Mission Is to Learn Who’s In

The talk this week in the Mission League girls’ race has centered more on who isn’t playing rather than who is.

On Tuesday, Sierra Hauser-Price of Notre Dame did not play during a 74-31 loss to Alemany. Hauser-Price, the leading scorer in the region among large-schools players, was held out by her parents for disciplinary reasons.

Notre Dame (13-7, 4-3 in league) had never defeated Alemany but was optimistic after extending three-time defending league champion Harvard-Westlake to overtime two weeks ago and rising to No. 6 in the Southern Section Division III rankings.

Coach Keith Case learned of the disciplinary action on Monday afternoon, although he was not told the reason.

“I asked if there wasn’t some way they could punish her without punishing 13 other people,” he said. “I was told, ‘No. It has to be done this way.’ ”

There’s been speculation the past week that all-league forward Rolake Bamgbose would return for Harvard-Westlake tonight against Alemany.

Bamgbose, who hasn’t played at all after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament last fall, might return before the end of the season, but it won’t be tonight.

The 6-1 senior has not yet received medical clearance to play, a team trainer said.

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Alemany (18-5, 7-0) attempts to end a three-game losing streak to the Wolverines (17-6, 6-1) at Harvard-Westlake. A victory would also clinch a share of the league championship.

Last month, the Indians defeated Harvard-Westlake, 73-63, at L.A. Baptist High.

The game tonight is the last scheduled between the teams this season, but they could meet in the Southern Section and state Division III playoffs.

Alemany is ranked No. 1 in the division. Harvard-Westlake is No. 2.

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Oxnard, ranked No. 5 in The Times’ regional girls’ poll, can clinch the Pacific View League championship outright with a victory tonight at Rio Mesa.

Second-place Rio Mesa (9-12, 4-2) is one of the surprises of the region and is no pushover.

The Spartans are especially tough on their home court, where they have upset North Hollywood and Camarillo when each was ranked in the regional top 10.