MIDWEEK REPORT : HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE : JUST PREPS / A page dedicated to high school athletes, their families and coaches--and to those who follow high school sports. : Litter Left on Floor More Than Footnote

The lesson is clear: Don’t litter.

Supposedly inflammatory notes strewn throughout the visiting locker room before the Simi Valley High girls defeated host Thousand Oaks, 78-66, in a pivotal Marmonte League game last week were actually the result of a colossal misunderstanding.

In an effort to boost attendance, lollipops were handed out at Thousand Oaks wrapped in a piece of paper that read, “Help Us Lick Simi.”

Apparently, several Thousand Oaks students absent-mindedly tossed the notes on the locker room floor before sticking the lollipops in their mouths, and the notes were found by the Pioneer players when they came in to dress for the game.

The notes were duly noted by the Pioneers, as if they needed more incentive than playing for a share of the league lead.

“The notes and lollipops were a spirit thing and there was no malice intended toward Simi Valley,” Thousand Oaks Coach Chuck Brown said. “Our girls were shocked to hear that those notes were left in the locker room.”

A Star Is Born

With a 51-34 rout of Burroughs that avenged an earlier loss, the Saugus girls’ basketball team kept its playoff hopes alive last Friday.

But the most-joyous occasion of the season for Saugus came last Thursday, when Coach Laurie Roland gave birth to an 8-pound 9-ounce baby boy: Clayton Raymond.

It was the first child for Roland, 40, who two weeks ago had to give up coaching for the remainder of the season because of age-associated risks and the fact she has a rare blood disease. But husband Walt was happy to report that mother and baby are both healthy.

“She did good,” Walt said of Laurie.

Said center Christine Sifferman, who predicted Roland would give birth to a boy before it happened, “We want Clayton to come out healthy, because he is going to be a future star.”

The Centurions, who previously lost by 31 to Burroughs, dedicated the next-day victory to their coach. Saugus moved into a second place tie with Burroughs at 4-2, trailing Hart (6-0).

Friendly Enemies

Three consecutive times Chaminade has defeated Alemany in boys’ basketball. That makes the score 3-0 in favor of Chaminade Coach Jeff Young against rival Rob Webb of Alemany.

But it’s a friendly rivalry between Young and Webb, one that dates to their days at L.A. Lutheran High.

Webb, who graduated in 1986, and Young, class of ‘87, were teammates in basketball and football. In basketball, Young played point guard while Webb was a post player. In football, Young started at quarterback, Webb at center.

“We weren’t outstanding, by any means,” said Young, who became coach at Chaminade last season. “But we used to talk about how things should have been. We talked about becoming coaches, more than anything because of our frustration.”

Webb said he is “very impressed” with the job Young has done at Chaminade. But he is quick to point out that Chaminade’s combined margin of victory in the coaches’ three meetings has been six points, including a double-overtime game.

Said Young: “It was tough to go down there and shake his hand.”

Can’t Keep Him Down

Doctors have limited Yutaka Shimizu’s activities since he had heart surgery before the season, but that doesn’t keep the Kennedy boys’ basketball coach from having his say.

Along with Tim Guy, Shimizu coaches Kennedy’s varsity and junior varsity teams, but he is allowed to guide only one of the teams during a game on a given day. When the Golden Cougars played Chatsworth last week, Shimizu coached the junior varsity, then sat on the end of the bench as the varsity took the floor.

He didn’t stay there long.

Throughout Kennedy’s 84-66 loss, he quietly but firmly relayed instructions to players and Guy while pacing near the end of the bench.

“It’s tough to keep him quiet,” Guy said. “He tries to keep calm but sometimes it’s difficult.”

Basketball Notes

City Section

VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE

Boys: East Valley League (4-A)--What a difference a week makes. All four league teams were tied for first place at 2-2 heading into last week. After two games, North Hollywood managed to get a one-game lead on Grant and Reseda. Meanwhile, Monroe, with the best record in the league at 10-5 entering Wednesday’s game, lost twice by a total of nine points and has quickly fallen two games back. . . . Forty percent of North Hollywood’s offensive output last week against Grant came from free throws. The Huskies were 25 of 32 (78%) from the line to fuel a 62-54 victory. Grant was eight of 12. . . . Through the first six conference games, Grant has developed a distinct pattern: Every victory has been followed by a loss and all three losses have been on a Friday. . . . Reseda has won three of its last four games through last week.

