Vikings say ‘Aloha!’

The players in the WNBA have nothing on the Marina High girls

basketball team.

In an age where it has become commonplace for many a prep sports program

to play a team or tournament out of state during the season, the Vikings

have come up with a preseason itinerary that might be the envy of many

teams.

Just last weekend, Marina was off in Nevada, competing in the Carson City

Tournament, an event that has become an annual trek during the past six

years for the school. And a successful one, too: the Vikings now have won

the past three tournament crowns.

They returned home Sunday evening and after a day of practice Monday,

suited up to meet the Long Beach Jordan Panthers in a nonleague clash

Tuesday night. With senior forward Nikki Lee, a four-year varsity player,

scoring a game-high 18 points, Miranda Emde contributing 15 more, and

Cara Congelliere chipping in with 11, Marina whipped the Panthers, 66-43.

The game was merely a tune up to what the Vikings have been looking

forward to since the opening tip of the 1999-2000 season - a trip to

Hawaii.

The Vikings will take their 4-2 record to the Hawaiian Island of Kona

today to compete at the Kona Tournament.

One day before his team’s departure, Marina first-year coach Butch

Fredlow said he did not know who his Vikings will play in the opening

round of the eight-team tournament.

‘We’re just happy to be going,’ he said. ‘Of course, we want to come away

with the (tournament) title, but this will be a unique experience for our

girls.

‘They’ve done a lot of traveling lately, but they’re having a ball. They

will only miss one day (Friday) of school, which is a good thing. They’re

really hyped up about going to Hawaii. It’s like an early Christmas

present.’

Fredlow said the Vikings would return to the mainland on Dec. 22.

Following a five-day hiatus from play, Marina will enter its next

tournament Dec. 27. This one, however, will be played in their own

gymnasium as the 11th annual Marina-O.C. Register Tournament will

commence with championship round play on Dec. 30.

Sixteen teams, including Sunset League rival Huntington Beach, will vie

for the tournament crown, worn last year by Palisades High.

‘We’re looking forward to hosting our own tournament, and it will be nice

to finally settle down and play a few games at home,’ said Fredlow, whose

lone home game this season was the Tuesday win over Jordan. ‘It’s always

a big event that features some pretty good girls basketball programs. But

right now, these girls aren’t thinking about anything but Hawaii. Who can

blame them? I’m pretty excited, too.’