COVINA — Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School’s Lily Perkins has been one of the better players in the area during the past three seasons, and she showed Wednesday that’s continuing in 2016-17.
Perkins scored 17 points and had seven rebounds to lead the Cardinals to a 49-30 victory over Bonita in a Covina Classic quarterfinal at Covina High.
Emily Guerena had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Victoria Guerrero 10 points and eight rebounds for CSHM (4-2), which advanced to face Eastvale Roosevelt, a 69-33 winner over Los Altos, in Friday’s semifinals. The game is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 at Covina High, but it may be moved to 8 p.m. to accommodate Valley View, which faces host Covina in the other semifinal. Valley View’s football team is in the CIF State football finals and plays Friday.
Covina advanced with a 49-36 win over South Hills, with Valley View defeating Bishop Amat, 68-47.

Bonita (3-2) got 12 points from Sami Riggs,
The Cardinals, who closed the first half with an 11-2 run, opened the third quarter with a 15-1 surge to go up 36-20.
Bonita coach Darren Baumunk: “(Perkins) is very good. We watched her play the other night, so we knew what kind of a basketball player she was. It was a challenge for our players to step up against a player like that. I thought in the first half, for the most part we did OK. But the second half, we just seemed to let her do whatever she wanted to do.”
CSHM’s Lily Perkins: “We just talked at halftime. We weren’t going to let (Bonita) take this game. We just pushed through. We just executed. We are trying to win every game we can. We led the team.”
— Stephen Ramirez

1. Cantwell-Sacred Heart
The Cardinals again begin the season as one of the top ranked teams in the state. CSHM has advanced to the state tournament each of George Zedan’s five seasons as coach and the Cardinals will make another run at it, and could compete for the Division IAA title, if left in that group come playoff time.
They lose 2016 area player of the year Jacob Davison, who is now at Eastern Washington, but they return Avery Martinez, a big scoring option, and welcome El Toro transfer Dawit Wilson, who provides some athleticism. Senior guard Jesus Rivera is also one to watch, as is some talented freshman who have joined the program.
2. La Mirada
The Matadores transition to a youth movement, but they are still very talented. They should compete for the Suburban League title, led by all-area guard Rendwick Helaire. Daniel Cabrera and Bryce Craver are other players to watch.
3. St. Paul
The Swordsmen were the surprise team in the area last season. They will be a force again, led by center Louis Bangai, who is considered one of the top inside players in the state. Others to watch are Eric Dutra and Kylan Mann.
4. Sonora
The path to the Freeway League title has gone through Sonora the past five seasons and it’s not expected to change this season. The Raiders, who went 5-0 last week, again look to be formidable, led by seniors Kevin Marlow and Austin Carter.
5. La Serna
The Lancers look like the team to beat in the Del Rio League after finishing second last season. They feature junior Cedric Sobers, who has the ability to take over games. La Serna also returns senior Walter Franco, who was second team all-league.
6. Whittier
The Cardinals have a bunch to replace after enjoying one of the better seasons in school history. They could push La Serna with seniors Jesus Gomez and Spencer Torres.
7. Whittier Christian
They Heralds will again find it tough sledding in the Olympic League, which features two teams rated among the top 25 in Southern California. They could do some damage on some nights with senior Justin Osborn, who averaged 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 2016.
8. Santa Fe
The Chiefs shared third with Pioneer last season and have enough pieces returning to put a scare in Del Rio League favorites La Serna and Whittier. If they can get more consistent, this is a team to look out for.
9. El Rancho
The Dons, who feature first team All-Del Rio League swing player Noah Losoya, could be one of the most-improved teams in the area. They have showed solid signs in recent seasons and now seem to have the parts to challenge in the Del Rio League. But can they?
10. Schurr
The Spartans won just eight games last season, but are expected to be improved. They opened the season by winning four of five games at the Sierra Vista/Covina Tournament last week, including pushing Damien before losing. They could challenge Keppel in the Almont League.
PRESEASON
ALL-AREA TEAM
Guard: Dawit Wilson, Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Senior
Wilson, a transfer from El Toro, is one of the top scoring guards in the area. He averaged 15 points a game last season for the Chargers and was All-CIF-SS Division 2AA.
Guard: Rendwick Helaire, La Mirada, Junior
Could be the Matadores’ next star after a solid sophomore year. He’ll be the leader and key if La Mirada is going to make another run for the Suburban League title. Helaire averaged nearly 10 points a game last season.
Center: Louis Bangai, St. Paul, Senior
Bangai is considered the top center in California. He’s nearly unstoppable on the block and has enough touch on his shot keep opposing teams offense. He’s the key to the Swordsmen winning a second consecutive Santa Fe League crown.
Forward: Avery Martinez, Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Junior
The junior was a solid scoring option for the Cardinals and should be improved this season. He can score from either inside or the perimeter and along with Wilson, gives the Cardinals a solid scoring punch.
Forward: Cedric Sobers, La Serna, Junior
The junior enjoyed a break-out year as a sophomore. He has the ability to take over games and came up big when called upon last season. He’s the key to the Lancers winning the Del Rio League title. He’s a touch match up outside.

