Downey girls basketball: a tradition of winning

DOWNEY – Since 2008, the Downey High School girls basketball team has been in the post season every year.

This year and into 2023 is looking like it won’t be any different, as the Vikings are off to an 8-3 start with league play just around the corner.

Downey, along with the rest of the teams that were a part of the old San Gabriel Valley League, will now compete in the newly named Suburban Valley Conference, which is divided into two leagues – The Gateway League and the Mid Cities League.

Behind that success is longtime coach Nate Harris, who is in his 14th year.

Harris talked about the competition in the Gateway League, which they are a member of starting this season.

“We’re excited about the new league,” said Harris, who has a 235-143 overall record with the program. “I think every game is going to be a battle. Hopefully we’re healthy during league. Our league is very tough this year.”

During the previous 13 years in the San Gabriel Valley League, the Vikings amassed an 85-45 record, appeared in the CIF playoffs every year, finished in the top three in the last 10 years and shared a league title in 2018 with Lynwood.

Included in those CIF playoffs were two quarterfinal appearances (2017, ’21) and a CIF runner-up in 2018. The Vikings lost to Glendora in the title game and advanced to the CIF State second round.

“We are in the Gateway League, which is the top part of the Suburban Valley Conference,” Harris added. “In our part of the league is Lynwood, Paramount, Downey, Mayfair and Warren. “Lynwood will be very tough, as they return everyone from their league championship team from last year. Paramount has a very good team led by junior guard Kaylani Polk.

“These are battles we’re used to. Lynwood won or shared the San Gabriel Valley League title for years.”

Downey opens Gateway League play with a game at home against Paramount on January 4.

Highlighting the season to date for the Vikings is a championship game appearance in their own tournament – the 45th Annual Downey Classic. They finished 3-1, losing to Los Osos by a basket.

They were led by juniors Olivia Vaughn and Taleyah Oporta, who were named to the All-Tournament team.

Vaughn, who is leading the Vikings in scoring and is averaging 15.3 points per game, has had three 20-point, plus games and also has 22, 3-point baskets. She had 20 against Los Osos in the Downey Classic title game and 23 against La Serna and Shadow Hills in non-league games.  

The Vikings played in their second tournament, going 2-2 at Villa Park, but sickness and injuries were a big factor for Downey. Returning varsity junior forward Symantha Barnett was named to the All-Tournament team.

Barnett, who was the Downey 2021-22 team Co-MVP and named to the ’22 All-San Gabriel Valley League, along with Vaughn, have led the Vikings recently. Barnet is averaging 11.1 points per game.

In the last game for Downey over a week ago against Walnut, with the Vikings trailing, 35-25, “…Samantha completely took over the game,” Harris added.

Barnett scored nine points, as the Vikings went on a 17-2 run to end the game and eventually defeat the Mustangs, 42-37. She finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and two assists.

“Barnett and Vaughn have been huge for us in the first part of the season while we have had girls out with injuries,” Harris explained. “I definitely don’t think we’ve hit our stride yet because of a couple of injuries.”

As for the injury update, junior Genesis Salinas, who was the Vikings’ starting point guard last year, has been out all fall with an injury. She recently was cleared to practice, and Harris is optimistic that she will be able to play in games soon. 

Senior forward Alexis Price, who was All-San Gabriel Valley League in 2022 and the team Co-MVP in 2021-’22 and senior forward Portia Iniguez, are both key players who have missed the last couple of weeks with injuries.  

Also on this years’ roster is senior varsity returner Alana Venegas and top newcomers, junior guard Ashley Aguirre and sophomore forward Amanda Velazquez.

The rest of the roster includes senior guard Natalia Lopez, senior forward Tiffany Rolon, senior guard Miranda Alvarez, senior guard Briana Reyes, senior forward Emily Soria, senior forward Alyssa Marquez and senior center Katelyn Aquino.

The Vikings will play in their third tourney of the season after Christmas, beginning Tuesday December 27 against Desert Oasis (Las Vegas, NV) in the Gator Winter Classic in Henderson, Nevada at Green Valley High School.

The Vikings last played in the tourney in 2016, when they finished second out of 29 teams.

In Harris’ 14 years as coach, the team has traveled out of town 12 times during the Christmas break going to such towns as Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Monterey, Henderson and San Diego.

Downey Boys Basketball review

Off to a 10-1 start in the 2022-23 season, Downey Boys Basketball is led by a veteran team of 10 seniors, six of which are 3-year varsity players.

The team is under the leadership of Larry Shelton, who is in his final year as coach.

The Vikings started the season with seven consecutive wins, before losing a close, 55-49, game to Loyola.

They have since began another modest streak with three straight wins, which includes wins over Chatsworth (84-49) and Newbury Park (61-29) in the tourney.

“We have a lot of returners this year,” Shelton said, who will be retiring after 35 years at the helm of the Vikings. “We have a pretty deep team. Our team relies on our defensive intensity and our ability to shoot.

“We have five players averaging close to double figures and we’re off to one of our best starts we’ve ever had.”

Highlighting the team are six seniors – forward Jathan Lopez, guard Jacob Topete, guard Marcus Sanchez, guard Alvin Verdugo, forward Aiden Rouse and guard Omar Cisneros.

Also contributing is senior guard Alex Melgarejo and sophomore forward Tyler Harris.

“(Lopez) is probably as important player that we have,” added Shelton, who also teaches math at Downey. “He’s also an outstanding rebounder and he does the little things that makes us a successful team.”

The Vikings begin play in the new Suburban Valley Conference, Gateway League beginning in January.

“Almost every team is a power, Shelton said. “Three of the top ten teams in CIF are in our league. The home opener against Dominguez (Jan. 4) is going to be a big one.”