Mid-Valley League (3-A)--Canoga Park, The Times’ No. 3 team, wasted little time getting back on track after its 79-77 loss to Van Nuys last week. Against Poly two days later, Canoga Park raced to a 13-0 lead before Poly scored its first point. Still, the Hunters will be looking for retribution against Van Nuys Friday night in a rematch at Canoga Park. “So much so that they’re forgetting about [Wednesday’s game against Sylmar],” Canoga Park Coach Ralph Turner said. . . . The answer to whether Van Nuys is a contender or a pretender lies in the game of senior center Onaje Longmire. In Van Nuys’ 60-59 loss to Reseda in overtime Jan. 19, Longmire made only one of 13 shots--a paltry 8%--from the field. But last week in the Wolves’ 79-77 upset of Canoga Park, Longmire was 11 of 17 (65%) from the field and finished with 30 points. “But the thing that really stood out is he didn’t have any turnovers,” Van Nuys Coach Kevin Kanemura said. . . . Talk about hardship: Sylmar, 5-11 before Wednesday’s game, played its first 14 games without a full complement of players because of illness, injury and a death in the family of one of the players. But last week against Poly, with all 14 players healthy, Sylmar defeated the Parrots, 63-54, and is finally playing the way Coach Bort Escoto expected his team to perform in the preseason. “I just wish I had all of the kids from Day One,” Escoto said.

Girls: Mid-Valley League (4-A)--Before Wednesday’s matchup with North Hollywood, Van Nuys was on a five-game winning streak compliments of senior center Gohar Tumanian, who averaged 23 points in those five victories. It’s no coincidence that Van Nuys lost to Grant in its conference opener: Tumanian had only eight points. . . . North Hollywood’s Samantha Fargeon is averaging a baker’s dozen in both scoring and rebounding. . . . In her first game against her old teammates from Monroe since transferring last summer, North Hollywood sophomore guard Lindsay Sotero-Higa scored 11 points and played a “very, very good game,” Monroe Coach Bryant Ching said. “Obviously, I say to myself, what if?”

East Valley (3-A)--Grant’s Bahaneh Maani, who is averaging 15.5 points, scored 39 points in two Lancer victories last week, helping give her team a two-game first-place lead.

NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE

Boys: North Valley League--Chatsworth, which has struggled most of the season with just two established players, may have finally turned its season around. The Chancellors have won three consecutive games and are getting improved scoring from rebounding forward Kevin Bentley, who averaged 12 points in victories over Kennedy and Taft.

West Valley League--Last week was Granada Hills’ turn to go undefeated. El Camino Real started the conference season 2-0, and Birmingham won two in a row two weeks ago. The Highlanders defeated El Camino Real, and romped in a 79-38 victory over San Fernando. One incentive for the lopsided victory over the Tigers: it was Granada Hills first home night game.

Girls: North Valley League--Kennedy guard Tamaya Morris is shooting 60% from the field . The Golden Cougars received a boost from junior guard Sandra Durazo on Friday against Granada Hills. In her first start of the season, Durazo, who is a standout pitcher for the softball team, had 10 rebounds and six steals in a 54-23 victory. “She was all over the place,” Coach Donis Bailey said. “I wanted to know what she had for breakfast. Whatever it was, I want everyone else to have some.” . . . El Camino Real forward Tami Jones, who leads area City Section players in scoring, was held to 19 points in two games last week.

West Valley League--San Fernando broke a 10-game losing streak with a 51-42 victory over Cleveland. The key might have been balance: Four players scored in double figures for the Tigers.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE

Boys: Verdugo Hills guard Jerson Castillo, the Dons’ second-leading scorer, has quit the team, Coach Scott Kemple said. Castillo, one of three returning starters from last season, was averaging 11.3 points and six assists.

