Pali High Basketball and Soccer Players Garner All-City Honors

The Los Angeles City Section released its All-City basketball teams and Palisades High players made both the boys and girls lists.The Open Division boys squad included Dolphins junior center Aten Hassan and senior guard Jordan Farhadian. Both were instrumental in their team winning 10 of its last 13 regular season contests to earn a spot in the Open Division bracket as one of the top eight teams in the City. Donald Thompson of King/Drew and Alijah Arenas of Chatsworth were name Co-Players of the Year.

The Open Division girls squad included Dolphins sophomore guard Elly Tierney and senior forward Aniah Bradley. Each played a pivotal role in Palisades’ third-place finish in the Western League. Player of the Year honors were shared by DeeDee Berry, Nat Lopez and Sammy Velasquez from City champion Birmingham.

The City Section also released its All-City boys and girls soccer teams and Palisades was represented on both of them. Senior forward Jayce Jones made the Division I boys team after leading Palisades to the Western League title and the Division I quarterfinals, where they lost 2-1 in overtime to eventual finalist El Camino Real. Jones scored a team-high 19 goals and added 12 assists for a team-best total of 50 points. Senior defender Daniel Romero of City champion Birmingham was chosen Player of the Year while Patriots pilot Gus Villalobos was named Coach of the Year.

Meanwhile, two Dolphins were selected for the Division I girls squad—senior striker Erica Hamilton and senior midfielder Alex DiGennaro—after leading their team to the Western League title and the City semifinals, where Palisades fell in a shootout to eventual champion Cleveland. Hamilton tallied a school-record 33 goals in 21 games played, including a four-goal effort in the quarterfinals against Venice. She also converted her penalty kick in the shootout versus Cleveland. DiGennaro also played 21 games, scoring eight times and racking up a team-high 14 assists, including four in the playoffs.

Cleveland midfielder Alexa Monge was selected Player of the Year and Cavaliers pilot Greg Ibach was chosen Coach of the Year.