Articles written by Steve Finley


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  • Centaur basketball teams start league play on Friday

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Dec 19, 2024

    The Culver City boy's and girls' varsity basketball teams open league play at home on Friday against Compton Centennial high school. The girls game starts at 6 p.m. and the boys tip off at 7:30 p.m. inside the Del Goodyear gym on the Culver City high school campus. The boys' team is currently 9-2 and the girls' team is 6-5. Both teams use an eight-person rotation. Although the starting lineups in basketball consists of five players, when you rotate players it's good for team morale. "Any one of...

  • Can the Clippers make the playoffs without star players?

    Steve Finley II, Sports Reporter|Dec 12, 2024

    Although the Clippers are in sixth place in the very competitive Western Conference the season is still early. There are still 57 games left to play in the NBA regular season. There are currently 10 teams in the 15 team Western Conference with winning records. The question regarding the Clippers is can they stay in the playoff hunt with the team that they currently have? The answer to that question is yes and no. Yes, if they can stay healthy and no if they can't stay healthy. Staying healthy...

  • Centaur basketball teams looking for improvement

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Dec 12, 2024

    In sports perfection is hard to master. In fact, it's impossible but it's something every coach dreams about. In the case of the Culver City high school girls and boys varsity basketball teams the coaches are just looking to get better every day. At press time (December 10) the girls were 5-3 and the boys are 8-2. "What I like about this team is that they are playing hard," said girls head coach Julian Anderson. This is Anderson's 17th season as the head coach. "They are willing to make...

  • Culver City high school girls and boys basketball teams are flying high

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Dec 5, 2024

    The season is still early but the initial results are very positive for the Culver City high school girls' and boys' basketball. The girls are 4-1 at press time and the boys are currently 6-1. The driving force behind both teams besides talented players is an excellent coaching staff. The girls' coach is long time head coach Julian Anderson, and the boys head coach is second year leader Ray Singleton. Both teams rely on a mixture of veteran and new players and both teams play smart basketball...

  • Centaur boys football knocked out of the playoffs by Apple Valley

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Nov 21, 2024

    The Culver City high school boys' varsity football team lost their Division 4 CIF Southern Section second round playoff game 48-28 to Apple Valley at Apple Valley last Friday night. The Centaurs finished their season with a record of 8-4 after playing in a tough Bay league that saw five teams make it to the playoffs. Now head coach Jahmal Wright will have to replace a group of senior starters that made up the nucleus of the of the 2024 team. On offense Culver City has to replace quarterback...

  • Culver City high school boys football advances to the second round

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Nov 14, 2024

    The Culver City high school boys' varsity football team won their opening game in the CIF Division 4 playoffs last Friday night, beating Capistrano Valley 38-25 in a hard-fought high school playoff game at Capistrano Valley. Next up for the Centaurs is the quarter-final match against Apple Valley on the road at 7 p.m. "It was a back-and-forth game," said Culver City head football coach Jahmal Wright. "We just kept fighting. Our team did not want to go home with a loss. Capistrano Valley is a...

  • Centaurs hit the road in the CIF boys football playoffs on Friday

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    Culver City high school boys football team will travel to Orange County on Friday to face Capistrano Valley in the CIF Division 4 Playoffs. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. in the first-round game. The game is a rematch from last year's second round CIF playoff game when the Centaurs beat the Cougars 44-16. Culver City has a record of 7-3 and Capistrano Valley is 8-2. "We are playing a familiar opponent," said Culver City head coach Jahmal Wight during a telephone interview last Sunday night. "We are...

  • Rams face Dolphins on Monday Night Football

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Nov 7, 2024

    The Los Angeles Rams hope to continue to move in the right direction when they play the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Kick off is set for 5:15 p.m. Monday is also Veterans Day, so the Rams are looking to celebrate a win along with honoring Veterans. The Rams started the season losing four out of their first five games. Now they have moved into second place in the NFC West Division after winning three games in a row. Their record of 4-4 puts them in second...

