Rosary Gets Share of Title

Fullerton Rosary clinched a share of the title in the highly competitive Serra League with a 56-46 girls’ basketball victory over visiting Santa Ana Mater Dei on Thursday night.

Rosary, ranked No. 9 in the Southland by The Times, last won a league title in 1999, the last time it won a Southern Section title. The Royals have a two-game lead with two left.

Cara Enright scored 15 points to lead Rosary, 20-4 overall and 4-0 in the Serra League, but it was the supporting cast that provided the difference. Emily Hein had 14 points and Erin Noonan added 10 points. Neither averages more than four points.

“Anyone who plays as well as they have played deserves [the league title],” Mater Dei Coach Geri Campeau said. “No one’s handing it to them.”

Jen Rogers had 19 points, and Christina Lopez added 11 for No. 12 Mater Dei (12-9, 2-2).

Brea Olinda, ranked No. 3, extended its state-record league winning streak to 177 games on Wednesday with a 49-46 Century League victory over Placentia El Dorado. It is believed to be the closest victory margin in a streak that spans parts of 19 seasons.

Kim Goeggel scored from 15 feet on an inbounds play, and Natalie Thune added a free throw in the final 54 seconds to break a 46-46 tie. Goeggel scored nine of her 11 points and Thune had five of her seven in the fourth quarter. Melissa Cook led El Dorado with 19 points.

The Golden Hawks rallied from a 24-12 deficit by making 13 of 19 free throws in the final three minutes of the first half. Brea led at halftime, 27-26.

“[El Dorado Coach Wayne Carlson] told me he had personally scouted us five times,” said Brea Coach Jeff Sink, who is in his ninth season.

“I can’t say enough about El Dorado’s effort. They showed a lot of heart, effort, were skilled and very well-prepared.”

Martin Henderson

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Boys’ Basketball

Etiwanda, ranked No. 7 in the Southland by The Times, will play No. 16 Mission Viejo in the featured game at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in the Southern California Shootout at Azusa Pacific.

Etiwanda (19-1) has won 14 in a row since a 54-48 loss to Santa Ana Mater Dei on Dec. 9. However, the Eagles have not played a top-25 opponent since defeating Los Angeles Loyola on Dec. 13.

Mission Viejo (18-2) also faces a tough test tonight at 7 when it plays host to No. 17 Lake Forest El Toro in a South Coast League game.

Other top teams competing on the 10-game schedule Saturday at Azusa Pacific include: No. 3 Mater Dei against Chino at 11 a.m., No. 18 Glendora against Rancho Cucamonga at 7:30 p.m. and No. 20 Riverside King against Las Vegas Cheyenne at 9 p.m

Dan Arritt

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Boys’ Soccer

Upland (14-2-3) heads into the second half of Baseline League play today at 5:15 p.m. against Claremont with a 4-0-1 record and a five-point lead in the standings over second-place Rancho Cucamonga (14-2-2, 2-1-2).

“I’ve been around long enough to know that we’ve got a long ways to go before the league championship is decided,” said Upland Coach Dave Condino, who is in his 14th season.

John Ortega

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Wrestling

Approximately 250 wrestlers will participate in the girls’ state qualifying meet, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at San Diego Valhalla.

The top five in each weight class qualify for the state meet in Vallejo on Feb. 7-8. Southland participants include Jazzy Green of Santa Monica and Noreen Cruz of West Covina at 98 pounds and Valerie Prise (103) of Diamond Bar.

Rafer Weigel

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Miscellany

Suzanne Manlet, who coached softball at Simi Valley for 22 years, died Sunday after a 10-year battle with breast cancer. She was 50. A celebration of life will be held at 5 p.m. today at the Grand Vista Hotel in Simi Valley. A scholarship fund has been established at Simi Valley in her name.

-- Martin Henderson