CAMPS & CLINICS

The game is played for charity and bragging rights. But West Valley coach Greg Grandell said Wednesday the key to winning the Lions All Star Football game is something altogether different.

Three Shasta County girls were named to the 2019 All-Northern Section softball team, released Tuesday morning.

Shasta’s Alyssa Pope, headed to Penn on a softball scholarship, is the lone first-team pick from Shasta County, while pitchers Shelby Keltner of Enterprise and Central Valley’s Raegan Breedlove were named as second teamers.

Foothill junior Dustin Niles was the lone Shasta County representative to the All-Northern Section first team, while the second team saw fellow Cougar Tyler Muszanowski named as well as Shasta’s Brian Kilgore and U-Prep’s Dylan Cabral.

The 23rd annual Redding 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament hit the Redding Civic Auditorium blacktop Saturday and Sunday to benefit Elevate Camps.

Photo gallery of Saturday’s action at the Redding 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.

The Redding 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Redding Civic Auditorium is a true North State spectacle. From the youngsters to the “old(er)” players, the 3-on-3 marks the passing of not just generations, but the passing of the torch.

The Redding 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Redding Civic Auditorium is a true North State spectacle. From the youngsters to the “old(er)” players, the 3-on-3 marks the passing of not just generations, but the passing of the torch.

The Redding 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Redding Civic Auditorium is a true North State spectacle. From the youngsters to the “old(er)” players, the 3-on-3 marks the passing of not just generations, but the passing of the torch.In the lead to the this weekend’s tournament, Shasta County Sports – a sponsor of the tournament – is taking a look at three groups of players to keep an eye on. We’re calling them “The Legends,” “The Present” and “The Future.”

University Prep’s Mark Stephens finished tied for 26th place with a 3-over par 74 at the CIF State Boys Golf Championships Wednesday at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

Tayler Walker doesn’t remember what she was thinking as the final out was made in Southern Oregon University’s 8-3 win over Oklahoma City on Wednesday that clinched the NAIA softball national championship.

Just like the Harlan Carter Invitation to kick off the high school basketball season, the annual 3-on-3 tournament is a right of passage in Redding.While JV and varsity kids get the spotlight during the first week of December for Harlan Carter, the 3-on-3 event, presented by Elevate Camps and sponsored by Lithia Chevrolet and Shasta County Sports, the limelight shines on all ages on the blacktop of the Redding Civic Center.

West Valley’s Natalie Rogers had her best three discus throws of her prep career in the final week of the season. One turned out to be a personal record to win the Northern Section championship on May 17 and she followed that up with two more for a top 10 finish at the state championships.

Shasta County has one CIF track and field state finalist in West Valley thrower Natalie Rogers.

ANDERSON – College basketball wasn’t a thought for Robbie Davis until his junior year.Despite finishing eighth grade at 6-foot-2, starting ninth at 6-3 and carrying a passion for the game that was pure, it took more than that.

The first weekend in June is circled on Andy Phillips’ calendar every year.It’s not because of a close relative’s birthday or even his anniversary. In some ways it’s bigger than that for his family and friends.

Here’s a compilation of the various prep baseball all-league teams from throughout the Northern Section. The all-league selections are based on league bylaws and coach voting — not media input.

Here’s a compilation of the various prep softball all-league teams from throughout the Northern Section. The all-league selections are based on league bylaws and coach voting — not media input.

Lithia Chevrolet of Redding just took the annual Redding 3 on 3 to a whole different level.The two-day basketball tournament presented by Elevate Camps has an extra element to this year’s edition of the summer’s kickoff blacktop event.

Growing up in Chicago’s South Side, Lamont “Disco” Cooper knows a thing or two about hoopin’ it up.And that education served him well, not just on the rough-and-tumble courts of the Windy City, but on the blacktop of the Redding Civic Auditorium and the annual Redding 3-on-3 tournament.

At first, Mark Stephens dominated the field in Shasta County. Then it was the Northern Section. On Monday, the U-Prep senior made his mark in all of Northern California.

In the end, Easton Waterman’s decision had less to do with the beautiful Point Loma University campus than with the feel he got from the Sea Lions’ baseball coaching staff. Waterman signed his letter of intent Monday to play baseball for the Sea Lions after a standout career at Enterprise High School and Shasta College.

Photos from the Northern Section track and field championships at West Valley High School on May 17.

Foothill’s Zoey Bishop was among a handful of athletes who had themselves quite a day on Friday at the Northern Section Masters Track and Field finals at West Valley High School.The Cougars’ junior had a hand in four victories – two solo and two relays – for Foothill. She won the 200-meter race in 26.07 seconds and grabbed the 400 in 59.16. She then joined Sophia Porzio, Teagan Richards and Melody Wu in winning the 400-relay in 50.30 and anchored the Cougars’ 1,600-relay win in 4:06.50 with Savanna Dutton, Wu and Grace Dudley.

Shelby Keltner’s last start in the circle ended with a 14-strikeout performance to top Las Plumas. Keltner, the senior pitcher for the Enterprise High softball team, was efficient once again limiting the hard-hitting heart of the order from the Chico High softball team.However, it was the bottom of the order that did the most damage as the top-seeded Panthers prevailed 3-1 over No. 5 Enterprise Friday afternoon at Chico. 

From Cubs to Blue Jays, both Anderson High football players Joe Carrillo and Mario Martinez are keeping their friendship and brotherhood alive by signing Thursday to continue their education and athletic career for Tabor College, an NAIA program in Wichita, Kansas.

University Prep’s boys golf team can call it a clean sweep.The Panthers followed a perfect Northern Athletic League run and the Northern Section Division II title with a Northern Section Masters championship Tuesday at The Links at Rolling Hills in Corning, their first Masters team title in program history.

Two ace pitchers held the game in the palm of their hands for much of Tuesday afternoon to start the Northern Section softball playoffs.

Riley Wallen has played in a Northern Section Division III girls basketball final. The Foothill product scored more than 500 points in her high school career.

Foothill High won the Northern Section Division I boys and girls track and field championships on Friday at Chico High School.

West Valley won both the Northern Section Division II boys and girls track and field championships Thursday at Orland High School.

