Lightning set to face some friendly fire

Sage Hill girls’ basketball coach Jim Perez faces his former school as the Lightning play host to Division II contender Mater Dei tonight.During the last week of the semester, students prepare for finals.

As a team, the Sage Hill School girls’ basketball team has its eyes on tonight’s midterm exam as Orange County power Mater Dei visits Sage Hill for the first meeting between the two schools.

The Monarchs reached the CIF Southern Section Division II-A quarterfinals and finished 16-10 last season.

Just the legacies of each school point to the contrasts between them.

Mater Dei opened in 1950 and, with an enrollment of 2,200, is an imposing figure for the much newer, much smaller hosts. Sage Hill opened in 2000 and has an enrollment of 450.

First-year Lightning Coach Jim Perez will be facing a program he is well acquainted with. Perez was an assistant coach at Mater Dei the last four seasons.

Perez said he understands the excitement surrounding the game.

“The game was circled,” Perez said. “It’s an opportunity for our team to showcase our ability against a top-notch team.”

The Monarchs are adjusting to a new coach as well. Monarchs Coach Ryan Weisenberg was the interim co-coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks last summer.

Weisenberg said he believes the game will benefit both teams.

“[The Lightning] get to play a larger school, and we need to play as many games as we can before league to learn our new system,” Weisenberg said.

Perez said the matchup will create “a little bit of an emotional” night for him because he has coached some of the Monarchs players since they were in the sixth grade.

The Lightning are off to a 2-0 start. In the season opener, Sage Hill blew out Orangewood Academy, 73-23. Saturday, the Lightning eked out a narrow 34-26 win over Westridge of Pasadena.

Forward Kaitlyn Tyre injured her ankle during the Westridge game and is probable for tonight’s contest.

Perez said he still has plenty of firepower for the Monarchs.

Haywood Wright (15.5 points) and Rebecca Hembarsky (11 points) have led the Lightning in scoring in the team’s first two games. Tierenny Danner has been a surprise, averaging eight points per game in the first two contests.20051215NO1M0UTJNo Caption