Monrovia rallies from behind to win, 51-49!!! Muir beats Bellflower to advance; La Caada loses to Notre Dame; Monrovia and St. Francis headed to quarters in boys soccer

By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer

MONROVIA — It didn’t matter that the visiting St. Mary’s Academy girls basketball team went on a 16-1 run to end the first quarter.

And it certainly didn’t matter that Monrovia’s Jasmine Gordon and Maryum Jenkins got off to slow starts, which led to early frustration.

When it appeared the fifth-seeded Wildcats were headed toward the brink of disaster, Vanessa Hernandez kept the waters calm by reminding her teammates they hadn’t come this far to just throw away the season.

They didn’t.

Monrovia overcame a sloppy first half and went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter to take the lead en route to a 51-49 victory over St. Mary’s on Wednesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division III-A playoffs.

Monrovia (18-6) will play the Foothill-Sonora winner in the semifinals on Saturday at a site to be determined.

This was a physical game the Wildcats eventually won because of the will and determination of Hernandez and senior teammate Ashley Quionez, who scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Hernandez scored only seven points but it’s what doesn’t appear in the boxscore that helped the Wildcats prevail.

“I told them we had not come this far to just lose,” she said. “I kept saying ‘heart’ and reminded them about the time (St. Mary’s) beat us earlier in the season.”

The Belles (22-9) pounded Monrovia 69-43 on Dec. 30 in the Ayala Tournament.

But fortunately for the Wildcats, Gordon found her touch in the second half to finish with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jenkins scored nine points, had five rebounds and three steals.

“I have four seniors,” Monrovia coach Rafael Camacho said. “The opportunity was there and they (seized) the moment.”

miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485

GIRLS BASKETBALL RESULTS

DIVISION III-A
Monrovia 51, St. Mary’s Academy 49

Muir 38, Bellflower 21: Brittany Henderson scored 12 points and Daysha Thomas had 10 to lead the Mustangs in the Division III-A playoffs. Muir (22-3) will play Inglewood in Saturday’s semifinals at Pasadena High at 7:30 p.m. Eliza Pierre scored seven points, grabbed 10 rebounds, had eight assists and seven steals.

DIVISION IV-AA
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 47, La Caada 38: The high-low offense is perfect for the La Caada High School girls basketball team. The Spartans have the post players and small, quick guards for backdoor layups to run the offense effectively. But there’s always a caveat. In Wednesday night’s CIF-Southern Section Division IV-AA quarterfinal game against visiting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, that caveat was Kody Burke. The 6-foot-1 center altered shots, got numerous blocked shots, had 22 rebounds and numerous put-back baskets to lead the third-seeded Knights to a 47-38 victory. “It is hard to stop her,” La Caada 6-foot forward Courtney McCutchan said. “Because you have a big girl in the middle, it’s pretty intimidating going down there. We didn’t get many post moves.” Burke was a one-girl wrecking crew inside. She had a game-high 26 points, most coming off her nine offensive rebounds. She scored 10 of Notre Dame’s 11 points in the second quarter. If she wasn’t putting back baskets, the Knights, 24-6, were feeding the junior for 3-footers.

DIVISION V-AA
Flintridge Prep at St. Joseph’s/Santa Maria
La Salle at Sierra

DIVISION V-A
Santa Clara at Pasadena Poly

DIVISION VI-AA
Sierra Canyon 43, Rio Hondo Prep 28

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BOYS SOCCER RESULTS

DIVISION I
St. Francis 1, Newbury Park 0: It’s all about timing. Amir Moore was sent into Wednesday’s CIF-Southern Section Division I second-round boys soccer playoff game with six minutes to play. Two minutes later, St. Francis High School sophomore Jake LaPorte lined up the Golden Knights’ only corner kick of the half against visiting Newbury Park. The kick went to the opposite side of the goal and Kim Chuchi headed it onto the ground in the middle of the goalie area. Moore, facing away from the goal to get the ball, turned and sent a hard shot into the net to give St. Francis a 1-0 victory and a berth in Friday’s quarterfinals. The Knights will play either Woodbridge or Long Beach Jordan.

DIVISION V
Monrovia 2, Desert Mirage 0: Call him The Spoiler. Certainly the mood was somber when the visiting Desert Mirage High School boys soccer team traveled 126 miles back to Thermal, courtesy of Monrovia senior midfielder Turner Ward. Ward was at the right place at the right time Wednesday when he scored off a header in the first half and assisted on another to lead Monrovia to a 2-0 victory over the Rams in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division V playoffs. Perhaps it was second-round jitters, but the Wildcats (21-2-3) looked vulnerable early in the first half. Desert Mirage (10-5-3) pressed early and often, but it didn’t take long for Monrovia to start playing its usual game. Whether it was precise passing or anticipation, the Wildcats took control and found open gaps that helped create numerous scoring opportunities. It didn’t take long before Monrovia capitalized on a set piece. Off a corner kick in the 14th minute, Ward’s header found the back of the net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

La Caada 1, Sultana 1 (La Caada advances on PK’s, 4-3): This score courtesy of my new buddy, LCFooty.