Southern Section

ALPHA

Boys: Village Christian upset Marshall Tuesday night, 59-52, to pull within one game of co-league leaders Marshall and L.A. Baptist. . . . L.A. Baptist and Marshall meet Friday in a first-place showdown. . . . L.A. Baptist point guard Ara Veney is vying for a spot in the Knights’ basketball record book. Veney, who has 277 assists, is only 48 behind all-time leader Greg Fields, who had 325 from 1987 to 1989. The junior is certain to break Fields’ record next season, but if he maintains his 6.9 assists-per-game average, he will break the record if the Knights advance to the second round of this season’s Southern Section playoffs.

Girls: Village Christian Coach John Domke is confused about the Southern Section division IV-A rankings. The Crusaders were ranked third, won six consecutive games, and then dropped to fourth. Then in the next rankings, they moved up to third. Meanwhile, undefeated Mojave jumped from fourth to second while Bell-Jeff, which lost twice in five games, dropped from second to third. “We haven’t beaten great teams, but neither has Mojave,” Domke said. Village Christian and Mojave share a common opponent in Paraclete. Each defeated the Spirits--the Crusaders won by eight points, the Mustangs by three. . . . Crusader junior Sarah Sutton quit the team Tuesday, citing personal reasons. Sutton was averaging three points and four rebounds.

CAMINO REAL

Girls: Jaclyn Johnson’s return to the Bell-Jeff lineup after missing 15 games seems to have eased some tension for the Guards. “The mood in practice is definitely different,” Guard Coach Jim Couch said. “I can see in their faces that they are more relaxed.”. . . . The Guards have won two in a row since holding a two-hour team meeting last Tuesday, ending a three-game losing streak. . . . Cheryl Flores and Carolyn Nielsen seemed particularly moved after the meeting. Flores had 24 points and 11 steals while Nielsen had 21 points and 19 rebounds in an 80-22 victory over Cantwell Sacred Heart. “It was one of those nights when we went home happy,” Couch said.

CHANNEL

Boys: Oxnard remained in the hunt for a playoff berth by snapping a three-game losing streak Monday with a 46-44 victory over San Marcos. “We’ve been in a shooting slump,” Coach Henry Lobo said. Until last week, the Yellowjackets had four players scoring in double figures: Danny Sweeney, Alan Fouchey, Ross Randolph and Charles Irving. Sweeney, a second-team all-county selection last season, has been used as a sixth man while he recovers from a sprained ankle. Irving made six three-pointers against San Marcos. . . . Christian Gallagher of Ventura made five three-pointers in a 79-73 victory over Dos Pueblos on Monday.

Girls: Tickets are selling briskly for a nonleague showdown Saturday night between Buena and Irvine Woodbridge, defending state Division II champion. Woodbridge (21-2) is ranked No. 7 in the nation by USA Today. Buena (20-0) is ranked No. 8. Woodbridge is led by 6-1 senior forward Melanie Pearson and 5-7 junior guard Erin Stovall. Pearson has committed to UCLA. The game begins at 8 p.m. and is preceded by a barbecue dinner at 5 p.m. . . . Megan Carmola scored 39 of Westlake’s 44 points--including the winning basket at the buzzer--in a 44-43 victory over Channel Islands on Wednesday. . . . Chante Guggia, Rio Mesa’s 6-1 center, scored 34 points in two victories last week, including an upset over Oxnard. Guggia made 13 of 16 free throws.

FOOTHILL

Boys: What a difference two weeks makes in the Foothill League. Saugus opened 3-0, winning all three games in the first week of league play. At the start of this week, the Centurions found themselves in a two-way tie for fourth place at 3-3. In Week 1, Saugus beat Burroughs, 63-60. Last week, the Centurions lost to Burroughs, 74-69. Hart also turned the tables on Canyon, creating a three-way tie for first place with the Cowboys and Burbank, each at 4-2. After losing to Canyon by 13 points the first week, the Indians beat the Cowboys by 18 in the rematch. . . . The hottest team in the league is Burbank, which has won five in a row after starting 0-2. But the defending champion Bulldogs proved they are no less vulnerable than any other team after squeaking past Valencia, 49-47, last week. The Vikings, a first-year team with no seniors, are 5-16, 0-7 in league play. . . . Valencia’s competitiveness doesn’t surprise Foothill coaches. “We’ve had only one bad quarter in each game,” Coach Gary Spindt said. “Things are going to be very nice around here the next several years.” Said Burroughs Coach Art Sullivan, “I said at the start of the season, Valencia will win a game.” Said Burbank Coach Ron Quarterman, “We beat them by 45 the first time we played. This time I was just glad to get out of there with a win.”

