CalHeat SF Bay Area Team Handball Club

San Francisco CalHeat remains in charge in the West by winning the 2009 USATH West Region Tournament in Thousand Oaks against clubs from the Los Angeles Area and Santa Clarita. 

Pool Play Standings:

Pool Play Game Results:

Los Angeles TH 1 : Los Angeles TH 2             23:18

San Francisco CalHeat : TH Santa Clarita      27:18

TH Santa Clarita : Los Angeles TH 2              25:19 

San Francisco CalHeat : Los Angeles TH 1     26:22

San Francisco CalHeat : Los Angeles TH 2     26:23

Los Angeles TH 1 : TH Santa Clarita               26:17

Bronze Medal Game Result:

TH Santa Clarita : Los Angeles TH 2              27:30 

Gold Medal Game Result:

San Francisco CalHeat : Los Angeles TH 1     33:23

See below link to USA Team Handball Website Article:

www.usateamhandball.org/news/index.html

The tournament kicked off with LA TH 1 facing LA TH 2. The game started very slow and it looked more like a scrimmage game at first. Neither team could take control of the game and the score stayed close for most of the first half. In the second half LA TH 1 finally took advantage of their larger experience and cruised to a 23:18 victory.

The second game saw San Francisco CalHeat going against Santa Clarita TH. From the beginning CalHeat made it very clear who would be dominating this game. Santa Clarita was literally overrun by CalHeat and had nothing to oppose CalHeat. A 6 to 7 goal lead was built up very fast and remained throughout most of the game. The final score was settled at 27:18.

The third game between TH Santa Clarita and LA TH 2 was a back and forth at the beginning. Until again the more experienced Santa Clarita team was able to pull away slowly and win the game 25:19.

The last game of the first day saw the two winners of CalHeat and LA TH1 going against each other. At first it looked like CalHeat overslept the beginning of the game. Free shots were missed and easy technical mistakes were made. This allowed LA to have a lead throughout the first 15 Minutes. But after 15 Minutes CalHeat finally woke up and started to take control of the game. This continued throughout the second half and therefore in the end Calheat cruised to an easy 26:22 victory.

Sunday morning the unbeaten CalHeat team faced the so far winning less team of LA TH 2.  This was as well very obvious on the court. CalHeat dominated the game from the start and openend a gap of 4 to 5 goals. This lasted thruoghout most of the first half and the beginning of the second half. However towards the end of the second half CalHeat became a little bit sloppy and LA TH 2 was able to close the gap a bit. But CalHeat still got the win with score of 26:23.

The second game on Sunday between TH Santa Clarita and LA TH 1 decided who will go against CalHeat in the final. LA TH 1 took the initiative first and never gave it up anymore. TH Santa Clarita tried to rally back, but just didn't have enough strength left anymore. Therefore LA TH 1 ran away with the game (26:17) and joined CalHeat in the final.  

In the bronze medal game TH Santa Clarita and LA TH 2 squared off again. This time LA TH 2 took control of the game from the beginning and was determined not to give it up anymore. TH Santa Clarita tried to use all their experience. But in the end was just to tired and therefore lost the game 27:30.

The final saw a rematch from the day before between LA TH 1 and CalHeat. But this time CalHeat was awake from the start and jumped immedeately on their opponent. A quick 4 to 5 goal lead was built and CalHeat never looked back again. LA TH 1 tried whatever they could to come back into the game. But CalHeat remained cool and even increased the lead. LA was beaten and Calheat could start their victory celebrations early with a 33:23 win.