Oct. 7th, Colton:

The Yellowjackets had in the recent weeks taken three straight losses one on Friday September 26^th against Chaffey Tigers, 6-0, and another at Moreno Valley High School against the Vikings in a close game, 28-14. The Jackets tried to beat both schools that got Colton wins but a year later went in vice-versa and got the oppositions the win. Head Varsity Coach Chris Mailo said about the three straight losses, “We were our own worst enemy the last three weeks. If we just go out and execute, we’ll be fine.” Varsity, Senior Running Back DeAndre Graham also added about the back-to-back losses, “Chaffey just held the ball; they held the ball a whole quarter. Moreno Valley, we came out too late. The first quarter it was okay but then the second quarter that was when they started scoring. We didn’t come [out] there quickly enough.”

The key word to describe the first half was “defense” in the game versus Chaffey as it was a total war out there, both teams exploded with high obtained D. They came back and forth with outstanding tackles and blocks. Neither school scored before the halftime break. Then, the second half was a mirror of the first, lots of outstanding defense except when the Tigers scored late in the 4^th quarter. Tigers would walk out of Colton with the win and add another victory to their record.

Guts, grit, and determination are the words to describe the game against the Vikings at Moreno Valley. They looked to come back after the first loss, fighting and ready to go. That tactic however, did not work out as the Vikings scored four back-to-back touchdowns in the first two quarters, two per each. But the Jackets looked to sting their way back up and looked to comeback by scoring two touchdowns of their own in the second half. The visiting Colton Yellowjacket crowd’s hype electricity would soon turn into silence as the Vikings would then use their shield defense to avoid Colton from getting a win.

Colton looks to come back strong with their next home game this Friday against the Fontana Steelers at Colton High School. Graham said about the game plan for the game against Fontana, “We need to practice more, make sure that the team comes together a lot more. We need to work together and work mentally too.” Coach Mailo also shared his thoughts on the game plan towards this Friday, “Win. Go out and execute, win the ballgame.” It seems that the Varsity Boys in Crimson n Gold look to get a win at home, improving their record this year.

May 16th, Colton: In the recent 2014 NFL Draft, the Giants went big with their fifth round pick, acquiring Colton High School alumni and multi time San Andreas league champion, Nat Berhe who was picked 208^th overall. The city of Colton is very excited to have one of its own pros become a pro in the NFL. He quoted his thoughts about being his new team with an interview from UTS San Diego saying, “I’m so happy to be a Giant. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. They’re a great organization and I think I’ll have a great career there.” After his impressive performance at the Draft Combine, he looks to take the league by storm and help the Giants get wins.

Finishing his San Diego State career with 299 tackles and 41 career starts, he wants to make a name for himself in the league.  Also in his interview, he also said that he was excited to team up with another Colton alumni, Giants Linebacker, Allen Bradford. Being a student of Bradford’s work, Berhe also looks to team up and become a dominant duo on the defensive and offensive end. Nat is making it clear that helping this team is the number one priority. Will the former Yellowjackets all-stars, Berhe and Bradford become the most dominant factor in the NFL?

******************************************************************

April 25th, Colton: The NBA playoffs are finally upon us and every team that made the playoffs feels destined to win the gold as they try to end LeBron James and the Heat’s two-peat championship reign. There are some surprise appearances from teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, and the Toronto Raptors, who have had some bad seasons over the past couple of years. NBA fans around the world are putting their predictions on who will be in the Finals. The most popular prediction is that Kevin Durant and the OKC Thunder will go face Paul George and the Indiana Pacers.  As every fan knows, “anything can happen in the NBA”. With the teams on the playoff tree, we will never know who rise as the NBA Champions.

Many fans and teams around the NBA were baffled when they heard the name “Bobcats” in the playoff picture. After having one of the worst records in the NBA last season, Charlotte scored the jackpot in having the 3^rd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, picking popular NCAA bigman, Cody Zeller. With Zeller in the Cats’ organization, they dominated the season with the front court of recent draft picks, Point Guard Kemba Walker and Small Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Will this young talent pass the former champions, Miami Heat, and go all the way? This is why with shockers like this, makes the NBA a great franchise.

*****************************************************************

April 18th, Colton:  For the past few years, the recent Top NBA Draft picks from 2011-on have been breakout stars in the NBA. It is also true that most of those stars have come from the reigning NCAA champion University of Kentucky. For example, the UK has provided stars like Portland Trailbazers’ Point Guard and Rookie of the Year, Damien Lillard;  the number one pick in the 2012 Draft, New Orleans Hornets’ (now changed to the Pelicans) Center Anthony Davis;  and Charllotte Bobcats’ Point Guard, Kemba Walker. seems that Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart and the athletic program for Kentucky U are very strict towards keeping their players conditioned and having a very high basketball IQ.

The Wildcats have had lots of success during the NCAA Basketball season and won multiple March Madness titles in the past few seasons. With a lot of brains on the coaching staff and having a great collection of very famous alumni players already, the UK will try to build more success with their rookies and try to make them into NBA stars. Can they make more breakout stars?

*****************************************************************

April 11th, Colton: Los Angeles Lakers Shooting Guard, Kobe Bryant, at age 35, has been in the NBA for 17 years already, having a hall of fame career, but the question on every fan in the NBA is, “when will Kobe retire?” Coming out of Lower Marion High School, being the 13^th Overall pick in the 1996 draft, Kobe has been explosive in the NBA, with outstanding leaping ability, intensity, loyalty and strength. Some rumors have spread around the league that he will retire when he beats his inspiration and idol, Chicago Bulls Shooting Guard Michael Jordan’s record of having 6 NBA championships. Bryant has currently five championships with the Lakers, which he won in 2000 to 2002, with Shaquille O’Neal, and in 2009 to 2010. Currently, Kobe is out for the rest of the season this year due to his injured Achilles.

   Maybe the Black Mamba might retire at the beginning of the 2014-15 season to avoid any more injuries. Some rumors have also had that Kobe might retire at the 2015 season’s end and might be placed as the Assistant Coach of the Lakers in 2017. Fans around the NBA are curious to know when Bryant will make his retirement. One of his achievements is making the All-Star team 16 times for the Western Conference. Already having a great career, being multiple time Finals/league MVP and five time NBA champion, now the question is, is this the end of the Black Mamba? Will Kobe ever beat his idol at seven championship rings or tie it at six? Will he just retire having five?