It’s Extraordinary: Brea Olinda Girls Need to Regroup

Brea Olinda has won back-to-back state titles in girls’ basketball, but even the Ladycats aren’t above adversity.

Last Saturday, Coach Jeff Sink faced a difficult decision--whether to bench three starters in the first quarter of a game against the county’s fourth-ranked team, or let them play.

Sink chose to discipline.

Brea Olinda trailed by 10 after one quarter and eventually lost to San Clemente, 55-45.

“It was a team violation, so I disciplined a few kids,” Sink said Tuesday, refusing to expand on the transgressions. “It was nothing serious. It’s not something that will be long-term. Every team occasionally has issues that need to be dealt with internally.”

Sink said missing three starters “probably took us out of our flow, but San Clemente played very well and deserved to win.” Even when all five starters were playing, the Ladycats never got in sync.

He also called this an extraordinary time in Ladycat history.

“Extraordinary, by definition, means out of the ordinary,” Sink said. “When you are excellent, and you are extraordinary like Brea has been for a decade and a half, there is negative extraordinary too.

“We have a unique opportunity to do something Brea teams haven’t done in a long time--play through some real adversity, get our game together and peak at the end of the year.”

Brea had lost four in a row and five of its last six before Tuesday’s 90-12 Orange League victory over Savanna. The Ladycats had not lost as many as three in a row since Mark Trakh took over the program in 1981 and built a dynasty that yielded seven state titles and a perfect season in 1993, in John Hattrup’s one season as coach.

This season’s first four losses were to teams that held national top 25 rankings, including the No. 1 team, Harbor City Narbonne.

ON THE MOVE, AGAIN?

Torin Beeler, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, did not show up Tuesday night for the Calvary Chapel boys’ team’s 60-43 victory over Olympic League rival Brethren Christian.

Beeler, who averages 16 points for the Eagles (10-5, 2-0 in league), transferred to Calvary Chapel from Ocean View after the 1998-99 basketball season.

Sources at both schools say Brian Beeler is contemplating returning his son to Ocean View, and Torin could be in a Seahawk uniform as early as next week.

Neither Beeler was available for comment, but Calvary Chapel Athletic Director Joe Walters said he expects a decision by Friday.

Beeler began his freshman year at Calvary Chapel but transferred to Ocean View when basketball season started. He was a role player as the Seahawks (26-5) won a Southern Section title.

As a sophomore, he made 213 of 400 field-goal attempts and Ocean View (25-6) won the Golden West League title and advanced to the section semifinals.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

La Habra Coach Craig Falconer continues to be a steadying force for the school’s once topsy-turvy boys’ basketball program.

Falconer, in his second year, has the youthful Highlanders (8-9, 0-1 in the Freeway League) in position for a run at a second consecutive playoff berth. And while La Habra’s record may not be stellar, Falconer said his designs for a turnaround are still on schedule.

“We’ll get better every year,” he said. “We went .500 last year and we’re going to go .500 this year and we’ll go from there. I think next year we’ll win 20 games. We’ll have four starters back and possibly the best player in the league in Tristen Gadberry.”

A 20-victory season would be quite a contrast to the disarray that characterized the program when Falconer arrived from Calvary Chapel as the fourth coach in four seasons.

There’s no question the Highlanders now have a coach with whom they feel comfortable. “The thing about Craig is he’s a quality guy,” La Habra Athletic Director Frank McCarroll said. “He’s not just a good coach, he’s a good person. He understands that these are high school students and the classroom is a priority.”

THE ON-OFF SWITCH

Giuliana Mendiola scored 33 points Tuesday against San Clemente, though she was held to 12 in the first half by Whitney Jones and Cassie Kruger.

“We did a great job on her,” San Clemente Coach Mary Mulligan said, “then she decided she wanted to score. That’s the kind of player she is.”

Mendiola helped cut an 18-point deficit to one, and scored El Toro’s last 16 points. San Clemente held on to win, 58-54.

EDISON HONORS MOHS

Edison will name its gym after longtime coach Dave Mohs in a ceremony Jan. 28 at halftime of the Charger boys’ basketball game against Marina. Mohs, who died in July 1996, coached the boys’ basketball and girls’ volleyball teams at different periods from 1969-94.

A plaque honoring Mohs will be placed on the gym wall during the ceremony. Over the summer, Mohs’ name will be painted in the tip-off circle of the hardwood floor.

Fans are asked to wear Hawaiian shirts in honor of Mohs’ favorite attire. A reception will follow the game at a site to be determined.

Staff writers Ben Bolch and Paul McLeod contributed to this report.

If you have an item or idea for the prep basketball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com or paul.mcleod@latimes.com or ben.bolch@latimes.com