The release of the Northern Section softball playoff brackets on Saturday means three Shasta County schools were awarded either the top seed or the No. 2 seed in their respective divisions.

University Prep captured the Northern Section Division II boys golf championship on Tuesday at the Links at Rolling Hills in Corning.

Three years ago, Max Holtzclaw’s baseball future was bleak.

Two of the four small school baseball teams in Shasta County were awarded the top seed in the Northern Section playoffs when the section office released the Division IV-VII brackets on Thursday.

Early run support paired with one of the best pitchers in the North State was a perfect recipe shove third-seeded Foothill to a 5-2 home victory over No. 6 Chico in a Northern Section Division II quarterfinal game Tuesday night, presented by Redding Rancheria.

It took the Shasta Wolves less time to dispatch Las Plumas in Tuesday’s Northern Section Division II baseball quarterfinal than it did for the Thunderbirds to drive to Redding from Oroville.Simon Turner tossed six innings of one hit ball and Jordan Chabolla wiggled out of a seventh-inning jam to preserve a 2-0 win for the Wolves in 80 minutes. The win secures a semifinal date with No. 1 seed Pleasant Valley on Friday.

Brayden Russo’s day began with a test, and ended with one, too.Before Russo, the Chico High boys golfer was to compete in the Division I Championship at Bidwell Park Golf Course Monday, he was scheduled to take an AP Government exam from 8 a.m. to noon.

Foothill High’s boys and girls track and field team won the Eastern Athletic-Sac River League championship meet on their home turf Friday.

Hoping to spoil Red Bluff’s annual baseball title trek is, among others, Foothill.  The Cougars (18-9, 9-6 Eastern Athletic League) earned the third seed in the postseason and host No. 6 Chico at 7 p.m. in the single-elimination opening round. A Foothill win earns a three-game set with No. 2 Red Bluff (17-9, 10-5 EAL).

Stop for a moment and tap into your memory bank to the good old days of blacktop basketball. Friends, teammates and classmates mixing with sunshine, bragging rights and competition.

Trailing by four in the sixth, without a hit in three innings and star pitcher Dustin Niles chased an inning earlier, the Cougars appeared dead in the water.

Thirty wins — the milestone within Butte’s grasp on more than one occasion in the past, but never secured in the regular season.

Shasta College opened up its spring football camp this week and got back on the practice field for the first time since promoting offensive coordinator Bryon Hamilton to head coach in March.

The irony of Enterprise senior Jadyn Matthews trading in her Black and Gold colors for the Purple of Weber State wasn’t lost on the crowd assembled to watch her Monday sign her National Letter Intent to play basketball for the Division I program in Utah. And while Matthews will sport the colors of rival Shasta next season for the Wildcats, there’s no doubt Matthews is among the all-time greats to play basketball at Enterprise.

Next month, Josiah Hutt will decide where he’s going to play collegiate basketball.The announcement will cap a decade-long journey that’s seen Hutt grow from a grade-school gym rat playing pickup games at the YMCA against grown me to high school prodigy playing varsity ball as a freshman to a senior leader pushing Foothill to heights its never before accomplished. And finally as the Shasta County Sports boys basketball Most Valuable Player for 2018-19.

Chances are that if you rolled into a gym with any of the 26 members of the 2018-19 Shasta County Sports’ All Shasta County boys basketball team and called “Next” you’d be playing for a while. The collection of players represents the best the North State has to offer, with All Section players, section-title winners, explosive offensive threats and defensive stalwarts.

When last year’s basketball season came to a close, there was a little fear around the county knowing what was coming back.

When you want to put together a complete team, the term “balance” usually lingers around the top of the conversation. Yes, you want a strength and an identity. But when you talk look at the 2018-19 All-Shasta County girls basketball team filled with all-Northern Section and all-league talent, and league and section champions, it will take you awhile to find a weakness.

Aaron Richards has a championship football pedigree, and plans to bring that lineage to Shasta Lake City as the Central Valley Falcons’ new football coach.Richards grew up in southern Shasta County learning “how to tackle from Coach (Bob) Reid,” before playing high school football with Matt Nichols and Manny Magana at West Valley and college ball at William Penn University. He said he believes he’s the right man for a program that saw the start of success last year after several down seasons since the departure of Matt Hunsaker.

U-Prep’s golf team won the Northern Athletic League match on Tuesday at the Tierra Oaks Golf Club behind Mark Stephens’ 4-under 68.

Logan Gonzalez didn’t consider himself a college football prospect before his senior year.“I figured I would just start working coming out of high school, it wasn’t even a thing,” Gonzalez said.

The 2018-19 All Northern Section boys basketball team includes seven Shasta County players, two Mount Shasta brothers and six others who all led their teams to impressive seasons and equally impressive postseason runs.Leading this year’s boys selections is MVP Kole Riccomini of Mount Shasta, who led the Bears to the CIF Division V state title game.

Six Shasta County girls basketball players dot the All Northern Section basketball teams, including the unanimous MVP choice and two of her Enterprise teammates.Jadyn Matthews had a season for the ages in dominating regular season opponents and pushing the Hornets to the Northern California Division II finals.

West Valley High’s football team took on a few different nicknames and identities during the 2018 season.

Two years ago Karina Archibald’s hopes of playing college basketball were in jeopardy when she dislocated her knee cap and tore the ligament that held it in place.

Dan Hawkins is living proof a small school player can not only hang with the “big guys” on the gridiron but succeed in the sport on the biggest of stages.

A look at some stats from the players selected for the Lions All-Star Football roster.

Photo gallery from the Shasta-Enterprise baseball game on March 22, 2019.

Shasta swept the ninth inning , the day and the series on Thursday, taking a bizarre three-game set over Enterprise that saw two games go extra frames, including one that was played on two different days and two different sites.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with the newer games on the top). We invites coaches to send in scores and game information at shastacountysports@gmail.com.

West Valley senior Payton Fuller was selected recently as a recipient of the California Interscholastic Federation Spirit in Sport winner for the 2018-19 spring season.

For the first time since the turn of the century, Shasta College will have a new head football coach.

