By Joe Snyder
A poor first quarter and several critical fouls proved costly for the North Torrance High girls’ basketball team as they were eliminated from the Southern California Regional Division I playoffs in the first round by host Windward 62-49 on March 4 in Mar Vista.
The Lady Saxons, who ended their season at 20-9, fell behind 18-4 after the first quarter but managed to crawl back into the game. Still down by 12 points (33-21) at halftime, the Wildcats, who have one of the top prep girls’ basketball programs in California, held down North to increase their lead to 16 points (45-29) after three quarters and led by as many as 21 points before the Saxons made a small run down the stretch. North trailed by as little as eight points but Windward was able to put the game away on key baskets and free throws.
The Saxons, who were co-Bay League champions with Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, had key player Keri Santiago out much of the game due to foul trouble. She eventually fouled out midway in the fourth period finishing with only four points, all in the third quarter.
Leading North was Cameryn Shuzalo with 18 points. She was the only player to score in double figures. The Saxons’ second highest scorer was Sydney Matatamola with eight points, followed by Emily Shilanta with seven.
North advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division IIAA championship game where it lost to Oak Park 68-57 on Feb. 28 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario.
The Wildcats, who were the playoffs’ No. 4 seed, advanced to the Division I championship game where they visited Sage Hill Prep in Newport Beach last Tuesday for a spot in the CIF-State Championship game on Friday at the Golden One Arena in Sacramento. The Saxons were 13th seed in the 16-team tournament. Windward blew past top seed and host Fairmont Prep 79-55 in the semifinal Saturday in Anaheim.
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Lady Cavs fall short in regionals
After advancing to the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA finals before falling to Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro 59-46 on March 1 at Edison High in Huntington Beach, Serra High’s girls’ basketball team advanced to the Southern California Regional Division IV playoffs where it had to travel up north to Santa Ynez High in Santa Barbara County.
The Lady Cavaliers appeared they would advance as they led throughout most of the game but several critical fouls and missed opportunities doomed them in a 44-40 loss to the CIF-Central Section Division IV champions.
Sophomores Mariyah Lewis and Kaciah Snelson shared Serra’s high scoring honors with 11 points apiece.
“We had a great season,” Serra head coach McKenzie Hadley said. “We played hard. Santa Ynez was very scrappy. They made 10 free throws in the last two minutes while we missed several of ours. We missed several opportunities. We had a chance to win it.”
The Cavaliers had a strong showing in the Southern Section Division IVAA playoffs after finishing third in the Camino Real League behind champion Lakewood St. Joseph and runner-up Cantwell-Sacred Heart, which is the top seed in the regional Division IV playoffs and made the finals where it hosted Whitney High from Cerritos last Tuesday in Montebello. The winner advances to the CIF-State Division IV championship game on Friday or Saturday at the Golden One Arena in Sacramento.
“We had a very good season,” Hadley said. “We’re in good position for high stakes basketball next season.”
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Serra routs North in non-league; falls in eight to La Salle
Serra High’s baseball team tuned up for its second Del Rey League game at home against La Salle High from Pasadena from last Friday by routing North Torrance 11-2 in a non-league game on March 4 at Serra.
C.J. Hughes sparked the Cavaliers, who are 6-1 overall and 1-1 in league, by going 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and three runs scored. Ethan Varela hit a grand slam home run and drove in five runs. Tim Pryor was 2-for-2 and scored one run. Trevor Anderson drove in two runs.
For the Saxons, who fell to 3-6, Nikko Archulita went 2-for-3 with one RBI. David Iniquen also went 2-for-3.
Against La Salle, the two teams were tied at one through seven innings before the Lancers scored twice in the top of the eighth and their pitching held Serra scoreless in the bottom of the inning. Each team had just three hits.
In Pioneer League play last Saturday against Wiseburn-Da Vinci at El Segundo Recreation Park, North fell behind 5-1 through five innings but rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth and added one in the seventh but fell short 5-4.
Andrew Roello hit a solo home run for the Saxons. Justin Olivar and Daniel Park each drove in one run.
The Wolves were led by Xavier Horton who went 3-for-3 with two runs and a double.
After visiting Bishop Amat in La Puente last Tuesday, Serra hosts St. Paul from Santa Fe Springs in another Del Rey contest Friday at 3:15 p.m. That is weather permitting as rain was forecasted from last Tuesday through Friday. The Cavaliers visit Paraclete next Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. in Lancaster in another league game.
North hosts El Segundo in Pioneer action Friday at 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. The Saxons visit Mary Star of the Sea Monday at 3:15 p.m. at Fromhold Field in San Pedro before returning to league at Peninsula High in Rolling Hills Estates next Wednesday at the same time.
Gardena High’s baseball team improved to 3-3 overall by routing Animo Leadership High from Inglewood 10-1 last Saturday at Gardena.
The Panthers had a balanced offensive attack led by junior Francisco Pavon who went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a triple. Jelan Hawes was 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and one run. Anthony Garcia had a two-run triple and was the winning pitcher, going four innings allowing one earned run on three hits. Marco Viveres was 2-for-2 with three RBI’s and one run.
Gardena is 4-3, as of last Monday, after handing host Fremont its first loss at 3-1.
Garcia went 3-for-3 and drove in one run. He was also the winning pitcher.
The Panthers visit Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro today at 3 p.m. (weather permitting). Gardena is at home against West L.A. University Saturday at 1 p.m. The Panthers visit Harbor Teacher Prep at L.A. Harbor College in Wilmington next Wednesday at 3 p.m. in preparation for their brutal Marine League opener at home against Wilmington Banning on March 26.