If you have any scores or stats from any local high school sporting events call them into the desk at 626-544-0992 or 0991 or scores@SGVN

Girls basketball
Whittier Christian 54, Crean Lutheran 38 — Clairessa Watkins had 18 points and Christa Evans had 17 points to lead the Heralds (6-2), who won the Leon Davis Classic game Tuesday. Joleen Corona had 14 points for Whittier Christian.

Boys basketball
Montebello 58, Wilson 53 — Ethan Sims had 26 points and 11 rebounds and William Tai had 11 points and five assists for the Wildcats in a Blue Pride Classic loss Tuesday.

If you have any scores or stats from any local high school sporting events call them into the desk at 626-544-0992 or 0991 or scores@SGVN

Boys basketball
Foothill 51, Whittier Christian 44 — Jakob Williams had 12 points and Justin Osborn had 11 points for the Heralds in a Buena Park Tournament loss.

Girls basketball
Whittier Christian 51, Gabrielino 39 — Joleen Corona had 15 points, three assists and three steals and Christa Evans had nine points and 18 rebounds for the Heralds (4-2), who placed fifth at the La Habra Tournament Friday.

LA MIRADA >> There will be no repeat CIF State title for the La Mirada High School football team.Jack Carmichael rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns and Edison gave coach Dave White a nice retiring gift with a 44-24 victory over the Matadores in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 title game Friday night at La Mirada High School.Griffin O’Connor accounted for 290 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers, who improved to 13-1 and advanced to next week’s state regional bowls. It’s Edison’s sixth CIF-SS title.Tristan Meyer threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns and Nick Hernandez rushed for 162 yards for La Mirada, which finished 11-3.Edison appeared to clinch it when Barrett McCade returned an interception 91 yards for a 34-10 lead early in the third quarter. But as La Serna found out two weeks ago in the quarterfinals, the Matadores are never out of a game.La Mirada again proved the point, scoring on consecutive drives to cut the deficit to 34-24 going into the fourth quarter.
Meyer tossed 13 yards to Jeremy Clark to cut it to 34-18 with 4:30 left in the third quarter before the Matadores recovered an onside kick and cut it to 34-24 with a 19-yard pass to Clark at 3:15.
La Mirada, after Edison’s Jack Morrell made it 37-24 with a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth, drove inside the Chargers’ 10, but Meyer misfired on consecutive passes to turn it over on downs with less than five minutes left.

O’Connor followed with a 90-yard pass to David Atencio before scoring on a 5-yard run to put it away at 44-24 with just over three minutes to play.
Edison led 28-10 at halftime.
The Chargers gashed the Matadores for 291 yards during the first two quarters and scored four of their seven possessions, including the final three.
They turned a close game into a rout with scoring drives of 66 and 59 yards to lead by 17 at the break.
Carmichael, who rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the half, keyed both marches. He had a 72-yard run to the La Mirada 6 before running it in from there for a 21-10 advantage with 2:54 left in the half.
Edison, after stopping La Mirada on five plays to force a punt, finished off the half to go up 28-10. Carmichael had a 25-yard run to the Matadores’ 28. O’Connor then finished it off with consecutive runs of 11 yards for a 18-point lead at halftime.

Both teams opened the game with turnovers. Edison followed a La Mirada fumble with a 64-yard drive and took a 7-0 lead on a 21-yard run by Carmichael at 9:13 of the first quarter.
La Mirada countered with a 75-yard drive that led to a Brandon Petruescu’ 22-yard field for a 7-3 deficit at 3:51.
The teams then traded touchdown drives.
O’Connor, who was 10 of 21 for 96 yards passing in the first half, gave the Chargers a 14-3 lead with a 14-yard pass to EJ Ginnis with 7:31 left in the second quarter.
La Mirada countered with a 65-yard drive. Meyer, who was 12 of 17 for 99 yards in the first half, then tossed 22 yards to Elijah Hicks to the 1. Meyer followed with a 1-yard run to cut it to 14-10 at 3:45.
The Matadores then appeared to recover a fumble at their 34 on the kickoff. But it was later overturned. Edison then scored on its next two drives for a 28-10 lead.
La Mirada coach Mike Moschetti: “We got whooped. We got beat. We got out-coached, didn’t make plays when we had to. Edison’s a good football team. They deserved to win. Congratulations to coach (Dave) White on a great career and going out a winner.”