Preps: Section basketball pairings; tennis and swimming champions; boys volleyball update
The small-school powerhouse Caruthers High girls basketball team will compete in the Central Section Open Division.
The second-seeded Blue Raiders will host No. 3 Clovis on Thursday. Top-seed Clovis West will host No. 4 Arroyo Grande in the other semifinal matchup.
On the boys side, San Joaquin Memorial earned the top seed and will face No. 4 Clovis North while No. 3 Clovis West will visit No. 2 St. Joseph in games to be played on Friday.
Notable teams not playing in the postseason are the San Joaquin Memorial and Sierra Pacific girls. Both teams cited graduation and end-of-school-year functions as reasons for not competing.
Here are the playoff matchups:
BOYS
All games at 6 p.m., unless noted
Open - Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 4 Clovis North at No. 1 San Joaquin Memorial; No. 3 Clovis West at No. 2 St. Joseph’s
Division I - Wednesday’s first round: No. 8 Mission Prep 61, No. 9 Clovis 51. Wednesday’s quarterfinal: No. 6 Edison at No. 3 Clovis East; No. 7 Buchanan at No. 2 Bullard. Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 5 Arroyo Grande at No. 4 Liberty-Bakersfield; No. 8 Mission Prep at No. 1 Central
Division II - Wednesday’s first round: No. 9 Righetti at No. 8 Paso Robles; No. 5 Hanford 79, No. 12 Fresno 52; No. 4 Atascadero 60, No. 13 Sunnyside 40; No. 3 Lemoore 64, No. 14 San Luis Obispo 48; No. 6 Roosevelt 65, No. 11 Immanuel 51; No. 7 Porterville 48, No. 10 Pioneer Valley 36. Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 8 Paso Robles/No. 9 Righetti winner at No. 1 Centennial; No. 7 Porterville at No. 2 Independence; No. 5 Hanford at No. 4 Atascadero; No. 6 Roosevelt at No. 3 Lemoore
Division III - Wednesday’s first round: No. 8 Frontier 59, No. 9 Morro Bay 37. Thursday’s quarterfinal: No. 6 Garces at No. 3 Nipomo. Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 7 Tulare Western at No. 2 Hoover; No. 5 West at No. 4 Sanger; No. 8 Frontier at No. 1 Bakersfield Christian
Division IV - Wednesday’s first round: No. 8 Templeton 59, No. 9 South 56; No. 5 Reedley 63, No. 12 McFarland 50; No. 6 Golden Valley 80, No. 11 Santa Maria 30; No. 10 Sierra Pacific at No. 7 Yosemite. Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 8 Templeton at No. 1 Kingsburg; No. 5 Reedley at No. 4 Mira Monte; No. 6 Golden Valley-Bakersfield at No. 3 Washington Union; No. 7 Yosemite/No. 10 Sierra Pacific winner at No. 2 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Division V - Wednesday’s first round: No. 9 Rosamond at No. 8 Lindsay; No. 5 Parlier 53, No. 12 Kings Christian 37; No. 6 Fresno Christian 76, No. 11 Minarets 57; No. 10 Highland 61, No. 7 Caruthers 59. Friday’s quarterfinals: No. 8 Lindsay/No. 9 Rosamond winner at No. 1 Fowler; No. 5 Parlier at No. 4 Strathmore; No. 6 Fresno Christian at No. 3 Orange Cove; No. 10 Highland at No. 2 Sierra
GIRLS
All games at 6 p.m., unless noted
Open - Thursday’s quarterfinal: No. 1 Clovis West 91, No. 4 Arroyo Grande 39; No. 3 Clovis 62, No. 2 Caruthers 35.
