Girls’ basketball: Santa Monica and Inglewood to play Wednesday night

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Santa Monica (16-6, 6-0), ranked No. 7 in the Southland by The Times, will play No. 11 Inglewood (19-4, 5-1) Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Inglewood.

The Ocean League teams have split the results of their last two meetings this season.

The first time they played on Dec. 12, Inglewood defeated Santa Monica, 46-37. But Santa Monica transfers Bianka Balthazar and Moriah Faulk had not been cleared to play and Thea Lemberger played limited minutes.

When the teams met again on Jan. 15, Santa Monica had the help of Faulk, who had received clearance to play on Dec. 18, and the Vikings beat Inglewood, 59-51.

Santa Monica will be at full strength Wednesday night after Balthazar was cleared to play on Jan. 27.

Inglewood coach Anthony Scott wouldn’t want it any other way.

‘We want them at 100%,’ Scott said. ‘We don’t want no player missing or no player absent.’

Scott said his team has been waiting for Wednesday’s game ever since the defending Ocean League champions lost to the Vikings last month.

‘The kids are ready to play right now,’ Scott said. ‘They know the Ocean League championship is on the line.’

-- Melissa Rohlin