ESPNHS California: Jordan Adams
All-State Basketball: Girls Super Elites
May, 7, 2012
May 7
4:30
PM ET
By Mark Tennis & Harold Abend | ESPN.com
Willie Eashman/ESPNHSJordan Adams was a floor leader in all four seasons she played at Mater Dei.FIRST FIVE
F/G Jordan Adams (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-1 Sr.
Although the first team may seem guard heavy, Adams actually spent plenty of time in the post this season for the Monarchs, battling on the boards and often guarding the opposition's best player. At the McDonald's All-American Game in Chicago, Adams joked about how relieved she was that the season was complete. After all, she helped lead Mater Dei to its third consecutive state title by averaging 17 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while playing on a bum knee. She plays next for USC.
Willie Eashman/ESPNHSBishop O'Dowd's Kendall Waters plays tough defense in 2011 CIF Division III Northern California final.ALL-STATE DIVISION I
First Team
F/G Jordan Adams (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-1 Sr.
G Elisha Davis (Berkeley) 5-6 Sr.
G Nirra Fields (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 5-9 Sr.
F/G Destiny King (Long Beach Poly) 5-10 Sr.
F Keitra Wallace (Brea Olinda, Brea) 5-11 Sr.
Ms. Basketball State Player of Year Finalists
March, 31, 2012
Mar 31
6:13
PM ET
By Mark Tennis | ESPN.com
One player from among these five will be selected as the 2012 honoree and will be added to a list of state players of the year by Cal-Hi Sports that stretches back to 1905.
A guard-heavy group of girls have been singled out this week by ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports as finalists for the 2012 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year.
The five prime-time performers are led by McDonald’s All-Americans Jordan Adams and Nirra Fields, who both played at Mater Dei of Santa Ana and led the Monarchs to the CIF Division I state title.
When two players like that, however, are on the same team, the consideration for post-season honors can be split and can help a different player move up to the top.
Here is a closer look at the five players:
A guard-heavy group of girls have been singled out this week by ESPNHS Cal-Hi Sports as finalists for the 2012 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year.
The five prime-time performers are led by McDonald’s All-Americans Jordan Adams and Nirra Fields, who both played at Mater Dei of Santa Ana and led the Monarchs to the CIF Division I state title.
When two players like that, however, are on the same team, the consideration for post-season honors can be split and can help a different player move up to the top.
Here is a closer look at the five players:
Mark Tennis/Ronnie Flores/ESPNHSGary McKnight (left) and Kevin Kiernan have combined to win 15 CIF state titles.This boys-girls sweep of the State Team of the Year honor is getting to be old hat for Mater Dei of Santa Ana.
Last year, Mater Dei became the first school in state history to be considered No. 1 in the state overall for both genders. The Monarchs have done it again with the announcement of this year’s final No. 1 team on Monday.
The only difference between the two seasons is that this year’s girls team at Mater Dei was not a clear-cut selection. The Monarchs certainly got a run for their money by La Jolla Country Day of La Jolla.
CIF Saturday Girls BB Championships
March, 24, 2012
Mar 24
4:55
PM ET
By Harold Abend & Mark Tennis | ESPN.com
Willie Eashman/ESPNHSFreshman Aisia Robertson gave Bishop O'Dowd a lift in D3 final.The CIF Division I, Division III and Division V state title games in girls basketball were played at Power Balance Arena in Sacramento. The Division II and Division IV titles were decided on Friday.
Division I:
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 57, Berkeley 40
In a game that was very reminiscent of the 2011 Division I state title game matchup, Mater Dei (34-3) overcame a first quarter deficit to win easily and claim its third straight state championship.
The 2010 title came in Division II with the last two in the state’s big school division.
The win also solidifies Mater Dei’s No. 1 position in the final Cal-Hi Sports rankings and a top 10 finish in the POWERADE FAB 50 national rankings where the Monarchs were No. 8 this past week.
