Anderson a Popular Choice

City Section officials made a decision this year that pleased many coaches. Administrators ruled that City teams would be allowed to play in three tournaments this season, one more than previously was allowed.

Nobody, however, is more grateful than Kennedy High’s Garret Anderson.

Anderson, a senior guard, was named the most valuable player of the Birmingham tournament last week after averaging 27.7 points in three games.

The selection completed a tournament trifecta for Anderson: He was selected to the all-tournament teams in the Simi Valley and Hamilton tournaments.

Offense: Grant senior Rene de la Hoya, who Coach Howard Levine has called “a shining light” for the Lancers (10-3), is shooting a scorching 65.1% from the field, having made 71 of 109 field-goal attempts.

Defense: Returning from an ankle injury that had sidelined him for one game, Westlake’s Essam Ibrahim set a school record with 10 steals in the Warriors’ 81-62 win over Bishop Carroll at the Calgary Classic on Dec. 28.

Ibrahim, a 6-foot-1 senior point guard, has 43 steals in 10 games.

VALLEY BASKETBALL TOP 10

Selected by sportswriters of The Times

Last Rk Wk Team League Record 1 3 Cleveland North Valley 10-4 2 2 N. Hollywood Mid-Valley 12-1 3 7 Taft North Valley 9-4 4 1 Grant East Valley 10-3 5 6 Antelope Valley Golden 11-3 6 9 Hart Foothill 11-4 7 8 Camarillo Marmonte 9-3 8 4 Crescenta Valley Pacific 8-5 9 NR Kennedy North Valley 6-5 10 10 Royal Marmonte 11-3

NR--Not ranked.

Through Tuesday’s games.