Closing in on the prize

Mike Sciacca

One step at a time.

That is the motto of the Edison High girls’ basketball team, which

already has taken seven baby steps in an effort to complete a giant

leap toward its main goal: a Sunset League championship.

“I know it does sound cliche, but it really is a matter of taking

things one game at a time,” Edison coach Corey Kelly said. “We like

to say that there are 10 steps to take in league play, and we’ve

taken seven, so far.”

Edison, the current leader in the Sunset League girls’ basketball

race, is looking to win its second consecutive league title and

fourth in the past six years.

The Chargers are one of three local basketball teams currently

sitting in first-place heading into the final week of the regular

season, and a fourth team is making a run for the top spot in its

race.

Ocean View’s basketball program is enjoying a banner year, as both

the boys’ and girls’ teams are unbeaten and atop the Golden West

League standings.

In the Sunset League boys’ basketball title chase, Marina is in

second-place behind Los Alamitos.

“Every game is big from here on out,” Kelly said. “They are all

big, really, and in the Sunset League, you really can’t look past

anybody.”

For now, tonight is all that matters for Edison: the Chargers

travel to Esperanza for perhaps their biggest remaining league game.

The Chargers and Aztecs have split two previous meetings this

year, although Edison owns an 11-point victory over Esperanza in the

first-round of league play.

Heading into Tuesday’s action, the Aztecs were just a game behind

Edison in the standings.

Beginning with tonight’s showdown, there are just three games

remaining on the league schedule.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than this,” Kelly said. “We have a huge

task ahead of us at their place. It’s not an easy place to play.”

Edison’s road to the top of the league hasn’t been easy.

The Chargers lost a key starter when Eva Camarena was dismissed

from the team for academic reasons prior to the start of Sunset play,

and Rebecca Kepilino had just returned to the team in late December,

following knee surgery.

But solid leadership, provided by Kepilino and fellow three-year

varsity players Valerie Katayama and Jessica Harris, combined with

solid play by Kelly’s younger players, have propelled Edison into the

top spot.

“What’s amazing about this team is that it really didn’t come

together until midway through the season,” Kelly said. “We’ve had

great leadership on an off the court from those three players and our

younger players have stepped up.

“We are playing solidly on defense, too. We pride ourselves on our

defense and if we continue to clamp down on teams down the stretch,

we can win this league.”

The Ocean View boys were expected to be a strong contender for the

Golden West League championship -- which would be a sixth-straight

for the program -- but the Ocean View girls have written their own

story in 2003-04.

The Seahawk girls, having dismantled Orange Monday night, were

leaders of the Golden West pack heading into a Wednesday game against

Westminster.

They had a two-game lead on their league foes with three to play.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” said Ocean View coach Jim Harris,

who also is co-head coach of the Ocean View boys’ team. “The girls

are absolutely playing very well.”

The Seahawks have dominated the league, thanks to the play of

three senior guards, Erica Williams, Ahkiah Hunter and Leila

Abufarie, junior Vanessa Alderfer and freshman center, DJ Butler.

At mid-week, Ocean View was 17-2 overall and enjoying its best

season in nearly 10 years.

Harris said it wasn’t clear when the last time Ocean View won a

league championship in girls’ basketball.

“This group already knew how to play hard,” Harris said. That was

set in place by last year’s coach. But the biggest thing this team

has gained is confidence, a confidence in their ability. They seem to

be playing with a freedom and belief.”

As for the Ocean View boys, expectations were high. But a slump in

December proved to be the only hiccup in a season that, thus far, has

resulted in a 18-6 overall record and 9-0 league mark.

“We just weren’t playing well,” Harris said of the struggles. “The

desire to do well was there, but we weren’t very patient in our

games. You could say we weren’t playing with the ball much.”

Harris also said a turning point came when his team switched from

a three-guard offense, to a three-post power set.

The switch not only opened up Ocean View’s inside game, led by

Greg Okwudibonye and Bear Wurts, but it helped free up senior guard

Matt Sargeant.Sargeant scored only six points in a recent 41-point

win over Costa Mesa, but his floor game was “flawless,” Harris said.

“It was perhaps his best game,” Harris said. “Matt has become a

real stopper for us on defense.”

The maturity of freshman center Clint Amberry and sophomore

forward Brad Sweezy also has figured in Ocean View’s title run.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve felt this confident

about a team,” Harris added. “I feel that were ready to make a real

run.”