Girls: A rash of serious injuries has fractured a season of high expectations for Burroughs. The Indians were already missing senior center Janel Simon, who faces reconstructive knee surgery next month, when sophomore guard Wendy Sanchez went down with a sprained knee in a key loss to Saugus last week. Sanchez’s status is unknown. Three Indians are playing with injuries: Katie Blackburn (two bad knees), Joyce Lau (ankle) and Erika Huber (ankle). “It’s unbelievable how hurt we are,” Coach Doug Nicol said, “but we’ve got heart.”

FRONTIER

Boys: Santa Paula star Josh Jimenez did not start for disciplinary reasons Tuesday in the Cardinals’ defeat of Malibu but scored 17 points in three quarters. . . . Moorpark showed remarkable scoring balance in a victory over Santa Paula last Friday. Patrick Tate led the team with 18 points, while Kevin Lawrence, Brendan Hanson and Keith Donahue each had 12 and Brian Donahue had 11. Brian Donahue also had five rebounds and nine assists and has taken some kidding from Coach Tim Bednar for being photogenic. “Every time a photo of our games is in the paper Brian’s in it,” Bednar said. “But that’s because wherever the ball is, that’s where he is.”

Girls: Undefeated Moorpark, which has barely broken a sweat in rolling over its league neighbors, now competes against itself as much as other teams. “Our goal is to see how we improve against [league] teams the second time around,” Coach Brent Milburn said. “We want to see how effective we are in shooting percentage and other things that the score doesn’t always reflect.” Translation: The Musketeers don’t expect to be challenged until the playoffs.

GOLDEN

Boys: In a rare occurrence, somebody outscored Highland’s John Burrell in a game last week. Palmdale junior Markus Carr scored 35 points. Burrell, the area scoring leader, had 25, but he got the last laugh as the Bulldogs won, 71-67, positioning themselves for a first-place showdown with Antelope Valley on Friday. Highland and Antelope Valley entered the week with 5-1 league records. . . . Is Burrell a one-man team? At times, yes, said Highland Coach Tim Knight. “He had a great game and there was no one else around,” said Knight of Burrell’s 33-point effort in a 73-60 loss in the Bulldogs’ first meeting with Antelope Valley. Knight wants to see more scoring from Nick Howell and Sean Scott. “Nick has not touched his potential,” Knight said of his 6-7 center. “He has the ability to score in double figures. I don’t think he has scored in doubles yet this year. He has to step up.” . . . Littlerock fans were concerned Friday when leading scorer Bronson Pitts twisted his ankle in a loss to Ridgecrest Burroughs. Pitts is OK, playing with a mild sprain. The most-serious injury of the week was suffered by Coach Greg Madison, who broke a bone in his hand in a mountain-biking accident.

Girls: Look for Antelope Valley to switch this week from a low-post team to a fast-breaking squad with the departure of center Britta Hoff, an exchange student who returns to Germany, and the return of play-making guard Tashie Aguinaga, who had been academically ineligible. In 1995, Aguinaga had a school-record 12 steals in a game and averaged 11 points and 4.5 assists. . . . After a 39-38 loss to Antelope Valley last week, Coach Tom Hegre was ready to throw in the towel when his Littlerock team fell to 1-4. “I’m looking at next year’s schedule,” Hegre said. “This is never going to happen to me again.” Then came a 52-49 loss to second-place Ridgecrest Burroughs, and Hegre changed his tune: “I still think we can beat any team in our league every time we play.”

MARMONTE

Boys: Need more proof of the overall strength and balance of this league? The four games Friday serve as Exhibit A: All were upsets, although none qualify as major. The biggest surprise was Newbury Park beating Simi Valley on point guard Mike Bowers’ buzzer-beater. But it marked the second time this season the Panthers have defeated the Pioneers, no doubt delighting Newbury Park Coach Steve Johnson, a former Simi Valley assistant. Meanwhile, league leader Royal fell to defending champion Westlake, underachieving Camarillo used a second-half surge to shock overachieving Agoura, and Thousand Oaks spoiled a chance for Channel Islands to gain ground. . . . Sophomore point guard Joey Riccio scored 37 points in two games for Thousand Oaks after concentrating on playmaking most of the season. Riccio is the son of Santa Paula athletic director Joe Riccio. . . . Royal survived a scare when senior guard Scott Schnetzler’s knee injury turned out to be less serious than first thought. Schnetzler, a tenacious defender, missed last Friday’s game but was scheduled to play Wednesday. . . . Dorsey’s victories over Royal and Channel Islands in December’s Channel Islands tournament have been forfeited because the Dons used an ineligible player.

Girls: Sure, Jenn Detmer’s scoring average is skyrocketing, sophomore Courtney Miller has become a force on the boards and Nicole Woodruff and Nikki LaScala are making consistent contributions. But the inspired play of senior reserve forwards Crystal Crawford and Michelle Stevenson has caught the attention of Thousand Oaks Coach Chuck Brown. “They have given us some very solid performances,” Brown said. “Defense, rebounds and they are getting seven to nine points a game.” . . . Simi Valley avenged its loss to Thousand Oaks last week in large part because Pioneer point guard Jamie Griffin stayed out of foul trouble. “She played the whole game this time,” Brown said. “The first time we played she was on the bench with fouls. That made a big difference in their offense.” Griffin injured a thumb in the game, however, and did not play in the Pioneers’ 49-42 victory over Newbury Park on Friday. . . . Megan Carmola (31 points) and Kristi Valencia (22) of Westlake outscored the entire Camarillo team in the Warriors’ 65-45 victory.

MISSION

Girls: The swelling and discoloration surrounding the right eye of Rosie Chingcuangco of Louisville has just about disappeared nearly three weeks after she was struck by a stray elbow belonging to Carly Funicello of Alemany. Chingcuangco, who is averaging 9.3 points as a starting guard, has since been a popular subject of conversation around campus. “We took pictures and everything,” Louisville Coach Paula Getty-Shearer said. “But it’s just about fine right now. Carly has some sharp elbows.” Louisville’s Kari Crawley, averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 assists, is among the region’s most-dangerous three-point specialists. Crawley has connected on 28 of 55 (51%) attempts, including four in four attempts Friday against Notre Dame. Freshman forward Omelogo Udeze of Harvard-Westlake has rebounded from a badly sprained thumb that doctors originally believed was fractured. Udeze shed her cast last week and played well against Alemany, holing Funicello to only 11 points. Harvard’s Christine Bohle, a 5-foot-11 standout on the school’s volleyball team, has 14 blocks in 22 games. Sheila Shalati, a senior point guard for Chaminade and second-team all-league selection last season, has transferred to Alemany and will not play the remainder of the season. Sophomore guard Judy Diaz of Notre Dame placed first in a skills competition Jan. 20 at North Hollywood High sponsored by Lady Foot Locker and Nike. Diaz, most valuable player for the Knights’ freshmen team, is a varsity reserve expected to excel next season.

PACIFIC

Boys: Pasadena has forfeited seven nonleague victories for using an ineligible player, but the forfeits won’t affect the Bulldogs’ league record. Pasadena is 0-7 in league play, and 0-22 overall. Too bad for Glendale one of its losses didn’t come against Pasadena. The Dynamiters are in fifth place at 1-6, 7-15 overall. “At this point, I’ll take another win any way we can get one,” Coach Bob Davidson said. Crescenta Valley can reward Coach John Goffredo with his 300th victory Friday night against visiting Glendale. Goffredo, in his 18th season, has led the Falcons to the playoffs 10 consecutive times, including a berth in the Southern Section Division I-A finals in 1994. The Falcons avenged a season-opening loss to Hoover with an 87-73 road victory Friday. Guard Jake Willis, who scored 18 points before fouling out for the second time this season, has recovered fully from a severely sprained wrist suffered during a tournament in Hawaii in December. Senior forward Nathan Sinning, hobbled by tendinitis in both knees, also appears healthy, Goffredo said.