No stunner in CIFSS Division 1-AA girls final
March, 3, 2012
Mar 3
3:05
AM ET
By Mark Tennis | ESPN.com
Archived Cal-Hi Sports content from previous platform
Mater Dei defeats Brea Olinda with fourth-quarter comeback and could return to No. 1 in the state next week due to Windward’s upset loss in three overtimes earlier this week. Lynwood, Summit and Arroyo Grande also win titles.
For three quarters and most of the fourth, it looked like a third big upset of the week in the CIF Southern Section girls basketball championship was more than a possibility in the Division I-AA final played Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Brea Olinda of Brea had a 39-36 lead over two-time defending CIF Division I state champ Mater Dei of Santa Ana and took a 45-43 advantage midway through the final quarter on a pair of free throws by senior Taylor Spears.
In the last three minutes of the game, however, Mater Dei (30-3) reared up and slapped down the upset special with an 11-2 run that gave the Monarchs a 54-47 triumph.
Mater Dei defeats Brea Olinda with fourth-quarter comeback and could return to No. 1 in the state next week due to Windward’s upset loss in three overtimes earlier this week. Lynwood, Summit and Arroyo Grande also win titles.
For three quarters and most of the fourth, it looked like a third big upset of the week in the CIF Southern Section girls basketball championship was more than a possibility in the Division I-AA final played Friday night at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Brea Olinda of Brea had a 39-36 lead over two-time defending CIF Division I state champ Mater Dei of Santa Ana and took a 45-43 advantage midway through the final quarter on a pair of free throws by senior Taylor Spears.
In the last three minutes of the game, however, Mater Dei (30-3) reared up and slapped down the upset special with an 11-2 run that gave the Monarchs a 54-47 triumph.
Important announcement from Cal-Hi Sports | Archived Cal-Hi Sports content
No. 1 Windward doesn’t think of itself as being state’s best heading into Saturday matchup with No. 2 Mater Dei. “They’re No. 1,” says Windward coach Steve Smith. This week’s only newcomers, by the way, are St. Ignatius of San Francisco and Lynwood.
Last Saturday’s marquee game of the eight-team Real Run Classic at Long Beach City College featured state No. 1 Windward of Los Angeles against No. 3 Long Beach Poly and as one would expect it went down to the wire with Windward holding on for a 54-53 win.
After opening a 51-42 lead with 3:45 left, Windward saw it evaporate after an 11-1 Jackrabbit run gave Poly a 53-52 advantage with 1:28 remaining.
Three lead changes later, Macchiati Smith hit a left-handed running layup with 11.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner.
Even after the sophomore’s basket, the game was far from over. The Wildcats used a foul at the seven-second mark. Courtney Jaco then forced a jump ball with 1.4 seconds remaining. With the 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford defending the inbounds and forcing a pass out beyond the arc, a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer by Poly’s Justyce Dawson clanked off the rim.
Jordin Canada dazzled the Long Beach City College crowd with a game-high 22 points and four assists.
Sophomore Arica Carter paced the Jackrabbits with 18 points while Destiny King scored 16 and added five steals and four rebounds.
The reward for coach Steve Smith and his girls is a road game at No. 2 Mater Dei where the state’s top spot will be at stake in a much-anticipated game Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana.
“It’s just like boxing. You have to knock out the champion,” Smith told Cal-Hi Sports.
“Hey, I saw them destroy Poly by 42 points in a game during fall when they were healthy,” Smith continued. “We may be the top-ranked team right now, but until someone in-state beats Mater Dei they’re number one in the state.”
Smith has a point. The Monarchs also have been State Team of the Year for 2010 and 2011.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Jan. 28)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 18-3
Prior to the win against Long Beach Poly, the Wildcats had a running clock win over crosstown Pacific Hills. Sophomore 6-foot Kristen Simon had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. This week, before taking on Mater Dei, the girls have two Alpha League games at nearby Brentwood and at home against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.
No. 1 Windward doesn’t think of itself as being state’s best heading into Saturday matchup with No. 2 Mater Dei. “They’re No. 1,” says Windward coach Steve Smith. This week’s only newcomers, by the way, are St. Ignatius of San Francisco and Lynwood.