Before Friday’s game against Eureka at the Jim Morley Invitational, Foothill coach Todd Buck talked about that clutch hit that had been eluding the Cougars in the early part of the season.It took a couple of inning – and five runners left on base in the first two frames – before Foothill got the first clutch hit of the day. Add in a stellar nine strikeout, three-hit complete game gem from Dustin Niles and Foothill handled the Loggers 7-1 after getting five insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

The Foothill High baseball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh to pull away from Eureka for the 7-1 victory in the Jim Morley Invitational at Shasta High School on Friday.

Photo gallery from the Shasta-West Valley baseball game at the Jim Morley Invitational at Shasta High School.

West Valley scratched out a run in the bottom of the six as Odin Hughes scored from second on a failed pickoff as the Eagles and Shasta finished the time-rule game tied at 4 in the opening game Thursday at the Jim Morley Invitational at Shasta’s DeForest Field.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with the newer games on the top). We invites coaches to send in scores and game information at shastacountysports@gmail.com.

Redding Christian’s Austin Larson is the Five-Star League MVP for the 2018-19 season, surpassing 1,000 points in the season. (Photo …

Redding Christian had a unprecedented season for the program.The Lions captured their first Northern Section championship and won a CIF Northern California Regional playoff game

Kaden Riccomini scored a game-high 29 points for Mount Shasta, but that “moment” would not come for the Bears as Foothill used its length, physicality to create numerous second-chance opportunities in bringing home the school’s second state title with a 78-66 win Friday at Golden 1 Center.

The lineups have been set for the 24th annual Phil Bryant All-Star basketball games. The boys and girls games are set for March 17 at Pleasant Valley’s Varley Gym. The girls tip off at 4 p.m., while the boys take the floor at 6 p.m.

The Mount Shasta Bears knew they’d be good heading into the 2018-19 season. They’d come off a 26-4 year in 2017-18 that saw them win the Northern Section Division V crown. But then the Bears drew an unusually high seed – a 15 seed many in the area thought was unfair under the CIF’s new competitive equity model – that resulted in a tough  58-56 road loss to San Francisco’s Urban. The Bears responded this year with a season for the ages, blitzing through all Northern California competition to a 33-1 mark and a chance at an elusive state crown.

Shasta College’s women’s basketball team finished in second place in the Golden Valley Conference this season, one game behind GVC winner College of the Siskiyous, and the Knights had four players earn all-conference honors. The Knights were 7-3 in GVC play.

The Shasta College men’s basketball team tied for third place in the GVC in 2018-19 with a 5-5 conference record. Butte won the conference at an 8-2 mark and Lassen followed at 7-3. All Shasta College basketball coverage is sponsored by Sierra Pacific Industries.

Coming into the 2018-19 season Mount Shasta coach Cliff Blakely wanted his team to win one state playoff game. Now, Blakely wants his team to win one more.The Bears, who hadn’t won a NorCal game in the two previous years, won their fourth Northern California Division V playoff game and punched their ticket to the state finals on Friday with an 80-56 win over second-seeded Dinuba in a stuffed Mount Shasta gymnasium.

Enterprise might be the most polished team in the Northern Section and definitely north of the Bay Area in Division II.

Redding Christian’s run at perfection fell one game short.

Follow the action on the Tri Counties Bank CIF NorCal Regional Championship scoreboard with three games featuring Northern Section CIF teams.

Photo gallery of the Redding Christian-Jewish Community boys basketball CIF NorCal Regional Division VI semifinal on March 3, 2019.

Photo gallery of the Enterprise-Cosumnes Oaks girls basketball CIF NorCal Regional Division II semifinal on March 3, 2019.

Karina Archibald provided a calming influence early, Jadyn Matthews stepped up with a monster second half and freshman Abby Shoff came up with several huge moments down the stretch as No. 3 seed Enterprise bounced seventh-seed Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 56-49 to advance to the Northern California Division II finals on Tuesday.

PALO CEDRO – A little over a year ago, Drew Nelson-Crowell was cut from the Foothill freshman basketball team. Now, the 6-foot-5 sophomore center is one win away from capturing a CIF Northern California championship.

The Mount Shasta Bears are hosting the Northern California Division V title game on Tuesday with a spot in the state finals on the line.The top-seeded Bears needed overtime to beat No. Eastside College Prep (East Palo Alto) 87-79 in the shadow of Mt. Shasta on Saturday.  It was the closest game the 32-1 Bears have played all season, the 73-68 Dec. 7 loss to Klamath Union not withstanding. Mount Shasta is unbeaten in California this season.

In the heart of San Francisco, at the famous Kezar Pavilion, the clock finally struck midnight on the Foothill Cougars’ Cinderella run.After beating the second-seeded Las Lomas, and No. 7 Fortuna — both on the road — the 15th-seeded Cougars fell short, losing a double-overtime 69-63 thriller to University.

Saturday night’s CIF NorCal Region Division VI semifinals saw No. 5 Forest Lake Christian Falcons upset the top-seeded Redding Christian Lions (27-4) in a nail-biter 48-47, sponsored by Redding Rancheria.

Follow the action of the Northern Section boys and girls basketball teams in the CIF NorCal semifinals.

Photos from the Enterprise-Palo Alto girls CIF NorCal Regional Quarterfinal game on Feb. 28, 2019, sponsored by Redding Rancheria.

Every time the U-Prep boys basketball team would cut into the Wood (Vacaville) lead on Thursday, the Wildcats had an answer. Whether it was a pressure turnover or a clutch bucket, the No. 6 seed in the NorCal Division IV playoffs countered everything the No. 3 Panthers (26-7) threw at them as Wood (25-7) advanced to the quarterfinals with a 51-36 win. All playoff coverage is presented by Redding Rancheria.

Don’t count out the Cougars just yet.Foothill High’s boys basketball team rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull off another upset victory in the CIF NorCal Division III playoffs, rallying late to beat No. 7 Fortuna 58-56 Thursday night, presented by Redding Rancheria.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with the newer games on the top). We invites coaches to send in scores and game information at shastacountysports@gmail.com. This week’s SCS Report is brought to you by Tri Counties Bank.

Anthony Williams wasn’t happy when he found out his Enterprise girls basketball team was moved up to Division II for the state playoffs.

Redding Christian’s second half surge helped the Lions defeat Mendocino 60-48 Thursday night in the CIF NorCal Division VI Quarterfinals, presented by Redding Rancheria, and remain perfect at 32-0, advancing to the NorCal D-VI semifinals on Saturday.

