St. Monica Girls Are League Champions

As several area basketball teams enter the CIF playoffs this weekend the biggest story is created by the St. Monica girls.

They’ve won the Camino Real championship for the first time in 10 years.

“It’s been a long haul but this shows our program is moving in the right direction,” said Coach John Skinner.

As the No. 6 seed in its division St. Monica will host Loma Linda Academy Saturday at 7 pm. If the Mariners win their next opponent could be Milken and if they win again it could be Brentwood.

As usual, junior Brianna Harris was the star of the final two league wins, 48-34 over Mary Star and 59-48 over Cantwell Sacred Heart last Thursday,

“We were too hyper at the start against Cantwell and missed several easy shots but we settled down in the second half,” said Skinner.

“It was senior night and we honored Valarie Ortiz, our only senior. She is highly respected.”

Skinner acknowledged the arrival of Harris this season after she left Santa Monica High gave the team a tremendous boost. And he praised other players, including Katrina Balatico and freshman Liyah Lewis.

St. Monica is 17-10, including 6-2 in league games.

SANTA MONICA

The Vikings were 7-3 in the Ocean League, including a final game 55-48 victory over Hawthorne.

Their first round CIF playoff game will be at Buena High in Ventura Saturday at 7 pm.

CROSSROADS

With an 8-2 league record the Roadrunners earned a CIF playoff berth and played Thursday night at Cantwell-Sacred Heart,

VENICE

Although the Gondoliers were only 3-8 in the Western League they made the LA City Section playoffs and had a first round game Thursday night at North Hollywood.

BOYS BASKETBALL

SANTA MONICA

The Vikings are Ocean League champions. They were 9-1 in league games and have an 18-8 overall record.

So they’ll have a first round CIF playoff game at home Friday night, opposing Roosevelt High of Corona in Division 1-AA.

“The team really came together in the last few weeks,” said Coach James Hecht. “The players were really focused.”

Santa Monica won its two final league games, 63-52 over Morningside and 71-37 over Hawthorne.

ST MONICA

The Mariners finished third in the Camino Real League and traveled to Costa Mesa Wednesday night for their first round game in the Division 4A playoffs.

The team is 13-13 and was 5-5 in league games. In the last two they lost to Bosco Tech, 58-54 and defeated St. Paul, 60-53.

CROSSROADS

The Roadrunners were awarded an at-large CIF playoff berth, as the strength of the Delphic League was recognized.

They’ll play in Division 4A, the same one as St. Monica and they traveled to St. Genevieve Wednesday night for a first round game.

Crossroads concluded league play with a 4-6 record after losing to Paraclete, 63-51.

VENICE

The Gondoliers began the LA City Section playoffs Wednesday night at Reseda.

The team is 14-13 but was only 4-8 in the Western League.