DIVISION VI
Viewpoint at Pasadena Poly
Rosemead at Milken Community

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GIRLS WATER POLO
DIVISION IV
La Caada vs. Arroyo Grande, at Cuesta College, 3:15

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Arcadia’s luck runs out in girls soccer; La Salle, Rio Hondo Prep boys basketball ousted; Alverno, La Salle, Maranatha and La Caada girls soccer season alive!!

By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer

ARCADIA — Sometimes all a team needs is a little luck to squeeze out a victory and make a memorable run in the playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Arcadia High School girls soccer team, it wasn’t going to be them.
Harvard-Westlake’s first-half luck carried over into the second and it came out on top, 2-0, over the Apaches on Tuesday night in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Arcadia (17-6-2) couldn’t shake the fact that even a dominating team can come out on the losing end in soccer.

For most — if not all — of the match, the Apaches dominated the Wolverines (15-4-3) with consistent pressure up top, where most of the action seemed to be.

Harvard-Westlake had only four scoring chances and converted twice, albeit that Arcadia’s miscommunication afforded the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.

Donilynn Hunter-Sallustio stayed on top of the play and flicked the ball past Apaches keeper Dana Lockie. It wasn’t clear if Lockie thought a defender would clear the ball, but by the time she realized that was not going to happen, the ball was on its way past her and into the net.

“Sometimes you have to have a little luck, and we definitely rode our luck,” Harvard-Westlake coach Richard Simms said. “We rode it all the way to the second half.”

Arcadia had a chance to tie the score 1-1 when it was awarded a penalty kick after Ann Marie Tangorra was taken down on a hard slide tackle inside the box.

Highly touted sophomore Vania Robles lined up to take the penalty kick, but her shot sailed over the crossbar, yet another break for the Wolverines.

“If I had a chance to do it again, I’d probably give (Tangorra) the ball,” Arcadia coach Nick Tangorra said. “She’s our leading scorer and she singlehandedly beat Valencia (in the first round last week).

“I didn’t give it to (Tangorra) and I trusted Vania (but she missed).”

Still, the Apaches had numerous opportunities.

Chloe Torres created many of those chances, along with Tangorra and Robles.

Torres’ volley off a deflection in the near post was blocked with less than 4 minutes left in the first half.

Robles’ relentless effort in the mouth of the goal was evident midway through the second half, but she twice missed the back of the net on shots that went inches wide of the post.

Joleen Pimentel’s precise pass to Tangorra created one of the better opportunities in the 66th minute. Tangorra successfully maneuvered past three defenders and got off a shot that was deflected to a charging Robles in the far post. But before she could get off a shot, keeper Clara Jaques grabbed the ball to stop the play.

miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485

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BOYS BASKETBALL
Tonight’s Results

DIVISION IV-A
Oaks Christian 66, La Salle 52:
If a basketball team can get hot in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, it can go a long way. La Salle High School was one of those teams. At least until Tuesday night. The Lancers ran into Oaks Christian, a hotter team and was eliminated in the Division IV-A quarterfinals. The host Lions shot 58.3 percent in the second half and pulled away for a 66-52 victory and a berth in Friday’s semifinals against Chaminade, which defeated Orange Lutheran, 71-70.

DIVISION VI-AA
Desert Christian 63, Rio Hondo Prep 51:
Rio Hondo Prep’s boy’s basketball team gave top-seeded Desert Christian all they could ask for in the first half of their CIF Southern Section Division VI-AA quarterfinal game on Tuesday.
Unfortunatley for the Kares, foul trouble and an extended cold streak in the third quarter allowed Desert to pull away to a 63-51 victory. After taking a 36-34 lead on a three pointer from Ed Drain with 6:12 remaining in the third, the Kares failed to score again until the 5:50 mark of the fourth quarter. The Kares missed 14 straight field goals in the stretch. During Rio Hondo’s drought, the Conquerors went on a 21-0 run to take a 55-36 lead, behind 8 points from forward Nick Law, who finished with 14 points.

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GIRLS SOCCER
Today’s Results

DIVISION II
Saugus 1, Flintridge Sacred Heart 0
Harvard-Westlake 2, Arcadia 0

DIVISION IV
La Salle 2, San Gorgonio 0:
Julia Barrero scored in the first four minutes and Samantha Cuerington’s blistering shot from 40 yards out in the 60th minute lifted the Lancers (16-7-5) in the Division IV playoffs. La Salle will play Cathedral City on Thursday in the quarterfinals. A coin flip today will determine the home site. Barrero’s goal came off a corner kick and scored from the top of the 18-yard box. Cuerington’s goal sailed over the keeper and into the net to give the Lancers the cushion.