Getting up on top early is huge. Especially in the state playoffs.Coming off their first section title in school history, the Redding Christian Lions (27-3) came into the NorCal Division VI playoffs as the top seed, which earned them the home game against no. 8 Calistoga (15-12) on Wednesday night.

Jerry Brown and the Shasta College women’s basketball team knew
they were up against one of the highest scoring teams in the state, full of
shooters and a team that liked to push the tempo.

Sometimes the shots don’t fall early on, but you just keep shooting.After capturing The Northern Section Division IV title on Friday, the University Prep Panthers earned themselves the No. 3 seed and a home game in the CIF D-IV State Playoffs against No. 14 Ripon.

Defense might win championship, but making free throws doesn’t hurt.Enterprise senior Jadyn Matthews made 8-of-12 free throws in the second half – and 12-of-16 overall – in the Hornets’ 51-42 NorCal Division II first-round win over Whitney (Rocklin) at Manatowa Gymnasium.

Leading by two with 19 seconds left, Riley Wallen made both ends of a 1-and-1, walked over to her teammates in the following timeout and jokingly wiped her brow.It was that kind of a game for the Cougars.

It’s been a big week for Austin Larson.The Redding Christian senior forward hit both a career milestone and followed it up with an even more incredible accomplishment. In three games last week (all wins), Larson surpassed 2,000 career points in his four-year varsity career, becoming the 24th person in California state history to do so.

Redding Christian’s girls basketball team got to hoist a Northern Section championship plaque for the first time in program history on Saturday when it beat Etna in the Division VI final.

There can only be one first time – and for the U-Prep boys basketball team, that first happened Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. The Panthers handled West Valley 53-42 to win the Northern Section Division IV boys basketball title – the first in school history. For their historic accomplishment, U-Prep is the Astro Jump Boys Basketball Team of the Week for Week 13.

Abby Shoff jumped in the deep end of the pool – going from junior high to varsity basketball over the summer. And rather than needing a life preserver, the Enterprise freshman is doing metaphorical triple gainers off the high dive as she helped the Hornets win the Northern Section Division III girls crown on Saturday at Shasta College.The ninth-grader scored 15 in Enterprise’s dominant 71-50 win over Foothill and is the Tri Counties Bank Girls Basketball Player of the Week in Shasta County for Week 13.

The California Community College Athletic Association released the bracket for the Women’s Basketball State Tournament and Shasta College is seeded 16th and hosts a play-in game on Wednesday against No. 17 Mission of Santa Clara.

All four of the Shasta County girls and boys basketball teams who won a Northern Section title this weekend were given a home game in the CIF State Basketball Tournament brackets when they were released on Sunday afternoon.

Four times Foothill had an opportunity to take a lead in the final 70 seconds. And four times, the Cougars couldn’t connect.

As a freshman, Josiah Hutt scored three points in Liberty Christian’s 2016 Northern Section Division VI 45-27 title win over Chester. One year later, Hutt and the Patriots were trounced 85-26 by Fall River in the 2017 D-VI title game.Hutt has made a career out of making it to the section finals, transferring to Foothill after Liberty Christian shuttered its doors and helping the Cougars to the 2018 championship game. This time, Hutt and the Cougars ran into Kevein Kremer and the eventual state champion Pleasant Valley Vikings.On Saturday, Hutt and the Cougars had a shot at redemption and revenge, again playing the Vikings, who again came in as the Division III top seed. For the third time in four years, Hutt’s team fell short as the Vikings beat Foothill 43-40.

Abby Shoff almost wasn’t a varsity player three months ago.

Fast forward to Saturday and the Enterprise freshman post was a catalyst for delivering the Hornets a 10th Northern Section banner.

The present and the future collided Saturday night in the Northern Section Division III girls title game as the Enterprise Hornets showed why they might be considered a favorite to advance deep in the NorCal playoffs and beyond. They also showed a glimpse of what could be coming in the next few years.

What Austin Larson can do on a basketball court will leave you speechless. And then he’ll find a way to top that yet again.

Redding Christian’s Aleah Matos scored eight points in the Lions’ 41-37 win over Etna on Saturday in the Northern Section Division VI girls championship game. None were bigger, however, than the game-tying 3-pointer the sophomore drained from the right corner to give RC life and send the game to overtime. In the extra period, Sammie Wunner took over down low and helped Redding Christian win the battle of the Lions and avenge last season’s 46-36 section title loss to Fall River.

The Butte Valley Bulldogs got 24 points from Levi Robertson, Zach Hensley scored 20 and Jacob Field added 14 as the Bulldogs beat the upstart McCloud Loggers 72-64 in the Northern Section Division VII boys championship game. All playoff coverage is presented by Redding Rancheria.

Not Oops, she did it again. But WOW, she did it again.Surprise Valley’s Sydney Miller scored 43 points, leading the Hornets to a 67-62 overtime win over Greenville on Saturday in the Northern Section Divison VII girls basketball championship game. It was an encore performance for Miller, who dropped 20 in Surprise Valley’s 41-38 win last season over Happy Camp.

Follow the action of the Northern Section boys and girls championship basketball games from Shasta County Sports staff at Shasta College.

The University Prep boys basketball team took advantage of a cold-shooting West Valley squad in the first-half and held its composure to fight off the Eagles’ push in the second half for a 53-42 win in the Northern Section Division IV championship at Butte College on Friday night.

Mount Shasta came back from a 28-24 halftime deficit to make it 24 straight wins and back-to-back Division V championships as Kole Ricomini scored 27 and brother Kaden Ricomini added 20 in the Bears 61-41 win over the Trojans.

Three Northern Section wrestlers are still alive after two days of action at the CIF State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield.

The West Valley Eagles couldn’t have been any colder from the field in the first half, and the U-Prep Panthers couldn’t have been more resilient in the second half.

Championship weekend is here and it’s a hoops heaven for basketball lovers with 10 games spread out over two days, starting Friday at Butte College with Divisions IV and V and wrapping up Saturday at Shasta College with Divisions III, V, and VII.

Three Shasta County wrestlers out of seven made it to the second day of competition in the CIF State Wrestling Championships Thursday in Bakersfield but only one earned a win.

