Fighter hoping to move up
The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
MAGAKIAN SET FOR RETURN TO CAGE
Firmly entrenched in a quest to get back within the confines of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Glendale mixed-martial-arts fighter Sevak Magakian will return to the cage on April 6 and will do so for the second time under the banner of Alberto Crane’s National Fight Alliance MMA.
The event, which emanates from the Warner Center in Woodland Hills and begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature Magakian (10-3), who was a cast member on a prior season of the “The Ultimate Fighter,” and since recovering from an injury sustained on the show, he’s won his last two fights in impressive fashion.
He defeated Eddie Mendez in just 49 seconds via submission on Jan. 28 following a first-round technical knockout of David Gardener in the main event of NFAMMA’s Oct. 29, 2011 card in Burbank.
An opponent for Magakian is still yet to be released.
SEVEN EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
Seven girls’ basketball players received All-Pacific League honors, highlighted by Crescenta Valley High sophomore forward Ella Stepanian being named to the first team. Stepanian averaged 14.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Falcons, who went 15-12, 7-7 in league to tie for fourth place.
It marked the second straight season that Stepanian garnered first-team accolades.
“To be recognized is a big deal,” Crescenta Valley Coach Jason Perez said. “She had a great season, not only with scoring, but with steals, assists and rebounds.
“She did a little bit of everything.”
Catherine Davis of Crescenta Valley, Kris Zadourian of Glendale and Hoover’s Kariz Alberto were selected to the second team.
Davis, a senior guard, averaged 10.1 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Zadourian, a junior guard/forward, averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game for the Nitros (10-15, 4-10 for seventh place). Alberto, a senior point guard, averaged a team-high 18 points per game for Hoover (3-18, 0-14 for eighth place).
Samira Seraji of Crescenta Valley, Glendale’s Nina Sahakian and Samantha Barakat of Hoover were honorable mention selections. Seraji, a senior forward, averaged eight points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Sahakian, a senior center, averaged nine points and seven rebounds per game. Barakat, a senior guard, averaged 12 points per game.
TAN EARNS ALL-LEAGUE ACCOLADE
Flintridge Prep senior Suzanna Tan was selected to the All-Prep League girls’ water polo second team. Tan, a driver, was named to the All-Area second team last season. Flintridge Prep finished 6-10, 2-10 in league for sixth place.
REBELS REMAIN RANKED SIXTH
The Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball team is the only local team to be ranked among the top 10 in its division, according to the latest CIF Southern Section polls released Monday.
The Rebels are ranked sixth in Division V behind Chadwick, Vistamar, Pasadena Poly, Viewpoint and San Gabriel Academy.