Prep roundup: SRJC women's basketball has local flavor

Cardinal Newman grad and Santa Rosa Junior College freshman Tiffany Salinas is leading the Bear Cubs women's basketball team with 10 points per game. She ranks second in rebounds with four to Zaina Depina's six per game. Depina, a sophomore out of St. Helena High, is averaging more than seven points per game. LaDonna Saint Louis, a freshman forward who prepped at Montgomery, is averaging six points and almost two rebounds per game for the 1-4 Bear Cubs.

The Bear Cubs open the SRJC Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament at Haehl Pavilion at 8 p.m. Thursday against Skyline College.

CHANGING SEASONS

When Santa Rosa's football team was eliminated from the NCS football playoffs, Panthers basketball coach John McGill picked up six new players. He wasn't rooting against the football team but he welcomed the addition of Isaiah Steele, Kalei Aukai, Jo Jo Salinas, Blake Thomas, Trevon Manning and Cassius Banks.

Several of the newcomers played in last weekend's Russ Peterich Tipoff Classic at Montgomery where the Panthers finished sixth. Steele was named to the all-tournament team.

CHANGING DIRECTION

Analy boys coach Brett Page believes it takes football players two to three weeks to get fit for basketball.

He picked up two players after the Tigers football team was eliminated in the football playoffs. Jack Newman and Spencer Vogel are part of a team that has won its first three games.

JAGS' TWIN ENGINES

Windsor twins Riley Smith and Justin Smith both were selected to the all-tournament team at last weekend's Fred Iten Tournament in Ukiah. Riley scored 31 when the Jaguars defeated Fortuna, 61-43, to garner third place.

Kobe Roman, the quarterback on the Windsor football team, traded his cleats for gym shoes and is now a member of the basketball squad.

“He played his freshman and sophomore years but didn't play as a junior,” coach Travis Taylor said.

STILL FOOTBALL SEASON

The high school football season continues on as schools from throughout California, including Cardinal Newman, make a final push toward possible state championships. This weekend's regional bowl games - Newman will be at Valley Christian in San Jose on Friday for their Division 2-AA game - will determine the championship game matchups in the CIF's 13 football divisions.

Championship games are Dec. 16-17, with the highest- ranked teams playing at Sacramento State's Hornet Field.

HE'S GOT GOALS

Redwood Empire junior Brady Scott was one of 40 players named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Youth All-America team for 2016.

Scott, a goalkeeper, spent two years at Petaluma High, but is now taking classes online to accommodate an extensive travel schedule. He has been to Europe twice this fall for trials with pro soccer clubs.

Scott, who has verbally committed to the University of Virginia, will be honored along with the other All-Americans at a luncheon at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 14.

Kerry Benefield, Howard Senzell and Phil Barber contributed to this report.