I just started getting interested in sports. Actually just watching them. Not really participating. Especially basketball and football are my two most favorite sports out of everything else. Although football I dont really watch on TV, I like watching High school football games. Its fun just going there supporting your school and at the same time hangin out with your friends. Basketball has always been my favorite. I think the basketball season is better than football. Basketball, you could go sit on both sides and its indoor. Its not like you're outside in the stadium, sitting on the bleechers, freezing to death. Also, you get to talk to more people and its more exciting because everyone's in a small lil' room unlike the football stadium where u have to walk a million miles to get to the other end and you cant even sit on the other side unless you pay again.

I really thought the basketball games last season was exciting. Eventhough bhs didnt make it to the play-offs. It was a good game vs. Taft high. I would never forget that game because somethin special happened at that time that will always make me laugh whenever I think about it. And plus! yes! it was a good game! Everybody was standing up at the end because it was a close score for both school. I never thought that school sports would be fun to go to every friday nights.

The West Valley League

FROM: dailynews.com 
Last season: 2001

TOP FIVE RETURNING PLAYERS 

 
Steve Smith
WR
Taft
Region's best since NP's Leodis Van Buren


Kevin McCleary
RB 
Birmingham 
1,385 yards, 24 TDs as Jr.


Scott Jensen
QB 
Birmingham
City's leading returning passer 


Bryan Wilson 
RB/DB 
Granada Hills
Don't blink or you'll miss him


Mike Kushnatsian
DL
Birmingham
Harder to block than say his name



BIG GAMES

Sept. 7: Crenshaw at Taft 
Sept. 14: San Pedro at Birmingham 
Oct. 12: Birmingham at Taft 
Nov. 9: Taft at Granada Hills 
Nov. 9: Birmingham at ECR 

EXTREMES

BIGGEST: Andre Berkeley, OL, Cleveland
FASTEST: Chad Green, WR/DB, Birmingham
STRONGEST: David Mughaeam, DL, El Camino Real
MOST EXCITING: Steve Smith, WR, Taft
DIVISION I-BOUND: Bryan Wilson, WR/DB, Granada Hills
BEST ARM: Luke Sniewski, QB, Granada Hills
WACKIEST: Dennis Keyes, RB/DB, Birmingham Every Birmingham player has close-cropped hair except Keyes, who's holding on to his big, 1970s Dr. J-style Afro. During the summer, he loved the way his hair flopped in the wind during long touchdown runs.

It's a good thing Birmingham doesn't have any long road trips this season. If Keyes were to fall asleep on the bus, DL Mike Kushnatsian -- the City heavyweight wrestling champion -- might shave Keyes and convert him into a Michael Jordan lookalike.

GRADING OUT ** 


Team
Overall 
Offense
Defense 
Intangibles


Birmingham
5
5
4
5


Taft
4
5
4
5


El Camino Real
4
5
4
4


Granada Hills
4
4
3
3


Cleveland
3
4
3
3


Chatsworth
2
3
2
2



INSIDE THE NUMBERS 38 -- Number of years ago Birmingham last reached the City Championship, beating Los Angeles 21-14 in the final. This year, the Patriots are considered the San Fernando Valley's best City Section team.
DID YOU KNOW?: Four of Taft's starting senior linemen -- Octavio Flores, Chad Hitt, Chris Daniels and Edgar Rios -- are three-year starters.

2000 STANDINGS 


School
League
Overall


Birmingham
4-1
10-2


Taft
4-1
9-3


Granada Hills
3-2
7-3


Cleveland
2-3
6-5


Chatsworth
2-3
3-7


El Camino Real
0-5
2-8



COACHES:
Ed Croson, Birmingham Second year, one league title
Troy Starr, Taft 10th year, five titles
Darryl Stroh and Tom Harp, Granada Hills Fourth year, one title
Mike Costa, Cleveland First year
Bill Coan, Chatsworth Fourth year, no titles
Rick Hayashida, El Camino Real Fifth year, no titles

Key to overall grade:
5 = section championship contender
4 = league championship contender
3 = playoff contender
2 = probable sub-.500 team
Key to individual grades:
5 = superior
4 = solid
3 = adequate
2 = weak spot
Intangibles include factors such as roster size and reserve depth, player experience, coaching, tradition, administrative support, community support, team attitude and anything else we deemed relevant. Grades based on degree of difficulty within each league and should not be used to compare teams in different leagues.