Cameron Wallace had her taste of playing volleyball at a four-year university before. After a year back at junior college ball with Shasta College, Wallace is ready to take the next step.

The Redding Christian boys basketball team will return to the Northern Section Division VI championship game to defend their title thanks to a 54-44 victory over the Weed Cougars Wednesday night. Shasta County Sports playoff coverage is sponsored by Redding Rancheria.

The top-seeded Redding Christians girls basketball team jumped out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back in a 57-42 win over No. 4 Fall River Wednesday night in a Northern Section Division VI semifinal, presented by Redding Rancheria.

If the coaching axiom that hustle never takes a night off is true – and it is – then meet Luke Lindsey, hustle’s posterboy.

The Foothill junior is part spark plug, part Red Bull in a uniform, part gnat at the picnic that you can’t quite swat away. And the sum of those parts is a dynamic floor presence that’s a perfect complement to the scoring ability of the Cougars’ unquestioned senior leader Josiah Hutt and the smooth under-the-radar game of fellow junior Bekdoo Lewis.

It was only a matter of time before Josiah Hutt took over.

And this time he brought his fluid jumper along for the ride to send the Cougars into the finals for the fourth time in five years.

For every high school basketball player, a chance to play in the section championship game is what it’s all about. The West Valley Eagles are traveling to Butte College Friday night for their first D-IV Section title game since 2009.

Nine days without playing a game left the Pleasant Valley boys basketball team wondering how it would start against a red-hot Shasta squad in the Northern Section semifinals.

The CIF state wrestling championships begin Thursday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield with the first-round of action kicking off at 1 p.m. and the fourth round on consolation should wrap up around 8:45 p.m.

The top-seeded Enterprise High girls basketball team blew out No. 4 Red Bluff 77-36 Tuesday night in a Northern Section Division III semifinal, sponsored by Redding Rancheria.

It’s been a while since the Willows High girls basketball team has truly been tested on the court.

The Honkers have rolled through opponents, often doubling up other teams, which earned them a No. 1 seed in Division IV.

Make no mistake – the Enterprise girls basketball team is no one-trick pony. Yes, Jadyn Matthews is the senior leader of the 24-5 Hornets, but the cast that surrounds her can ball.

And the top-seeded Hornets did just that Tuesday in a 77-36 Northern Section Division III semifinal win over Red Bluff at Manatowa Gym that saw 11 of the 14 rostered players score. All playoff coverage is presented by Redding Rancheria.

To reach the Northern Section finals for the first time in 14 years, the Foothill High girls basketball team was going to have to slay its biggest nemesis during that drought.

Rotate bodies onto Austin Larson, pound him, pull him, grab him, wear him down.  That is how the Quincy Trojans decided to try and beat the Redding Christian Lions.

When one player scores as much as the entire opposing team, it’s sure going to catch some attention. Stats aside, Redding Christian junior center Sammie Wunner has turned a corner the second half of the season and is a rising talent to keep an eye on as the Lions push for a Northern Section championship.

or the nine-point win and holding serve in the usually wild D-IV playoffs, the West Valley Eagles are the Astro Jump Boys Basketball Team of the Week for Week 12.

Winning in the playoffs isn’t always easy. Winning on the road in the postseason is even tougher. West Valley High’s girls basketball team happened to do both last week.

West Valley High senior track and field standout Natalie Rogers signed a full-ride athletic scholarship to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo over the weekend, West Valley athletic director Scott Fairley said in a press release.

He’s a grinder, who never stops moving on offense and defense and helped the Eagles move on to the Northern Section Division IV quarterfinals with a 72-61 win over No. 8 Colusa on Friday. Salvatierra had a triple-double in the win – 12 points, 11 assists and 10 boards – and is the Tri Counties Bank Boys Basketball Player of the Week for Week 12.

The week has been anything but normal for the Shasta High girls soccer team. 

The Shasta College men’s basketball team lost 73-69 at home on sophomore night to College of the Siskiyous in the Sierra Pacific Industries College Game of the Week.

The wait to capture the Golden Valley Conference title will have to come down to the final game of the season.

The Shasta College women’s basketball team lost at home on sophomore night to College of the Siskiyous 65-61 in the Sierra Pacific Industries Women’s College Game of the Week. 

The College of the Siskiyous men’s basketball team led Shasta College for 39 minutes and 54 seconds Saturday while holding off a furious Knights rally late in the second half to hang on for a 73-69 Golden Valley Conference win in the Sierra Pacific Industries College Game of the Week.

There were two quintessential moments – one in each half – in the Shasta boys basketball team’s 91-64 Northern Section Division III playoff win over Chico on Friday night at Harlan Carter Gym.

Last year, Earnest Wilson couldn’t earn his starting slot on the Foothill roster.

He was forced to go up two weight classes to 160 pounds to make room for more polished wrestlers on his team, fitting in where he could. And despite giving up 15 pounds to nearly every opponent, he accepted the experience as a building block for his junior campaign.

Two Shasta County wrestlers captured their respected weight classes Friday night at the Northern Section CIF Masters wrestling championships at the Redding Civic Auditorium while another five earned a state bid.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with …

Impressive league performances allowed for a rare doubleheader playoff basketball tilt in Palo Cedro on Friday night featuring both Foothill High School varsity basketball teams.

The Foothill High School varsity girls basketball team was riding a four-game win streak coming into Friday night’s Division III quarterfinal playoff game against Las Plumas. Mark it five wins.

When it’s the playoffs you do whatever you can to win.

West Valley came into Friday night’s match as the respective No. 1 seed in the Northern Section Division IV playoffs. After having a bye in the first round, West Valley would only get one day of practice in its second week of playoffs due to a snow storm. That wouldn’t stop the Eagles from knocking off eight-seeded seed Colusa 72-61 at home.

The top-seeded Redding Christian’s girls basketball team hammered Tulelake 65-23 Friday night at Fitzpatrick Gymnasium in a Northern Section Division VI playoff game.

Ahead by just three points, the West Valley High girls basketball team was able to shut down Oroville over the final seven minutes. 

