Locals Ready to Hoop It Up One Last Time in All-Star Fest

At last, here’s a chance to witness what everyone has been waiting for: Chatsworth vs. Sierra Canyon in a basketball game.

The campuses are just a few blocks apart, and both are among the Southland’s best, as Chatsworth advanced to the City Section Div. III final, while Sierra Canyon won the Southern Section Div. V title and advanced to the third round of the Southern California Regionals.

The catch is, it’s an all-star game. Chatsworth coach Scott Switalla is coaching the West in the annual Battle of the Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Northridge, and among his players are Chatsworth’s Derrick Hector and Jason Monje, who’ll compete against an East team that includes Sierra Canyon twins Michael Cohen and Daniel Cohen.

Proceeds benefit the Valley Youth Foundation.

“I think it’s going to be pretty cool,” Hector said. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m going to miss Chatsworth a lot, so it’s going to be fun to represent the school one last time.”

Added Michael Cohen: “It should be a lot of fun. There are a lot of great players. It was fun at practice, getting up and down with these guys and learning how everyone plays. It’s going to be fun playing with all of them on Saturday.”

Some of the top players for the West include Taft’s Spencer Dinwiddie and Simi Valley’s Jonathan Davis, and some of the East’s best are Campbell Hall’s Austin McBroom and Valencia’s Lonnie Jackson.

The teams conducted practices on Thursday, and Switalla was impressed.

“There’s a bunch of talented kids. That’s for sure,” Switalla said. “There are four Taft kids, and Spencer Dinwiddie and Cleveland’s Jaylen Bland looked good. Those guys stood out. I’m partial to Derrick Hector, too, because he’s my guy. It will be fun.”

In a preceding girls game, Chatsworth and Sierra Canyon players are both participating for the West, as Chatsworth’s Thomesha Smith and Jasmine Wooton join forces with Sierra Canyon’s Jasmine Sneed and Tori Wells.

CHATSWORTH NAMES NEW FOOTBALL COACH

Andrew Kim has been named new head football coach at Chatsworth, replacing Jason Camp, who resigned after guiding the Chancellors to the City Section Div. II final this past season.

Kim, a campus teacher, is a veteran junior varsity assistant. He met with the team and announced the varsity and JV would be practicing together.

Chatsworth finished 11-3 after going 2-8 the previous season.

CHATSWORTH BASEBALL TEAM FINISHES NATIONAL CLASSIC AS CONSOLATION RUNNER-UP

Chatsworth’s baseball team finished as the runner-up at the prestigious, 16-team National Classic in Orange County, losing to Alemany 11-8 in the consolation final Thursday at Cal State Fullerton.

Chatsworth’s Steven Karkenny scored twice and had two doubles – including a fourth-inning shot that hit the top of the outfield fence. Aaron Brown chipped in a triple, single, two RBIs and three runs, and Raul Camas added three hits, including a double, and two RBIs.