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1/19/2010NEW!

Youth Tryouts: Feb13, Feb 20...3:30-5:30 @ St. Augustine, 400 Alcatraz Ave, Oakland CA

High School Tryouts: Feb 28, March 7, March 14...3:30-5:30 @ St. Augustine, 400 Alcatraz Ave, Oakland CA

1/13/2010NEW!

Orinda Magic has named a new head coach(Steve Pezzola) for the Black Team. The Black Team is Orinda Magic's Elite high school team and will travel Nationally to tournaments in Oregon and possibly Tennessee. Steve Pezzola has coached at the high school level for over 5 years and just began as the Salesian Varsity Girls Basketball Coach. As the coach of the Black team, Steve’s goal is to continue the program that his good friend Darrell Hirashima Sr founded which placed numerous girls in position to play basketball at Division I, II, and III schools. He is looking for highly competitive girls who: (1) love the game of basketball, (2) respect the game and its players, coaches and officials, (3) are willing to work to become better players while having fun in the Spring and the Summer; and (4) desire to continue playing basketball past their high school years.

11/19/2009
Magic @ the Cal Sparks Tourney in L.A.

Top Row: Dustin Hirashima(coach), Alejandra Cephas, Ashley Ewing, Madison Burroughs, Jordan Johnson, Gabriella Brown, Jessica Mitz, Trisha Hirashima(coach). Bottom: Bailey Russ, Annemarie Del Bene. Not pictured: Tori McGovern

Top Row: Dustin Hirashima(coach), Alejandra Cephas, Jordan Johnson, Jonae Gonzales, Jessica Mitz, Trisha Hirashima(coach). Bottom: Ashley Ewing, Madison Burroughs. Not pictured: Gabriella Brown, Tori McGovern, Anne-Marie Del Bene, Bailey Russ.

10/19/2009

In their second straight tournament with a diminished roster Magic Gold Team played at an impessive pace racking up over 150 pts in 3 games @ the Xtreme Hoops Oktoberfest Shootout while their stifling defense held opponents to just over 50 pts. The defense was anchored by Jessica Mitz and Madison Burroughswho frustrated the opposition with their quickness and anticipation. Jordan Johnson and Alejandra Cephas protected the paint and cleaned up the boards while team leaders Jonae Gonzales and Anne-Marie Del Benetook advantage of every possession running the court and punishing opponents in transition. Scoring was led by Ashley Ewing who slashed through opposing defenses with ease and gobbled up offensive rebounds. A tremendous team effort rewarded with a well-deserved championship. Congrats!

10/5/2009

A depleted Magic Gold Team competed in their first tournament of the fall season playing in 3 exciting games down to the wire. In Game 1 the Magic matched up against the Stars in a back and forth battle. With just seconds remaining and the score tied Jessica Mitz nailed a 3 pt shot to put Magic on top for good. Game 2 exposed Magic as a team with weaknesses as casual play and a loss of focus put Magic in a deep hole early against a strong West Coast Xtreme lineup. The team showed character by battling back and giving themselves a chance to win with minutes to go, but a lack of execution down the stretch doomed the Magic 8th graders to their first loss of the season. Magic started game 3 strong, bolstered by the return of starting point guard Anne-Marie Del Bene. Just when the game against All-City looked to be in the bag Magic was hit by the injury bug. Magic stalwarts, Jonae Gonzales and Bailey Russ, were incapacitated leaving only 5 healthy players and a rapidly diminishing lead. Led by Gabby Brown's staunch defense the team held off a comeback to win another close one and start the season 2-1.

Bailey Russ, Jessica Mitz, Jordan Johnson, Jonae Gonzales, Gabby Brown, Ashley Ewing

9/28/2009NEW!

Fall 2009 Magic Gold Team:

0	Bailey Russ	Montera Middle School
1	Alejandra Cephas
3	Anne-Marie Del Bene	Diablo View Middle School
5	Jonae Gonzales	St. John
21	Jessica Mitz	Holy Family
22	Tori McGovern	St. Philip Neri
23	Madison Burroughs	Los Cerros
24	Gabriella Brown	Diablo View Middle School
32	Jordan Johnson	Diablo View Middle School
33	Ashley Ewing	Stanley Middle School

Orinda Magic Silver, Summer 09'

8/15/2009

Congratulations to Deserie Azlin, for being awarded the inaugural Darrell Hirashima Tribute Award. Created by our friends @ the Bulldawgs Basketball Club in honor of our founder Darrell Hirashima, this award will be presented annually to a graduating girls basketball player. Special thanks to Alfonzo Joo for orchestrating ths incredible tribute!