Twelve Shasta County wrestlers have reached the semifinals after the opening day of the Northern Section Masters wrestling championships on Thursday at the Redding Civic Auditorium. Another 27 are still alive in the consolation bracket with 1-1 records. Among the semifinalists are top-seeds Rocky Raby of West Valley at 132 pounds and Earnest Wilson of Foothill at 145 pounds.

The playoffs are a tough time to have a bad shooting night. The seventh-seeded U-Prep girls basketball team found that out Tuesday in a 44-34 loss to No. 10 Wheatland in the Northern Section Division IV playoffs.

Playing a team four times in one season has its perks.

On one hand, there aren’t many surprises come playoff time. And if one side finds success, there’s no shortage of confidence to propel another win.

The Shasta Wolves are right there, especially after a 2-0 week to end the regular season and heading into the Northern Section Division III playoffs with the No. 4 seed and momentum. The Wolves exacted revenge over Enterprise on Tuesday and then beat Red Bluff in a statement game and earned the the Astro Jump Boys Basketball Team of the Week. It’s the second time the Wolves have earned the honors.

Enterprise capped its 23-5, 10-0 EAL regular season with blowout wins over Shasta and Chico last week and assured itself that the road to the D-III crown runs through the Hornets. For that, the Hornets are the Shasta County Sports Girls Basketball Team of the Week for the third time this season.

Junior Sean Proscher helped the Eagles check off both boxes with wins overs Central Valley and Yreka and earned the Tri Counties Bank Boys Basketball Player of the Week for Week 11, the third time this season he’s grabbed the honor. Proscher, a scoring machine, dropped 23 against the Falcons and followed that 22 points on Senior Night against Yreka.

There are several reason the Foothill girls basketball team is enjoying its best season in more than 15 years. None bigger, however, than the play of senior post Jenna Wallace, the Tri Counties Bank Girls Basketball Player of the Game honors for Week 11.

After trailing in the free-throw attempt battle all night, the Shasta College men’s basketball team found itself at needing to … miss.

With Butte College leading 60-57 with under 10 seconds remaining, Marco Tapia was fouled with 7.3 seconds left and a chance to ice the game with a pair of freebies. He missed both and the Knights called a timeout. On the ensuing inbounds, Mikey Maasen was fouled near midcourt with 5.1 seconds left and sent to the line in the double bonus.

After missing the first, Maasen needed to carom the free throw off the rim and hope it bounced to a teammate who might find a game-tying 3-point opportunity. Maasen’s intentional miss missed the rim and the Roadrunners inbounded the ball and came away with a hard-fought 60-57 Golden Valley Conference road win on Saturday in the Sierra Pacific Industries College Game of the Week..

The Enterprise girls carved through the Eastern Athletic League, going 10-0 in league play and 23-5 over all.

As expected, the Hornets grabbed the No. 1 seed in Division III when the playoff seeding committee met today in Chico. Enterprise has a first-round bye and will draw the winner of the game between No. 4 Red Bluff and No. 5 Shasta.

Entering halftime of Friday’s soccer match between the Pleasant Valley and Shasta High girls soccer teams, the Vikings seemed to be in control of the game.

While the Vikings may have looked to be dominating the early stages of the game, playing their best half of soccer all season in their final regular season game according to coach Eric Snedeker, Shasta picked up play in the second half, using two late goals to tie PV 2-2 at the end of the 80 minutes of regulation.

The Eagles wrapped up Northern Athletic League play in a dominant 72-51 win over Yreka.

The Wolves got 54 points in the middle quarters to pull away from Red Bluff for a 79-34 win in the regular-season finale. Shasta (15-12, 5-5 Eastern Athletic League) got 18 points from Caden Turner and JT Beasley, while Caden Cushamn chipped in 14 and James Weaver added 11.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with …

Entering Wednesday’s matchup of the the top two girls soccer teams in the Eastern Athletic League and the second and third ranked teams in the Northern Section, Shasta needed a win to tie Chico for the top spot in the division, while Chico was looking to secure the No. 1 seed.

Jayden Gordon is among a handful of players to sign to schools on Wednesday, including West Valley’s Devin Low, who signed to play football for Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont, and Enterprise’s Sydney Whetstone, who is inked to play basketball at Pacific Union College in Napa.

For Shasta, it was a night where everything clicked. For Enterprise, it was a wake-up call.

The Wolves came out from the gate, raced out to a 17-point halftime lead and never looked back en route to a 75-58 win over the Hornets on Tuesday at Harlan Carter Gym.

The Foothill girls basketball team is having its best season in 15 years. The proof is in record … and playoff points released by the Northern Section today. The Cougars are No. 2 in Division III heading into the final week of the regular season, having jumped Pleasant Valley since the initial playoff points release last week. The playoff seeding committee meets Saturday to set the playoffs and there’s a good chance Friday’s meeting between the Cougars and Vikings could decide the second seed.

With two games left in the regular season, the Foothill girls basketball team is having a high-water mark year. The Cougars’ 16-9 overall mark is the second-best mark in the MaxPreps era (2004-present) and can tie the 04-05 team with 18 wins if Red Thunder goes perfect this week against Red Bluff and Pleasant Valley.

Last week, Stephanie Ahluwalia’s bunch went 2-0 with wins over Shasta (54-40) and Chico (56-53) to earn the Girls Basketball Team of the Week honors.

Death, taxes and Jadyn Matthews – some things are just reliable. The Enterprise senior again put up monster numbers helping the Hornets to clinch the Eastern Athletic League title last week with a road win over Pleasant Valley.

Matthews dropped 32 in the 64-59 victory over the Vikings, the reigning section champions. She followed that up with a 22 and 11 night in a 65-55 win over Red Bluff. Her efforts earned Matthews the Tri Counties Bank Girls Basketball Player of the Game honors for Week 10. It’s the second consecutive week she’s grabbed the honor and the fourth time this season.

Josiah Hutt dropped 21 on the Wolves and followed that with a 17-point night in a 62-43 win over Chico. His efforts earned him the Tri Counties Bank Boys Basketball Player of the Week for Week 10, the second time this season Hutt has grabbed the honor.

Three days after losing its leading scorer in a Northern Athletic League win over Anderson, the U-Prep Panthers went into a Friday showdown with West Valley knowing a loss would likely sink their league title aspirations. Adding to the difficulty factor, last season’s league MVP, Jordan Miller, was also out against the Eagles with an ankle injury.

