Ready to Follow the Stars? Campbell Hall Hoops Coach and Top Player to Participate in All-Star Fest

Campbell Hall’s basketball team figures to be well-represented Saturday at the annual Battle of the Valley All-Star Game at Cal State Northridge, as Campbell Hall coach Steve Wachs is coaching the East, and prized four-year standout Austin McBroom is expected to be the starting point guard. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. We practiced Thursday, and the kids worked well together and worked very hard,” Wachs said. “Certainly, everyone there was there for a reason. I told the whole team that it’s one last chance to represent themselves and their community as a high school player.”

Proceeds benefit the Valley Sports Foundation.

“Anytime you can use what you’re passionate about, like basketball, and improve the lives of others, it’s a special thing,” Wachs said.

Besides McBroom, who avearaged 25 points per game this past season, some of the top East players include Valencia’s Lonnie Jackson, Crespi’s Matt Mounier, Verdugo Hills’ Chris Dees and Chaminade’s Gilles Dierickx.

“I’m going to sit down and get a lineup together, and Austin McBroom will be one of the starters because he’s the truest point guard,” Wachs said. “I love Matt Mounier, Chris Dees and Temjae Singleton from El Camino Real. You look at the roster, and there’s a ton of talent.”

In a preceding girls' all-star game, three Harvard-Westlake standouts are particpating -- Esther Lee, Skylar Tsutui and Hilary King.

IN LACROSSE, WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY

Will Oliver, a top kicker for Harvard-Westlake’s football team, is having a great year in lacrosse, and he has broken most of the school’s scoring records. In just two and a half seasons, he has set Harvard-Westlake’s  career goal record with 84, eclipsing Ethan Mantel’s total of 80 (2004-2007).

Oliver’s 45 goals ties a school record, and he holds the mark for most goals in a game with nine.

On Thursday, Oliver scored three goals in an 8-7 win at Loyola that clinched the Mission League title and preserved Harvard-Westlake’s undefeated record of 11-0.

Some of the other top players are Matthew Mantel and Cory Wiezenberg.

Oliver is headed to Colorado to play football next season.

Harvard-Westlake plays Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Brentwood, then Thursday at 7 p.m. at Palisades.

BIG WEEK FOR H.W. BASEBALL

Harvard-Westlake’s baseball team has won seven of eight heading into a home game today against Buena of Ventura at 3:45 p.m. at O’Malley Field in Encino, and the Wolverines are gearing up for a key two-game series against Mission League rival Chaminade of West Hills next week.

“We’re playing some good baseball,” coach Matt Lacour said. “We want to keep the momentum going.”

Ace pitcher Lucas Giolito is scheduled to pitch two innings today, then make the start Tuesday against Chaminade ace Mathew Troupe in a pitching duel between two Pac-10-bound right-handers, as Giolito, a junior, has committed to UCLA, while Troupe is headed to Arizona.

Both throw more than 90 mph, so there should be lots of major-league scouts.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD SOFTBALL LOOKS TO REBOUND FROM TOUGH TRIP

Another team had a rough go in Vegas during spring break, as North Hollywood’s softball team went 0-5 in a tournament to fall to 6-9 overall.

North Hollywood’s top player, pitcher Danielle Feuer, was not available because she was taking a college visit to Harvard. The Huskies were also missing injured starters Elizabeth Diaz (knee) and Vanessa Alfaro (knee). Diaz got injured in a touch football game, and Alfaro got hurt sliding into a base. Both should be back after spring break.

BIG MEN ON CAMPUS

Campbell Hall conducted a campus signing ceremony Thursday for McBroom and baseball standouts Adam Ehrlich and Jack Bensigner.

McBroom is going to Central Michigan, Ehrlich is going to Loyola Marymount, and Bensinger is headed to Long Island.

Meanwhile, the baseball team had a tough go at a spring-break tournament in Las Vegas, losing three of four heading into a two-game series with Alpha League rival Crossroads on Tuesday and Thursday.

“We were in school, so we had to cram four games into 27 hours, and that was tough. We didn’t do well,” coach Juan Velazquez said. “But one of the losses was to Sierra Vista, and they’re the No. 7 team in the nation, so it was pretty tough competition. These games will only get us better for the playoffs.”

The highlight was Bensinger pitching a four-hitter in an opening 10-1 win over Durango, five days after pitching a two-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over league rival Montclair Prep.

“We had a good time, but you know the old saying, ‘Nobody wins in Vegas.’ I guess that goes for the baseball team, too,” Velazquez said. “But Bensinger threw another gem, and he also hit a grand slam in one of the other games.”