3/8/2009

Congratulations to Denesha Stallworth on her recent selection to the McDonald's and Nike All-American Teams! Magic is unbelievably proud of Denesha and all the hard work she has put in. We could not imagine a more deserving athlete or a more wonderful family! Darrell would have been so proud and so happy for you!

Darrell Hirashima 05/01/1952- 12/19/2008

Magic has suffered a devastating loss in the form of president, founder and heart of the Magic program. Darrell Hirashima, loving husband, devoted father and committed basketball coach passed away late in the afternoon on a friday after nearly two weeks on life support. Darrell had suffered a massive heart attack on Sun., Dec. 7, his second since August and succumbed to his injuries Fri., Dec. 19. Darrell left behind a wife, Theresa, a daughter, Trisha, and two sons, Darrell Jr. and Dustin as well as scores of players both former and current. He will be remembered as a man who was dedicated to sharing his love of basketball through development and competition. Fun-loving and understanding with a gift for generosity, Darrell will be missed terribly.

11/21/2008

Stephanie Golden

Stephanie Golden, a self-described "Cali-girl", is receiving interest from colleges all over the place. To name a few, there are San Diego State, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, University of San Diego, UC Santa Barbra, UC Davis, Colorado State, San Francisco, Boise State, Cal State Bakersfield, Santa Clara, Colorado, Fresno State, Fordham, and Lehigh. Saint Mary's, in fact, has already offered her a scholarship. And keep in mind that Golden is only a junior.

The 6-foot-3, 16-year-old forward/center averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game as a sophomore. Golden helped lead her team to a perfect 14-0 league record, and she received second-team all-league honors in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League. A 70-51 loss to St, Mary's of Stockton ended her season in the NorCal semifinals. But Golden is ready and excited to get back on the court this year.

Longtime (17 years) Miramonte coach Darrell Hirashima is no longer coaching Golden in high school, but continues to coach her club team, the Orinda Magic. He praised his former post player. "I think that [Stephanie] is a unique player in that she can finish with either hand. She can finish with her back to the basket on the low block with a variety of moves. She can hit from outside, hit the three, and take people off the dribble. She loves the game. She can do significant damage in the low post," said Hirashima.

Hirashima continued, "[Stephanie] is a coach's dream. She's someone who will put in the time. You just point her in the right direction and tell her what you want her to do, and she'll do it."

Golden returns the love for her former high school coach. "My coach Darrell is having a full recovery from his recent heart attack and actually played his first game today. He's been working so hard for his rehab and seeing him out there made me so happy. Even though he's not my high school coach anymore it's great to be able to spend what time we have with each other. He is amazing," exclaimed Golden.

Denesha Stallworth

Reebok Fall Showcase report

By Chris Roemer

The fall viewing period provides prospects with one last time to compete in front of college coaches before the academic season. The first weekend in October saw a variety of players float into Pleasanton for the Reebok Fall Showcase to compete in a series of games in an effort to leave one last positive impression. Familiar names like 2009 No. 1 ranked Denesha Stallworth were on hand as well as some maybe unfamiliar names and faces.

Denesha Stallworth, Power Forward - There isn't much she hasn't already done that we can speak on, but over the course of the weekend she did look confident in some different areas. Stallworth looked real comfortable shooting outwards of 15 feet and handling the ball in the open floor. With that said she was still a force to reckon with in her usual areas of strength. Once Stallworth established position down around the basket there wasn't anyone that was going to stop her. She did a good job on different sequences of sealing her man out and sometimes removing her out of picture all together.

Club members can learn what's happening with their team and find helpful links to tournament information. We also welcome coaches, fans and other visitors to make yourself at home as you learn everything you want to know about the Orinda Magic Girl's Basketball Club. From our coaches and teams, to our tournaments and tutoring program, Orinda Magic Online at orindamagic.org is your #1 source for Magic hoops on the Web.

Check out our In The News section to read newspaper and online articles featuring the Orinda Magic, Magic players making a mark with their high school teams, and Magic alumni getting it done in the college ranks.

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