BASKETBALL ROUNDUP:

First place, whether shared or held outright, in the Sunset League girls’ basketball race is on the line tonight at Marina High.

At 7 p.m., Marina will get its final shot at Edison as the Vikings attempt to move into a tie for the top spot with the Chargers.

The teams first met on Jan. 15, where Edison used a run late in the third quarter to pull away to a 60-45 home court win. That win gave the Chargers the early leg up as the league’s leaders. They come into tonight’s game at 7-0.

Marina hasn’t lost in league since that Jan. 15 setback and is 6-1.

The Chargers are ranked third in Division II-AA. The Vikings are No. 8 in Division I-A.

“They are the favorites and we are the ones who have to do the work,” Marina Coach Butch Fredlow said. “They beat us at their place and now we get them at home. It’s in the hands of our seniors and returners to step up in this game.”

Marina earned league victory No. 6 Tuesday by routing host Newport Harbor. The Vikings held a 14-point halftime lead on the Sailors and went on to record a 45-26 victory. Rita Sitivi led all scorers with 18 points.

“I didn’t think we were that sharp against Newport,” Fredlow said. “I think our focus was on Thursday’s big game.”

Edison, meanwhile, built a 42-19 halftime lead Tuesday on rival Fountain Valley and scored a 70-37 victory over the visiting Barons. Bonnie Samuelson netted six three-point baskets and scored a game-high 33 points.

Helena Robel scored 12 points for Fountain Valley. The Barons host Los Alamitos at 7 p.m. tonight.

Huntington Beach: The Oilers crushed visiting Trabuco Hills, 66-17, in Sea View League action Tuesday. Huntington limited the Mustangs to just five points in the entire second half, including one point in the fourth quarter. Meghan White’s double-double included 16 points and 13 rebounds. Chelsey Pinegar scored 12 points and Noelani Viloria had 10 points.

Huntington plays at 7 p.m. today at Northwood.

Ocean View: On Tuesday, the Seahawks pounced on host Santa Ana, 65-33, with Rachel Sweezy leading the scoring with 22 points.

Ocean View travels to Orange for a 7 p.m. league game today.

?

Boys’ Basketball

Edison: Ryan Walker poured in 16 points and Dylan Garrity had 11 points as the Chargers downed visiting Esperanza, 44-38, in Sunset League play. The outcome left both teams with 3-3 league records and allowed Edison to square the season series against the Aztecs.

Huntington Beach: For the second straight time in Sea View League play, a last-second shot doomed the Oilers. Last Friday, a steal by Foothill’s Myles Carrillo led to a lay-up by Jay Filley in the closing seconds, and the host Knights took a 55-53 victory.

Previously, the Oilers dropped a last-second, 54-53, game to host El Toro on Jan. 28 in a battle for sole possession of first place.

Huntington plays a 7 p.m. game Friday at Northwood.

Marina tops Fountain Valley: The Vikings began the second half of Sunset League play last Friday with a 76-61 victory over the visiting Barons. A 17-0 run over a five-minute span of the opening quarter put Marina in control.

The Vikings, who improved to 5-1 in league and 17-4 overall, trailed just once and that was at 2-0. They led by as many as 27 points (43-16) in the first half.

“I thought we really did a good job from the start,” Marina Coach Roger Holmes said. “We hustled, we pressed and we were really active. I was happy with how we played.”

Marina’s Brendan Holmes led all scorers with 22 points. Tyler James scored 17, Garrett James 15 and Steven Murray had 12 points on four three-point baskets. Senior Jacob Tricarico and junior Dana Jacobs made their presence felt defensively. Tricarico had nine rebounds and four blocked shots and Gomez had eight boards with five blocks.

Fountain Valley had three players in double figures with Chris Lee leading the way with 19 points.

Marina and Fountain Valley continue Sunset League play Friday. The Vikings host Edison and the Barons host undefeated and first-place Los Alamitos.

Ocean View: A 40-12 run at Santa Ana last Friday sent the Seahawks on their way to a 69-40 Golden West League win over the Saints. Billy Keller scored 15 points with Anthony Brown hitting 13 points and Avery Johnson 10 points for Ocean View which held its firm grip on first place.

The Seahawks, undefeated in league play, host Saddleback at 7 p.m. Friday.