Greetings. Welcome to another installment of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. It’s the week of the City Section Soccer Super Bowl. Rivals Birmingham and El Camino Real will compete against one another for the first occasion since last year’s City championship match, which concluded in a fracas.
competition
Regarding the Birmingham versus El Camino Real boys soccer rivalry, you should draw the curtains, ensure the children are out of sight, and make certain that mom and dad are prepared for anything.
The previous encounter between these two institutions occurred in the 2024 City Section championship match, which resulted in a triumph for Birmingham; however, a brawl thwarted both teams from participating in the Southern California Regional Tournament.
The coaches and athletes ought to have grasped an important lesson, as these two esteemed programs will clash in the first of two West Valley League fixtures scheduled for Wednesday at El Camino Real at 6 p.m. We can only wish for a positive outcome when they meet once more. Naturally, last week’s schedule was hampered by air quality concerns tied to fires, which may also affect whether Wednesday’s match proceeds.
The team has been exceptional. Birmingham stands at 13-1 and might be the top team in all of Southern California. The fourth-year players Adrian Diaz and Steven Ramos are performing at their peak. El Camino Real, spearheaded by outstanding goal scorer Jonathan Rabinovich, boasts 8 wins and 1 loss.
The players are teammates on their club squad, so there is no basis for conflict, even amid fierce matches; they are friends. What transpires in the stands is a different narrative, but it’s widely understood that the City Section is monitoring the situation, and there is optimism that the errors of last season won’t be revisited.
A rematch is scheduled in Birmingham on January 31, and there’s a chance that a rematch could also occur in the City finals.
Here, we examine the partnership of Diaz and Ramos.
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boys basketball
Camarillo will pay tribute to former star player Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat during a ceremony on Tuesday at 7 p.m. preceding the game against Simi Valley. Jaquez’s number 24 will be permanently retired.
Santa Margarita commenced the Trinity League with a remarkable win over J. Serra. Kaiden Bailey delivered a 25-point performance. Here is the report.
Mater Dei was largely overlooked after a streak of early-season defeats. The Monarchs then triumphed over St. John Bosco in a Trinity League contest, upsetting numerous predictions and expectations. Junior Luke Barnett is enjoying an impressive season with the Monarchs.
Anaheim Canyon had a productive week with victories over La Habra and undefeated Mira Costa. Senior Brandon Benjamin averages over 30 points per game, including 30 points against Mira Costa. Here is the report.
This marks the second week of the South Region team rankings.
The Times’ top 25 rankings are as follows:
women’s basketball
Southern California is a hub for numerous top 2026 high school girls’ basketball talents.
No junior in Ventura County garners more attention than Buena’s Charisma Ruiz. Living up to her name, she’s crafted a reputation based on her influencing abilities and magnetic character, making her compelling to watch and hear.
The 5-foot-10 hybrid guard excels in all aspects on the court – driving, posting up, shooting from beyond the arc, rebounding, and providing assists – and she is drawing interest from college scouts. This is the analysis.
One of the region’s elite players, Archbishop Mitty junior McKenna Walichko, is sidelined for the season after incurring a torn ACL during a game against Ontario Christian.
Here are the most recent Southern Section rankings for women’s basketball. Ontario Christian ranks first, followed by Mater Dei in second, and Etiwanda in third place.
fire interruption
The high school sports season experienced disruption last week due to wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. One of the most affected regions was Pacific Palisades, where the local high school faced considerable damage.
The Palisades boys’ and girls’ basketball squads were about to practice in the gym when evacuees received alerts. This is their narrative.
Renowned Palisades tennis instructor Bud Kling lost his residence in a blaze. Here is the report.
Loyola’s student community was significantly impacted, and their families lost residences in Pasadena/Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Generous supporters contributed numerous supplies to assist. This is the report.
The Los Angeles Unified School District canceled sports activities for the weekend starting Wednesday and also suspended practices and games for Monday.
All sports events for the Gold Coast League, which includes Brentwood, Windward, Campbell Hall, Crossroads, and Viewpoint, have been canceled this week, with plans to resume on January 21. The Brentwood campus will remain closed for the remainder of this week.
