Downey boys basketball off to best start since 1979

DOWNEY – The Downey High School boys’ basketball team is currently 12-1 and off to their best start since the 1979 season.

The Vikings suffered their only loss of the season against Bellflower in the Buc Pride Tournament last week. Downey finished the tournament with a record of 3-1.

After falling to Bellflower 51-49 in their first game on December 10th, the Vikings defeated Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary 101-28 in their second game on December 11th, defeated Renaissance Academy 62-43 in their third game on December 13th and defeated Norwalk 67-46 in their fourth and final game on December 15th.

Downey traveled to Staples Center to play Cerritos (4-8) last night (score unavailable at press time) and will compete in the Rancho Mirage Holiday Classic Tournament over the Christmas Break. The Vikings are scheduled to play Thousand Oaks on December 26th and Whitney of Rocklin on December 27th. Later games in this tournament will be determined based on early tournament results.

Downey will begin San Gabriel Valley League play when they travel to Paramount to play the Pirates on January 4th. Coach Shelton, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of league play, competing for a league title and making a deep run in the C.I.F. Division 3AA playoffs. The Vikings are currently ranked second in Division 3AA.

WARREN GIRLS BASKETBALL: The Warren High School girls’ basketball team currently has an overall record of 2-6 and will begin San Gabriel Valley League play in early January.

In recent preseason play, the Lady Bears defeated Orange Lutheran at Orange Lutheran 43-42 on December 12.

Warren is currently competing in the Tournament of Champions being held December 19-22. The Lady Bears were defeated by Desert Ridge 44-33 on Wednesday and have other games scheduled for December 20th, 21st and 22nd against opponents to be determined based on earlier tournament results.

The Lady Bears are also scheduled to compete in the Larry Doyle Tournament December 26-29. Warren is scheduled to play Hawthorne in their first game on December 26th and other opponents will be scheduled based on other early tournament results.

Warren will begin league play when they travel to Lynwood to play the Lady Knights on January 4th, when they travel to Paramount on January 7th, when they host Gahr at Warren on January 9th and when they travel to cross-town rival Downey on January 11th.

Coach Palmer, her staff and players are all looking forward to the start of league play, competing for a league title and making another run to a championship in C.I.F. Division 2AA postseason play.

WARREN BOYS SOCCER: The Warren High School boys’ soccer team currently has an overall record of 3-5-1 and will begin San Gabriel Valley League play in early January.

The Bears competed in the Santa Barbara Showcase Tournament December 7th and 8th where they finished with a record of 0-1-1. Warren tied San Marcos of Santa Barbara 2-2 in their first game on December 7th and were defeated by Concord De La Salle 2-0 in their second game on December 8th.

In non-tournament play, the Bears were defeated by Edison at Warren 1-0 on December 13th.

Warren also competed in the Adidas West Coast Showcase in Santa Barbara where they finished with a record of 1-2. The Bears defeated El Rancho 1-0 on December 14th at 5 p.m. and were defeated by Katella 4-0 the same day at 6 p.m. Warren was also defeated by Hamilton of Chandler, Arizona, 4-1 on December 15th.

The Bears played Katella for the second time in five days at Warren yesterday (score unavailable at press time) and will begin league play when they travel to Lynwood on January 2nd. Warren is also scheduled to play Paramount at Paramount on January 4th, Gahr at Warren on January 8th, and cross-town rival Downey at Warren on January 10th.

Coach Pena, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of league play, competing for a league title and making a deep run in the C.I.F. Division 1 playoffs.

DOWNEY GIRLS SOCCER: The Downey High School girls’ soccer team currently has a record of 6-3-1.

The Lady Vikings were defeated by JSerra at JSerra 5-0 on December 11th and defeated North Torrance at North Torrance 5-2 on December 13th. Downey defeated Millikan 1-1 (5-4 PK’s) on December 15th and defeated Millikan 1-0 on the same day in the Best in the West Tournament at Rio Hondo College.

The Lady Vikings defeated Arcadia at Downey 2-1 on Tuesday and will compete in the North Orange County Classic Tournament over the Christmas Break. Downey is scheduled to play La Mirada on December 27th at 11:00 a.m. and Oxnard on the same day at 4:00 p.m. The Lady Vikings will play their third game of the tournament on December 28th when they play Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at 11:00 a.m.

Downey will travel to Dominguez for their league opener against the Lady Dons on January 4th, will host Paramount at Downey on January 5th and will host Lynwood at Downey on January 8th. The Lady Vikings will then travel to cross town rival Warren for their highly-anticipated bragging rights game on January 10th.

Coach Aguiniga, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of San Gabriel Valley League play, competing for a league title and making a deep run in the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs. Warren remains the team to beat in league play.