Division I - Wednesday’s quarterfinal: No. 1 Buchanan 78, No. 8 Bullard 42. Thursday’s quarterfinals: No. 4 Bakersfield 64, No. 5 Clovis North 54; No. 6 Clovis East at No. 3 Hanford, Friday; No. 2 Righetti 81, No. 7 Stockdale 34
Division II - Thursday’s quarterfinals: No. 1 Ridgeview 71, No. 8 Liberty-Bakersfield 55; No. 3 Paso Robles 58, No. 6 Selma 53; No. 2 Yosemite 49, No. 7 Centennial 26. Saturday’s quarterfinal: No. 5 Nipomo at No. 4 Monache, 3 p.m.
Division III - Tuesday’s first round: No. 9 Hoover 67, No. 8 Sanger 61; No. 5 Sierra 77, No. 12 Sunnyside 44; No. 6 Porterville 62, No. 11 Immanuel 48; No. 7 Lemoore 72, No. 10 Tulare Union 57. Thursday’s quarterfinals: No. 1 Roosevelt 64, No. 9 Hoover 58; No. 5 Sierra 56, No. 4 Morro Bay 43; No. 6 Porterville at No. 3 Arvin; No. 7 Lemoore at No. 2 St. Joseph, Friday
Division IV - Thursday’s quarterfinals: No. 1 Orcutt 58, No. 8 West 36; No. 4 Kerman 47, No. 5 Washington Union 38; No. 6 McFarland 68, No. 3 Santa Maria 42; No. 2 Bakersfield Christian 58, No. 7 Kingsburg 36
Division V - Tuesday’s first round: No. 9 Kings Christian 42, No. 8 Parlier 35. Thursday’s quarterfinals: No. 9 Kings Christian at No. 1 Strathmore, Monday; No. 5 Orosi at No. 4 Orange Cove; No. 6 Rosamond at No. 3 Corcoran, Friday; No. 2 Fowler 34, No. 7 East Bakersfield 25
Boys tennis championships roundup
It was an all-Tri-River Athletic Conference final for the Central Section Division I boys tennis championship.
And just like in past seasons, Clovis North is on top of Division I.
Clovis North rolled past No. 2 Buchanan 6-0 for the program’s fifth straight section title under coach Bryan Juinio.
Here is how the match broke down for the Broncos and Bears.
Clovis North 6, Buchanan 0
Singles: Caleb Shin def. Aaron Rettig 6-1 6-2. Drew Quall def. Solon Ma 6-0 6-1. Nick Melillo def. Dylan Holterman 6-1 7-6 (3). Nathan Lee def. Ethan Smith 6-4 6-0. Daniel Fourchy def. Anthony Elliot 6-4 6-3. Sam Naderi def. Lennox Garud 6-1 6-0.
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DIVISION II
No. 3 Centennial 5, No. 1 Immanuel 1
DIVISION III
Joshua Wilson and Owen Groeneveld provided a big lift for top-seed Sierra Pacific in a dramatic way.
The No. 2 doubles team needed to go to a third-set super tiebreaker for the team title-clinching point.
It is Sierra Pacific’s fourth consecutive section title.
No. 1 Sierra Pacific 5, No. 2 Bakersfield Christian 4
Singles: Ryan Bashirtash, BC, d. Josh Wilson, 6-1, 6-2. Jacob Bueno, SP, d. David Mesbreky, 6-0, 6-0. Daniel Allen, SP, d. Sam Wishoff, 6-1, 6-0. Trevor Gamble, SP, d. Kyle Bloenhof, 6-1, 6-4. Josh Bandacci, BC, d. Justin Nguyen, 6-0, 7-5. Austin Casator, BC, d. Owen Groeneveld, 6-4, 2-6 (17-15).
Doubles: Bashirtash/Mesbreky, BC, d. Allen/Gamble, 1-6, 6-4 (10-5). Wilson/Groeneveld, SP, d. Banducci/Casator, 0-6, 6-2 (10-4). Bueno/Stephen Loogman, SP, d. Jacob Oropezn/Clint Boemhof, 6-0, 6-0.
