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By Loren Kopff
From missing the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section boys soccer playoffs for the first time in his coaching career to nearly winning the Suburban League, Artesia High head coach Rudy Magallon is back in the postseason. Three other area boys soccer teams will begin the playoffs today while a trio of boys basketball teams, who all won this past Wednesday, will host second round games tonight.
The Artesia boys soccer team, which finished in second place in the Suburban League, a point behind Bellflower High, will entertain Carpinteria High today in a Division IV tilt. The Pioneers ended the regular season at 17-4-3 overall and yielded nine goals through their first 18 games. The Warriors finished in second place in the Tri Valley League and bring with them an 8-10-1 mark. The winner of this game will face the winner of the Chaparral High/Serrano High game on Wednesday.
Also in Division IV action, Norwalk High got an early start to the playoffs and knocked off Torrance High 1-0 this past Wednesday in a wild card game. The Lancers, who improved to 11-8-2, will face top ranked Godinez High today. The lone goal came from sophomore forward Andrew Vasquez in the second half. Should the Lancers pull off the upset, they will meet the winner of the Western High/Yorba Linda High game on Wednesday.
In Division VI action, Olympic League co-champion Valley Christian High will travel to the California Academy of Mathematics and Science in Carson. The Crusaders won their fourth straight league crown and enter the contest with a 10-6-3 record while CAMS, the second place representative out of the Coastal League, has an 8-2-2 record. The winner will face the victor of the St. Margaret’s High/San Marino High game on Wednesday. V.C. lost to St. Margaret’s 3-0 on Dec. 18.
Also in the division, Whitney High (6-7-3) will travel to fourth ranked Covina High, the Valley Vista League champions who ended the regular season at 12-3-4. A Whitney upset will put the Wildcats in the second round against either Linfield Christian High or Moreno Valley High on Wednesday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cerritos High had no problems with Norte Vista High in a Division II-A first round game, posting a 96-51 road victory this past Tuesday night. The Dons (17-11) will host Northwood High tonight. The Timberwolves, who won the Pacific Coast League and have a 22-5 record, are the sixth ranked team in the division. The Dons are four spots below Northwood. A Cerritos win will mean a trip to the quarterfinals against the winner of the Hart High/Silverado High game on Tuesday.
Gahr High edged El Dorado High 52-51 this past Tuesday in a Division III-AA first round game. The Gladiators, who finished in third place in the San Gabriel Valley League and improved to 16-11, will host San Marcos High tonight. The Royals are the second place team out of the Channel League and boast a 21-7 record. The winner will face either second ranked Calabasas High or La Sierra High on Tuesday.
Also in the division, Norwalk High saw its season come to an end following a 59-42 loss to Colony High this past Tuesday night. The fourth place representatives from the Suburban League conclude the season at 14-13.
Valley Christian High, a fourth place team from the very touch Olympic League, knocked off Riverside Prep 60-47 this past Tuesday night in Division IV-A action to advance to tonight’s home game against Oaks Christian High. The Crusaders (14-14) are ranked eighth in the division while the Lions, the ninth ranked team who finished in second place in the Marmonte League, come in with a 14-11 record. The winner of this game will face the survivor of the St. Paul High/Viewpoint High game on Tuesday.
