JSerra point guard Johnnie Vassar (with ball) and the Lions boys basketball team take to the road January 18 to play first place Mater Dei. Courtesy photo
By Steve Breazeale
The teams at JSerra are right in the middle of their league schedules. Here is a rundown of what you need to know to get you up to speed.
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Boys Basketball
January 18 will mark the third time the JSerra and Mater Dei boys basketball teams will square off this season. Mater Dei has won the previous two contests. The first was a convincing 87-66 victory on December 8 while the second matchup on January 2 was much more competitive. The Lions (11-5, 2-3 league) took the Monarchs down to the wire, and then Mater Dei’s big man Stanley Johnson took over in the second half and did his thing, which is score and take over a game. Mater Dei eventually won the game 53-47.
The Lions went on to split their next four games against Trinity League opponents. Their wins came against Servite, on January 9, and Santa Margarita, on January 11. The two losses came against St. John Bosco, on January 4, and Orange Lutheran, on January 16. Both Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco are top ranked teams in the county.
The Lions will have to limit Mater Dei’s Johnson if they expect to win on January 18 on the road. The Lions senior forward Jamal Aytes will have to have a solid defensive effort, like he did on January 2, and attempt to contain Johnson. What ultimately decided that game was a big third quarter burst from the Mater Dei big man. Aytes, and the rest of the Lions defense, will need to make sure Johnson doesn’t get on a roll and force the other Monarch players to step up. But Mater Dei has a talented and deep roster to fall back on.
Girls Soccer
After sustaining a school record 14 game unbeaten streak, the JSerra girls soccer team finally lost a game on January 17, falling 1-0 to Trinity League opponent Orange Lutheran.
The Lions (11-3-3, 2-1) went over an entire calendar month without losing a game, while playing to several draws in the process.
Junior midfielder Isabella Guerry has had a solid all-around season for the Lions, racking up a team high six goals and six assists. Guerry scored two goals in JSerra’s 2-0 win over Mater Dei on January 3.
The Lions now sit atop the Trinity league standings and will have a bit of break before hosting Mater Dei on January 26 at 3:15 p.m.
Girls Basketball
It looks like it will be a two team race between Mater Dei and JSerra for the Trinity league girls basketball title. The Monarchs are currently in first place and boast an undefeated 4-0 record in league while the Lions sit in second place at 3-1.
Outside of the team’s 75-52 loss on January 3 to Mater Dei, the Lions have had a good run in league. Their first league win was a 67-44 victory on January 10 over Rosary. The Lions defense went on to shine in their next Trinity League game when they held Santa Margarita to just 10 points in a dominating 74-10 win on January 15.
On January 17 the Lions (16-4, 3-1) were led by Coco Miller’s game-high 16 points in a 51-46 road win over rival Orange Lutheran. Courtney Vaccher added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
JSerra will play a non-league game against Marlborough of Los Angeles on January 21 before they host the Monarchs for a second, and final, time on January 26.
Boys Soccer
The Lions scored three goals in the first half against Orange Lutheran on January 16 en route to a 4-1 Trinity League victory. The win inched the Lions (11-2-3, 3-1-1) one step closer to first place Santa Margarita in the standings.
Junior Jonathan Fabulich has been the Lions top offensive producer this season. Fabulich has 10 goals and seven assists on his resume, which includes a hat trick game against St. Francis on December 27.
While Fabulich and the offense have been getting it done, the Lions defense has been solid, not allowing more than two goals in all but three contests. The team has held nine different opponents to one goal or fewer, which includes seven shutouts.
The Lions next opponent will be Servite, a team they drew to a 0-0 tie with back on January 9. The game against the Friars will be at home on January 30 at 3:15 p.m.
Girls Water Polo
The Lions have struggled so far in Trinity League play and are in the middle of a long break before returning to play Santa Margarita on January 29. The Lions (9-11, 0-2) lost to Mater Dei, 19-2, on January 3 in a league match. Their second loss in league came on January 15 in a 13-3 loss to Rosary.
