Anteaters square off with 49ers

UCI, Long Beach State resume Black and Blue Series with basketball doubleheader Saturday at the Walter Pyramid. It has been a while, but the Black and Blue Series is back on.

The rivalry between UC Irvine and Long Beach State -- capitalizing on the general proximity of the two Big West Conference schools -- continues when the programs meet in men’s and women’s basketball Saturday.

The women’s game opens festivities at 2 p.m., followed by the men at 5.

Whatever actual rivalry there is between the Anteaters and 49ers is debatable, but the two games stand out for what they do offer -- the Big West’s two first-place teams in action at the same location.

The UCI men, of course, are off to a 6-0 start in conference. Long Beach State, however, has stayed close at 4-2.

On the women’s side, the 49ers are undefeated in the Big West with a 6-0 mark.

UCI has struggled early, but is coming off a win Saturday against Cal State Fullerton that upped their conference record to 2-4.

* High school girls’ basketball, Estancia at Costa Mesa, 7 p.m. Tuesday: It has been a tough go of it for both schools this season.

Estancia’s struggled with offense, while the Mustangs have been hit by injuries.

Still, they can earn a little bit of respect by winning the perpetual Bell trophy that goes to the annual series winner.

Costa Mesa won the unofficial first meeting, a 43-35 triumph in the 15th-place game of the Costa Mesa Winter Classic on Dec. 30.

* High school girls’ soccer, Woodbridge at Newport Harbor, 5 p.m. Tuesday: In the Sea View League, Aliso Niguel is the undisputed team to beat. That leaves the Sailors and Woodbridge to battle it out for the second spot in league.

Newport Harbor, which had its troubles in the nonleague schedule, can take a big step up with a win here.

* College men’s basketball, Orange Coast at Fullerton, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: The Pirates have had their share of big games this season, but this Orange Empire Conference showdown is easily the pinnacle thus far.

Fullerton (25-0, 6-0 in conference), is the No. 1 team in the state and hasn’t had a major scare since beating Irvine Valley, 59-55, on Jan. 11.

OCC (19-6, 6-0), ranked No. 14 in the state, has a golden opportunity to assert itself statewide with a good showing here.

The Pirates enter on a seven-game winning streak.

* High school boys’ basketball, Costa Mesa at Estancia, 7 p.m. Wednesday: Unlike the aforementioned girls’ teams, the city’s boys’ basketball teams appear to be on track.

The Mustangs are unbeaten in league and the Eagles bounced back to win two in a row last week.

And, of course, never take anything for granted in an intracity rivalry game.

* College women’s tennis, Vanguard at UC Irvine, 1:30 p.m. Thursday: Technically, this is a scrimmage or exhibition -- depending on which school you’re talking to.

Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a little emotion involved here. * High school girls’ water polo, Santa Margarita at Newport Harbor, 3 p.m. Friday: It’s rubber match time for these two Division I programs. The Sailors won the first meeting in the semifinals of the Holiday Cup tournament. Santa Margarita returned the favor in the third-place game of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

The winner here? Water polo fans. * High school girls’ basketball, Sage Hill at Brethren Christian, 6 p.m. Friday: These two teams were expected to challenge for the Academy League championship from the start and haven’t disappointed.

The Lightning won the first meeting, 40-35, on Jan. 10 and have their eye set on sealing a league title here.