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DIVISION IV
Nerves were running rampant for Kingsburg in San Luis Obispo.
The match was decided in No. 2 doubles.
Jordan Hjelm and Luke Luttrell let a 7-5, 5-1 lead slip away into a second set tie-breaker loss and let a 9-1 lead slip in the super tiebreak.
Hjelm and Luttrell fought off match points and heated up to clinch a 14-12 victory for the title.
It is the Vikings’ seventh section championship.
Kingsburg went 15-0 for the season (with a 118-8 record in singles/doubles matches 94% win ratio) and was 12-0 in the Central Sequoia League. Twelve of the 15 wins were 9-0 sweeps.
No. 2 Kingsburg 5, No. 1 Mission Prep 4
Singles: Easton Weir, MP, d. Ian Mosley,6-3, 6-4. Jordan Hjelm, K, d. Rod Burnette, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5. Nick Loughead, MP, d.. Hayden Yaklijian, 6-2, 7-5. Luke Luttrell, K, d. Dominic Garner, 6-2, 6-3. Zach Schroeder, MP, d. Emmett Firkus, 6-4, 6-3. Carson Yaklijian, K, d. Peter Laurado, 7-5, 6-4.
Doubles: Ian Mosley/Hayden Yaklijian, K, d. Easton Weir/Nick Loughead, 6-4, 6-1. Jordan Hjelm/Luke Luttrell, K, d. Rod Burnette/Zach Schroder, 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 14-12. Donovon Foss/Diego Pesquera, MP, d. Connor Yokota/Will Williams 7-5, 6-1.
DIVISION V
No. 1 Golden Valley 5, No. 2 Cesar Chavez 4
Girls tennis: Clovis North girls win D-I again
For a fifth straight year, Clovis North is the Central Section Division I champion.
The top-seeded Broncos edged out Garces 5-4 in the championship match.
Clovis North won 4 of 6 singles matches and got the clincher as Kristina Lee and Kayley Juinio won the third singles match with a 6-0, 6-1 win.
Clovis North 5, Garces 4
Singles: Fiona Yao, CN, d. Kylie Limpias, 6-1, 6-1. Kristina Lee, CN, d. Jackis Sala, 6-3, 6-4. Jocie Sala, G, d. Ashley Cardot, 6-4, 6-4. Kelsey Abraham, G, d. Anushya Jayakumar, 7-5, 6-2. Katie Kucera, CN, d. Mattea Thomas, 6-1, 6-2. Rylee Quall, CN, d. Taylor Crider, 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles: Limpias/Jo. Sala, G, d. Fiona Yao/Ashley Cardot, 4-6, 6-2, (10-2). Ja. Sala/Abraham, G, d. Madeline Craft/Jayakumar, 4-6, 6-2, (10-6). Lee/Kayley Juinio, CN, d. Jade Jamieson/Emily Etchison, 6-0, 6-1.
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DIVISION II
It is back-to-back championships for Sanger.
The top-seeded Apaches won 5 of 6 singles matches en route to a 7-2 win over No. 3 El Diamante.
It is Sanger’s third section title. The Apaches won the section in 2012 and in 2019.
No. 1 Sanger 7, No. 3 El Diamante 2
Singles: Lilian Yang, Sanger, def. Remi Perez, 3-6, 6-3, (10-6). Lisset Vaca, Sanger, def. Leah Leal, 6-1, 6-1. Jenna Mitchell, El D, def. Allison Hartsell, 6-3, 7-5. Alyssa Reese, Sanger, def. Alekhya Rajasekaren, 6-3, 6-1. Meleanna Martinez, Sanger, def. Breanna Garcia, 6-2, 6-3. Sienna Jordan, Sanger, def. Audrey Pichurko, 6-0, 6-4
Doubles: Vaca/Hartsell, Sanger, def. Perez/Leal, 8-5. Reimer/Virk, Sanger, def. Rajasekaren/Pichurko, 8-2. Konig/Johnson, El D, def. Enos/Jackson, 8-4.
