Girls’ Basketball: HB, OV on their game

Both Huntington Beach High and Ocean View took the first step toward a possible Southern Section championship by winning their respective games in weekend CIF girls’ basketball playoffs competition.

Sunset League champion Huntington easily advanced to the second round of the Division 1A playoffs by disposing of visiting Montebello (Almont League No. 3), 89-52. Senior guard Paola Roa netted a game-high 29 points and senior guard Stephanie Louie had 20 points as the Oilers cruised to the win.

Huntington, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, took a 24-2 record into a Wednesday second-round game at Golden West League champion Westminster. The score wasn’t available at press time.

The winner of the Huntington-Westminster game advances to face the winner of a Wednesday second-round game between No. 11-seed Chino (Mt. Baldy League champ) or No. 6-seed Burbank Burroughs (Pacific League champ), in a quarterfinal game Saturday.

“The girls are really excited about the playoffs and continue to work hard in practice,” Huntington Coach Russ McClurg said. ‘We have a very tough road game against Westminster who can shoot the ball very well and has one of the best coaching staffs in the county.”

•Ocean View went to 2-0 in the postseason by eliminating visiting Estancia (Orange Coast League champ), 70-52. Sophomore guard Danelle Almiranez scored 20 points and sophomore forward Treasure Robinson and sophomore guard Sally Morris both scored 16 points as the 12th-seeded Seahawks improved to 19-8.

Morris had 14 points, junior guard Savanna Schroeder 12 points, and Robinson six blocks, in a 47-39 first-round win over Pomona (Valle Vista League No. 3).

“When we put all the pieces together and compete, we are hard to beat,” Ocean View Coach Kim Morris said. “ And in our game against Estancia, that’s what we did.”

Ocean View played a quarterfinal game Wednesday at No. 4-seeded South Pasadena (Rio Hondo League No. 2). The score wasn’t available at press time. The winner advances to the division semifinals Saturday and will face either top-seeded Inglewood (Ocean League No. 2) or No. 9-seeded Ridgecrest Burroughs (Desert Sky League champ).

•Marina entered Division 2AA first-round play Saturday, and the host Vikings were defeated, 47-43, by Kennedy (Empire League No. 4).

Senior guard Madison Yutkins scored 12 points, senior guard Melissa Lindquist scored 11 points and had five steals, senior guard Danielle Kennedy had nine points, and senior forward Natasha Mangham had four points and 10 rebounds for the 15th-ranked Vikings.

Marina, which tied Los Alamitos for second-place in the Sunset League, ended its year 15-12.

“You have to give Kennedy credit for playing really well against us,” Marina Coach Carol Osbrink said. “It seemed like nothing was falling for us as we missed 10 free throws and several easy lay-ups. But I am proud of this team who had a good season with 15 wins and taking second in the Sunset League. It’s been my pleasure to coach such fine young women.”

•Edison traveled Saturday to take on South Coast League champion in a Division 1AA opener, and the Chargers, an at-large entry from the Sunset League, dropped a 55-46 game to the 13th-seeded Tritons.

Sophomore forward Justine Modde scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds, and senior forward Loli Gomez scored 14 points with 10 rebounds, for Edison, which finished 14-12.