But the Panthers responded with a 59-54 win over the Eagles to deadlock Dub-V at 7-1 in NAL play heading into the final week of the regular season. For their perfect week and gritty homecoming win, the U-Prep Panthers are the Astro Jump Boys Basketball Team of the Week. It’s the second time the Panthers have earned the honors.

The Chico High wrestling team began the postseason the same way it has for the past 11 years — with a league title.

Jordan Martinez and the core sophomores that make up Shasta College’s women’s basketball team have been patiently waiting for their time to shine.

It’s not often everyone on a college basketball team gets playing time when you get into conference play. It’s more even rare when every player scores…in the first half.

U-Prep entered Friday night’s homecoming game in a dire situation, facing the top team in the Northern Athletic League without its leading scorer and last year’s league MVP.

The Eagles’ Northern Athletic League title hopes are still alive.

Ashlee Lewis banked in a six-footer for the go-ahead bucket with 36 seconds left to lift West Valley High’s girls basketball team to a 37-35 road victory to not only spoil U-Prep’s homecoming night but prevent the Panthers from clinching the NAL title.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with the newer games on the top). We invites coaches to send in scores and game information at shastacountysports@gmail.com.

Bailey Sulzer wasn’t satisfied with being a difference-maker. He wanted more.

After a three-year varsity career at West Valley, Sulzer sits second in school history in nearly every rushing stat category behind Eagles’ legend Austin Clark. Sulzer, only five years younger than Clark, once idolized his on-field persona and leadership qualities.

Foothill quarterback Jayden Gordon became the ultimate high school football weapon over the course of his senior season. Gordon threw for 1,488 yards this season on 88-of-199 passing attempts and 14 touchdowns while adding 1,477 yards rushing and 24 TDs on the ground for the Cougars to earn the Shasta County Sports Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.

The inaugural Shasta County Sports All-County Football Team, sponsored by Redding Rancheria, highlights those players in the 10-school region and their athletic achievements.

The inaugural Shasta County Sports All-County Football Team, sponsored by Redding Rancheria, highlights those players in the 10-school region and their athletic achievements.

The U-Prep girls got 18 points from freshman Jordan McCoy, 13 from Kaleia Mizuta and 12 from Madi Friebel as the Panthers downed Redding Christian 55-33 on Wednesday at home.

Enterprise can’t keep the fire going as the Hornets fall short to Pleasant Valley.

It should be no surprise that the Enterprise girls basketball team has the top spot in Division III in the first round of playoff points, released by the Northern Section this week.

The 19-5 Hornets are tops in record and divisional record and No. 2 in strength of schedule (SOS), earning 4 points. The playoff point formula takes into account those three factors to rank teams. The playoff committee meets Feb. 9 to set the brackets.

The Pleasant Valley High girls basketball team led by nine with about 5 ½ minutes left in the third quarter of Tuesday‘s monumental showdown at home against Eastern Athletic League leader Enterprise.

The Shasta Wolves played 30 minutes of pretty good basketball Tuesday against Foothill. Problem is, including the overtime period, the game lasted 36 minutes.

Foothill (18-7, 5-2 Eastern Athletic League took advantage of ice-in-the-veins free throw shooting late, five players in double figures and a few bad possessions by the Wolves to come away with a 72-67 EAL win at the Cougars’ Palace.

When it all comes together, it’s a beautiful thing.

For the past few weeks, the players on the Enterprise High have accepted their roles.

There’s a player in southern Shasta County who is quietly putting up a banner season for one of the best teams in the area and the Northern Section.

It isn’t just that Jadyn Matthews might be the most complete girls basketball player in the Northern Section. It’s that Matthews makes those around he better too.

The U-Prep girls basketball team is sitting at 5-1 in Northern Athletic League play heading into a tough three-game week that culminates with a showdown against West Valley, also 5-1 in league.

Last week, the Panthers did a good job of TCB (taking care of business) in NAL play, getting a tough home overtime win over Lassen and a road win against a CV team that’s not faring well in league but is vastly improved. For the perfect week, U-Prep is the Shasta County Sports Girls Basketball Team of the Week.

The wrestling league championships in the Northern Section are less than a week away and the Shasta County Sports staff wanted to dive into the California state rankings by weight class, involving only Northern Section grapplers.

Photo gallery from Enterprise’s 54-51 win over Foothill.

For nearly 15 minutes, Kayla Bonomini couldn’t miss.

Shasta College’s confidence has been growing since getting into Golden Valley Conference play, winning three of its past four games.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with …

West Valley’s 3-point shooting is a thing of beauty.

West Valley’s impressive 3-point shooting continues in a dominating 61-38 win over Anderson on Friday night to remain on top of the Northern Athletic League.

Nearing the end of January and it’s the Hornets who have the rhythm everyone is longing for.

Chico coach Abe Simmons said before Friday’s game that the Panthers Achilles heel all season has been the third period. The uber-young Panthers do well, he said, in the opening 16 minutes, but have had a hard time coming out of intermission.

The Shasta boys basketball team made Simmons’ words prophetic as the Wolves came out of the locker room nursing a 28-25 lead and proceeded to – after four-possession blip – blitz the Panthers for a 12-0 run over a two-minute span to extend the halftime lead from three to a 38-25 edge en route to a 69-56 victory at Harlan Carter Gym.

Photo gallery from Enterprise girls beating Foothill 73-31 on Jan. 24, 2019.

If one thing is confirmed after Thursday night, it’s that the Hornets are on a different planet compared to the rest of the Northern Section.

Hours before Chico High’s home dual against Foothill, Zach Soto wasn’t quite ready to take the mat.

Austin Larson never thought before the season started he’d be in consideration for an All-American honors.

For the sake of standings, a draw typically favors the road team. The Pleasant Valley High boys soccer team certainly felt that way after Wednesday’s home stalemate against Shasta.

Sadie Alexander has made a name for herself in the North State as one of the better on-ball defenders in the area. It took her two years of varsity to start to emerge as an all-around threat, going from solid complementary piece to Livi Lindsey to blossoming into a leader and dominant guard for Redding Christian.

