Girls’ league races begin

Three local teams host league openers; Marina looks to repeat as Sunset champion.Following a month of nonleague games and traveling to compete in tournament play, the races in the Sunset League and Golden West League get underway this week.

Tonight at 7 p.m., three locals begin their bid for the Sunset crown, as Edison hosts Esperanza, Huntington Beach entertains Los Alamitos and Marina is home to Fountain Valley.

Ocean View, which began Golden West League play Wednesday at Santa Ana, continues league play Tuesday at defending league champion Saddleback at 7 p.m.

A year ago, Marina and Esperanza shared the Sunset title, each going 9-1.

Heading into this year’s race, Marina, which improved to 12-3 after Tuesday’s 52-25 win at Mission Viejo, figures to be the team to beat.

“I’d put them at the top,” Huntington Beach coach Russell McClurg said. “I look at Marina as a talented team of veterans.

“But after seeing the scores of games in the preseason, I think this race could be up in the air. We’re just taking it one game at a time.”

McClurg’s Oilers enter league play with an impressive 11-3 record, their three losses coming by a combined total of seven points.

Huntington is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Excalibur Tournament, hosted by San Marcos High in San Diego.

The Oilers also finished fifth in their division at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona during nonleague play.

What’s been impressive about Huntington’s nonleague run is that the Oilers have fashioned their 11-3 mark with a battered lineup.

Jasmine Erving, a 6-foot-2 center and returning all-league player, is out indefinitely with an arm injury.

Erving last played in the Oilers’ Dec. 5 victory over Tesoro.

“She really clogs up the middle for us, and it’s tough not to have her in the lineup,” McClurg said. “I’m definitely happy with our nonleague play, and when we’re healthy, we can play with anybody. But right now, with our injuries, we have a few question marks entering league play.”

Another injured Oiler is freshman guard Rita Sitivi, who has a bruised knee.

McClurg said Sitivi -- who, along with fellow freshman guard Noe Viloria, has given Huntington punch in the backcourt -- could be available for tonight’s game against Los Alamitos.

Sitivi has at least four double-doubles to her credit in the Oilers’ first 14 games, McClurg said.

“She’s been very, very consistent for us,” he said. “She’s come on really strong.”

Sunset League

Tonight’s games

(7 p.m.)

Fountain Valley at Marina

Los Alamitos at Huntington

Esperanza at Edison

Tuesday’s games

(7 p.m.)

Marina at Huntington

Edison at Fountain Valley

Los Alamitos at Esperanza

2004 standings: 1T. Marina, Esperanza, 9-1; 3. Edison, 6-4; 4. Huntington Beach, 3-7; 5. Fountain Valley, 2-8; 6. Los Alamitos, 1-9.

Golden West League

Tuesday’s game

(7 p.m.)

Ocean View at Saddleback

2004 standings: 1. Saddleback, 11-1; 2T. Ocean View, Santa Ana, 8-4; 4. Westminster, 6-6; 5. Costa Mesa, 5-7; 6. Estancia, 3-9; 7. Orange, 1-11.