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DIVISION III
No. 1 Mt. Whitney 5, No. 2 Central Valley Christian 1
DIVISION IV
Chalk up section title win No. 4 for the Kerman.
The top-seeded had no trouble in an 8-1 win over No. 2 Woodlake.
It is back-to-back section titles for the Lions.
It is the Lions’ third title in school history, with the last coming in 2005 when coach Mandi Porto was a player.
No. 1 Kerman 8 No. 2 Woodlake 1
Singles: Sierra Bolanos, Woodlake, d. Robynn Huber, 6-1, 6-2. Patricia Meza, Kerman, d. Mel Dominguez, 6-0, 3-6 (10-6). Adrianna Cervnates, Kerman, d. Monique Romero, 6-1, 6-0. Tessa Silva, Kerman, d. Kristen Ledesma, 6-1, 6-2. Aracely Arambula, Kerman, d. Rosie Dominguez, 6-0, 6-4. Isabel Ortiz, Kerman, d. Victoria Cisneros, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles: Meza/Cervantes, Kerman, d. Dominguez/Romero, 8-4. Huber/Silva, Kerman, d. Bolanos/Ledesma, 8-5. Melgoza/Gastelum, Kerman, d. Woodlake, 8-6.
DIVISION V
Top-seed Fresno Christian outlasted No. 2 Sierra Pacific 5-3 to win the section title for the first time since 2005.
Other section titles came in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2005 under then-head coach George Freeman.
No. 1 Fresno Christian 5, No. 2 Sierra Pacific 3
Singles: Ting Yu Gong, SP d. Isabella Adams, 5-7, 6-2, 10-4. Sophia Adams, FC, d. Herlinda Barrios, 7-5, 6-0. Ariana Gonzalez, SP, d. Paige Griffin, 7-6 (7-4). Summer Foshee, FC, d. Angela Gonzalez, 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 15-13. Shatera Yamaura, SP, d. Skylar Higginbotham, 6-0, 6-1. Anna Le, FC, d. Kelly Casas, 6-1, 6-3.
Doubles: Sophia Adams/Pagie Griffin, FC, d. Herlinda Barriors/Ariana Gonzalez, 6-1, 6-4. Isabella Adams, Anna Le, FC, vs. Ting Yu Gong/Shatera Tamaura, match stopped when Fresno Christian won. Mackenzie Sue/Elise Bessey, FC, d. Sherylene Naster/Grace Nguyen, 6-1, 6-2.
Six first-place finishes for Buchanan and Clovis North in D-I swim meet
Buchanan and Clovis North boys and girls had six first-place finishes to finish atop of the Central Section Division I swimming championships held at Clovis West.
Charlize Phillips of Clovis North was a double individual champion when she finished first in 200 freestyle (1:52.68) and 100 butterfly (56.39). She also helped the Broncos to a first-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:31.40).
Colby Hatton of Buchanan led the way for the boys with two first-place finishes when he placed first in the 50 freestyle (20.20) and 100 freestyle (44.20). He also helped the Bears’ 200 freestyle relay team (1:24.81) and 400 freestyle relay (3:05.87) to first place.
Other double winner went to Mackenzie Miller of Clovis East in 200 yard IM (2:03.64) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.39).
Boys
Teams: Buchanan 415.5, Clovis North 400, Clovis West 207, Arroyo Grande 132.5, Clovis 128.5
Diving: 1. Ky Duong, Buchanan, 471.80. 2. David Ramirez, Arroyo Grande, 370.10; 3. Koda Hoover, Clovis North, 368.40.
200 medley relay: 1. Buchanan (Justin Welch, Tyler Leveque, Nicholas Jumaoas, Tyler Mrkaich), 1:34.88; 2. Clovis North 1:35.37; 3. Clovis West 1:39.53.
