The James Logan Courier

By Ian O'Connor
The Record (Hackensack N.J.) (MCT)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.&38212; They say you do not get to pick the moment in sports; the moment picks you. This time around, the fickle forces of fate picked Tom Coughlin's Giants, of all people, cast as a band of unworthy hosts basking in the Patriots' glow.

The Giants have won two titles in the last 50 years, and the Patriots have won three titles in the last six. If Coughlin needed a reason to play this game for keeps, here was one:

History gives you only so many chances to leave a footprint. Having won all of six championships in their 80-odd years of football, the Giants were handed the most cherished of holiday gifts, a pressure-free crack at a forever place in the game's lore.


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By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor


The James Logan Boys Basketball(7-3) team currently own a three-game win streak and have won seven of their last eight games, which featured winning their first league game over Irvington on Dec. 18. The Colts have rebounded well after dropping their first two games to Castro Valley and Monte Vista. In the Overall Standings, Logan rank 2nd behind Newark Memorial(7-1). They are currently playing in the Torrey Pines Tournament. Logan’s next home game is on Jan. 4 when they host Kennedy.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

Logan Girl's Soccer team capitalized on Mission San Jose’s ignorance of a referee’s warning to finish the game in a 2-2 tie on the road Tuesday night.

Chris Garingan had a goal and an assist and Jody Leung and Celena Allen also picked up points in the stalemate.

Logan drew first blood as Garingan connected on a goal from a Leung pass to give the Colts a 1-0 lead inside the first fifteen minutes of play.

By Vicente Marcelo, Courier Sports Writer

The James Logan boy’s basketball team opened up the league with a win over Irvington High. They won by a score of 70-61.

Logan jumped out to a 20-12 lead in the first quarter and maintained that intensity. The Colts took advantage of Irvington mistakes, scoring on all five Vikings' turnovers in the first quarter. Irvington turned the ball over 21 times overall.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

The Girls Soccer team and American dueled to a 0-0 conclusion on Thursday night in Fremont.

This proved to be one of the more, if not the most, physical games the Colts have been involved in.

The game appeared to be dominated by American for a better portion of the contest. They displayed an aerial long ball tactic and Logan’s main tactic was playing possession ball by move the ball up the field. Both team’s efforts proved to be futile as this game was a matchup of the midfielders. But nevertheless, American did indeed control the game.

By Denay Harris, Courier Staff Writer

The James Logan boy’s basketball teams faced Campolindo in the Logan Pavilion Monday night, winning two out of three of the match-ups.

The varsity game started off with a fast pace, with senior center Hunter Hayden slam dunking during the first quarter and helping Logan lead 15 to 12 by the end of the first.

The Colts extended their lead with very good defense added, so that, by half time, Logan was up by 21 with the score was 36 to 15.

By Vicente Marcelo, Courier Staff Writer

After placing second at The Bay Area Invitational a year ago, The James Logan Varsity Wrestling team returned with more experienced wrestlers. The Colts took home the first place trophy with a total team score of 195. Second was Montgomery high with a total of 183.

" It's nice to win tournaments; it's a confidence‑builder for the kids," said head coach Eli Bagaoisan

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

The James Logan Girl’s Soccer team can only see the games they have been dealt with so far as ways of improvement.

The team finished off the preseason with a 2-6 record. They picked up wins against Granada and St. Mary’s High School. Their losses showcased several dominating teams: Castro Valley, Amador Valley, Foothill, California, San Ramon Valley and Livermore.

The Lady Colts have seen several teams from the difficult EBAL League and also have faced last year’s NCS Champions, San Ramon Valley.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

Andrew Blevins scored the only goal of the contest, as Logan got their deal of revenge on the Washington Huskies on Wednesday night, shutting them out 1-0.

Last year, the Huskies eliminated the Colts from both the Mission Valley Athletic League Championships and the North Coast Section 3-A Playoffs. Despite winning the MVAL regular season title, there would be no cigars for the James Logan boy’s soccer team last season.

This year, the Colts turned the tables.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

The 2007 James Logan Cross Country team hosted a banquet Thursday night to congratulate the team on another successful season, even though that expression was somewhat exaggerated.

The Boys Varsity team lost for the first time in years in the MVALS last month. Washington(27 points) had an astonishing display as they took the title with 5 of the 9 top finishers supporting one of their jerseys. American High School(67 points) reeled in second place and Logan with 82 points rounded out the top 3 teams. Martin Mwangi of Newark Memorial High School was the top finisher with an jaw-dropping 18:20 time at Coyote Hills. The Colt’s lone top 10 finisher was senior Hector Hernandez. Logan’s seven participants for the event showcased Hernandez, Miguel Rivas, Belal Mogaddedi, Ravi Patel, Andy An, Shaun Shutes and Nick Shutes.

By Krystal Henderson, Courier News Editor
The James Logan Varsity Cheerleading squad took Second Place in the JAMZ NorCal Extreme Cheer and Dance Regional Competition Saturday. It was their first competition of the year facing other California high school cheer teams, and their success qualifies them to go on to the national commpetition on January 31 of next year.

Varsity cheerleaders Alexa Chavez and Jamie Javier took a break from dancing in order to congratulate their team.

By Vicente Marcelo, Courier Sports Writer

On Saturday, the James Logan Varsity wrestling team traveled to Freedom High School in Oakley to participate in the Freedom Duals. The Logan Colts won four matches and lost their only match of the tournament to the host Freedom High Schoo team.

The wrestling team ended up taking third out of the sixteen teams that attended the tournament.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

The Logan boy’s soccer team scored three unanswered goals to finish the contest in a 3-3 tie against Berkeley on Wednesday.

Abran Gonzalez notched two goals and an assist and Benito Ramirez picked up a pair of assists to lead Logan to the comeback.

The Berkeley Yellowjackets jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the contest on goals from Nadav Kariv, Sean Downey and Rubin Pearlstein.

By Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

Last year’s North Coast Section Champions, San Ramon Valley, had no trouble proving that they have not changed a bit when they pounded the Logan’s Girls Soccer team on Thursday, 5-2.

Inside the first twenty minutes of action, the girls from San Ramon Valley picked up their first goal to jump out in front early. Later on, they doubled their lead to 2-0 lead off a penalty kick.

San Ramon Valley received a gift all wrapped when the Colts knocked the ball into their own net for San Ramon’s third goal.