Norco’s Arriaran Earns Player of Year Award

Erika Arriaran, a 5-foot-10 guard from Norco, has been named the State Farm/Women’s Basketball Coaches Assn. High School Player of the Year for 2005.

Arriaran, who has committed to Texas, is averaging 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists. She has led the Cougars to a 26-0 record and the No. 2 seeding in the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs.

She was a Times’ All-Star and a Parade magazine second-team selection last season, when she averaged 17.1 points and led Norco (27-5) to its first section title game.

Arriaran will be honored on April 2 at the University of Indianapolis, where she will also compete in the 14th annual WBCA High School All-American game.

Joining her in the game will be Newhall Hart’s Ashlee Trebilcock, a 5-9 guard who has committed to UCLA. The Indians (21-5) are seeded fifth in the Division I-AA playoffs.

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Baseball

Nick Akins, a top junior outfielder who transferred from Los Angeles High to City Section power Woodland Hills El Camino Real, has been granted a hardship waiver by the City Section, clearing him to play this season.

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--Eric Sondheimer