks ago.
“When we were forming our roster in the preseason, I noticed we were complete and had every piece we needed,” Guzman said. “I’ve been coaching for 10 years now and I can tell when we have a championship-caliber team. I let the girls know early on in the season that we can really be contenders. This preseason, it was more about getting the whole team to realize that we could actually be a really good team and that we could actually compete this year for the title.”
– Nathan Canilao
James Logan head coach Matthew Guzman huddles with her players before their game against Washington High at Washington High School in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
James Logan’s Keilani Cruz (7) and her teammates celebrate a point against Washington High at Washington High School in Fremont, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
FLAG FOOTBALL: BASKETBALL ON GRASS
The Priory offensive scheme is simple, exciting and effective: Throw the ball up to tall and athletic basketball-stars-turned-receivers and score flag football touchdowns.
Ugreat Daniels caught a touchdown in a Priory victory over Notre Dame-Belmont, and she’s not the only hoops standout who has taken a liking to flag football. Freshman Sasha Johnson also made her mark on the field.
“We do have offseason workouts, but doing another sport like this keeps my body active and ready for basketball season,” Daniels said.
In the East Bay, California’s Lana Vu is showing that she doesn’t need to have a basketball in her hands to, as the saying goes, break ankles.
Instead of using a killer crossover, she utilized a nifty stutter-step to freeze a defender and score a touchdown against Monte Vista.
California reached the NCS Division I title game in basketball last season, and Vu hopes that the Grizzlies – alongside two-sport teammate Sofie Addiego – will make a second straight trip in 2025.
“I have high hopes, but I know it’ll be tough,” Vu said.
– Joseph Dycus
REFEREE: NOT QUITE FROM THE BAYOU
Victor Coronado’s unique accent drew more than a few murmurs from Monte Vista flag football players a week ago.
“Uh, is he from Louisiana?” was the phrase at least a couple players were heard uttering in bewilderment.
To the surprise of some, the man with 25 years of officiating experience doesn’t hail from New Orleans, Ruston or Vacherie.
He hails from Pittsburg, and has no idea how he developed the unique accent.
Coronado has experience as a coach. But when he went back to college, Coronado got into officiating as a way to stay involved in the game.
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What began as officiating just freshman games on Thursdays turned into a quarter-century of working high school, youth and semi-pro sports.
Though many of the folks in East Contra Costa County are familiar with his unique cadence, he still gets occasional remarks when he ventures into the 680 corridor.
“Most places I go, people know me,” Coronado said. “But when I run across someone who doesn’t know me, they frequently ask that question.”
– Joseph Dycus