HIGH SCHOOL CLOSE-UPS

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

MIKE DANIELIAN

Sr., Van Nuys Grant

Then: His scoring ability first came to fruition in a 36-point game on the freshman team three years ago. After playing junior varsity as a sophomore, he went on to average 21.1 points a game last season, making 99 three-pointers. He made eight three-pointers and scored 36 points in a Sunset Six League game against Lake Balboa Birmingham in January, then 12 days later tied a school record with nine three-pointers in a 42-point effort against Hollywood.

Now: Scored 50 of Grant’s 66 points in an 18-point loss to Thousand Oaks on Dec. 8, tying a school record set six years earlier by current Washington Wizard point guard Gilbert Arenas. The 6-foot-2 guard tied another Arenas record two days later when he scored 30 of his 49 points in the second half of a 12-point victory over Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

Quote: “We kind of knew he could go off like this,” Coach Howard Levine said. “He had 69 points in a 44-minute alumni game a couple weeks ago.”

Dan Arritt

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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

KRISTA ARASE

Sr., Alhambra Keppel

Then: Arrived as a much-heralded freshman point guard, and with the team of sure-shooters that Keppel fielded her first two seasons, fit right in as the unselfish playmaker who helped the program go 49-6. But with the graduation by Monique Diaz, Jessica Liang and others, the burden of scoring shifted more to Arase. Her scoring increase her first three seasons was gradual, 6.5, nine and 11.8 points.

Now: Coach Minnie Caluag wants Arase to be more selfish with the basketball. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 21.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in her team’s four victories to win the Brea Olinda tournament. The Aztecs, beaten in the section quarterfinals the last three seasons, defeated three teams in The Times’ top 25, including Redondo for the championship.

Quote: “We got a pretty good draw, so we’re hoping to capitalize on that, but it’s still a tough tournament,” Arase said of the Artesia tournament that begins Saturday. “People are ready for us now; they’re not going to take us lightly. It was funny, every time we’d walk in the gym at Brea, they’d laugh because we’re really short and all Asian, but we use that as motivation to play harder.”

Martin Henderson

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BOYS’ SOCCER

ALEX MORENO

Jr., Santa Ana Saddleback

Then: After showing promise by scoring five goals in nonleague games as a sophomore reserve last season, Moreno was suspended from school for his involvement in an on-campus fight in December. He was given a disciplinary transfer to Santa Ana Century, where he was not allowed to participate in sports during the spring semester. The action forced Moreno to sit out the remainder of the soccer season, as well as the track and field season.

Now: Having returned to Saddleback in the fall, Moreno (6 feet 2, 163 pounds) is a starter at forward. He has a team-high six goals, is second with four assists and helped Saddleback (8-0-0) to its second consecutive Long Beach Millikan tournament title last week. Moreno scored twice in a 3-1 semifinal victory over Anaheim Esperanza and recorded the first two goals in a 3-2 victory over Millikan in the championship game. The Roadrunners are at No. 8 in this week’s national rankings by Student Sports magazine. They open Golden West League play against Santa Ana today.

Quote: “He knew last week’s games were important, and he played like it,” Saddleback Coach Mel Silva said. “It’s always nice to see somebody mature. Now he’s a go-to guy and he loves it.”

-- Lauren Peterson