Some local basketball players were named to the All-CIF Southern Section 2013-14 teams. From the Westside, it was Shanon Volpis from Pacifica Christian. When you have a player like Windward’s Jordin Canada on your side of town, it is easy to get overlooked.
Canada and Windward teammate Kristen Simon were the two obvious choices in the CIF-SS Open Division bracket to be chosen. But there were other student-athletes who shined on the hardwood as well this past season in girls’ basketball. Volpis, who is also a standout on the Seawolves’ CIF championship volleyball team, was selected to the first team of the CIF-SS Division 5A squad.
St. Monica ‘s Molly Tomlin made the cut as well. Tomlin, a sophomore, made the CIF-SS 4A first team list. Volpis took her team to the Liberty League title game and helped the Seawolves advance to the third round of the 5A playoffs this season. Tomlin and her teammates also made a deep run into the postseason, making it all the way to the quarterfinals.
The local school that did make it all the way was Brentwood School. Brentwood topped Fairmont Prep 62-56 in the CIF championship game, capping off a banner year. Brentwood was led by two seniors in Kennedy Martin and Drew Cabral. Cabral and Martin were selected as the CIF Southern Section Division 4A Co-Players of the Year.
Their coach, Charles Solomon, was picked as coach of the year. In boy’s basketball, Santa Monica High sophomore Jonah Mathews capped his strong season with being chosen to the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA team. Throughout the 2013-14 basketball campaign, Mathews proved to be Samohi’s top clutch player, coming up with key buckets and timely defensive stops whenever the Vikings needed it.
Mathews helped Samohi to a share of the Ocean League crown this past season. Mathews, however, was not the only athlete from the Westside to garner All-CIF honors. Brentwood senior Tra Holder made the CIF-SS
Division 4A team as did Windward stars Jalen Harris and Breland Brandt. Windward has a lot of good basketball to expect from both Harris and Brandt in the future.
Harris is just a freshman, while Brandt is only a sophomore. Pacifica Christian junior Luke Nusiein made the 5AA boys’ basketball squad. The All-CIF teams were announced March 24.
