Sports

PREPS

The Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs began this week in nine divisions. Many of the first-round games will be played Friday.

Glendora, led by guard Cameron Murray, is the top-seeded team in Division 2-AA. The Tartans play host to Norte Vista. La Canada, led by forward Eric Sanchez, is top-seeded in Division 3-A and has a first-round bye.

Here is a list of Friday games involving San Gabriel Valley teams:

Division 2-AA: Claremont at J.W. North, Rancho Cucamonga at Damien, Pasadena at Arlington, Ocean View at Mountain View, Rosemead at Inglewood, Norte Vista at Glendora.

Division 2-A: Don Lugo at Wilson, Ventura at Muir, Temple City at La Serna, Sierra Vista at Norco, Whittier at Charter Oak, Bishop Amat at Mira Costa.

Division 3-AA: La Habra at Pomona.

Division 3-A: San Marino at St. Francis, Cathedral City at San Dimas, Blair at Duarte, Covina at Bellflower. (La Canada has a bye.)

Division 4-A: Santa Ana Calvary at Maranatha.

Division 5-AA: Dunn at Pasadena Poly.

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Girls’ basketball playoffs also began this week. Some first-round games were played Wednesday. Here is a list of Saturday’s games:

Division 1-AA: Keppel-Lakewood winner at Diamond Bar, Esperanza-Fountain Valley winner at San Gabriel.

Division 1-A: Downey at Arroyo, Rowland at Perris, El Monte at Hart.

Division 2-AA: Santa Barbara-Pasadena winner at Ocean View, Rosemead at Crescenta Valley, Glendora at North Torrance.

Division 2-A: Whittier at Temple City, Los Altos at Norco, Tustin at Wilson, Kennedy at Muir, Charter Oak at Bishop Amat, Garey at Anaheim Canyon.

Division 3-AA: Newport Harbor at South Pasadena, Gladstone at St. Lucy’s.

Division 3-A: La Canada at Azusa, Santa Paula at Covina, San Dimas at Rancho Alamitos.

Division 4-AA: Bassett at Costa Mesa, Banning at Flintridge Sacred Heart.

Division 4-A: Bishop-Maranatha winner at Cerritos Valley Christian, Alverno-Whittier Christian winner at Oak Park.

Division 5-AA: Pasadena Poly has a bye, California School for Deaf/Riverside at Flintridge Prep.

Division 5-A: Rio Hondo Prep has a bye.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Mt. San Antonio College will host the Youth Days portion of the Mt. SAC Relays on April 8 and 9.

The Youth Days, sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Foundation, will involve more than 4,000 children in grades three through nine. The instructional program provides training in track and field for young athletes, and concludes with competition. Participants receive awards, T-shirts and passes to the Mt. SAC Relays.

Information: (909) 594-5611, Ext. 4881.

COLLEGES

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team, coming off only its seventh conference loss in 13 seasons, will play host Friday to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Pomona, which has won or shared 12 consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championships under Coach Darlene May, is 19-4 overall and 7-1 in the CCAA. The Broncos are tied for first place with Cal State San Bernardino, which defeated Pomona, 69-63, on Saturday.

Senior center Mildred Conston is averaging 23 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos. Jennifer Harney and Remitha Houston are averaging 10 and nine points, respectively.

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Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team concludes its season Saturday night with a CCAA game at Cal State Bakersfield.

Pomona fell to 11-13 overall and 2-8 in conference with losses last week against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Riverside.

Matt Mitchell is averaging 10 points and six rebounds a game for Pomona, which entered the week in last place in conference.

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Azusa Pacific’s men’s basketball team, ranked ninth in NAIA, entered the week needing only one victory in three remaining Golden State Athletic Conference games to claim its second consecutive championship.

Azusa Pacific (21-3, 6-1 in the GSAC) is coming off a 95-83 victory over Fresno Pacific and an 81-72 victory over Concordia. The Cougars played Point Loma in a GSAC game Tuesday night and will play host Saturday to Christian Heritage.

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Azusa Pacific’s baseball team has no returning starters from last year’s team that finished 35-9, but the Cougars entered the week 5-0--the best start in school history.

Azusa Pacific, under coach Tony Barbone, is ranked 12th in NAIA. The Cougars have defeated Pomona-Pitzer, Biola, Claremont, Cal Lutheran and Chapman. Azusa Pacific plays host to Cal State San Bernardino today and Chapman on Friday.

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF WEEK

Nick Andrus, La Canada-- Andrus, a sophomore, scored two goals during a 5-0 victory over Monrovia to establish a school single-season soccer scoring record.

Andrus entered the week with 27 goals, breaking the record of 25 held by Ross Allan (1990) and David Rivero (1992). La Canada plays host Friday to Mountain View in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Todd Williams, Pasadena City College--Williams, a sophomore, scored 21 points, including three free throws in the final 1:14, to give the Lancers an 81-78 South Coast Conference victory over third-ranked Cerritos.

It was PCC’s first victory over Cerritos in five years.

MISCELLANY

Many of the San Gabriel Valley’s top track and field athletes will participate in the Sunkist Invitational meet Saturday night at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. In addition to traditional events, the meet will include a race, the High School Football 50, that features Bishop Amat’s Rodney Sermons and Muir’s Kenny Haslip. . . The Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a wrestling club and tournament competition for participants ages 10 to 18 on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Rowland Heights Park in Rowland Heights. Information: (909) 865-2401 or (818) 912-6774. . . . The San Gabriel Valley Kids Wrestling Club is conducting sign-ups on Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the small gym at Arroyo High School in El Monte. The program, open to boys and girls ages 5 to 14, teaches fundamentals and offers the opportunity to compete in tournaments. Information (818) 338-6864.