High school sports

Vikings vs. Vikings in regional playoff

PHAROAH RUSH (6) was the top runner for Marina in its CIF-SS Division 11 final win over Muir last Friday. MHS will face La Jolla High this week in the state regionals (OC Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano).

It ain’t over yet.

The Marina High School football team, fresh off its historic 18-9 win over Muir High for the CIF-SS Division 11 title, still has more to do.

Now the Vikings (12-2) have advanced to state regionals in Division 4-A. That means they will host La Jolla High (9-4) on Saturday at Boswell Field on the Westminster High School campus. If they win, they will advance to a state championship game on Dec. 14.

MEMBERS of the Marina High football team console a Muir player at the end of Friday’s CIF-SS final.

Ironically, perhaps, Marina’s opponent will also bear the nickname of Vikings, something bound to be a challenge to the announcers.  Those Vikings were champs of the Eastern League of the San Diego Section and are riding a five-game winning streak.

They – like “our” Vikings – have a well-balanced attack. Max Smith has rushed for 757 yards and seven touchdowns, but also excels on defense with 39 solo tackles, five interceptions and an average of two sacks a game. Soph quarterback Jackson Stratton has thrown for 1455 yards and 14 touchdowns but also was picked off for 13 interceptions.

In their CIF-SS title win last week, Marina’s offense got a big hand from the defense, which was able to get four turnovers, including three interceptions.

And, in addition to winning the school’s first CIF-SS football title, the local Vikings gathered some glory by the classy way they performed during and after the game. We noticed a clutch of Marina-ites consoling a Muir player who was clearly overwrought by the defeat. Sportsmanship is alive and well with that team.

Division 7 was lucky for locals

Six local girls have been honored as all-stars in the CIF-SS girls volleyball teams for the 2019 season.

As listed on Monday, all the locals so honored were in Division 7. Chosen Player of the Year was Tereise Tosi, a junior from Garden Grove High.

Others named to the all-CIF teams were Natalia Castro and Sandra Balandran (both of Garden Grove High), Stephanie Quigley (La Quinta), Bethany Maae (Bolsa Grande) and Jennifer Martinez (Loara).

The winter polls are back

Winter sports are in full swing, and some CIF-SS polls for those are out. The first polls for basketball will be released on Dec. 9. Here are the local teams ranked this week.

Girls soccer

  • Division 4: Ocean View is sixth.
  • Division 5: Garden Grove is 10th.
  • Division 6: Loara is second.

Boys soccer

  • Division 1: Edison is fourth.
  • Division 2: Santiago is unranked, but received some votes.

And off to a quick start are …

Last week we noted which local boys basketball teams were off to a good start. Here’s a quick peruse of the girls teams doing well early.

The teams with the most wins are Orangewood Academy (Garden Grove), Pacifica and Magnolia with four each. The only unbeaten team is Bolsa Grande (3-0).

Other locals with winning marks are Los Amigos (3-2), Garden Grove (3-2) and Edison (3-2).

Prep Sport Spotlight is posted on Tuesdays during the high school athletic year.

 

 

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