200 freestyle: 1. Jackson Huckabay, Kingsburg, 1:37.59; 2. Rory Begin, Garces, 1:40.86; 3. Cameron Schwantes, Buchanan, 1:42.45.
200 yard IM: 1. Bryan Wong, Coalinga, 1:52.17; 2. Ethan Cole, Clovis West, 1:54.17; 3. Lucas Chang, Clovis North, 1:54.66.
50 freestyle: 1. Colby Hatton, Buchanan, 20.20; 2. Tyler Mrkaich, Buchanan, 20.86; 3. Jack Ritchie, Bakersfield Christian, 21.73.
100 butterfly: 1. Carson Plumlee, Clovis West, 50.69; 2. Paul Lerro, Clovis North, 50.94; 3. Talan Hickman, Bakersfield Christian, 53.08.
100 freestyle: 1. Colby Hatton, Buchanan, 44.20; 2. Jackson Huckabay, Kingsburg, 44.55; 3. Rory Begin, Garces, 45.85.
500 freestyle: 1. Hayden Lambert, Clovis North, 4:33.01; 3. Cameron Schwantes, Buchanan, 4:33.22; 3. Jefferey Forbes, Clovis North, 4:42.70.
200 freestyle relay: 1. Buchanan (Colby Hatton, Tyler Leveque, Wessel Meyer, Cameron Schwantes), 1:24.81; 2. Clovis North 1:26.79; 3. Clovis West 1:27.21.
100 backstroke: 1. Paul Lerro, Clovis North, 50.74; 2. Justin Welch, Buchanan, 52.21; 3. Carson Plumlee, Clovis West, 52.34.
100 breaststroke: 1. Bryan Wong, Coalinga, 55.86; 2. Ethan Cole, Clovis West, 57.37; 3. Aussi Kern, Bullard, 57.75.
400 freestyle relay: 1. Buchanan (Cameron Schwantes, Tyler Mrkaich, Justin Welch, Colby Hatton), 3:05.87; 2. Clovis North 3:11.86; 3. Clovis West 3:13.39.
Girls
Teams: Clovis North 475, Clovis West 331, San Luis Obispo 168.5, Buchanan 166, Paso Robles 159.5
Diving: 1. Karlee Taylor, Stockdale, 411.15. 2, Sage Adams, Paso Robles, 380.25. 3. Myl Luac, Clovis North, 376.00.
200 medley relay: 1. Clovis West (Avery Easterlinng, Hannah Marinovich, Abby Hill, Julianne Snyder), 1:47.65; 2. Clovis North 1:47.87; 3. Liberty-Bakersfield 1:48.73.
200 freestyle: 1. Charlize Phillips, Clovis North, 1:52.68; 2. Naya Koe, San Luis Obispo, 1:52.87; 3. Julianne Snyder, Clovis West, 1:54.30.
200 yard IM: 1. Mackenzie Miller, Clovis East, 2:03.64; 2. Olivia Sundgren, Buchanan, 2:09.72; 3. Meg Calumpang, Clovis North, 2:11.15.
50 freestyle: 1. Bianca Fernandez, Clovis North, 24.20; 2. Avery Nestor, Clovis North, 24.24; 3. Holly Disimone, Paso Robles, 24.58.
100 butterfly: 1. Charlize Phillips, Clovis North, 56.39; 2. Abby Hill, Clovis West, 57.59; 3. Alexis Naranjo, Clovis North, 58.04.
100 freestyle: 1. Naya Koc, San Luis Obispo, 51.47; 2. Blanca Fernandez, Clovis North, 52.52; 3. Avery Nestor, Clovis North, 52.79.
500 freestyle: 1. Olivia Sundgren, Buchanan, 4:59.35; 2. Ella Guffey, Clovis North, 5:02.16; 3. Avery Easterling, Clovis West, 5:07.02.
