header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 26
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo


| Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013
Loading...
Ako Kaluna

Ako Kaluna has committed to play basketball at Northern Arizona.

West Ranch boys basketball did something last season no other Wildcats hoops team had ever done before.

Win a Foothill League championship.

And in all fairness it was shared with the Canyon Cowboys.

But what makes it even more amazing for West Ranch is it was won by a first-year head coach, the uber-energetic Shant Bicacki.  The bullseye will clearly be on the Wildcats’s back this year as they return ten varsity players, one of the leading scorers in league in Kevin Harris and the Player of the Year — Ako Kaluna.

“Well obviously very excited having Ako and Kevin back,” Bicacki said on the upcoming season.  “Having ten guys coming back for us is obviously a dream come true for a coach.  So we’re very excited .  (We’re) playing in a lot of good tournaments, playing a lot of good competition, trying to get our name out there and trying to make a name for ourselves.”

The Wildcats finished 17-11 last year, 8-2 in league.  They averaged over 70 points a game of offense, 71.5 in league.  They made it to the quarter-finals in the CIF Southern Section Division 1-A playoffs before losing a heartbreaker to Mission Viejo.  Despite returning all those players that have big game experience, this year’s Wildcats squad will be different.

“I think we’re a lot deeper,” Bicacki said.  “Last year we came in saying we weren’t going to run too much, we want to slow it down.  But this year we are saying, hey, we are a transition team and instead of adapting to other teams, they’ve got to adapt to us.  We’ve got the biggest and baddest fricking kid out there (Kaluna).  We’ve got a kid who, if open, is going to shoot.  He (Harris) has already hit ten 3-pointers in a game.  We’ve got other guys that are role players that are very confident and have varsity experience and have played in big games.”

Ako Kaluna is a 6-foot-8, 250-pound beast of a reigning player of the year.  Last year he averaged 16 points and 11 boards a game, and even made 70 percent of his free throws.
Kevin Harris averaged over 17 points a game, shot 45 percent from the field and nearly 80 percent from the line.

“It’s no secret.  We don’t have a hidden play or a hidden thing we’re going to do,” Bicacki said.  “They’re the two best players and we are going to give them the ball.  That’s it.  If you can stop them, great.  You did your job.  If not, we’re probably going to win.  It’s like that.  As long as we play hard and we play the way we know we can play, we’re going to beat you.”

“I expect no less than last year…  Foothill League championship and going deep into playoffs,” said Kaluna, who has committed to Northern Arizona.  “Our team is looking better than last year.”

Of course, two players do not a basketball team make.  Seniors Kyle Williams, Zach Nuttal and Cody Sanders, and sophomore point guard Ryan Beddeo are all expected to make contributions to the success of the Wildcats.

“Kyle Williams has been one of the hardest workers for the past four years in our program,” Bicacki said.  “Last year, being his first year on varsity, I think he played off Ako a lot.  This year we’re putting him on the perimeter.  We are very confident with him out on the 3-point line, taking it in, he rebounds the heck out of the ball.  He’s kind of our enforcer, the kind who will do all the dirty work.

“Ryan Beddeo played varsity last year as a freshman.  He’s gotten taller, he’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten more confident.  It’s tough being a point guard in my system since I played point guard, so he gets it the worst.  And he’s done a great job.

“Guys like Zach Nuttal and Cody Sanders… they’ve done their job.  Last year Cody didn’t play much.  This year he is one of our main guys.  Zach Nuttal last year played limited minutes, maybe 15 or 20 a game.  This year he’s one of our starters.  Just them being here for another year with me and them being together, just helps them even more.”

The Wildcats have already opened up the 2012-13 season 10-3 and are ranked third in the CIF Southern Section Division 1-A poll and 18th in Southern California by the Los Angeles Times.

 

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
Thursday, Apr 18, 2024
The Master's University men's golf team shot a 13-under 275 to finish second at the Golden State Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships held at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West, Ariz.
Thursday, Apr 18, 2024
College of the Canyons made quick work of visiting L.A. Valley College in a shortened 11-3 home victory that came on a day in which the program unveiled its newly named Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room during a pre-game dedication ceremony.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
In the Roaring ’20s in the big city, if there’s enough “razzle dazzle,” you just might get away with murder. That’s the premise of the hit musical “Chicago,” which has enjoyed success for nearly 50 years, and was based on true-crime stories of a century ago.
May 2-4: ‘Chicago’ On Stage at West Ranch High School
California Institute of the Arts will present the annual CalArts Expo on Saturday, May 2. The Expo is an institute-wide event featuring interdisciplinary creative work from the CalArts community, ranging from current students to internationally renowned faculty and alumni creators.
May 2: Annual Cal Arts Expo Open to the Public
Blue Heat, the Saugus High School show choir team, ended its competition season on April 12 with a first-place finish in the mixed division Tier IV at John Burroughs Music Showcase 2024 held in Burbank. The team also won the awards for Best Musicianship and Best Showmanship.
Saugus High Show Choir Captures Awards at Music Showcase
Against a backdrop of cinematic magic at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California Institute of the Arts honored the transformative power that philanthropy has had in nurturing the dreams of CalArts students.
CalArts Honors Scholarship Donors at Nickelodeon Event
Two classic one-act comedies written by the late James McLure are coming to The Main in Old Town Newhall for a two-weekend run starting Friday, May 10.
May 10: Two Classic One Act Comedies Open at The Main
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity and the County Film Office, in partnership with Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Chair Lindsey P. Horvath and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, unveiled a new $4.1 million grant program to provide relief to small and micro businesses affected by both COVID-19 and the 2023 Hollywood double strikes.
$4.1 Million Grant Program for Small, Micro Businesses in L.A. County
Join the Saugus Instrumental Music Program at Saugus High School for a fun community event. Get ready, Santa Clarita, for an unforgettable morning of shopping, entertainment and support. The Saugus Instrumental Music Program Rummage Sale, where treasures abound and bargains await will be held Saturday, June 8, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June 8: Saugus High Instrumental Music Program Rummage Sale
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center Associates invite residents of the Santa Clarita Valley to the annual Placerita Canyon Nature Center Open House event to be held Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 11: Placerita Canyon Nature Center Open House
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo
Starting Monday, April 29, construction on the South Fork Trail will begin to replace a portion of the lodgepole fencing, the city of Santa Clarita announced.
South Fork Trail Construction to Begin April 29
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
COC Standout Sam Regez Signs with University of Portland
An entertainment industry initiative to support the voices of California State University, Northridge film and TV students was celebrated with a recent screening of stories they created. 
‘Changing Lenses’ Initiative Lends Voice to CSUN Film, TV Students
How important is Film and Tourism to the Santa Clarita Valley Economy? 
SCVEDC Delves into Santa Clarita Film, Tourism Impact
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
TMU Women’s Basketball Coach to Resign
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well.
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
COC Names Gigi Garcia, Hannes Yngve Athletes of the Week
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
Santa Clarita resident Edina Lemus has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California in Lancaster by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom Appoints SCV Resident Veterans Home Administrator
The California Department of Transportation has scheduled Lane Closures on the northbound and southbound State Route 14 between Technology Drive in Palmdale and Avenue A in Lancaster, closing up to three lanes.
Caltrans Announces SR-14 Lane Closures
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond testified today in the Senate Education Committee about the need for results-proven training for all teachers of reading and math.
State Superintendent Makes Historic Push for Results-Proven Training in Literacy, Math as Sponsor of SB 1115
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
Ocean Water Warning for April 24
SCVNews.com