DIVISION V
Maranatha 0, Paloma Valley 0 (Maranatha advances on penalties, 4-2):
Minutemen keeper Michelle Cornell blocked the Wildcats’ first penalty attempt and Kimmie Sommers scored Maranatha’s first PK attempt to lead the Minutemen in the Division V playoffs. The Minutemen will play against South Torrance, which defeated San Marino, 4-0. A coin flip today will determine Thursday’s home site. Maranatha coach Jolie Robison said both teams attacked but neither got a shot on goal. “They dominated the middle of the field but our defense held them strong,” Robison said.

La Caada 1, Oak Park 0: Morgan Ritticher may wear Kelly Clark’s shoes the remainder of the soccer season. No matter that the cleats are 2 sizes too small. On Tuesday afternoon, the 8-sized shoes felt just right. Perfect, actually. Ritticher, who left her shoes at La Caada High School, used the borrowed shoes to score the lone goal and give the Spartans a surprising 1-0 victory over host Oak Park in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division V playoffs. How surprising was the win? The Eagles, the Tri-Valley League champions and the tournament’s fifth seed, controlled almost the entire game. They had eight corner kicks and took 33 shots. La Caada took two shots on goal. But Ritticher scored when the Eagles couldn’t.

South Torrance 4, San Marino 0

DIVISION VII
Alverno 11, St. Matthias 0:
The Alverno High School girls soccer team went on the offensive Tuesday afternoon. The Jaguars led 10-0 at the half en route to an 11-0 win over St. Matthias in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division VII playoffs at Rio De Los Angeles State Park. Junior Jessica Capra recorded a hat trick and Ameenah Issa, Marina Lasse and Celina Minissian each scored two goals to lead the Jaguars (16-1-2). Alverno will play against Saddleback Valley Christian in Thursday’s quarterfinal match at Rio De Los Angeles State Park, which is about 20 minutes away from Alverno.

Animo Leadership 5, Duarte 0

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Baseball: CIF-Southern Section preseason top 10 polls

Maranatha, Pasadena Poly and Arcadia?!?!? Is that all I really get?

DIVISION II
1. El Toro
2. Notre Dame/SO
3. Palos Verdes
4. Cypress
5. Redlands East Valley
6. Yucaipa
7. Crespi
8. Glendora
9. La Mirada
10. Paso Robles
Others: San Luis Obispo,
Foothill, Burroughs, Arcadia

DIVISION V
1. St Joseph/SM
2. San Jacinto
3. Hesperia
4. Carpinteria
5. Maranatha
6. Paraclete
7. Serrano
8. Mary Star of the Sea
9. Campbell Hall
10. Western Christian
Others: Azusa, La Puente
Bishop Diego

DIVISION VI
1. Bloomington Christian
2. Windward
3. Sage Hill
4. Grace Brethren
5. Pasadena Poly
6. Rosamond
7. Viewpoint
8. Oxford
9. Desert Christian/L
10. Avalon
Others: Upland Chr., Kern Valley
Bishop, Apple Valley Chr

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CIF Schedule for basketball, soccer and water polo

BOYS BASKETBALL
Tuesday’s quarterfinals
All games 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION IV-A
La Salle at Oaks Christian
DIVISION VI-AA
Desert Christian at Rio Hondo Prep

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GIRLS SOCCER
Tuesday’s Second-round games
All games 3 p.m. unless noted

DIVISION II
Flintridge Sacred Heart at Saugus
Harvard-Westlake at Arcadia, 5 p.m.
DIVISION IV
San Gorgonio at La Salle
DIVISION V
Maranatha at Paloma Valley
South Torrance at San Marino
Oak Park at La Canada
DIVISION VII
Duarte at Animo Leadership
St. Mathias at Alverno

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GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wednesday’s quarterfinal games
All games 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION III-A
St. Mary’s Academy at Monrovia
Muir at Bellflower
DIVISION IV-AA
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at La Caada
DIVISION V-AA
Flintridge Prep at St. Joseph’s/Santa Maria
La Salle at Sierra
DIVISION V-A
Santa Clara at Pasadena Poly
DIVISION VI-AA
Sierra Canyon at Rio Hondo Prep

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BOYS SOCCER
Wednesday’s second-round games
All games 3 p.m.

DIVISION I
Newbury Park at St. Francis
DIVISION V
Desert Mirage at Monrovia
La Caada at Sultana
DIVISION VI
Viewpoint at Pasadena Poly
Rosemead at Milken Community

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GIRLS WATER POLO
Wednesday’s Game
DIVISION IV
La Caada vs. Arroyo Grande, at TBA

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