Anderson High’s girls basketball team wasn’t supposed to beat Lassen and Yreka in back-to-back games.

Jim Deaver knew his Enterprise boys basketball team was getting close. The Hornets had been on a roller coaster of wins and losses before a 45-42 overtime loss to rival Foothill. In the loss, the east siders had shown moxie and a fire. The Hornets fell two nights later at Pleasant Valley, but Deaver’s crew bounced back and completed a three-win week last week, handling Red Bluff and rival Shasta at home before dispatching Ceres on Saturday in an MLK showcase game. The trifecta is good enough to earn this week’s Astro Jump Boys Basketball Team of the Week.

Khristian Clements had a monster week last week, averaging 14 points in Enterprise’s three wins and earns the Tri Counties Bank Boys Basketball Player of the Week for Week 8.

When you don’t have an explosive lights-out offense, you get it done in other ways.

New week, new attitude, new results. Four days after being thumped by Enterprise, the Shasta girls basketball team came out sharp on Tuesday and closed the first half of its Eastern Athletic League schedule with a resounding 63-47 win over Red Bluff at Harlan Carter Gymnasium.

With first place in the Eastern Athletic League up for grabs between Pleasant Valley and Foothill Tuesday at Varley Gym, it was the road team that came out as the aggressor.

The Five-Star League has belonged to the Lions for the past half-decade. And after Tuesday’s 39-20 home victory over Burney at Fitzpatrick Gymnasium, it doesn’t look like Redding Christian is slowing down any time soon.

Years ago, when I was at the newspaper, I wrote a basketball piece where I highlighted those kids who I loved watching. Not because they would fill up the basket with points, but because they were solid contributors who came to the job daily and just worked. I called them the Lunch Pail Gang.

When it’s crunch time, put the ball in Josiah Hutt’s hands.

The Foothill senior’s clutch nine-point fourth quarter helped Foothill knock off West Valley 53-45 on Saturday at Shasta College in The Annual “Think Pink” game.

Photo gallery from Enterprise beating Shasta 51-41 on Jan. 17, 2019.

Josh Latham is used to carrying the underdog role.

School lets out for Shasta and Enterprise around 2:30 p.m. every day but Wednesday.

Thursday night, the Hornets’ boys basketball team used a little night school to earn a 51-42 win over crosstown rival Shasta. The annual rivalry game featured courses in history, arithmetic, chemistry and physics.

At the midpoint of the season, the Hornets are finally settling into their roles and starting to figure it out.

Photo gallery of Redding Christian beating Chester 66-34.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County. We will update the scores and highlights daily (with the newer games on the top). We invites coaches to send in scores and game information at shastacountysports@gmail.com.

The Panthers’ defense is a force to be reckoned with.

The physical defense and ability to draw fouls for the University Prep Panthers helped knock off inner division West Valley 43-30 on Tuesday night.

Double team Austin Larson they say. Make the other guys beat you. Well, that didn’t work so well either.

A team full of snipers… the Eagles can flat out knock it down from distance.

When it comes to defense, there might not be a more tenacious girls basketball team in the Northern Section.

The equalizer. Trailing teams seek it and teams with the lead fight to not give it up.

Tuesday, the Pleasant Valley boys basketball team kept Shasta from grabbing the equalizer en route to a 63-53 Eastern Athletic League win at Harlan Carter Gym.

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. As cliche as it seems, it’s a rallying cry for many teams seeking the heights of their sport.

The Enterprise Hornets took a step toward that axiom with their Eastern Athletic League win Friday over Pleasant Valley, last year’s Division II state runner up. And while this year’s Vikings team is different from last year’s squad, PV beat Enterprise last season in the Northern Section Division III finals and the Hornets want to be in the Vikings’ shoes this year.

You don’t have to be a die-hard hoop head to be able to make a case for Jadyn Matthews to win the Tri Counties Bank Girls Basketball Player of the Week nearly every week. The Enterprise senior is next level in the Northern Section, leading in scoring and at the top of most other statistical categories. She’s the first two-time winner of the Shasta County Sports weekly honor.

The only thing better than beating your rival during the season is beating both of your rivals.

Expectations were high this season for U-Prep’s Jordan Miller.

Rank the players from the Midseason MVP Watch List by click on the Up Arrow or Down Arrow next to each player’s name.

Rank the players from the Midseason MVP Watch List by click on the Up Arrow or Down Arrow next to each player’s name.

We offer 15 players who’ve shown they can come night in, night out and give their team an opportunity to win. Making the list doesn’t ensure postseason honors (just as not making this list doesn’t exclude from a possible MVP run).

There’s still a ton of basketball still to be played between now and the section finals in late February. But the start of league, it’s time to take a look at those players that have stepped up their game over the preseason and enter league as legitimate MVP candidates.

Live by the 3, die by the 3.

The Knights women’s team couldn’t help but think about the deep-shooting disparity after it helped them in the first half, only to finish shooting 17 percent for the game.

As Shasta’s offense stalled for a six-minute period in the second half, Butte feasted on the Knights’ sudden famine.

The Foothill High girls basketball team pounded Shasta 71-49 Friday night in Eastern Athletic League play, scoring 20 of its 26 field goals in the paint to move to 11-7 on the year and 1-1 in the EAL.

When the best of both worlds combine, there’s no stopping the Foothill High girls basketball team.

The Cougars got their shots to fall from the outside early on and it opened up the inside game for senior Jenna Wallace & Co. to take over in a 71-49 dominating home win over Shasta Friday night at The Palace.

Watch out, the Eagles are rolling.

Another impressive outing for the West Valley Eagles as they cruised to another dominant league victory Friday night over Lassen 72-48.

Here’s a daily recap of prep sports action around Shasta County.

There’s a 1954 book called “How to Lie with Statistics.” The premise is that numbers can, at times, be distorted and twisted to tell half-truths and partial stories.

There was no stretching the truth Thursday to the fact that the stat sheet said the Foothill boys basketball team outrebounded Shasta 36-18 in a 65-53 Eastern Athletic League win at Harlan Carter Gym. The other telling stat was that the Cougars made as many free throws as the Wolves had boards.

Foothill High’s basketball team survived a scare, beating rival Enterprise 45-42 on Jan. 8, 2019 to open Eastern Athletic League play with a win.