Sports Roundup: La Cañada girls’ cross-country runs to victory
CROSS-COUNTRY
La Cañada in Staub/Barnes Invitational: The Spartans girls ran to victory and Ellaney Matarese placed first in the Division I race at Saturday’s meet at Crescenta Valley Park.
La Cañada won with a team total of 47, besting host Crescenta Valley (54).
The Spartans captured the top three places. Matarese finished the three-mile course with a winning effort in 18 minutes, 56.12 seconds and was followed by Sarah Arther (second; 19:18.47), Jenna Milbrodt (third; 19:28.34), Madison Pirkey (18th; 20:59.44) and Juliette Aslanian (32nd; 23:12.91).
In the boys’ Division I race, La Cañada placed fourth with a team total of 100. Glendale (35) placed first.
The Spartans were paced by a second-place finish by Owen Serricchio in 16:12.97. He was followed by Sheldon Watanabe (12th; 17:37.3), Max Bohan Apfeldorf (20th; 18:09.44), Max Fan (28th; 18:45.72) and Luke Rushing (41st; 19:20.69).
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in Mission League meet No. 1: The Tologs began defense of their league title Wednesday with a second-place finish in the three-mile race at Crescenta Valley Park.
Flintridge Sacred Heart finished with 43 points and Harvard-Westlake took first with 25.
The Tologs received a fourth-place finish from Lauren Nettels, who clocked 20 minutes, 8.57 seconds. Also scoring for the Tologs were Alex Christodoulou (seventh, 21:20.17), Samantha Covey (eighth, 21:36.59), Erin Wei (15th, 22:30.47) and Joshlyn Aguirre (16th, 22:57.10).
St. Francis in Mission League meet No. 1: St. Francis took fourth with 111 points in Wednesday’s three-mile race at Crescenta Valley Park.
The Golden Knights were led by Stuart Serventi, who placed 12th in 17 minutes 44.88 seconds. Brady McNulty took 20th (18:31.09) for St. Francis.
Loyola took first with 32 points, followed by Harvard-Westlake (61) and Chaminade (83).
BOYS’ WATER POLO
Flintridge Prep 11, St. Francis 9: The host Rebels registered a nonleague win Thursday.
Temple City 12, La Cañada 7: The Spartans faided in the second half in absorbing the Rio Hondo Leaue loss Tuesday afternoon at home.
La Cañada (6-6, 1-2 in league) held a 5-4 lead at halftime.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Pasadena Poly 14, Flintridge Prep 4: Flintridge Prep fell Tuesday in a Prep League home match at Arcadia Tennis Center.
The Rebels dipped to 3-6, 0-3 in league.
Alemany 9, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 9 (Alemany wins on games, 67-66): Flintridge Sacred Heart dropped a Sunshine League road match Tuesday.
La Cañada 12, Temple City 6: The Spartans posted a Rio Hondo League road win Thursday.
La Cañada picked up seven wins in singles, including two from Sophie McKenzie, 6-0, 6-0.
Westridge 12, Flintridge Prep 6: The Rebels dropped a Prep League road match Thursday at Muir High.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
South Pasadena d. La Cañada, 18-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18: The host Spartans couldn’t build on their opening-game win in losing the Rio Hondo League match Tuesday.
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in Crescenta Valley Tournament: The Tologs posted a 25-11, 25-15 quarterfinal win against Chatsworth in the Gold Division bracket of the Crescenta Valley Tournament on Saturday.
Flintridge Sacred Heart then lost to Crescenta Valley, 29-27. 26-24, in a semifinal match.
Flintridge Prep in Gabrielino Tournament: Flintridge Prep fell to Saugus, 25-22, in a tournament match Saturday.
Flintridge Prep began the tournament by defeating Pomona Catholic, 25-19, 25-16, Arrowhead Christian, 25-9, 25-16, and Gabrielino, 20-25, 27-25, 15-10.
La Cañada d. Temple City, 25-19, 25-18, 25-11: Olivia Toland had 22 kills to pace the Spartans to a Rio Hondo League win Thursday afternoon on the road.
Claire Kevorkian had nine kills, Allison Budde had four aces and four blocks and Claire Saydah and Mia Jones had 12 digs each.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame d. Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 25-18, 13-25, 25-14, 25-21: Flintridge Sacred Heart lost a Mission League home match Thursday.
The Tologs got 40 assists from Ani Bernardi, 15 kills from Dani Thomas-Nathan and nine kills from Megan Lund.
GIRLS’ GOLF
San Marino 222, La Cañada 308: The Spartans fell in the Rio Hondo League match Tuesday at Brookside Golf Course.
South Pasadena 238, La Cañada 267: The Spartans fell Thursday afternoon in the Rio Hondo League match at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.
FOOTBALL
Flintridge Prep 65, Thacher 64: The Rebels rallied in the closing moments to register a nonleague road win Saturday in an eight-man contest.
Flintridge Prep quarterback John Lytle tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Max Gitlin with about a minute remaining in the game to cap the scoring.
Lytle tossed eight touchdown passes, including five to receiver Ben Grable. Lytle threw for 398 yards and Grable caught 16 passes for 143 yards for the Rebels (3-1).
“We executed when we needed to, especially on the last drive,” Flintridge Prep coach Russell White said. “It was one of those games that kept going back and forth and everybody contributed.
“It’s good to get a win like that, especially on the road. You can always learn something from games like these.”
Tommy Porter finished with 9 1/2 tackles for Flintridge Prep, which received seven from Will Gunter.
Flintridge Prep held a 45-44 lead after three quarters after trailing, 28-27, at halftime.