Now that Super Bowl parties are out of the way, Santa Monica residents can turn their attention from national sports to local ones, as playoff action continues for two Saint Monica squads. Both the Mariners’ girls’ soccer and basketball teams remain alive in the 2024 CIF Southern Section championship hunt, with the soccer unit not just chasing the trophy, but also chasing a perfect season.
The Mariners are 19-0 in the 2023-24 campaign, with the team’s next test being a CIF-SS Division 7 quarterfinal matchup against Oakwood on Wednesday. The Santa Fe League champions rolled through the first two playoff contests, routing Hawthorne 10-0 on Feb. 8 before eliminating La Reina on Feb. 10, 6-0.
"We thought they had a pretty bright outlook in terms of what they could do this season, and they went out there and won a bunch of games," Saint Monica Athletic Director Jason Bowers said of the soccer squad. "It’s been exciting to watch … there’s a lot of love between the girls on the team, they seem to get along great … they’re just a pleasure to go out and watch."
A team that Bowers said does well "in all facets" of the game, the Mariners’ strength is a stingy defense that has allowed just 11 goals all season long. Out of the team’s 19 contests, 12 have ended in shutout victories, a credit to a defensive unit led by freshman Keilani Ordonez. The Ordonez trio of Keilani, senior Liliana and sophomore Maile have been top contributors throughout 2023-24, along with high-level scorers Sanaa Pitter and Paige Blum.
The Mariners’ girls’ basketball team is also in the hunt for CIF-SS glory, competing in the Division 3A quarterfinals Wednesday evening against Jordan. The squad went 19-9 in the regular season, including 10-2 in Camino Real league play, and is riding a 10-game win streak after dispatching Heritage Christian and Godinez Fundamental in the first two playoff contests.
"It’s a team that needed to learn how to play together … that’s been a really fun process to see," Bowers said of the unit. "They’ve matured, they’ve grown, and are definitely playing like a unified team now."
Two other Mariners playoff runs were cut short this past week, as the boys’ basketball unit lost a first-round playoff contest to West, 43-40, while the boys’ soccer team lost its opening playoff bout 5-0 against Covina. Samohi playoff runs also ended early, as the boys’ basketball unit dropped its first round game 71-49 against Westlake, and the girls’ soccer team fell to Harvard-Westlake, 4-0.
Sports Scores
Santa Monica Boys Basketball
Wednesday, February 7: Vikings at Westlake, CIF Southern Section Boys’ Basketball Championships — Division 2A, Westlake win 71-49
Vikings Final 2023-24 Record : 16-13 (4-6 Bay League)
Santa Monica Girls Soccer
Thursday, February 8: Lady Vikings at Harvard-Westlake, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships — Division 1, Harvard-Westlake win 4-0
Lady Vikings Final 2023-24 Record : 9-9-2 (2-7-1 Bay League)
Santa Monica Baseball
Saturday, February 10: Vikings vs South, Vikings win 2-1
Batting/Baserunning: Aaron Heirigs: 1-2, BB, K; Blue Hunter: 2-3, RBI, 3B; Bobby Munoz: 0-3, 2 K; Brady Satinover: 1-2, R, BB, SB; Isaac Liberman: 1-2, R, 3B, BB; Jacob Myrow: 0-3, 3 K; Manny Lares: 0-3; Sage Douglass: 1-3, RBI, SB, 2 K; Spencer Levin: 1-3, K
Pitching: Blue Hunter: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 HBP, 3.50 ERA; Jackson Klein: 4 IP, W, 3 H, 5 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA; Ton Ponce: 1 IP, 1 BB, 0.00 ERA
Vikings Record: 1-0, Next Game: Tuesday at Loyola, 3:15 p.m.
Saint Monica Boys Basketball
Wednesday, February 7: Mariners vs West, 2024 CIF Southern Section Boys’ Basketball Championships ∏— Division 3A, West win 43-40
Mariners Final 2023-24 Record : 18-11 (6-2 Camino Real League)
Saint Monica Girls Basketball
Thursday, February 8: Mariners vs Heritage Christian, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Basketball Championships — Division 3A, Mariners win 59-23
Saturday, February 10: Mariners at Godinez Fundamental, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Basketball Championships — Division 3A, Mariners win 62-43
Mariners Record : 21-9 (10-2 Camino Real League) Next Game: Wednesday vs Jordan, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Basketball Championships — Division 3A, 7 p.m.
Saint Monica Boys Soccer
Friday, February 9: Mariners at Covina, 2024 CIF Southern Section Boys’ Soccer Championships — Division 7, Covina win 5-0
Mariners Final 2023-24 Record: 8-9-1 (7-3 Santa Fe League)
Saint Monica Girls Soccer
Thursday, February 8: Mariners vs Hawthorne, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships — Division 7, Mariners win 10-0
Saturday, February 10: Mariners vs La Reina, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships — Division 7, Mariners win 2-0
Mariners Record: 19-0 (12-0 Santa Fe League) Next Game: Wednesday vs Oakwood, 2024 CIF Southern Section Girls’ Soccer Championships- Division 7, 5 p.m.
