Depth Should Bolster Poly Boys

The Long Beach Poly boys’ cross-country team might not be at full strength for the Southern Section championships Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College, but the Jackrabbits are still expected to contend for their fifth Division I title in the last seven years.

Poly could be without senior Kevin Brulois, who had an appendectomy Nov. 13, for the second consecutive meet. But the state’s top-ranked team has so much depth that it’s still regarded as a contender in a race that includes No. 2 Los Angeles Loyola, No. 3 Dana Point Dana Hills, No. 4 Chino Don Lugo, No. 5 Murrieta Valley, No. 6 Canyon Country Canyon and No. 7 Simi Valley Royal.

Murrieta Valley, the No. 14-ranked girls’ team in the nation by Harrier magazine, is favored to win its first Division I title. But the Nighthawks are expected to receive strong challenges from Thousand Oaks, Canyon Country Canyon and Dana Hills.

Hesperia Sultana, ranked third nationally, is heavily favored to win its third Division II girls’ title in five years.

Defending champion Riverside Rubidoux is expected to battle Orange for the Division II boys’ championship, and Barstow is heavily favored to win its second consecutive Division III boys’ title.

Oak Park is shooting for its third consecutive Division IV boys’ title, but the Eagles will be slight underdogs to Tri-Valley League rival Fillmore.

The meet starts at 7:45 a.m.

Los Angeles Belmont’s string of consecutive boys’ cross-country titles could end at seven Saturday when the City Section championships are held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

Belmont has won 17 of the last 20 varsity boys’ titles, but San Pedro and Sepulveda Monroe are the favorites heading into the meet, which starts at 8:30 a.m.

San Pedro won the second of two qualifying heats in the City preliminaries Nov. 14, but Coach Bruce Thomson says it would be a mistake to count out a Belmont program that traditionally produces its best races in the finals.

Monroe, runner-up in the previous three City championships, will be led by defending champion and individual favorite Manuel Ruiz.

San Pedro is favored to win its second consecutive girls’ title and third in four years.

Lake Balboa Birmingham, led by leading individual qualifier Marina Santana, is expected to be San Pedro’s toughest challenger.

-- John Ortega

The Santa Ana Mater Dei boys’ basketball team, which won the Southern Section Division II-AA title last year, will play in Division II-A this season.

The Monarchs are one of three defending section champions that will play in different enrollment-based divisions this season.

La Puente Bishop Amat, which won the Division III-AA title, will play in Division III-A, and North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, which won Division IV-AA, will play in Division III-A.

-- Ben Bolch

Timi E-Nunu, a 6-foot center for Etiwanda, signed a letter of intent with New Mexico. E-Nunu, who will play forward in college, chose the Lobos over USC, California, Pepperdine and Rice.

E-Nunu was an All-Baseline League player as a sophomore but injured her knee after playing three games last season.

-- Eric Stephens