Chaffey Student Vs. Staff Basketball game

     The final score read seniors with a double-digit victory over the staff. But the score told part of the story.    
    Students dream of a day they will be able to attend college. Many, however, find they don’t have the financial support needed to attend a prestigious university.
    Thanks to AVID Coordinator Jose Quintero’s effort, four students will divide $1,600 to realize college dreams.
    Last year, Quintero put together the “Hope for Haiti” student vs. staff basketball game in an effort to raise money for the country of Haiti after the devastating earthquake.
    This year, Quintero decided to put the money raised in the game towards AVID seniors planning to attend college.
    Besides offering a competitive game, this year’s game offered dance performances by Ballet Folkorico, Craig Sawyer on guitar, and pep squad routines.
    Known by many around campus as the “AVID Guru,” Quintero orchestrated a great event.
    Money was also raised through the snack bar to benefit the Boys’ Basketball program and the Japan Relief Fund.
    Even though everyone left a winner, a game was still to be played.
    History shows the staff/faculty team would win, as it has done since Digital Filmmaking teacher Les Shepherd took a job at Chaffey.
    Shepherd, an imposing six-foot five, remains the Chaffey Varsity basketball record holder in three-point field goals made in one game with nine and holds the record with twenty assists in a single game.
    This year the former San Jose State University point guard came into the game with a sprained ankle. He, however, decided to play through the injury.
   Shepherd said: “I played because I am a Tiger…RAWRR!”
   Shepherd gave a valiant effort for the losing side finishing with 30 points 22 rebounds and eight assists.
   Varsity basketball coach Pat Frost showed up as the starting Center and provided offensive and defensive energy. Even while standing at six-foot three towering over his opponents it did not help Frost when attempting a layup. Apparently the toll of gravity was too much to overcome for Frost.
    The staff basketball team also received strong--two minute—Ahem! Cough, cough--performances by administrators Bart Goldstein and Tommy Mitchell.
    In the end, all this was not enough as the Chaffey student basketball team came out victorious with a great effort by player/coach Brandon Agapay, who represented the county versus Riverside County All Stars.

Why I said The Lakers wont Win the championship, And I was right

    The two times defending champion Los Angeles Lakers look to win a third straight title this year. Losses to sub five hundred teams have put the team in turmoil. Even losing to the 12-50 Cleveland Cavaliers.
    The team looks as if they have lost that sense of urgency they once had.
    Players are relaxing and waiting for the playoffs. Thinking they will be able to step up their play during playoff time.
    This will prove to be difficult with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in the opposite conference. Having lost to the Heat by sixteen points on Christmas day. Where the Lakers clearly looked out matched.
    Lakers fan and English teacher at Chaffey High School, Leonard Sanchez was very nervous about the playoffs.
    “I want the Lakers to win another Championship, but it’s hard enough to win one and then two in a row is even harder. A third championship would be very difficult.”
    “Just look at the history of the NBA, and tell me how many teams have done it?”
    Fans also haven’t forgotten about the Oklahoma City Thunder taking the Lakers to 6 games last season in the first round of the playoffs. In a series where the Lakers looked old and slow.
    The Lakers struggle to stop big athletic point guards such as Russell Westbrook of the Thunder and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. They lack a point guard who can pressure the ball and shut down opposing team’s point guards on the perimeter.
    The Thunder have also acquired tough seven foot center Kendrick Perkins from the Boston Celtics to help matchup with the Lakers size during playoffs.
    The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs are two teams with a better overall record than the Lakers.
    The Spurs have a six and a half game lead on L.A. in the Western Conference standings.
Chaffey Athletic Director and longtime Lakers fan Chris Brown was confident the team would succeed.
    “Assuming the team stays healthy the Lakers have a very good chance to win their third straight Championship.”
    This is a big what “if”. Andrew Bynum, who is a big part of the team, has had many struggles staying healthy through out his career.
    Assuming the Lakers stay healthy is wishful thinking, even for Lakers fans around Chaffey.
    It’s been nearly a year and the team hasn’t changed. Looking that same way at times this season.
    With just one starter under the age of 30, the 67 playoff games the team has played in the last 3 years are starting to take a toll.
    The Lakers have a very successful history, but the time has come to pass the torch.
    Star guard Kobe Bryant is now in his 15th season as a professional and starting to decline. His minutes have decreased from previous seasons.
    Reports even came out saying Bryant did not practice with the team the first two months in order to prevent injury and help recover from offseason surgery.
    The team has gone on three losing streaks of three or more games this season.
    Right now the Lakers are 45-19 and in third place in the conference.
    The Lakers have looked like a championship team lately however the real test will come when the playoffs start.