Singing their praises
"Let's Look at this"Daily News Valley Prep Basketball rankings
Article Last Updated: 01/18/2007
BOYS' TOP 25
1. Campbell Hall (15-1) 2
2. Taft (11-4) 1
3. La Canada (17-0) 4
4. Harvard-Westlake (13-4) 3
5. Simi Valley (16-3) 5
6. Knight (18-2) 7
7. Poly (14-4) 8
8. Thousand Oaks (15-3) 6
9. Notre Dame (14-6) 11
10. Renaissance Academy (16-1) 10
11. Sylmar (8-9) 9
12. Crespi (11-9) 19
13. Hart (15-5) 12
14. Oak Park (13-5) 13
15. Palmdale (15-3) 14
16. Chatsworth (12-6) 15
17. Grant (14-5) 17
18. Highland (12-6) 22
19. Hoover (14-3) 16
20. Westlake (12-6) 18
21. Saugus (12-7) 23
22. Chaminade (11-9) 20
23. Cleveland (10-7) 21
24. Canyon (10-8) NR
25. Viewpoint (13-7) NR
GIRLS' TOP 25
1. Hart (16-2) 1
2. Grant (10-0) 2
3. Moorpark (17-2) 3
4. Burroughs (14-4) 5
5. Taft (12-2) 6
6. Valencia (13-5) 4
7. Newbury Park (14-5) 7
8. Chaminade (14-5) 10
9. Harvard-Westlake (14-5) 11
10. Notre Dame (16-5) 9
11. Canyon (14-4) 12
12. Royal (14-5) 8
13. Saugus (9-10) 15
14. Chatsworth (9-10) 17
15. Oaks Christian (8-9) 19
16. Rio Mesa (15-4) 14
17. La Canada (10-8) 13
18. Crescenta Valley (8-10) 16
19. Palmdale (8-10) 23
20. Flintridge Prep (14-3) 20
21. Montclair Prep (12-4) 18
22. Knight (12-8) 24
23. Golden Valley (13-7) 21
24. Agoura (9-10) 22
25. Birmingham (10-6)
"We see a Simi Valley Championship coming!"
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/vcpreps_basketball/article/0,1375,VCS_941_5296680,00.html The Star's Ventura County Rankings
January 22, 2007
1. Simi Valley (17-3)
Comment: Michael Meza and Lorne Jackson combined for 94 points in two games last week.
Last week: Defeated Moorpark and Royal.
2. Thousand Oaks (17-3)
Comment: Jake Poppen fell three assists short of a triple-double against Newbury Park.
Last week: Defeated Royal and Newbury Park.
3. Westlake (14-6)
Comment: Three losses are by total of nine points.
Last week: Defeated Agoura and Moorpark.
4. Camarillo (12-8)
Comment: Scorpions outscored Oxnard 10-0 in the last 57 seconds.
Last week: Defeated Pacifica and Oxnard.
5. Oxnard (15-5)
Comment: Yellowjackets have held opponents to under 50 points 12 times.
Last week: Defeated Hueneme, lost to Camarillo.
Making a big impact
Michael Meza may not be a traditional Simi Valley center, but he's been an inside force all season
By Derry Eads, deads@VenturaCountyStar.com January 23, 2007
Michael Meza does not stand as tall as some of the legendary inside players in the history of Simi Valley High boys' basketball. It has changed dramatically from past Simi Valley teams. Because of an injury, Meza wasn't able to experience Simi Valley's style of play last year as a sophomore. Four games into the 2005-06 season, he sustained a dislocated kneecap in practice. "We were having an intense practice and Colin Franklin and I got tangled up," said Meza. Franklin came down on the knee, causing a freak accident.
It would be nearly two months before Meza could return to running. He wasn't able to return to the team until right before the postseason. Instead of playing side by side with older brother Tony for an entire season, Meza had to watch from the sideline.
"My brother and I would hang out before and after practice," said Meza. During practice, Meza would operate the scoreboard and become another set of eyes for the Simi Valley coaching staff. "I wanted to help out any way that I could," Mesa said. "It was hard not being able to practice or play, but I was there. The coach acknowledged that and so did my teammates."
Following the season, the Simi Valley coaching staff restructured its scheme to fit the strengths of a young and quick team. "The coaches were telling us all the time that this would be a better season," said Meza. Simi Valley opened the 2006-07 season with a 99-32 win over Community Charter and followed with a 97-82 victory over Knight as Lorne Jackson and Meza scored 32 and 21 points, respectively.
"Coach (Aurand) told us that our defense would wear Knight down," said Meza. "He was right." Meza scored a team season-best 39 points in Simi Valley's 105-98 loss to Escondido.
Many of the points came off of Simi Valley's full-court press.
Copyright 2007, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
