Dazzling 7th grader pilots Portola to girl’s championship
Coach Andrew Schultz pilots Hale Charter to boy’s crown
By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
The Los Angeles Unified School District took a perfect time to host its inaugural Middle School Championships at the freshly open Intuit Dome as Hale Charter Academy defeated Stephen White 27-22, and Portola Middle School pulled away from El Sereno Middle School 34-24.
HALE TO THE CHAMPIONS—Head Coach Andrew Schultz hoist the Los Angeles Unified School District plaque high as he Hale Charter Academy team celebrates capturing the inaugural LAUSD Middle School Championships at the Intuit Dome on Nov. 3. (ALLEN PALOS/ PHOTO)
In the boys contest Hale coach Andrew Schultz took a while for his team to figure out the White triangle offense, but once he did his squad managed to overcome deficits of two and four points to shock White, which was led by 8th grader J’Kai Clay’s 10 points.
Hale countered with a discipline offence and balance scoring from three players who scored at least five point or more, 8th graders Tyler Ben (7 points), Cory Monden III (6 points), Logan Marquez (6 points), while Caspian Campbell (5 points Russell Krause (4 points) rounding out the attack.
Hale trailed 12-10 at the half but outscored White by a 7 point margin in the second half that determined the outcome.
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY–Hale Charter Academy head coach Andrew Hale gives his team the winning formula for the LAUSD Middle School Championship game at the Intuit Dome on Nov. 4. Hale of Woodland Hills defeated Stephen White of Carson, 27-22). (ALLEN PALOS/ PHOTO)
Following the boy’s title tilt, El Sereno Middle School collided with the undersized roster of Portola Middle School in the girl’s game, but in the end the lack of depth for the seven player Portola squad didn’t matter.
SEVEN IS ENOUGH–Portola Middle School of Tarzana, CA rejoices in capturing the girls LAUSD Middle School Championship with their medals and winning plaque held by head coach Shante Tobin (Center). (ALLEN PALOS/PHOTO)
That’s because Portola coach Shante Tobin suited up arguably one of the most gifted 7ther graders in the state if not the country.
I doubt every seriously if one can find a legally 7th grader with the elite dribbling and overall basketball skills as Lily Brodie.
Brodie essentially beat El Sereno by herself scoring 25 of her team 34 points, putting on a dazzling display on defense and offense, with an instinct that rare but played well where the Clippers were playing the Heat hours later.
UNSTOPPABLE–Seventh Grader Lilly Brodie put on a dominant performance for Portola Middle School in the LAUSD Middle School Championship at the Intuit Dome on Nov. 4. Brodie poured in 25 of her team 34 points in a spectacular performance for the ages. (ALLEN PALOS/PHOTO)
El Sereno got solid performances from 8th grader Sage Rivera who tied her teammate Kaya Castro with nine points in a losing cause.
All the championship teams qualified by winning all eight of their previous games to qualify for the championship.
Immediately, following both games the teams were presented with individual medals and team plaques for their effort.
However, make no mistake about it, there was one clear next level star on display on this day and her name is Lilly Brodie, remember it. You may want her autograph one day.
