Santa Clarita sports report, December 1, 2015. This is your place for Santa Clarita’s winter 2015/16 sports. Find all the latest news and updates on your hometown schools here as they compete in the Western State Conference, Foothill League, Heritage League and GSAC.

“I played through the sweat and hurt, not because challenge called me, but because you called me.” – Kobe Bryant

Santa Clarita High School Football

The Santa Clarita Valley has spoken, and the 2015 Foothill All-League team has been announced, along with the highest personal achievement awards. To view the entire All-Foothill League 1st and 2nd teams please click here.

Saugus Centurions senior quarterback Louis Eusebi took home the Foothill League Player of the Year Award after leading Saugus to three straight league wins closing out the season to vault the Centurions into the playoffs.

Louis Eusebi not only led Saugus in rushing attempts (155), rushing yards (800), and rushing touchdowns (11), but also served as the place kicker for the Centurions. In one of his most memorable games of the season, Eusebi accounted for all 24 points in the Centurions big victory of the Hart Indians, 24-0.

The best returning passer in the Foothill League backed up that claim in 2015 by leading the Foothill League in passing offense; Valencia’s Cole Parkinson got better as the season went on, leading the league in passer rating (101.0) and passing yards (1840), and wasn’t far behind 1st place in touchdown passes (15 to Jackson Clark’s 17).

Parkinson suffered a broken leg in the opening round of the playoffs after another excellent performance, and one can only imagine how much having him available could have changed the outcome of a gritty 16-14 Vikings’ loss at Chino Hills in the 2nd round.

Saugus’ defense established itself early on as the top defensive unit in the Foothill League, shutting down one opponent after another and holding the two best offenses in the league to their worst Foothill League output’s of the year.

Michael Stanford, the best player on that defense, was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. The senior defensive lineman made the play of the year for the Centurions, returning a fumble for touchdown to beat Golden Valley 12-10 and clinch a playoff spot in the final regular season game.

Lastly, the Foothill League recognized the top lineman of the year across both the offensive and defensive lines and found the biggest game changer in the trenches was the senior defensive end from Valencia, Jermaine Brown.

Brown led the 5-0 Vikings in sacks and was one of the most disruptive defensive players in the Santa Clarita Valley, forcing several teams to game plan away from the senior defender.

Congratulations to the top performers in the 2015 Foothill League season.

Santa Clarita High School Volleyball

Tonight’s the big night for the Santa Clarita Christian Cardinals, with the much-anticipated CIF-SS Division 5 Championship rematch set to take place at Upland Christian at 7:00 PM.

This will be the rubber match in a series of high-stakes matches between the Cardinals and Eagles, which started with the 2014 CIF D5 title game (won by SCCS), then moved to the 2015 game of the same caliber (taken by Upland), and now comes the State Semi-Finals. The winner of this match will play for the right to be the best Division 5 volleyball team in California.

Santa Clarita High School Soccer

It was a great start to the season for the Canyon Cowboys (1-0), who blew out Muir yesterday, 7-1.

No. 2 ranked Hart begins their quest for a CIF-SS title today at Quartz Hill. Kickoff is at 4:30 PM.

Santa Clarita High School Basketball

Two Foothill League teams open their basketball seasons tonight.

Saugus hits the road to Knight, with tip-off at 5 PM.

Valencia hosts the 3-0 Santa Barbara Dons tonight with a late 8 o’clock start.

Fresh off its victory of Lancaster last week, Golden Valley is back in action against Canoga Park at home. Tip-off is at 6:15 PM.

Los Angeles Lakers

Tonight is the measurement of ineptitude in the NBA between the two worst teams in basketball. The 2-14 Lakers are in Philadelphia to face the winless 76ers, who with their 28 straight losses dating back to the end of the previous season have now become the worst professional sports team in the history of the country.

So what does that say about the Lakers when Philly is favored by 1.5 points over the Purple & Gold? This is the first game all season the Sixers have been favored in.

All of it adds up a bad night of basketball in Philadelphia. Tip-off is at 4:00 PM.

KHTS AM-1220 is your place for the 2015 winter 2015/16 season and the Santa Clarita sports report. If you have any news and notes about our teams to share please send them to jp@hometownstation.com and follow me @jallenpowell17 on Twitter.