AOTW
Athlete of the Week Basketball Long Beach Poly Long Beach State St. Anthony Volleyball

The562.org’s Athletes Of The Week

Congratulations to this week’s winners and thanks to Naples Rib Company for their sponsorship.

HIGH SCHOOL

Justin Rene, Long Beach Poly Basketball

Long Beach Poly senior Justin Rene lit up the competition once again over the winter break for the Jackrabbits. He was named the King Cotton Classic MVP in Arkansas after averaging nearly 30 points per game, including 31 in the championship, which Poly won. Rene then came home to score 32 points against Mission Bay in the Take Flight Challenge to lead Poly to another win.

Frank Staine, St. Anthony Basketball

Saints senior Frank Staine led St. Anthony to the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic championship over the break with his all-around game. Staine averaged 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game to lead the Saints to the title. He then had 20 points in a win over Serra in the Saints’ Del Rey League opener.

Simone Morris, Long Beach Poly Basketball

The Jackrabbits won the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona over the break, led by sophomore Simone Morris’ breakout tournament. Morris was named TOC MVP after a week that saw her put up 12 points and six rebounds per game. Morris also led Poly in scoring in a 2-2 performance for the team in the San Diego Holiday Classic.

COLLEGE

Kyle Ensing, Long Beach State Volleyball

The nation’s top-ranked men’s volleyball team, Long Beach State, got off to a 3-0 start to the season at UC Santa Barbara thanks in part to a big performance from All-American opposite hitter Kyle Ensing, the best player in the nation at his position. Ensing led the team in kills with 42 on an eye-popping .449 hitting with seven digs, four aces, and three blocks as well.

 

Mike Guardabascio
An LBC native, Mike Guardabascio has been covering Long Beach sports professionally for 13 years, with his work published in dozens of Southern California magazines and newspapers. He's won numerous awards for his writing as well as the CIF Southern Section’s Champion For Character Award, and is the author of three books about Long Beach history.
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