Sports Roundup: Providence, Bell-Jeff girls’ hoops start league with wins

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Providence 48, Milken Community 36: The Pioneers opened Liberty League play Tuesday afternoon with a victory at home.

Providence (8-8), which has won or shared the league championship the last seven seasons, was paced by Ariel Gordillo, who had 12 points, five rebounds and six steals. Christy Hoffman contributed nine points and 11 rebounds and Christa Kurkjian added seven points.

“A lot of things that we do are for preparation for the start of league play,” Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said. “Even though we had a tough preseason schedule and didn’t finish with a strong season, that’s why. We’re preparing for league and for this.”

Bellarmine-Jefferson 60, St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy 20: The Guards jumped out to a 12-1 first-quarter lead and coasted the rest of the way to win Tuesday evening in their Santa Fe League opener.

Bell-Jeff, the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division V-A, improved to 12-3.

Dalila Rincan had 16 points and Cosette Balmy added 15 for the Guards.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Providence 3, Milken Community 0: Elias Ferguson, Monty Greene and Paul Swaine scored goals for the Pioneers in Tuesday’s nonleague victory at Occidental College.

Providence improved to 2-4.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

Arcadia 8, Burroughs 5: The Indians lost their Pacific League opener Tuesday afternoon at home.

Gwen Turla scored three goals for Burroughs (5-6), which also received a goal each from Aleah Orozco and Dominique Silva.

The Indians trailed at halftime, 2-1. Burroughs was outscored in the third quarter, 5-3.