NOTEBOOK : Ribet Academy to Seek Title Against University

The Ribet Academy boys’ basketball team will be after its first state championship when the Fighting Frogs play University High of San Francisco on Friday night in the Division V final at the Oakland Coliseum.

Ribet (31-2), which won its second consecutive Southern Section title two weeks ago, advanced to the state final with a 63-56 overtime victory over Rio Hondo Prep last Saturday.

University (29-3) advanced to the final by defeating defending state champion Colusa, 74-73.

“We have not played well so far in the state playoffs,” Ribet Coach Michael Miller said. “The kids really want to win, maybe too much.”

Ribet is led by senior guard Jrmirol Duncan, senior forwards Chris Maxwell and Jaiquin Moore, and sophomore center Andre English, whose free throw with three seconds left against Rio Hondo Prep sent the game into overtime.

University is led by forward Linton Elliott, who scored 33 points against Colusa.

All-star game: Six boys and seven girls from Glendale-area high schools will participate in the West San Gabriel Valley All-Star Classic basketball games March 23 at La Canada High.

The players, all seniors, were selected from among 31 high schools and will be split into squads representing the East and West.

On the boys’ West team will be: Jeff Lord and Sean Whiting of La Canada; Brad Haines of Crescenta Valley; Duncan and Maxwell of Ribet Academy; and Kyle Barrett of St. Francis.

Mike Fisher, who averaged 45.9 points a game for Southwestern Academy in San Marino, is among the members of the East team.

Included on the girls’ West team will be: Berlyn Cosman of Crescenta Valley; Karen Pearson and Allison Triarsi of Flintridge Prep; Debbie Nilsen and Meghan Smith of Flintridge Sacred Heart; Tracy Purdy of La Canada; and Kate Stoll of Ribet Academy.

John Goffredo of Crescenta Valley will coach the boys’ West team and Gene McCreadie of Temple City will coach the East.

Lori MacDonald of South Pasadena will coach the girls’ West team and Frank Polito of Ramona Convent will coach the East.

The girls will play at 6:30 p.m. The boys will play at 8:30.

Honor roll: Melissa Lord, a sophomore who averaged 17.5 points and 11.6 rebounds a game for the La Canada girls’ basketball team, was selected as the most valuable player of the Rio Hondo League. Lord was one of three Spartans named to the All-Rio Hondo League team. Also honored were senior Tracy Purdy and sophomore Ashless Givens.

More honors: Three members of the La Canada boys’ soccer team, which won its fourth consecutive Rio Hondo League title, were selected to the all-league team.

Senior sweeper/midfielder Roy Messineo was named offensive player of the year and junior stopper Kenny Burns was selected defensive player of the year. Junior defender Vahram Mossaedi also made the first team.

Making a racket: Matt Leising did not allow a hit in five innings in Glendale’s 16-2 victory over La Canada last week in his first outing on the mound.

Leising, a senior, played tennis the past three seasons before turning out for baseball this season.

But Leising, who is also the Dynamiters’ cleanup hitter, won’t have problems keeping in touch with his former teammates. The baseball and tennis teams will travel together to away league contests.

“He’ll be on the same bus,” Coach Chris Axelgard said, “but with a different uniform.”

Staff writer Kirby Lee contributed to this notebook.