GOING FOR IT: County prep sports teams...

GOING FOR IT: County prep sports teams turn things up a notch this week with Southern Section playoffs in basketball, soccer and wrestling. At Marina High in Huntington Beach, the girls’ soccer team hasn’t lost in 57 games spanning three seasons--the third-longest such streak in section history. But Coach Bobby Bruch says the big goal is a third consecutive Division I title. “We’ve been talking about it for so long that once it gets here, we are going to be very excited.”

GETTING A GRIP: No one disputes Calvary Chapel high school’s claim as the county’s top wrestling team, but No. 2 is another matter. Laguna Hills holds that spot in the county poll, but Coach Joe Mark of fourth-ranked Anaheim sees it differently. “I don’t think Anaheim gets the respect it deserves,” Mark said. “We’ve already beaten Laguna Hills in a dual match. And we have faced some tough competition.” Anaheim can prove itself beginning Wednesday in the section dual meet preliminaries.

NEXT LEVEL? The boys’ basketball team at La Habra’s Sonora High hopes to accelerate the one-step-at-a-time pace of the past two seasons. . . . The Raiders lost the section quarterfinals in 1993 and semifinals last season. But led by 7-foot senior center Craig Clark, Sonora is a favorite to win the Division III-AA title. The two county teams ranked higher--Mater Dei and Tustin--play in different divisions. “We’ve improved every game,” Clark said. “If we keep at this rate, we should be right where we want to be when it comes time.”

ON THE REBOUND: Fountain Valley girls’ basketball finished last season in disappointing fashion, winning only five of its last 11 games after a 12-4 start. But this season, the Barons are going the other way, having won 14 of their last 16 and losing only once in the difficult Sunset League. . . . Said Coach Carol Strausburg, who recently reached career victory No. 300: “I think the maturity and confidence level has risen,” Strausburg said. “Everybody wants to contribute; last year, they relied on other people to step forward.”