From San Joaquin Memorial to NBA and back: 3 basketball stars to have jerseys retired
San Joaquin Memorial High will retire the jerseys of former Panthers basketball stars Quincy Pondexter and twins Brook and Robin Lopez in a ceremony Friday.
The trio played together, graduating in 2006, and went on to NBA careers.
Quincy Pondexter: In his senior season, he averaged 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game and helped the Panthers to a section title in 2006 when he scored a game-high 34 points in an 84-41 victory over Kingsburg. He was named to The Bee’s All-Star team in 2005 and ‘06.
Brook Lopez: In 2005, he averaged 10.3 rebounds, 15.0 points and 2.6 blocks per game his junior season, and was named The Bee’s Player of the Year. He scored 17 points in the section final in 2006 and was back on The Bee’s All-Star team.
Robin Lopez: He finished with nine points in the 2006 section final. He was a Bee All-Star pick in 2006 after making second team in 2005.
In addition, the Lopez twins will be inducted into the SJM Athletic Hall of Fame along with Anthony Fiorentino (1956), Dave Mineau (1965), Demetra Vincent Walker (1987) and Shad Williams (1989). Dan Whitehurst (1965) will be honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award and former softball coach will be remembered with the Memorial Service Award.
The induction and jersey retirements will take place Friday at San Joaquin Memorial.
The inductees will speak briefly to the school community and guests from 10:25 a.m. to 11:05 a.m..
At halftime of the Panthers’ Friday night football game against Washington Union, the Hall of Fame members will be introduced and will be given medals and Pondexter and the Lopezes will have their jerseys retired.
Tennis tournament decided
The California Tennis Classic took place at Buchanan High. Here are the winners in each division:
Division 1: Faith Lutheran – Nevada
Division 2: Santa Margarita
Division 3: Central Valley Christian
Division 4: Oak Ridge 2
Division 5: University-San Francisco 2
Athlete of the Week winner
Katelyn Goforth of Kerman volleyball is the winner of The Bee’s Athlete of the Week poll for Aug. 30-Sept. 4
Goforth finished with 72% of the votes. Rhya Williams of Clovis West volleyball came in second with 16.4% and Cierra Ramirez of Fowler tennis was third with 9.9%.
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Lusa Andrews, Yosemite volleyball, Morgan Castaneda, Redwood volleyball, Malia Edwardson, Clovis East volleyball, Logan Fleming, Hanford West water polo, Gabriela Gutierrez, Fowler cross country, Erin Himi, Exeter water polo, Guillermo Lopez, Central cross country and Ben Watson, Strathmore water polo were also nominated.
Don Arax hits Bullard milestone
Bullard High football coach Don Arax notched win No. 150 at the school when the Knights defeated Turlock 14-12 at Ratcliffe Stadium two weeks ago.
The win versus Turlock was 150 wins at Bullard (150-88-1) and an overall record of 166-115-1 which includes stops at Kerman and Reedley. Arax is the 16th-winningest coach in Central Section history, historian Bob Barnett said.
