Chasing the crowns

Mike Sciacca

To say that the boys’ basketball team at Ocean View High is a marked

team when it comes to Golden West League play would be a huge

understatement.

Five league foes will be gunning to knock the Seahawks off the

lofty perch they have occupied for the past five years.

On Monday, the Seahawks took their first step toward a sixth

consecutive league title with a 62-56 road win at Estancia.

It wasn’t an easy first step, as the Seahawks had to rally in the

second half to win.

One down, nine more league games to go.

It doesn’t figure to be an easy road for the Edison girls’ team

and the Marina boys’ team, either, in their respective bids to repeat

as champions of the Sunset League.

In the Golden West League girls’ race, which began Tuesday, Ocean

View figures to contend for the crown.

The Sunset girls’ race begins tonight, with the boys’ Sunset race

tipping off on Friday.

A look at the races:

GIRLS

Sunset League

Defending champion Edison could contend once again for the crown

but will face several challenges in a well-balanced league.

“There are a few teams who are serious contenders and others who

have shown improvement this season,” Edison Coach Corey Kelly said.

“I think that Esperanza will be very tough.”

Kelly should know. In late December, his Chargers took on

Esperanza in tournament play in a game won by the Aztecs, 45-40.

Fountain Valley is one of the teams Kelly said has shown

improvement, and the Barons’ 12-5 record in nonleague play is a

testament to his statement.

Those 12 victories are the most by any of the league’s six teams

this season, but Esperanza and Edison enter league play with winning

records and a third, Los Alamitos, comes in at .500.

Huntington is 5-7 heading into league play, while Marina is 2-4,

although the youthful Vikings enter league on the upswing, having

routed West Torrance, 56-37, to end nonleague play.

Edison has survived a tough schedule, but will have to overcome

the loss of one key player.

Senior guard Eva Camarena was dismissed from the team due to

academic reasons, Kelly said.

A big chunk of the Chargers’ offense was lost in Camarena, who was

averaging 17 points per game.

A big plus for Edison, though, has been the return of starter

Rebecca Kepilino, who sat out the first portion of the season while

recuperating from arthroscopic knee surgery.

“It’s great to have her back,” Kelly said. “All of the girls,

though, collectively as a team, have to pick up the slack left by the

absence of Eva. We’re playing well right now and need to continue

that trend, and stay healthy, if we want to repeat as league

champion.”

Tonight’s schedule: Esperanza at Marina, 7 p.m.; Huntington Beach

at Fountain Valley, 7 p.m.; Edison at Los Alamitos, 7:30 p.m.

Golden West League

With Jim Harris and his son, Jimmy, co-coaching the Ocean View

boys’ team, the Seahawks thus far have enjoyed a terrific season.

The Seahawks won nine of 10 games to begin the season and are

matched only by Saddleback in the win column.

The Roadrunners, at 9-3, are the only other league team to sport a

winning record through nonleague play.

Costa Mesa, Westminster, Santa Ana, Estancia and Orange each has

struggled in nonleague play.

Ocean View began its quest Tuesday night for the league title with

a home game against a 1-6 Estancia team.

Tonight’s schedule: Ocean View at Costa Mesa, 7 p.m.

BOYS

Sunset League

Marina has proven during nonleague play that it is not about to

give up its Sunset title without a fight.

The Vikings enter league play Friday with a 13-4 record, having

beaten some solid teams along the way.

Marina Coach Roger Holmes sees a tight race ahead, given the

talent level of the league.

“It is really going to be a tough battle this year,” he said. “Los

Al has many returners and Esperanza has surprised everyone and is

playing really well. Edison is playing really well and Huntington

Beach has their big guy back, who is the best post player in the

league.

“Fountain Valley is struggling a bit, but is always tough.”

Five of six teams enter league play with winning records. Marina

has the most wins with 13. Esperanza, Edison, Los Alamitos and

Huntington Beach are the other teams with winning marks.

Fountain Valley enters league play with a 5-8 record.

“Our chances to repeat depend on how our veterans play,” Holmes

said. “We are 13-4, have beaten some pretty good teams, but have not

yet hit our stride.

“We need to find our rhythm this week, as we head into league play

having to open up at Esperanza.”

Friday’s schedule: Marina at Esperanza, 7 p.m.; Los Alamitos at

Edison, 7 p.m.; Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach, 7 p.m.

Golden West League

Ocean View, Estancia and Costa Mesa were the only two teams to

enter the league race with winning records, and Ocean View and Costa

Mesa got a jump start on the rest of the league by winning their

openers on Monday.

Much like the girls’ side of the court in the league, Westminster,

Santa Ana, Orange and Saddleback have struggled in nonleague play.

Friday’s schedule: Ocean View at Orange, 7 p.m.