Last Saturday’s marquee game of the eight-team Real Run Classic at Long Beach City College featured state No. 1 Windward of Los Angeles against No. 3 Long Beach Poly and as one would expect it went down to the wire with Windward holding on for a 54-53 win.
After opening a 51-42 lead with 3:45 left, Windward saw it evaporate after an 11-1 Jackrabbit run gave Poly a 53-52 advantage with 1:28 remaining.
Three lead changes later, Macchiati Smith hit a left-handed running layup with 11.5 seconds remaining for the game-winner.
Even after the sophomore’s basket, the game was far from over. The Wildcats used a foul at the seven-second mark. Courtney Jaco then forced a jump ball with 1.4 seconds remaining. With the 6-foot-7 Imani Stafford defending the inbounds and forcing a pass out beyond the arc, a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer by Poly’s Justyce Dawson clanked off the rim.
Jordin Canada dazzled the Long Beach City College crowd with a game-high 22 points and four assists.
Sophomore Arica Carter paced the Jackrabbits with 18 points while Destiny King scored 16 and added five steals and four rebounds.
The reward for coach Steve Smith and his girls is a road game at No. 2 Mater Dei where the state’s top spot will be at stake in a much-anticipated game Friday at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana.
“It’s just like boxing. You have to knock out the champion,” Smith told Cal-Hi Sports.
“Hey, I saw them destroy Poly by 42 points in a game during fall when they were healthy,” Smith continued. “We may be the top-ranked team right now, but until someone in-state beats Mater Dei they’re number one in the state.”
Smith has a point. The Monarchs also have been State Team of the Year for 2010 and 2011.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Jan. 28)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 18-3
Prior to the win against Long Beach Poly, the Wildcats had a running clock win over crosstown Pacific Hills. Sophomore 6-foot Kristen Simon had a double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds. This week, before taking on Mater Dei, the girls have two Alpha League games at nearby Brentwood and at home against Chatsworth Sierra Canyon.
Cal-Hi Sports Top 20 Girls Basketball
January, 18, 2012
Jan 18
11:30
PM ET
By Harold Abend | ESPN.com
Jordan Adams is back at Mater Dei and should be good to go when No. 2 Monarchs play No. 1 Windward on Feb. 3.
The bad news for future opponents is music to the ears of Mater Dei of Santa Ana coach Kevin Kiernan and the Monarchs’ faithful.
“She’s been back for four games and playing pretty well even though she’s not 100 percent, but even a 70 percent Jordan Adams is one of the best players in the state,” Kiernan told Cal-Hi Sports.
Adams, who has been out since the second half of a loss to Riverdale Baptist of Maryland at the Nike TOC in Arizona, missed eight-and-a-half games and almost three weeks, with the Monarchs suffering both their losses in her absence.
Had not Canadian-born transfer Nirra Fields been playing lights out in her absence, Mater Dei might have had more problems in its grueling schedule.
With both girls in the lineup on MLK Day at the Tony Matson Memorial Classic at Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei put a 63-27 shellacking on previously state-ranked Anaheim Canyon. Fields had 30 points (six steals) and Adams 11 points.
“Nirra is something else. You’ve got to see her,” Kiernan remarked. “She’s starting to rev it up.”
The Cal-Hi Sports caravan will get the chance to see Fields and Adams against Windward of Los Angeles in a probable No. 1 vs. No. 2 state showdown on Feb. 3 in Santa Ana at the Nike Extravaganza.
Despite Windward taking an out-of-state 62-48 loss to POWERADE FAB 50 top-ranked St. Mary’s of Phoenix last week, the girls remain as the No. 1 California team in this week’s national rankings and No. 1 in the Cal-Hi Sports state rankings.
