Girls’ water polo, boys’ hoops tip off
The following are previews of today’s playoff contests featuring local teams.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
Fontana vs. Crescenta Valley, 3 p.m. at South Pasadena High: After winning the Pacific League championship for the third straight season, the unbeaten and third-seeded Falcons (29-0) will begin the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs with a first-round match against Fontana. Fontana is 15-11 and placed third in the Citrus Valley League.
The Falcons, who reached the semifinals last season, are coming off an 8-6 win against Burroughs in the league’s tournament championship on Thursday. They will be led by Sabrina Hatzer, Stefanie Loporchio and Gabriel Isacson.
The winner will take on Los Altos or Riverside Notre Dame in a quarterfinal match Saturday.
Glendale at Temescal Canyon, 5 p.m.: The Nitros (10-10) received a difficult Division V first-round draw in Temescal Canyon (22-5). Glendale finished fourth in the Pacific League and figures to have its hands full against a Temescal Canyon squad that is the reigning division champions. The second-seeded Titans won the Sunbelt League championship.
The Nitros don’t have much depth, as they carry eight players. They will likely turn to Desiree Ivett Garcia-Solano, Jacqueline Jones and Biyouregh Boghozian for offense.
The Glendale-Temescal Canyon winner will face Yucaipa or Walnut in a quarterfinal contest Saturday.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
St. Francis at Mountain View, 7 p.m.: The 10th-seeded Golden Knights (10-16) will make their fourth straight playoff appearance. They will travel a short distance to El Monte for their Division III-A first-round game against Mountain View (14-12).
St. Francis received an at-large berth out of the Mission League and will be paced by Emerson Castaneda, Zack Gardea and Tei Vanderford. Mountain View took third in the Mission Valley League.
The winner will go up against eighth-seeded Covina or Pioneer in a second-round game Friday.
Santa Clara at Flintridge Prep, 7 p.m.: Fifth-seeded Flintridge Prep (17-7) will begin defense of its Division V-AA championship against a familiar opponent in Santa Clara (7-19). The teams met in the first round of the 2010 playoffs with Santa Clara posting a 46-44 road win against the fourth-seeded Rebels. Flintridge Prep learned from the upset loss and captured the program’s first CIF title last season. The Rebels, who won the Prep League championship, will be led by Chadd Cosse, Robert Cartwright and Kory Hamane. Santa Clara received an at-large berth out of theTri-Valley League.
Should the Rebels advance to the second round, they will face Bloomington Christian or Arrowhead Christian on Friday.
St. Monica Academy vs. Renaissance Academy, 8:15 p.m. at Loma Alta Park: The Wildcats (19-6) earned the top seed in the Division VI playoffs, though they struggled down the stretch in the regular season before finishing in third in the Harbor League. Be that as it may, Renaissance will look to regroup and win the team’s first CIF title. It will be led by Jessy Cantinol, Nick Troplant and Vince DeGuzman. St. Monica Academy (12-10) took third in the International League.
The winner will meet 16th-seeded Big Pine or Lancaster Bethel Christian in a second-round game Friday.