With hundreds of homes lost, the California Interscholastic Federation has a provision enabling parents to qualify impacted children for athletic eligibility via hardship waivers. Individual schools have the option to appeal.
AGBU continues to rise
Isaiah Bennett, a senior point guard at AGBU High School located in Canoga Park, has been acquainted with coach Nareg Kopousyan for quite some time, featuring a photograph of Bennett as a 9-year-old beaming while donning a headband and grasping a trophy.
“He understands everything about me,” Bennett stated. “He knows me inside and out. What he contemplates, what he executes.”
It’s not unexpected that AGBU stands at 16-2, showcasing solid rapport among court leaders both on and off the hardwood.
This is the update.
“My jersey, your effect”
Newbury Park’s women’s soccer initiative has initiated “My Jersey, Your Impact,” where seniors donate game jerseys to educators and coaches who have influenced their lives.
Nine senior girls nominated instructors and administrators from Conejo Valley Unified School District.
The event will take place on Wednesday during halftime of the soccer match against Westlake. The seniors will be awarded a special jersey for the educators to retain.
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Notes. . .
Former Crespi football coach Dameon Porter has been appointed as the new football coach at Harvard-Westlake College. Porter’s contract with Crespi was not extended in 2022 following a winless season. . . .
Alex Pierce is now the football coach at Rancho Cucamonga. . . .
Nike Extravaganza is slated to occur at Mater Dei on January 24-25. Here is the link to the ticket. . . .
Corona, Huntington Beach, and La Mirada will compete in the 16-team National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament scheduled for April 9-12 in Cary, North Carolina. . .
Ryan Huisenga has stepped down after nine years as Moorpark’s football coach. . . .
Joey LaRosa has accepted his resignation as Chino’s football coach. . . .
Michael Wagner has been appointed as Peninsula’s new football coach. . . .
Mike Maggiore has tendered his resignation as West Covina’s football coach. . . .
Corona Centennial outfielder Charles Rogers has pledged allegiance to Cal State Northridge. . . .
Tesoro junior pitcher Corwin Allard has committed to San Diego State University. . . .
Jay Sera’s Gavin Flores played a crucial role in Creighton baseball. . . .
Ventura junior quarterback Derek Garcia has secured a commitment to San Diego State University. . . .
Gardena Serra senior receiver Jadyn Robinson has made a commitment to Delaware State University. . . .
Mike Christensen has resigned from his position as Carson University’s football coach. . . .
Malcolm Manuel, who guided Narbonne to the City Section Open Division Football Championship this season, has been appointed the new football coach at Long Beach Cabrillo. . . .
Alfred Lowe will be the new football coach at Long Beach Jordan. . . .
A high school football transfer tracking survey indicates that the number of players is on the rise. Here is the link. . . .
Mater Dei triumphed over Orange Lutheran 10-7 to secure the Santa Barbara Women’s Water Polo Tournament of Champions. Calabasas (15-4) remained unbeaten in the Western Tournament. . . .
The J-Serra boys soccer team faced its initial defeat, 4-0, against Division 1 champion Mater Dei.
From the archives: London Perrantes
Former
Crespi basketball athlete Rondon Perantes continues his career professionally in Greece. He has previously played in Israel, Türkiye, and France.
He was an exceptional point guard during his high school years, graduated in 2013, and subsequently excelled at the University of Virginia. Although he was not selected in the draft, he made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017. He was competing for Kolossos Rodu in Greece. His youngest sibling, Malachi, is a starter for Crespi. Another sibling, Darius, is a quarterback who has announced his intention to enter the NFL draft.
This is a 2015 piece from the Washington Post.
This is an account from 2011, when Perantes tried his hand at soccer.
Suggestions
From Nevadasports.net, an article regarding former Simi Valley pitcher Owen Schertz being appointed as coach at the University of Nevada.
From NFHS.org, a piece in which the NFHS CEO contends that high school transfers for purely athletic reasons should cease.
From the Orange County Register, an article focusing on Edison women’s soccer/flag football standout Riley Crooks heading to Texas A&M.
From the Daily Pilot’s Football Dream Team.
Tweets you may not have seen
Until we meet again…
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