PEEK AT THE WEEK:Expect a very busy Thursday

Maybe it’s because the winter break looms for local high schools and the sports teams need that one last test before classes cease. But whatever the case, the action seems to converge on Thursday, when four schools will have big games.

At Estancia High, the Eagles boys’ basketball team will play host to Santa Margarita, one of the top teams in Orange County, at 7 p.m. In Irvine, Newport Harbor will play at Woodbridge in a reuniting of Sea View League rivals in boys’ basketball, also at 7 p.m.

In girls’ water polo, the Back Bay rivalry will take place at about 4:15 p.m., when Newport Harbor plays at Corona del Mar. The varsity game starts shortly after the junior varsity game ends.

Then, in wrestling, Corona del Mar will be at Newport Harbor to find out who’s who in this Battle of the Bay on the mat.

In college men’s basketball, it’s a turning-point-type week for UC Irvine. The Anteaters (4-6) fresh off a 70-62 overtime over Sam Houston State, will be in Chicago this week for two nonconference games.

UCI, which has Nic Campbell, last year’s leading scorer, in the lineup again after a back injury, will play at DePaul on Wednesday.

Then on Friday, the Anteaters will face Loyola of Chicago at 5 p.m. The game is available on a free, live video webcast on the Horizon League Network, which is accessible from the league’s official website at, www.horizonleague.org.

Another event to watch for: