Monroe’s Celebration Cut Short

The Monroe High boys’ basketball team took a giant step toward winning the East Valley League title by knocking off favorite Canoga Park last Wednesday, 87-84, in overtime.

Two days later, however, the Vikings did an about-face and let Canoga Park pull even in the standings by losing to last-place North Hollywood, 61-58, at home.

“It was a big letdown,” Coach Paul Graber said. “We had won four straight [games] and we were looking good for first place and then came out flat [against North Hollywood]. I warned the guys about it at practice, too.

“Now it could be a real dogfight.”

Monroe gets another chance to grab sole possession of first place on Friday when it plays at Canoga Park.

Making the grade: On the court, the Monroe girls’ basketball team isn’t bad.

Off the court, however, is where the Vikings have excelled.

Last year, 11 of the 12 Vikings received scholar-athlete awards from the L.A. Unified School District and this year, the academic torch is being carried by starting guard Melissa Onken, who has a 4.3 grade point average and is considering attending Harvard University.

“I guess that ruins the myth of a dumb jock,” Monroe Coach Bryant Ching said. “I just wish they could move to their left a little better.”

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Pride and poise: Santa Clara boys’ basketball Coach Lou Cvijanovich, in his 39th season, is thrilled with his young team, which appears headed for its 13th consecutive Frontier League title after a 62-60 victory at Santa Paula last Friday.

“That’s the proudest I’ve been in many years,” said Cvijanovich, whose team trailed by 12 points in the second half and was pelted with objects after the game. “We’re lucky we won but the kids found it in themselves to come back and play with poise and patience.”

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Comeback kid: Joe Borchard, Camarillo’s shooting guard and three-sport starter, thought his basketball season was over after he tore ligaments in his ankle during practice last month. But after missing only three weeks, Borchard played sparingly in two games last week, scoring 13 points.

Borchard’s return is good news for the Scorpions, who despite a 3-7 Marmonte League record (9-10 overall), are still in playoff contention heading into the final two weeks of the season.

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Posting up: Senior forward Jarron Collins returned to the Harvard-Westlake lineup in Monday’s 75-39 victory over Loyola. Collins, 6 feet 9, scored six points after being sidelined for one game because of a sprained left ankle.

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Complete picture: The record (3-10-2) may not show it, but first-year Antelope Valley boys’ soccer Coach Bill Chilson insists his team is improved.

“They’ve always had the talent but almost no coaching,” said Chilson, the Antelopes’ junior varsity coach last year. “They haven’t had anyone put responsibility on them.

“Sixty percent of the players have talent and 40% are learning the game. But at least they’re learning and getting better.”

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Foul trouble: Fouls have been a major concern for the Verdugo Hills girls’ basketball team this year. Mainly because the Dons have only seven players.

Still, Verdugo Hills, with one senior, five sophomores and a freshman, hasn’t been forced to finish a game with less than five players.

“We got in trouble once when both our big players got in foul trouble,” said Coach Laura Redford. “But we got through it OK.”