Prep Sports Roundup: Valley Torah Hoops Shoots For School's First Title

Valley Torah High’s boys’ basketball team is trying to win the school’s first-ever CIF title in any sport, as the Wolfpack are No. 1 in the latest Div. VI-AA rankings and should be top-seeded team in the playoffs when pairings are released Sunday.

“To win the first one, that would be pretty good,” said Aaron Liberman, a 6-foot-9 senior who is averaging 18.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.9 blocks. “We’re trying to keep our heads together because there’s a pretty good chance to win it. We definitely want to win it for the first time ever.”

Liberman is among California’s most productive post players regardless of school size – Valley Torah plays in the section’s second-smallest division – and the Wolfpack have been bolstered by the return of Nathanial Cohen, who has missed four weeks because of an injury.

“It’s good to be healthy again,” coach Robert Icart said. “But being the No. 1 seed in the playoffs really doesn’t mean anything. It’s nice to have it, but you’ve got to go out and win games at the end of the day, just like everyone else.”

Valley Torah (19-5) clinched the Westside League title last Thursday with a 64-45 win over AGBU of Pasadena, as Liberman scored 29 points with 20 rebounds.

The furthest Valley Torah has ever advanced in the playoffs is the quarterfinals.

VIKINGS QUEST

Campbell Hall is another basketball program positioning for a good playoff seed. The Vikings figure to finish in third place in the tough Alpha League, but they entered the week ranked No. 9 in Div. III-AA.

Austin McBroom, a 5-foot-11 point guard, continues to shine for Campbell Hall (16-9), scoring 29 points or more four times over the past five games. He’s averaging 24.6 points, four assists and 3.1 steals – and it’s a surprise McBroom has yet to receive a major-college offer.

“There’s no question in my mind he deserves one. He makes big plays that are exciting to watch,” Campbell Hall coach Steve Wachs said.

BASEBALL KIDS ARE A HIT

Baseball season starts next month, and Campbell Hall is expecting a big season after going 20-9 last year and advancing to the section semifinals.

Most of the key players are back, including Cory Bloom, who has committed to University of San Diego, along with Adam Ehrlich (Loyola Marymount) and Jack Bensinger (Long Island).

“Basically, we have the same guys as last year, a lot of seniors,” coach Juan Velazquez said. “We’re optimistic because we have a good core coming back with seven starters from last year. I think we should be able to make a run if everyone stays healthy.”

The most competitive opponent in the Alpha League figures to be Montclair Prep, led by UCLA-bound pitcher Max Fried, who won 10 games last year.

“They’re the team to beat,” Velazquez said.

GETTING IN THE SWING OF THINGS

Monica Petchakan, a girls’ golf standout from North Hollywood High, finished 14th out of 110 in December at the Arizona Silver Belle tournament.

“I haven’t been playing as much, just taking lessons and pacing myself,” said Petchakan, who is headed to University of Oregon on a golf scholarship.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE HOOPS SLIPS IN FINALE

Harvard-Westlake’s boys basketball team blew a chance to win the Mission League outright by losing to Alemany 82-75 in the season finale Wednesday, so the Wolverines must settle for a share of the title with Loyola of L.A.

In other Harvard-Westlake news, football quarterback Max Heltzer had a tough senior year, passing for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to 1,557 yards and 17 touchdowns the previous season as a junior.

Factoring in Harvard-Westlake’s 2-7-1 record compared to 7-4 the year before, Heltzer kind of fell off the recruiting radar and has yet to receive an official offer, but that could change soon. A couple of Pac-10 schools and some Ivy League schools are still interested, so stay tuned.