Coach Steve Smith and the girls have shied away from no one this season. Before they meet Mater Dei, they’ll be coming off a Jan. 28 match-p at Long Beach City College with current state No. 3 Long Beach Poly.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Monday, Jan. 16)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 16-3
It’s pretty tough to come home from two major tournaments involving nationally-ranked teams, play a few running clock league games, then have to face the FAB 50 No. 1 team in the nation on its home turf, but that’s exactly what coach Steve Smith tried to do, and it didn’t work. The Wildcats fell behind 32-16 in the second quarter against St. Mary’s of Phoenix, and although sophomore power forward Kristen Simon scored seven unanswered points in the third quarter to get the girls to within five points of the lead, the D1-recruit laden local girls closed out a 62-48 win.
2. (2) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 17-2
The eight-day four-game stretch was a lot easier with Jordan Adams back in the line-up. In her first game back, a Trinity League 67-57 victory over Orange Lutheran at home, the 6-foot-1 USC-bound phenom had 11 points. Two nights later, she had her best outing in the four games with 18 points in a blowout of Fullerton Rosary. Meanwhile, Adams’ backcourt mate and UCLA-committed Nirra Fields continues to dominate. Besides the 30 points she had against Canyon, the 5-foot-9 flash had 27 in the Orange Lutheran win. The fourth win of the week was a running clock win over Pacifica of Oxnard.
The bad news for future opponents is music to the ears of Mater Dei of Santa Ana coach Kevin Kiernan and the Monarchs’ faithful.
“She’s been back for four games and playing pretty well even though she’s not 100 percent, but even a 70 percent Jordan Adams is one of the best players in the state,” Kiernan told Cal-Hi Sports.
Adams, who has been out since the second half of a loss to Riverdale Baptist of Maryland at the Nike TOC in Arizona, missed eight-and-a-half games and almost three weeks, with the Monarchs suffering both their losses in her absence.
Had not Canadian-born transfer Nirra Fields been playing lights out in her absence, Mater Dei might have had more problems in its grueling schedule.
With both girls in the lineup on MLK Day at the Tony Matson Memorial Classic at Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei put a 63-27 shellacking on previously state-ranked Anaheim Canyon. Fields had 30 points (six steals) and Adams 11 points.
“Nirra is something else. You’ve got to see her,” Kiernan remarked. “She’s starting to rev it up.”
The Cal-Hi Sports caravan will get the chance to see Fields and Adams against Windward of Los Angeles in a probable No. 1 vs. No. 2 state showdown on Feb. 3 in Santa Ana at the Nike Extravaganza.
Despite Windward taking an out-of-state 62-48 loss to POWERADE FAB 50 top-ranked St. Mary’s of Phoenix last week, the girls remain as the No. 1 California team in this week’s national rankings and No. 1 in the Cal-Hi Sports state rankings.
Coach Steve Smith and the girls have shied away from no one this season. Before they meet Mater Dei, they’ll be coming off a Jan. 28 match-p at Long Beach City College with current state No. 3 Long Beach Poly.
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Monday, Jan. 16)
1. (1) Windward (Los Angeles) 16-3
It’s pretty tough to come home from two major tournaments involving nationally-ranked teams, play a few running clock league games, then have to face the FAB 50 No. 1 team in the nation on its home turf, but that’s exactly what coach Steve Smith tried to do, and it didn’t work. The Wildcats fell behind 32-16 in the second quarter against St. Mary’s of Phoenix, and although sophomore power forward Kristen Simon scored seven unanswered points in the third quarter to get the girls to within five points of the lead, the D1-recruit laden local girls closed out a 62-48 win.
2. (2) Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 17-2
The eight-day four-game stretch was a lot easier with Jordan Adams back in the line-up. In her first game back, a Trinity League 67-57 victory over Orange Lutheran at home, the 6-foot-1 USC-bound phenom had 11 points. Two nights later, she had her best outing in the four games with 18 points in a blowout of Fullerton Rosary. Meanwhile, Adams’ backcourt mate and UCLA-committed Nirra Fields continues to dominate. Besides the 30 points she had against Canyon, the 5-foot-9 flash had 27 in the Orange Lutheran win. The fourth win of the week was a running clock win over Pacifica of Oxnard.
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