CLOSE-UPS

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

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JUSTIN SOBCZYK

Sr., Palm Desert

Then: Gained valuable experience as a freshman guard on the Palm Desert team that advanced to the Southern Section Division III-AA championship game. He earned a starting role as a sophomore and last season averaged 18.2 points and 4.1 assists in leading the Aztecs to a 16-11 record. He was a Division III-AA second-team selection.

Now: The 6-foot-1 guard has been especially hot lately, scoring 25 points Friday in an 89-65 victory over defending Desert Valley League champion Cathedral City and 31 points Monday in a 71-58 victory over Inglewood in the Martin Luther King Invitational at Riverside King. Sobczyk is within 35 points of breaking the school’s career scoring record of 1,164, established by Josh Zazulia in 2002. Sobczyk is averaging 19.5 points and 5.2 assists for the Aztecs (14-6).

Quote: “He can flat out score,” Coach Don Brady said. “He hit three three-pointers to open the game against Inglewood, but because he drives so well, when they got in his face, he was home free.”

Dan Arritt

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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

TONI THOMAS

Sr., Fontana Miller

Then: As a sophomore, Thomas scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds against Lynwood in the second round of the playoffs, and as a junior, she had 27 points and 12 rebounds in the third round against Long Beach Poly -- both losses. She was twice named All-Citrus Belt League, and last year was the school’s first league MVP in girls’ basketball. She broke single-season scoring and rebounding records, averaging 18.6 points and 12 rebounds.

Now: Miller, ranked No. 16 by The Times, has emerged as one of the Southland’s most surprising teams. Although 5-foot-3 freshman point guard Briana Hall has made a huge impact, and junior guard Jasmine Blanche remains a stalwart on offense, Thomas is clearly the team leader. She has averaged 19.2 points, shot 62% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line. The 5-foot-11 forward has also averaged 12.2 rebounds and has blocked 27 shots.

Quote: “She’s starting to really understand the game and now she’s making everyone around her better,” Coach Mel Wilkins said. “When she’s in her zone, no one can stop her.”

Martin Henderson

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GIRLS’ SOCCER

HAYLEY BOLT

Sr., Los Alamitos

Then: On varsity since her freshman season, Bolt had five goals and three assists last season while helping Los Alamitos to the Sunset League championship. The Griffins were seeded No. 2 in the Southern Section Division I playoffs but lost in the first round to Capistrano Valley, a wild-card team that went on to tie San Clemente for the division title. The defeat didn’t sit well with Bolt because she missed the game with a severe respiratory condition. Bolt was on the Irvine Strikers’ club team that won the prestigious Score at the Shore tournament in Long Island, N.Y., last summer.

Now: Bolt, a center midfielder and team captain, has committed to Long Beach State. She lends poise and maturity to the Griffins (14-2-4, 2-0-2), ranked No. 4 in the Southern Section Division IV coaches’ poll and No. 15 nationally by Student Sports magazine. Bolt, who has nine goals and seven assists, scored the only goal in a 1-0 nonleague decision over Santa Margarita, which was top-ranked nationally at the time, and scored twice in a 4-2 victory over Anaheim Esperanza in a Sunset League opener.

Quote: “I love how it feels to win,” Bolt said. “Anything I can do to push us one step farther, I’ll do.”

-- Lauren Peterson