Valley Christian

Tony Altobelli BELLFLOWER - The Costa Mesa High girls basketball team lost to Cerritos-based Valley Christian, 68-56, in the quarterfinals of the Mayfair/Bellflower Tournament Thursday night. Nancy Hatsushi led the Mustangs (1-1) with 20 points, while Rhondi Naff chipped in with 11. Susie Boogaard led Valley Christian (2-0), the defending CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA champion, with 30 points. The Mustangs will go up against Los Alamitos at Bellflower High, beginning at 6 p.m. MAYFAIR/BELLFLOWER TOURNAMENT Quarterfinals Valley Christian 68, Costa Mesa 56 Valley Christian 22 16 17 13 - 56 Costa Mesa 11 10 22 13 - 68 Valley Christian - Fate 13, Verhoeven 2, Parrish 10, Newton 2, Miller 2, Gonzales 9, Boogaard 30. 3 pt. goals - Fate 1. Fouled out - Miller.

Tony Altobelli CORONA DEL MAR - Talk about peaking at just the right time. The Corona del Mar High girls soccer team mowed down yet another opponent Thursday afternoon with a 3-0 win over visiting Valley Christian of Cerritos in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV Playoffs. The final score in no way indicates the domination of the top-seeded Sea Kings (26-1-3) over the Crusaders (18-2-5). Despite a return trip to the semifinals, CdM Coach Ron Evans is still not comfortable talking about the future.

The Costa Mesa High girls basketball team got off to a slow start Monday in its season opener against Valley Christian in the first round of the Mayfair-Bellflower Tournament, dropping a 55-39 decision at Mayfair High. Costa Mesa, led by senior Rhondi Naff's eight points, shot 6 of 17 from the field in the first half, scoring only two points in the first quarter as Valley Christian amassed a 15-2 lead. Mesa plays St. Bernard today at 3 p.m. in a consolation game.

Bryce Alderton The Newport Harbor High girls basketball team entered unfamiliar territory Friday night and for the first quarter things went smoothly. But the Sailors soon found themselves in too deep against host Valley Christian, which won, 57-39, to claim the championship of the Valley Christian tournament. The Sailors (5-4), playing in their first tournament title game in Coach Jen Thompson's three seasons at the helm, took a 17-10 lead after one quarter, but a litany of turnovers, combined with a strong post game, allowed the Crusaders (7-4)

Barry Faulkner CORONA DEL MAR - A pair of goal-oriented teams will square off today, when top-seeded Corona del Mar High hosts Valley Christian of Cerritos in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV girls soccer playoffs at 3 p.m. The Sea Kings (25-1-3) have outscored opponents, 104-17, this season, while the Crusaders (19-1-5) have outscored foes, 107-19. CdM, which enters on a 25-game unbeaten streak, has dispatched playoff foes St. Paul and Martin Luther King by a combined 12-0 margin.

Rick Devereux A team that had won a total of four games in its two-year history, on paper, would appear to have the odds stacked against it of making the CIF playoffs the following season. But that is exactly what Sage Hill School's football team is doing this year after completing the regular season with a 7-3 record, which it takes into Friday's CIF Southern Section Division XIII first-round contest against host Linfield Christian at 7 p.m. The game marks the first CIF appearance for a Lightning football team.

What might have been two heart-wrenching Orange Coast League playoff losses, turned out to be merely postseason dress rehearsals for the Estancia High boys’ basketball team. Coach Agustin Heredia’s Eagles (11-17), who dropped two games in a three-team playoff for the final guaranteed CIF Southern Section Division IV-A playoff berths Thursday and Friday, won’t be turning in their uniforms after all. They were awarded one of 12 at-large berths in the 32-team bracket, the pairings for which were announced Sunday.

BELLFLOWER - Junior Rhondi Naff scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Costa Mesa High girls basketball team to a 46-29 victory over Long Beach Cabrillo in the first round of the Bellflower Tournament Wednesday. Naff also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished out a team-high four assists. Mesa senior Christine Caron added seven points. The Mustangs, 1-0, face Valley Christian in the second round, tonight at 7:30 at Bellflower High. BELLFLOWER TOURNAMENT First round Costa Mesa 46, Cabrillo 29 Cabrillo 6 5 7 11 - 29 Costa Mesa 13 10 9 14 - 46 Cabrillo - Ruffin 10, Easton 6, Brown 5, Milligan 4, Pettigrew 2, Hess 2. 3-pt.

Barry Faulkner CERRITOS - While the Costa Mesa High boys soccer team is still enjoying what is believed to be the school's first league championship, Estancia cashed in the benefits of winning the CIF Southern Section Division IV crown last season, when this year's playoff pairings were released Monday at the section office. The Eagles (9-4-5), who tied for third in the Pacific Coast League, but lost the tiebreaker to Northwood for the league's third guaranteed playoff spot, practiced Monday, instead of turning it their gear.