Girls: Crescenta Valley defeated Hoover, 67-24, on Friday--with no help from the officials. Hoover was not whistled for a single foul. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that happen,” Crescenta Valley Coach Marc Ward said.

RIO HONDO

Boys: Senior guard Danny Bush of La Canada leads the Spartans in every major offensive category. Bush is averaging 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists. La Canada (18-4) picked up a nonleague victory because of Pasadena’s forfeits. Pasadena defeated La Canada in December.

SANTA FE

Boys: Bell-Jeff senior Mike Tabuso scored his first points of the season Monday during a 75-52 victory over Salesian. Sabuso, the student body president at Bell-Jeff who sees limited playing time, is a crowd favorite and got a rousing ovation when he scored. . . . Junior forward Marcos Flores has been on a rebounding tear, bringing down 38 in the last two games, including a team season-high 22 Saturday against St. Genevieve.

TRI-VALLEY

Boys: Oak Park ran its string of consecutive league victories to 21 with a defeat of St. Bonaventure Friday. Eagle Coach Rob Hall said he believes his team set the league record for consecutive victories, topping the previous mark of 20 established by St. Bonaventure from 1987-89. Oak Park has benefited from the versatility of junior forward Dan Wasserman, who brings the ball upcourt on fastbreaks and had 66 assists through 20 games. “He’s the best all-around athlete on our team; he’s starts in three different varsity sports,” Hall said. “He’s strong, fast and he makes good decisions.” Because of injuries, Wasserman started at the point during the Eagles’ league games last season.

FREELANCE

Boys: Montclair Prep, out of school this week for semester break, is practicing two hours each morning in preparation for Saturday’s showdown with Chadwick, the second-ranked team in the latest Southern Section V-AA poll. Several Mounties scouted the Dolphins’ game Tuesday against Pasadena Poly.

Soccer Notes

City Section

Girls: Kennedy has emerged as the class of League C, compiling a 7-0-2 league record as of Tuesday. The Golden Cougars were 8-6-2 overall but took their losses amid stiff holiday competition at the Royal and Narbonne tournaments. Third-year coach Bob Gramacy, who filled half of last year’s roster by combing the school halls, has begun to see the results of his campus recruiting and a defense-first philosophy. Key among his players are the back-line tandem of sweeper Marci Rodriguez and center fullback Lori Mendelsohn, both two-year starters. Scoring has come from center forward Nikki Hagouel (15 goals) and left wing Eric Espinoza (12 goals). . . . Chatsworth, which has been unchallenged in League A so far, routed El Camino, 10-0, last Wednesday. Conquistadore Coach Phil Yanov, though thoroughly unhappy with the result, was full of praise for the undefeated Chancellors, “They were magnificent, spectacular, unstoppable,” Yanov said. “Their short passing game was exactly like what we do--only about 10 times better.”

Southern Section

Boys: Channel League--Rio Mesa’s hopes for the league’s third and final automatic playoff berth or a possible wildcard entry depend on whether scoring sensation Jaime Ambriz can keep up his torrid pace. The junior striker had 21 goals in 15 matches.

Foothill League--Saugus senior striker Nate Wright has continued to tear up opposing defenses, posting 26 goals and 22 assists through 21 matches.

Frontier League--Calabasas, 13-6 after beating Moorpark on Tuesday, was 4-5 earlier in the season but has ridden the scoring of senior striker David Appel, who has scored 29 goals in 19 matches. The return of junior striker Nick Forland from ankle surgery has also been a boost for the Coyotes, who were hamstrung by illness and injury in December.

