Knights fall to defending champs

  • Despite 28 points by sophomore Ben Wood, the Las Lomas High boys basketball team ended its season in the North Coast Section Division II quarterfinals with a 66-50 loss to Newark Memorial on Feb. 23. The Knights couldn't recover after falling behind 27-16 at halftime. Wood hit five shots from beyond the arc against the defending champions.

    -- Stephanie Hammon

    Mintuemen, Spartans win NCS titles

  • The city of Concord celebrated two North Coast Section boys soccer championships on Feb. 23. Concord High beat Campolindo 1-0 on a goal by Evan Farmer for the Division II crown. Then De La Salle topped San Ramon Valley 1-0 on Nick Dildine's golden goal for the Division I title. Concord earned its first ever section title in boys soccer while De La Salle captured its fifth straight.

    -- Stephanie Hammon

    Falcons show well at NCS

  • The College Park High boys wrestling team took sixth place at the North Coast Section wrestling championships Feb. 23, led by senior Anthony Urbina's fourth-place finish at 145 pounds. Other medalists for the Falcons include Mark Wilhelm (fifth at 152 pounds), Grant Hamant (fifth at 195 pounds) and Kailen Kelley (eighth at 106 pounds). -- Stephanie Hammon

    Cougars win thriller,

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    but lose final

  • The Campolindo High boys soccer team reached the North Coast Section Division II final with a dramatic semifinal win over No. 2 Ygnacio Valley on Feb. 20. The Cougars rallied from two goals down to post a 4-3 win. Kian Maghsoodnia tied the game in stoppage time, then Preston Kilwien provided the game-winner in overtime. But the Cougars couldn't solve Concord's defense in the championship game, losing 1-0.

    -- Stephanie Hammon

    On deck

  • CIF championships, wrestling, March 1-2, all day -- The state's top wrestlers take over Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

  • NorCal seeding meeting, basketball, March 3, all day -- The release of NorCal seedings holds a little more excitement than usual with the debut of the Open Division.

  • Miramonte at Campolindo, boys tennis, March 5, 3 p.m. -- The two rivals will face off in an early season DFAL matchup.

    Stars of the week

  • Dylan Walsh, Las Lomas wrestling -- The senior won the heavyweight title at the NCS championships on Feb. 23, beating Newark Memorial's Jacob Clausen 3-1 in the final. Walsh recorded two pins in his run to the 285-pound championship.

  • Darya Ashim, Diablo Valley College women's tennis -- The freshman from Westmoor High improved to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 8 play at No. 1 singles for the Vikings. She's also part of the undefeated No. 1 doubles team.

  • Ashley Ewing, Campolindo girls basketball -- Ewing's 13 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals powered the Cougars past Novato 65-30 in the NCS Division III quarterfinals on Feb. 22.

  • Emmanuel Jimenez, Concord boys soccer -- The goalkeeper posted shutouts in the semifinals and championship match to lead the Minutemen to their first ever NCS Division II boys soccer title.

  • Preston Kilwien, Campolindo boys soccer -- The sophomore scored two late goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to give the Cougars a thrilling 4-3 comeback win over Ygnacio Valley in the NCS Division II semifinals on Feb. 20.