In their 11th season, Sage Hill School's football team is off to its first 0-3 start in program history. Sage was manhandled on Friday, losing, 30-8, to nonleague visitor Capistrano Valley Christian. With sophomore quarterback CJ McCord out with a broken arm, Sage's passing game struggled. Senior Harrison Ray stepped in McCord's place, completing just three of nine for 19 yards in the first half, but ended the night nine for 17 for 76 yards, along with an interception. The two teams hadn't squared off since 2008, so Capistrano Valley reintroduced itself by putting on a passing clinic for Sage.

When/where: Tonight, 7 at Sage Hill Key Lightning: Sr. TB-LB Taylor Ross (1,121 yards, 15 TDs rushing); Jr. WR-DB Taylor Petty (20 catches, 439 yards, two INTs); Jr. LB David Fenner (75 tackles, two sacks); Sr. OL-DL T.J. Danner (50 tackles, two sacks); QB Randall Mycorn (608 yards, five TDs passing). Key Warriors: Jr. CB-RB Curran John (23 tackles, three receiving TDs); Jr. DB Ryan Bialobroski (three INTs); Jr. TE-WR Christopher French (11 catches, 186 yards, one TD)

NEWPORT COAST — Sage Hill School junior midfielder Colton Gyulay says the Lightning need to close out games, especially in the CIF Southern Section Division VII playoffs. His goal in the 23rd minute helped that cause, as the Lightning beat Saddleback Valley Christian, 2-1 in the second round Tuesda. Gyulay’s goal gave Sage Hill (19-8-2) a 2-0 lead. “Scoring the goal provided some cushion and took some pressure off,” Gyulay said. Playing at home also helped the Lightning, which at one time thought it would be playing at SVC because of a ball violation.

What might have been two heart-wrenching Orange Coast League playoff losses, turned out to be merely postseason dress rehearsals for the Estancia High boys’ basketball team. Coach Agustin Heredia’s Eagles (11-17), who dropped two games in a three-team playoff for the final guaranteed CIF Southern Section Division IV-A playoff berths Thursday and Friday, won’t be turning in their uniforms after all. They were awarded one of 12 at-large berths in the 32-team bracket, the pairings for which were announced Sunday.

Sage Hill School’s baseball team will face the heat today. Not just in the form of miles per hour, but in degrees. The Lightning leave the beach for the desert, where it is expected to be 90 degrees in Apple Valley. The town’s motto is “A Better Way of Life.” More suitable if you’re indoors and the air conditioner is on during this time of year. This one will be outside when Sage Hill (15-6) plays at Apple Valley Christian (18-2) in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs at 3:15 p.m. “We’re going to be battling the elements with the heat and being on the road,” Sage Hill first-year coach Andy Berglund said.

NEWPORT COAST ? With Sage Hill School already down three runs, reliever Brendan Chambers tried to deliver the knockout and close out the game. Three fastballs definitely knocked batters off the plate, as the Saddleback Valley Christian right-hander plunked three batters in the top of the seventh inning. Before Chambers hit his third batter and loaded the bases, Coach Jim Romero walked to the mound. Romero asked his junior, "What are you doing to us?" "I'm just making it interesting," Chambers told Romero.

SAN CLEMENTE ? If the plan for Sage Hill School was to relentlessly pound the ball down the throat of Capistrano Valley Christian High, well then mission accomplished. Don Ayres and the Lightning offensive line put on a clinic in their 42-14 Academy League rout over the Eagles (4-5, 1-2 in league) at San Clemente High Saturday. "We knew coming in that they had a good ball-control offense and we had to keep the ball out of their hands." Sage Hill head coach Tom Monarch said.

A battle with top-ranked and undefeated St. Margaret's High is awaiting Sage Hill School in its regular-season finale next week. Before the Lightning can begin thinking about a game that could decide the Academy League title, Sage Hill will need to get past Capistrano Valley Christian tonight at 7 at San Clemente High and Lightning Coach Tom Monarch said that will not be a problem. "It's easy because Capistrano Valley is a very tough opponent," Monarch said. "If we don't play well Capistrano Valley will beat us."

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Entering this season, Sage Hill School football coach Tom Monarch had question marks dancing around in his head about his team. Would the offensive line stand strong? Would the team be able to replace 12 graduated seniors from a squad that won the first CIF postseason game in the program's history? Add to that, star senior running back Don Ayres suffering a shoulder separation in the Lightning's first game of the season last week. Monarch's concerns were put at ease Friday night at JSerra High, as running backs Max Torres and Tom Multari combined for 174 rushing yards to propel the Lightning to a 17-14 nonleague victory over host Saddleback Valley Christian.