200 freestyle relay: 1. Clovis North (Alexis Naranjo, Amber DePry, Sierra DePry, Bianca Fernandez), 1:39.10; 2. Clovis West 1:40.43; 3. San Luis Obispo 1:41.02.
100 backstroke: 1. Ella Guffey, Clovis North, 58.71; 2. Isabel Horaska, Liberty-Bakersfield, 58.97; 3. Abi Baker, Selma, 1:00.56.
100 breaststroke: 1. Mackenzie Miller, Clovis East, 1:01.39; 2. Hannah Marinovich, Clovis West, 1:03.29; 3. Rylie Moxham, Liberty-Bakersfield, 1:06.50.
400 freestyle relay: 1. Clovis North (Charlize Phillips, Alexis Naranjo, Avery Nestor, Bianca Fernandez), 3:31.40; 2. Clovis West 3:37.61; 3. Buchanan 3:39.94.
Boys volleyball playoffs update
Division I semifinals:
No. 4 Buchanan 3, No. 1 Sanger 2
19-25, 22-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-8
No. 7 Clovis East 3, No. 3 Clovis North 1
25-22, 23-25, 26-24, 25-16
Friday’s championship
No. 7 Clovis East at No. 4 Buchanan
Division II championship
No. 1 Sunnyside 3, No. 2 St. Joseph 0
25-21, 25-10, 25-21
Boys and Girls soccer regionals
Here is where area soccer teams will be headed in the regionals. Matches will be played at 5 p.m. Tuesday, unless noted
Boys
Division I: No. 5 Clovis 1, No. 5 Loyola 1 (Clovis advances on PKs). Thursday’s regional semifinals: No. 5 Clovis at No. 1 Birmingham, 1 p.m.
Division II: No. 4 Valencia 1, No. 5 Tulare Union 0; No. 7 Hart 2, Sanger 2 (Hart advances on PKs)
Division IV: No. 1 Palmdale 4, No. 8 Fowler 0
Girls
Division I: No. 7 Pacifica 1, No. 2 Clovis North 0
Division II: No. 3 Buchanan 3, No. 6 Saugus 3 (Buchanan advances on PKs). Thursday’s regional semifinal: No. 7 Downey at No. 3 Buchanan, 1 p.m.
Division III: No. 2 Hanford 1, No. 7 Kingsburg 0. Friday’s regional semifinal: No. 3 Westview at No. 2 Hanford
Division IV: No. 5 Exeter 3, No. 4 Venice 0. Thursday’s regional semifinal: No. 5 Exeter at No. 1 El Segundo
Athlete of the Week winners
Orin Hirschkorn of Caruthers baseball and Teresa Quintero of Roosevelt soccer are the winners of the Athlete of the Week for May 17 to May 22.
Hirschkorn totaled 36.5% to finish ahead of Isaiah Villalobos of Sanger soccer (32.6%) and Jobe Olson of Laton baseball (25.9).
Quintero had 54.1%. She finished ahead of Sierra Bolanos of Woodlake tennis (35.6%) and Caitlin Decanio of Clovis softball (4.6%).
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Past winners:
Gabriella Avila, Corcoran basketball; Devon Daniel, Kerman baseball
Orion Tomlinson, Fresno Christian basketball; Melania Davila, Orosi soccer
Dean McCurley, Central baseball; Alyssa Wheeler, Clovis North soccer
Will Gagnon, Reedley baseball; Noemi Uribe, Washington Union softball
Chase Weiner, Bullard soccer; Carys Hall, Clovis North soccer.
Edison baseball coach hits milestone
Cliff Rold won his 400th career game when Edison defeated Madera 4-0, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
Rold started at Edison in 1994 and led his team to five league championships.
Kuma going to softball CWS
Georgia sophomore Sydney Kuma (Washington Union) hit a home run in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 win Saturday over fourth-seeded Florida, sending Georgia to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Kuma is the Bulldogs’ second baseman and No. 2 batter.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2021 at 1:11 PM.
