Garbers, Saffell still committed to Cal
Chase Garbers and Michael Saffell have a lot in common.
They both wrapped up their senior football seasons last month, Garbers at Corona del Mar High and Saffell at Edison.
They both led their respective programs to CIF Southern Section finals appearances.
They both planned to continue their football careers at Cal, Garbers as a quarterback and Saffell as a center.
Those plans of teaming up haven’t changed, despite the Golden Bears firing Sonny Dykes last Sunday.
Garbers and Saffell both said they are still committed to Cal.
“[I] can’t wait to find out who my new coach is,” Garbers said. “Nothing will change my mind about Cal. No schools have offered but I have been messaged by other schools, which is expected.
“I’m still a Cal Bear. Nothing will change that.”
Saffell said he felt the same way.
“At this point, I am committed and still waiting to hear more information on the coaching job,” Saffell said.
Cal named offensive coordinator Jake Spavital as the interim coach and Garbers has been lobbying on social media for Spavital to take over.
The school announced that it is looking to hire a head coach as soon as possible, as national signing day is on Feb. 1, the first day seniors like Garbers and Saffell can sign with a college.
Hoops showcase on MLK Day
For those looking for something to do on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Costa Mesa and Estancia boys’ basketball programs are playing host to Coach Mike’s Long Shot Challenge on Monday.
The one-day, 24-team showcase benefits the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation in Irvine. Beside Costa Mesa and Estancia, other local schools involved are Edison, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Ocean View and Fountain Valley.
The event features quality programs, as Edison is on the CIF Southern Section Open Division watch list, CdM is ranked No. 15 in Division 1A and Capistrano Valley is No. 3 in Division 2A. Other ranked teams competing are Goleta Dos Pueblos, No. 14 in Division 2A, Laguna Beach, No. 12 in Division 3AA, Ocean View, No. 13 in Division 3AA, Brea Olinda, No. 10 in Division 3A, City of Industry Workman, No. 7 in Division 4AA, Riverside Carnegie, No. 1 in Division 6, and Estancia, No. 12 in Division 4A.
Six games will take place at Costa Mesa, and six at Estancia.
Below is the schedule for the games at Costa Mesa:
University vs. Capistrano Valley Christian, 11 a.m.
Capistrano Valley vs. Dos Pueblos, 12:30 p.m.
Laguna Beach vs. Santa Fe, 2 p.m.
CdM vs. Carnegie, 3:30 p.m.
Edison vs. Servite, 5 p.m.
Costa Mesa vs. Workman, 6:30 p.m.
Below is the schedule for the games at Estancia:
Fountain Valley vs. Westminster, 12 p.m.
Orangewood Academy vs. Palos Verdes Peninsula Chadwick, 1:30 p.m.
Brea Olinda vs. Elsinore, 3 p.m.
Ocean View vs. Trabuco Hills, 4:30 p.m.
Mission Viejo vs. Canyon, 6 p.m.
Estancia vs. Dana Hills, 7:30 p.m.
Phair, Dennison make MaxPreps All-State team
Edison senior outside hitter Hannah Phair and senior libero Dani Dennison earned MaxPreps California All-State Division 1 girls’ volleyball honors.
The duo led the Chargers to the CIF State Division I title, as well as share of the Sunset League crown.
Phair, who is heading to UCLA for women’s sand volleyball, totaled 376 kills, 286 digs and 47 services aces.
Dennison, bound to TCU for women’s indoor volleyball, amassed 612 digs, an Edison single-season record, and 42 aces and 100 assists.
Pacifica Christian basketball cracks CIF poll
In its inaugural varsity boys’ basketball season, freshman Dominick Harris is putting tiny Pacifica Christian on the map.
The Tritons (11-2) find themselves ranked in a CIF Southern Section poll for the first time. They’re No. 2 in Division 6, and Harris, a 6-foot-2 point guard, is a big reason why. He is averaging 24.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.7 steals per game.
Newport Harbor’s Alex Michaelsen picks up another offer
Newport Harbor senior long snapper Alex Michaelsen said he has received an offer from Cal’s football program.
The Golden Bears join Army as the two programs to offer Michaelsen.
