Valley Sun Sports Roundup: St. Francis water polo earns spot in CIF quarterfinals

BOYS’ WATER POLO

St. Francis 19, Buena Park 6: The Golden Knights punched their ticket to the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals with a second-round win Thursday at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High.

Buena Park (16-13) was an at-large team from the Freeway League.

St. Francis (26-3; at-large from the Mission League) received seven goals from Jason Alietti, five from Robert Alietti and four from Jaren Sin. Goalkeeper Cole Marston had 11 saves.

The No. 2-seeded Golden Knights will take part in a quarterfinal match Saturday against Burroughs at a time and place to be determined. It is St. Francis’ home match.

GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

La Cañada in Rio Hondo League finals: The Spartans ran to victory and had the top two finishers in the event over the three-mile Lacey Park Course on Thursday.

La Cañada placed first with a team-total of 42 points, besting South Pasadena (50).

Ellaney Matarese was first in 18 minutes, 50 seconds and was followed by Sarah Arthur, who placed second in 18:51. The duo was followed by Jenna Milbrodt (ninth; 20:15), Catherine Mispagel (11th; 20:23) and Sophia Ponce (19th; 21:16).

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

La Cañada in Rio Hondo League finals: The Spartans placed second in the event over the three-mile Lacey Park Course on Thursday.

South Pasadena won the race with a team total of 24 points, besting La Cañada (41).

Sheldon Watanabe led the Spartans, finishing second in 16 minutes, 49 seconds. He was followed by Jaden Milbrodt (eighth; 17:11), Ethan Lee (ninth; 17:11), Maximus Fan (10th; 17:19) and Max Bohan Apfeldorf (12:17:40).

South Pasadena’s Sam Clark won the race in 16:44.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Marlborough 15, La Cañada 3: The Spartans suffered the loss in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on the road Wednesday

La Cañada, the runner-up in the Rio Hondo League, finished 8-5.

Marlborough (14-2) finished second in the Mission League.