Golden League--Antelope Valley had not won a match as of Monday but undersized goalkeeper John Cruz has made a name for himself nonetheless. The 5-foot-10 senior made 14 saves as the Antelopes tied Quartz Hill, 1-1 last week but Coach Sam Holmes said Cruz is used to such pressure after a season and a half as a starter. “Last year John faced about 20 shots a game but this year we’re keeping it down around 12 or 14,” Holmes said. “That’s bad but John’s gotten a lot of experience.”. . . . Quartz Hill was blitzed for three early goals in Tuesday’s loss to Highland but Rebel Coach Mike Kuper benched four starters, only using them in the second half. “A bunch of guys missed practice Monday,” Kuper said. “I had 10 field players there and I told them, ‘You’re the starters tomorrow,’ ”. . . . Highland Coach Lem Galvao considers playmaking midfielder Shawn Borak the Bulldogs’ best candidate for league player of the year . Borak teams well with midfielder Alan Fiedler and dangerous forward Derek Brown.

Marmonte League--Royal Coach Kevin Corley said senior Caleb Westbay has recruiting trips this week to UCLA and UC Irvine. The standout midfielder, who is also considerng UC Santa Barbara, is expected to make a choice within several weeks.

Girls: Foothill League--Canyon, which last season made a run to the Southern Section Division III semifinals, entered 1996 league play at 2-9-1 after a challenging early schedule. But after tying Burbank on Tuesday, the Cowboys are now 6-10-3 and, with a 4-1-2 league record, are a point behind Hart. Canyon’s roster features only four seniors and a pair of freshmen starters, but the team has turned things around with defense. Sophomore goalkeeper Tealena Baltad, the starter since early in December, has been impressive. Baltad’s predecessor, Amber Davis, is now a capable outside fullback while freshman stopper Jasmine Cetrone shut down Hart standout Laura Qualls as Canyon defeated the Indians Jan. 13 and tied them Jan. 26.

Mission League--Harvard-Westlake beat Chaminade, 4-1, Monday. It was the third time the league-leading Wolverines had beaten the second-place Eagles this season and Chaminade Coach Mike Evans all but conceded the league title afterward. “That’s as good a team as I’ve seen this season,” he said. Harvard-Westlake’s top two players are seniors, Stanford-bound sweeper Natalie Kim and Dartmouth recruit and striker Jessica Post, and the rest of the roster is young and talented. . . . Chaminade midfielders Vanessa Thiele and Tami Pivnick made successful returns from knee surgery in the Harvard-Westlake match. Thiele played about three-quarters of the match. Pivnick played the first half and had an assist. . . . Sophomore midfielders Susan Baise and Twila Kaufman are playing particularly well. . . . Notre Dame’s season of discontent continues. The Knights, who lost Brenna Vincent, their 1994-95 most valuable player, to a knee injury in November, are suddenly without freshman striker Heather Moody, who had scored eight goals in five matches. Coach Neezer McNab said Moody notified her last week that her family was moving to Oregon and she was gone within days. Once seen as a title contender, Notre Dame is in a dogfight with Louisville for the league’s final Southern Section Division II playoff berth. If the Knights fail to qualify, the key match may well be a Jan. 3 loss to Louisville in which star midfielder Sarah Morgan was not allowed to play, a move McNab and school officials have refused to discuss.

Wrestling Notes

Southern Section

Ventura and Dos Pueblos square off tonight in Goleta in a battle for Channel League supremacy. Ventura (3-0 in league competition) is vying for its sixth league championship in the past seven years. Dos Pueblos (3-0) was co-champion last season with Rio Mesa.

Ron Peterson of Camarillo (119 pounds) placed third at last weekend’s Canyon Springs tournament. Peterson, second in the Marmonte League last season, improved to 27-5. Teammate Chuck Sandlin (189) placed fifth. Camarillo and Ventura, the only area teams in the tournament, placed 14th and 15th. Bryan Doss of Ventura (145) placed third and teammate Bernie Gonzalez (135) was fifth.

Highland recorded eight pins last week in a 61-11 victory over Littlerock. Highland is assured of at least a tie for its fourth consecutive Golden League championship.

Southern Section league finals scheduled for Saturday and sites: Channel (Ventura High), Golden (Highland), Marmonte (Channel Islands), Mission (Harvard-Westlake).

The Frontier League finals are scheduled for Wednesday at Calabasas at 2 p.m.

*

Contributing: Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus, Paige A. Leech, Tris Wykes, Peter Yoon.