By Joe Snyder
Gardena High’s girls’ soccer team sits in second place, one game behind powerful San Pedro, after edging host Carson 1-0 last Friday.
Both teams played stingy defenses as the match was locked in a scoreless dual before Yasmin Delgado finally slipped the ball into the net past Colt goalkeeper Mily Salas in the 74th minute.
From there, the Lady Panthers continued to hold Carson scoreless for their seventh Marine League win against one loss; the only being to the Pirates 4-0 a week earlier.
“We dominated the whole game,” Gardena head coach Jared Lehen Bauer said. “Our defense was solid.”
On Jan. 24 at home against Long Beach Rancho Dominguez Prep, Delgado scored all three goals in the Panthers’ 3-1 win over the Lobos. Delgado is a freshman.
Gardena hosted Banning High from Wilmington last Monday and visited Narbonne in Harbor City on Wednesday before finishing league with a showdown at home against San Pedro (8-0 in league) Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Last year, the Lady Panthers advanced to the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division III final before losing to GALA 3-0. Gardena moves up to Division II this season.
The Panther boys, who enjoyed some good seasons the past few years, are faced with rebuilding as they are just 1-11-2 overall and 1-5-2 in Marine action. After losing to host Rancho Dominguez Prep 3-1 on Jan. 24, Gardena battled to a 1-1 tie at home against Carson last Friday.
In the loss to the Lobos, Jasmani Gundo scored Gardena’s only goal.
Gardena hosted Narbonne on Wednesday before closing league at San Pedro Friday at 4:30 p.m.
North Torrance High’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams each split their Pioneer League games last week by losing to South Torrance and defeating Lawndale.
At South on Jan. 22, the Saxon boys were edged by the league leading Spartans 2-1. At Lawndale on Jan. 24, North outlasted the Cardinals 4-3.
At North on Jan. 22, the Lady Saxons were shut out by South 2-0. Two days later, also at North, the Saxons edged Lawndale 3-2.
North’s boys visited Wiseburn-DaVinci in El Segundo on Wednesday and close league at home against West Torrance Friday at 6 p.m.
The Lady Saxons hosted Wiseburn-DaVinci on Wednesday and finish Pioneer action at West Torrance Friday at 6 p.m.
Serra’s boys’ soccer is struggling at 0-9 overall and 0-8 in the Santa Fe League after being shut out at home by Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart 4-0 on Jan. 24 and by Southeast L.A. Verbum Dei-Jesuit 5-0 last Friday.
The Cavaliers finished league at Bosco Tech in Rosemead last Monday and at home against Playa del Rey St. Bernard on Wednesday.
Serra does not field girls’ soccer this year.
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North eyes Pioneer hoop title
North Torrance High’s girls’ basketball team improved to 10-0 in the Pioneer League after easy road wins over South Torrance and Lawndale last week.
At South on Jan. 22, the Lady Saxons eased past their rival Spartans 66-40. At Lawndale on Jan. 24, North had little trouble against the Cardinals with a 70-23 victory.
Against Lawndale, the Saxons took command from start to finish. They led 21-7 after the first quarter, 39-15 at halftime and 61-22 after three periods before finishing out by outscoring Lawndale 9-1 in the running time fourth quarter.
North’s balanced scoring was led by Camryn Shimazaki with a game-high 14 points. Parker Pritto and Leila Fitzgerald added 10 points apiece.
Against South, Leyla Miyaki and Emily Shibato led the Saxons with 14 points each. Fitzpatrick chipped in 11 points.
North needs just one win to clinch the league outright. After visiting Wiseburn-DaVinci from El Segundo last Tuesday, the Saxons close regular season play at home against West Torrance today at 7 p.m. North is expected to play in either the CIF-Southern Section Open or Division I playoffs which begin next week.
At Carson on Jan. 24, Gardena High’s girls’ basketball team fell to the Colts 54-37. Carson, which lost to the Lady Panthers in their league opener on Nov. 29 at Gardena, jumped quickly on Gardena with a 27-8 halftime lead and continued with the comfortable lead throughout the rest of the contest.
Last Friday at Narbonne, the Panthers topped the Gauchos 45-41 to improve to 6-2 in Marine action.
After hosting San Pedro on Wednesday, Gardena finishes league at home against Banning Friday at 4:30 p.m. seeking a spot in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section playoffs which begins next week.
Serra enjoyed a good week with two Camino Real League victories last week. After routing host Mary Star 51-15 on Jan. 23 in San Pedro, the Lady Cavaliers rolled over St. Joseph of Lakewood 50-23 last Thursday at Serra.
Judah Foster, Kacie Frelson and Kahlah Kalyes each sparked the Lady Cavaliers with 10 points apiece against the Jesters.
Mariah Lewis and Rachelle Thompson led Serra with 11 points each in its win over the Stars.
The Cavaliers have two road games to close out league. After visiting Bishop Amat in La Puente last Tuesday, Serra is at Bishop Conaty-Loretto in Los Angeles today starting at 5 p.m.
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Saxons still is view of league title
North Torrance High’s boys’ basketball team sits in a tie for second place with El Segundo in the Pioneer League after road wins over South Torrance and Lawndale last week.
At South on Jan. 22, the Saxons edged the Spartans 59-55. At Lawndale on Jan. 24, North held on to defeat the Cardinals 53-46.
Against Lawndale, North (10-2 in league) was led by Elliot Langston with a game-high 13 points. Tryston Henry contributed nine points and Kai Bradley had eight. Jamier Moore led the Cardinals with 11 points.
“Our league was like that last year,” North head coach Will Sett said. “We won the league but are average win margin was three and a half points. We got to win our last two games. There is no way out of it.”
Like last season, the Saxons were known for their stingy defense last year and continue this season. They held Lawndale to just three points in the first quarter in building a 13-3 lead. North led 28-14 at halftime but the Cardinals made it interesting in the second half getting as close as three before key baskets and free throws by North put the game away.
The Saxons visited league leader Wiseburn-DaVinci in El Segundo last Tuesday seeking a revenge from their 68-66 double overtime loss on Jan. 10. The Saxons close out with another still contender, West Torrance, at home today at 7 p.m.
Serra recorded two key Del Rey League wins over host Bishop Montgomery in Torrance on Jan. 24 and Santa Fe Springs St. Paul last Friday at Serra.
At Bishop Montgomery, the Cavaliers outlasted the Knights 54-52 in overtime. At Serra, the Cavaliers avenged their earlier league loss to the Swordsmen with a 64-50 win.
Serra, which virtually ensured a spot in the CIF-Southern Section Division IIA playoffs, closed Del Rey action with a crucial one at league leader St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in Downey on Wednesday. The Cavaliers lost their last game to the Warriors 77-55 on Jan, 17 at Serra.
Gardena lost its second Marine League game at home against Carson 57-55 on Jan. 24. The Panthers bounced back by holding on for a 59-56 home win over Narbonne last Friday.
Against the Gauchos, Gardena led by as many as 21 points late in the third quarter before seeing Narbonne get as close as one point (57-56) before Jarren Ponds made both free throws as the Panthers held on.
Darrell Franklin led Gardena (16-9 overall and 6-2 in league) with 13 points. Promise Madubugu added 10 points.
Narbonne was led by Troy Aguilar with nine points.
After visiting San Pedro on Wednesday, the Panthers close Marine League at Banning in Wilmington seeking a Marine League crown on Friday. Game time is at 4:30 p.m.
