Quartz Hill Stays in High Gear

Quartz Hill High may be smaller this season, but the victories are just as big.

After the graduation of twin towers Jared Corpening (6 feet 9) and Sahael Almuallem (6-8), the Rebels don’t intimidate anybody with their size.

But the Rebels restructured their offense in the off-season around 6-1 Tony Johnson, a versatile shooting guard who is averaging 20 points and 6.3 assists.

“We needed to take advantage of Tony, to allow him to post up and be able to create off the dribble,” Quartz Hill Coach Bernard Nichter said. “I think he’s the best player in the [Antelope] Valley. It’s going to be hard for anyone to stop him.”

The Rebels (11-3, 1-0 in Golden League play) won or shared the league title the last two seasons, and are off to a better start this season.

“Everybody seems to like each other on this team,” Nichter said. “It’s a completely different team, but we seem to mesh really well together.”

In a game with league-title ramifications, Quartz Hill plays at Lancaster (12-4, 1-0) on Jan. 19.

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Chris Tarne scored 48 points and James Jenkins added 31, but Crescenta Valley still lost to Victor Valley because Jimmy Goffredo failed to score.

Goffredo, a sophomore guard, has missed five games, including a 94-88 loss to Victor Valley, because of a hip injury and is questionable for tonight’s Pacific League opener against Glendale.

“We’re losing 20 points a game and our best defender [without him],” Crescenta Valley Coach Jim Smiley said. “It’s a lot tougher.”

Goffredo is expected to return for the Falcons (12-3) in time for next Tuesday’s game against Muir (12-2).