Local prep showdowns

Local prep teams gear up this week for the second-half of league play, which begins today with girls’ soccer and basketball.

On Friday, it’s the boys’ turn, as soccer and basketball highlights the local schedule.

In boys’ soccer

Huntington Beach climbed back into contention in the highly competitive Sea View League race by defeating Foothill, 5-2, on the Oilers’ home field.

Huntington, which held a 2-0 halftime lead on the Knights, got single goals from Kyle McAthy, Trevor Pirtle, Stryder Huff, Dillon Simmons and Sean Walsh.

James Shaft led the team with two assists and McAthy and Travis Geery each notched an assist.

Geo Hernandez finished with four saves as Huntington finished the first-round of league play with a 2-2-1 record. The Oilers are 16-4-3 overall.

Huntington, which begins the second round of league play at home Friday against Trabuco Hills, is one of four Sea View League teams ranked in this week’s Division II poll. Huntington is ranked third, Trabuco Hills is eighth, Woodbridge ninth and El Toro tops the poll.

“This league is amazing, and I think the title is still up for grabs,” Huntington Coach Matthew Moseley said. “To be honest, I feel that Trabuco Hills isn’t getting the respect they deserve. I think that they were the best team we faced in the first-half of league. They’ll be tough again today and as I said, anyone can strike in this league anytime. There are a lot of weapons in this league.”

Huntington will be without one of its key players on Friday when it takes on Trabuco Hills. Senior defender Dirk Petersen drew a red card in the win over Foothill and has to sit out Friday’s match.

McAthy, a senior forward, needs four more goals to set the school’s career scoring record, Moseley said. If he does, he will eclipse the school standard of 49 set in 1998 by his older brother, Aaron.

In girls’ basketball

In a battle for first-place in the Sunset League girls’ basketball standings, host Esperanza got past Edison, 42-33, as the first-round of league play came to an end.

Senior guard Wahine Kepilino led the Chargers with nine points, sophomore guard Kelly Peterson scored eight and senior guard Simone Ibbotson had seven points.

Edison, which is 4-1 heading into tonight’s home game against Newport Harbor, previously had steamrolled rival Fountain Valley, 67-21.

The 67 points were the most scored by Edison since theteam posted 75 in a Nov. 28 win over Irvine.

Senior forward Jacqueline Anderson led all scorers with 15 points. Kepilino and Ibbotson each scored 13.

Marina won its last two games of the first-round in Sunset League play to improve to 3-2. The Vikings began their latest two-game swing with a 42-25 win over host Newport Harbor.

Sophomore forward Rita Sitivi scored 12 points and senior guard Michelle Walker scored 10 for Marina.

The Vikings followed up that road win with another triumph on an opponent’s home court, this one a 51-40 win at Fountain Valley. Sitivi scored a game-high 18 points and junior forward Emily Boelsems chipped in 13.

Marina hosts Los Alamitos at 7 p.m. today.

Ocean View stepped out of Golden West League play Saturday to take on Pacifica and suffered a 55-49 loss to the visiting Mariners. Senior center DJ Butler scored 23 points and junior forward/guard Clarissa Holz scored 11.

In league play, the Seahawks picked up their fourth victory the hard way as they survived host Orange in a tense, double-overtime game, 61-56. Senior forward/guard Ashley Dunn scored 14 points to lead Ocean View. Holz and junior guard Kelsey Harris each had a double-double, Holz with 10 points and 13 rebounds and Harris with 11 points and 10 assists.

Ocean View visits Segerstrom today (7 p.m.).

In boys’ basketball

In a wild Sunset League contest, host Marina outlasted Fountain Valley in overtime, 109-104. The Vikings nailed 15 three-point shots in the game, padding their state single-season record to 338.

Marina’s defense also forced 36 turnovers.

The Vikings rallied from an 89-81 deficit in the final 2:20 of regulation and went ahead in overtime on a pair of three-point baskets by junior guard Jimmy Irvin (six points).

“It was a great game and very exciting,” Marina Coach Roger Holmes said of a contest played before a near-capacity home crowd. “It was a noisy and fun atmosphere.

“Our guys never panicked and played tough down the stretch.”

Five Vikings hit double figures, led by sophomore guard Garrett James’ 28 points. Senior forward Troy Lewis scored 20, senior guard Mike Kinoshita 19, freshman guard Brennan Holmes hit five three-pointers to finish with 15 points and junior guard Dion Douglas scored 12.

Douglas and James each also picked up seven assists.

Marina plays at league-leading Los Alamitos Friday.

Edison picked up its second win in Sunset League play with a 68-58 win over visiting Esperanza. Chargers freshman guard Kyle Boswell topped all scorers with 27 points. Junior guard Eric Ferraro scored 17 and senior guard Corey Ferraro 12.

In a previous league outing, the Chargers fell to host Fountain Valley, 71-52. Eric Ferraro led Edison with 16 points.

Edison begins the second-half of league play Friday at Newport Harbor.

Ocean View hammered visiting Westminster, 69-46, in Golden West League play. A balanced Seahawks offense was led by junior guard/forward Takeshi Clifford’s 13 points and 11 more by freshman guard Avery Johnson.

The Seahawks host Segerstrom Friday.

Huntington Beach picked up its first Sea View League victory on the final night of the first round by defeating visiting Foothill, 64-53. Junior guard Trevor Carroll led the Oilers with 21 points. Junior guard Nick Becker scored 16 and sophomore guard Zachary Kimber scored 11. Stipe Lasic recorded seven steals and Randy Guite led the team in rebounds with eight.

Huntington entertains Trabuco Hills Friday.

In girls’ water polo

Edison traveled to the Woollett Center in Irvine Saturday and came away with a 9-8 nonleague victory over the Irvine Vaqueros. Junior Jamie Bee’s all-around performance of five goals, one steal and an assist, helped key the Chargers win.

Senior Joanna Tiplea scored twice and had three steals; sophomore Monique Wilson scored once to go along with a pair of steals and an assist; freshman Danielle Warde scored once, had four steals and an assist; and senior Katie Jenkins recorded two assists.

“I really like the way our team started and finished the game,” Edison Coach Diggy Riley said.

“Jamie was right on the mark with her shots today.

“The challenge moving forward is to find a way for our team to maintain a high level of intensity for an entire game.”

Previously, Edison was handed its first Sunset League loss by first-place Newport Harbor, which scored a 10-4 victory in the Sailors’ pool.

Warde scored two goals, came up with seven steals and an assist; Bee scored one goal and had an assist, and Tiplea scored once with two steals. Keeley McCormack also had a steal and senior goalie Amelia Huss had 13 saves.

Edison doesn’t resume play until Jan. 31 when it takes on Sunset League rival Fountain Valley at the Newport Harbor High pool.