  • CCHS boys' varsity football team looks to upset Inglewood on Senior Night

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Oct 31, 2024

    After almost a year of practicing, lifting weights and playing spring, summer and fall games it all comes down to two games to determine if the Centaurs have a chance to make the 2024 CIF playoffs. Culver City battles first place Inglewood on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Culver City and Mira Costa travels to Palos Verdes at 3 p.m. on Friday. It's simple and complicated at the same time. If the Centaurs win or lose and if Mira Costa beats Palos Verdes, the Culver City has an excellent chance to...

  • Culver City high school boys football faces a must win situation

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Oct 24, 2024

    During a season some teams play games that can make or break their season. One game that they play can determine league standings or making the playoffs. In the case of the Culver City varsity boys football team both scenarios apply to the Centaurs when they travel to Lawndale to face the Cardinals on Friday night, at 7 p.m. in this Bay league contest. The Bay league is one of the best and most competitive football leagues in Southern California. Inglewood is in first place with a league record...

  • Bay league football heats up on HomeComing Night at CCHS

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Oct 17, 2024

    When the CIF Southern Section office reconfigured the football leagues in the South Bay and the Westside Culver City high school knew right away, they were put in one of the toughest leagues in the CIF Southern Section. The reality is 7-0 Inglewood, 6-1 Culver City, 5-2 Leuzinger, 5-2 Mira Costa and 3-4 Palos Verdes are all very good football teams that can win games on any given Friday night. "We already knew before the season started how tough the league would be," said Culver City head boys...

  • Old foes Centaurs and Mustangs clash in Bay League battle Friday

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Oct 10, 2024

    It will probably be cold and fogging in the South Bay on Friday night when Culver City high school's boys' varsity football team rolls into Manhattan Beach to play Mira Costa at 7 p.m. The Centaurs and the Mustangs have battled each other dating back to the 1990's and like most of the Bay league games the intensity level is very high. The Centaurs come into the game with a perfect overall record of 6-0 and a 1-0 Bay league record. The Mustangs are 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Bay league. This...

  • Centaur football kickers gear up for tough Bay League

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Oct 3, 2024

    Football kickers and football offensive linemen have a lot in common. As a kicker if you miss a point after a touchdown, have a punt go off the side of your foot, have a bad kickoff or if you miss a field goal, the big spotlight is on you. As a lineman if you miss a block or if you are called for a penalty it feels like the whole world is watching. Football is a team sport but both positions are magnified when you make a mistake. Kicking may be a little more difficult because it takes at least...

  • Defense is just as important as the offense for the Centaurs

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Sep 26, 2024

    Coaches and players say a good defense wins championships. Culver City high school boys football teams have had outstanding offensive players for many years, but this year feels a little different. They still have great offensive talent, but the defense must also play great if the Centaurs expect to win the newly constructed Bay league. Last week and against Narbonne a few weeks ago were good examples of what the Culver City defense must do to stay in contention for a CIF playoff spot. Last...

  • Centaur boys' football looking to stay unbeaten against Warren

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Sep 19, 2024

    The 3-0 Culver City high school boys' football will travel to the city of Downey to battle the Warren Bears for the fourth time in the last six years. The kickoff is set for Friday at 7 p.m. The Bears are 2-1 against the Centaurs since 2019. This will be the first time during that time span that Culver City will not have to face one of the Iameleava brothers. The older brother, Nico is playing college football and the younger brother, Madden transferred to Long Beach Poly high school. Without...

  • Centaur boys football beats Narbonne faces Salesian on Thursday

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Sep 12, 2024

    Culver City boys high school football team will travel to East Los Angeles to battle Salesian high school at 7 p.m. on Thursday instead of the traditional Friday night game. Bishop Mora Salesian is an all-boys school located in Boyle Heights. The 1-1 Culver City Centaurs will be playing their third game of the season and this will be their first road game. They were beaten by San Jacinto 42-28 on August 30, and they beat Narbonne 43-26 last Friday night. "Every week is different," said Centaur...

  • Centaur High School football battles Harbor City Narbonne

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Sep 5, 2024

    One game does not define a season, especially when it's the first game of the season. Culver City High School's 42-28 loss to San Jacinto last Friday did show that the Centaurs need to improve on offense and defense as they tackle a demanding schedule that includes some very good high school football teams. On Friday one of those teams is Harbor City Narbonne. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. on the Culver City high school campus. Several years ago, Narbonne used to be one of the best football teams...

  • Nakayama Was A Culver City Generational Man

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Aug 29, 2024

    Some people are jacks of all trades and a master of none but sometimes you find a person who is a master of all trades. Simply put, that was Tom Nakayama. Nakayama, who passed away in 2022 was a beacon light to everyone who knew him. Nakayama was a Culver City middle school math teacher, a Culver City high school basketball and track and field coach, and he was a Culver City assistant high school athletic trainer. He also found time to work on the sidelines of UCLA football games on the first...

  • Culver City High School boys' football plays home opener Friday

    y Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Aug 29, 2024

    It’s time for Culver City high school boys’ football. The Centaurs kick off their varsity football season on Friday, August 30, at 7 p.m. on the campus of Culver City high school inside the Jerry Chabola Football Stadium. Their opponent is San Jacinto high school, located 80 miles east of Culver City. Although the schools are far apart, they played each other twice in the last few years. Last season the Centaurs beat the Tigers 72-63 in one of the highest scoring games in Culver City football history. “Even though we are far apart we know...

  • Culver City High School boys' football plays home opener Friday

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Aug 29, 2024

    It's time for Culver City high school boys' football. The Centaurs kick off their varsity football season on Friday, August 30, at 7 p.m. on the campus of Culver City high school inside the Jerry Chabola Football Stadium. Their opponent is San Jacinto high school, located 80 miles east of Culver City. Although the schools are far apart, they played each other twice in the last few years. Last season the Centaurs beat the Tigers 72-63 in one of the highest scoring games in Culver City football hi...

  • North Torrance beats Culver City in Passing Tournament

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Jul 18, 2024

    The Culver City high school varsity passing league football tournament started at 9 a.m. last Saturday with 14 very competitive schools varying for the championship. When it was all over Saturday afternoon North Torrance walked away with the championship trophy after they beat Culver City five touchdowns to four. Passing tournaments feature quarterbacks, receivers, defensive backs and linebackers. The tournament, which started on Friday featuring freshmen and junior varsity teams showcased...

  • Centaurs Look To Stay Unbeaten This Summer On The Gridiron

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Jul 11, 2024

    Culver City high school's varsity football team with try to stay unbeaten this summer when they battle a group of talented schools in the Culver City Invitational Passing Tournament that starts this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Culver City high school. The Centaurs are 12-0 this summer after going 7-0 in the El Rancho Tournament and 5-0 at the Redondo Union Tournament on June 22. The Centaurs appear to have talent at every position according to head football coach Jahmal Wright. "I am excited," said...

  • Looking back on another successful CCHS athletic year

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Jun 13, 2024

    First, the Culver City newspapers, the Culver City News and the Culver City Observer would like to thank one of the best sports photographers in the Los Angeles area, George Laase. For many years Laase has made Culver City high school sports come to life through the lens of his camera. When it comes to Culver City high school Laase never says no. There is an old saying in journalism, a Picture is worth a thousand works. Once again, the Centaurs produced a lifetime of memories on the field,...

  • Culver City papers honor the best athletes and coaches

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|Jun 6, 2024

    Once again Culver City high school athletes and coaches competed at an elite level during the 2023-2024 athletic season. Gifted athletes make coaches look good and outstanding coaches make athletes look. It's a two-way street that meets at the fork in the road. Over the past 60 years the high school has been fortunate enough to have student athletes and coaches that are some of the bests in the state. This year is no exception. Morgan Maddox was remarkable on the track and Evan Reiter was...

  • CCHS ends the athletic season on a high note

    Steve Finley, Sports Editor|May 30, 2024

    The Culver City high school 2023-24 athletic season ended last Saturday at Buchanan high school in Clovis California at the CIF state track and field meet finals. It was a near perfect Hollywood ending for the Centaurs track team. There are over 1,200 high schools in California and Culver City placed second in the girls 200 meters, third in the girls and boys 400 meters and fourth in the boys 4X400 meter relay. Morgan Maddox was second in the 200 meters with a time of 23.60, she placed third in...

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