Photo by Robert Ketterling
Boys Basketball:
San Dimas has earned its first CIF-SS title game appearance since Gary Prestesater led the program to a championship in 1999.
The Saints will take on Aquinas on Saturday morning at 11:15 at the Toyota Center in Ontario.
Don’t let the Falcons 16-16 record fool you.
AHS scheduled a very tough nonseason schedule, including teams from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
Thus far, Aquinas has defeated Pasadena Poly, Glendale, Torrance and Keppel by a combined margin of 246-181 in the CIF-SS Division 3A playoffs.
The most impressive being a 62-38 victory over Keppel (26-6) in last week’s semifinal.
The Falcons (5-3) finished second to Linfield Christian (7-1) in the Ambassador League.
AHS averages 54 points a game, and they’ve surrendered 55 PPG through the first 32 games of the 2024-25 season.
Aquinas is ranked No. 335 in the state by MaxPreps, and they take a five-game win streak into Saturday’s final.
LJ Hall leads AHS in points (15) and assists (4).
Malachi Jones averages 11 points, 11 rebounds and two steals per game.
Vincent Warsaw scores 11 points per game to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals.
Jumaa Kitendo averages 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the Falcons.
San Dimas currently sits 101 points higher (234) than Aquinas in the MaxPreps state rankings.
Through the first four games of the D-3A playoffs, the Saints have defeated Calvary Chapel Santa Ana, Esperanza, Providence and Norte Vista by a combined margin of 241-210.
Last Friday, SDHS held Norte Vista to 19 points under their scoring average to claim a 74-65 victory.
And three days prior, they trailed late in overtime at Providence, but the Saints escaped Burbank with a one-point (65-64) road win.
San Dimas continues to show its balance offensively.
In those four postseason victories, Nathan Yearout, Andrew Diep, Luke Chavez and Jeremiah Garzon have at least one game where they either tied or led the Saints in scoring.
Yearout had 28 against Providence after six 3-pointers, and last Friday, he and Diep led the program with 17 points apiece against Norte Vista.
Jeremiah Garzon led SDHS with 18 points in the first round (CCSA), and Luke Chavez had a team-high 16 points in the second-round win at Esperanza.
As they head into Saturday’s D-3A final, Nathan Yearout has a program-best 63 points through four postseason games, followed by Jeremiah Garzon (60), Luke Chavez (47), Andrew Diep (42) and Angelo Fares (15).
Diep has been the unsung hero with his ability to find SDHS teammates for easy baskets or open shots.
Diep has shown an impressive ability to run the San Dimas offense, while reading their opponent’s defense.
He isn’t a 4.6 GPA student-athlete by mistake.
Yearout and Chavez have displayed their senior moxie by scoring in critical moments, including in games where they’ve struggled offensively.
Perhaps no one has emerged as a future star than sophomore, Jeremiah Garzon.
The 6-foot-6 Garzon has been the second leading scorer in three of their four wins, and as mentioned, he had a game-high 18 points in the playoff against Calvary Chapel Santa Ana.
Garzon has been a huge asset down low, including his ability to rebound and alter shots.
Angelo Fares’ worth is far more than the 15 points he’s totaled in the playoffs.
He has proven to be a game changer on the defensive end when his name is called.
Last Friday, he held Carter Fulton to 13 points, which was 30 less than Fulton had in the quarterfinal and 17 less than he averaged in the postseason.
To purchase tickets, go to: www.gofan.co.
San Dimas’ Postseason Individual Scorers:
Semifinal vs Norte Vista: Andrew Diep 17, Nathan Yearout 17, Jeremiah Garzon 16, Angelo Fares 11, Luke Chavez 10, Payton Hartney 3
Quarterfinal vs Providence: Nathan Yearout 28, Luke Chavez 12, Jeremiah Garzon 12, Andrew Diep 10, Angelo Fares 3
Second Round vs Esperanza: Luke Chavez 16, Jeremiah Garzon 14, Nathan Yearout 12, Andrew Diep 4, Payton Hartney 3, Ethan Zemetra 2, Angelo Fares 1
First Round vs CCSA: Jeremiah Garzon 18, Andrew Diep 11, Luke Chavez 9, Nathan Yearout 6, Krishna Ramnani 4, Isaiah Capacete 2
SDHS Playoff Point Leaders:
Nathan Yearout: 63
Jeremiah Garzon: 60
Luke Chavez: 47
Andrew Diep: 42
Angelo Fares: 15
San Dimas Playoff Schedule-Results:
2/12: San Dimas 50, Calvary Chapel Santa Ana 27
2/14: San Dimas 52, Esperanza 54
2/18: San Dimas 65, Providence 64 (OT)
2/21: San Dimas 74, Norte Vista 65
3/1: San Dimas vs Aquinas at Toyota Center
Aquinas’ Playoff Schedule-Results:
2/12: Aquinas 58, Pasadena Poly 41
2/14: Aquinas 68, Glendale 59
2/18: Aquinas 58, Torrance 43
2/21: Aquinas 62, Keppel 38
3/1: Aquinas vs San Dimas at Toyota Center
Baseball: Rancho Cucamonga cruised to an 8-0 victory over Ontario Christian to extend their current win streak to six games. Brock Foulds and Jacob Peyton combined on a five-hit shutout. Foulds went four innings, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two OCHS batters. Peyton got the final nine outs, including five via strikeout. […]
Baseball: Orange Lutheran and Arcadia met up on Friday in a battle of the No. 22 (OL) and No. 23 (AHS) ranked teams in the state (MaxPreps). And the Lancers cruised to a 5-1 victory. Orange Lu scored three times in the first inning, and they plated another run in the second to take a […]
Baseball: La Salle scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 5-4 Del Rey League victory over their visitors from Paraclete. The Lancers out-hit the Spirits, 12-7. Anthony Hernandez went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Hernandez walked one and fanned a pair of Lancers. Cole Mercier was […]
Baseball: Marshall Fundamental couldn’t possibly have started Mission Valley League play in more dominating fashion. The Eagles threw five-inning no-hitters in 10-0 and 15-0 victories over Mountain View and Gabrielino, respectively. On Friday, Caleb Thatcher went four scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win. Thatcher walked one and struck out nine GHS batters. Of […]
Baseball: Los Altos picked up their first Hacienda League win of the season after Friday’s 2-1 victory over their visitors from San Dimas. Carlos Montes went the distance for the Conquerors and allowed one run on four hits. Montes walked two and fanned a pair of Saints. In the top of the third inning, SDHS […]
Baseball: Maranatha finished 2-2 at the Boras Classic after Friday’s 3-1 victory over Cypress. Jacob Yun went three innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. Yun walked one and fanned a pair of CHS batters. Carson Kelly got the win after two scoreless and hitless innings. Kelly walked three. Kaden Lai earned the save […]
Baseball: South Hills finished 2-2 at the Southern Warrior Classic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee after Friday’s 5-3 victory over James Clemens High School. Joseph Moreno earned the win after going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Moreno issued seven walks and fanned eight JCHS batters. Nicolas Munoz provided 1 2/3 innings in relief […]
Softball: Charter Oak remained unbeaten on Thursday. The Chargers claimed a 9-2 victory over their visitors from San Dimas in a nonleague contest. COHS is not 6-0 in 2025. Leila Diebert went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. Diebert didn’t issue a walk and struck out 12 SDHS batters. She got […]
Baseball: Alta Loma scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to secure a 4-2 victory at Yorba Linda. Nathaniel Pimentel went four scoreless innings and allowing two hits. Pimentel walked three and struck out five YLHS batters. Logan Sein earned the win after going four innings and surrendering two runs on three hits. […]
