A second straight trip to the CIF State Girls Basketball Championships ended in defeat for the Lady Mariners of Saint Monica, as the 2023-24 season came to a close in a 59-46 loss to Francis Parker in the state tournament Feb. 27.
After advancing all the way to the regional semifinals of the Division V CIF bracket last year, the team retooled around first-year head coach Doug Kim, going 22-11 overall and achieving 20-plus victories for the second straight season. The back-to-back state tournament appearances, as well as back-to-back league championships (in the Santa Fe and Camino Real leagues), marked an impressive turnaround for the program that won just seven combined games between the 2017-18 and 2019-20 seasons.
The squad’s 10-2 record in the Camino Real League pushed the Lady Mariners into the CIF Southern Section Division 3A tournament, where the team defeated Heritage Christian, Godinez Fundamental and Jordan en route to the semifinals, falling to St. Margaret’s 49-41. Despite the defeat, the squad earned a bid into the state field as a 7-seed, losing the opening bout to Francis Parker. Subsequently, Francis Parker lost its next contest to Bakersfield Christian, a team that made it to the regional finals played on Tuesday night.
While the Lady Mariners are losing seniors Shadel French, Kaya Ghobrial and Andrea Colabella; the squad remains strong heading into next season, bringing back a host of contributors like starting forwards Melina Werhle and Kaylee McCruel, as well as starting guard Sydney Ghobrial.
Credit: Thomas Leffler
Saint Monica Scores:
Saint Monica Girls Basketball
Tuesday, February 27: Lady Mariners vs Francis Parker- 2024 CIF State Girls Basketball Championships Division III, Francis Parker win 59-46
Lady Mariners Final 2023-24 Record: 22-11 (10-2 Camino Real League)
Saint Monica Baseball
Thursday, February 29: Mariners vs Cathedral, Cathedral win 9-1
Mariners Record: 2-3 (0-1 Camino Real League) Next Game: Friday at St. Anthony, 3:15pm.
Saint Monica Softball
Tuesday, February 27: Lady Mariners at Ramona Convent, Ramona Convent win 10-3
Batting/Baserunning: Savanna Hernandez: 3-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SB. Sophia Lopez: 1-3, 2B, R, RBI, K. Bella Urbina: 0-3. Bella Hernandez: 1-4. Ali Vogler: 0-3, BB, FC. Katrina Olmedo: 0-4, FC. Dylan Smith: 3-4. Annie Lu Rios: 0-3, K. Megan Garcia: 1-3, R, K
Pitching: Bella Lopez: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 9.33 ERA. Bella Urbina: L, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, K, 9.33 ERA
Thursday, February 29: Lady Mariners at Saint Joseph, Saint Joseph win 18-0
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 1-2. Savanna Hernandez: 1-2, FC, SB. Sophia Lopez: 0-2, 2 K. Bella Hernandez: 0-2, K. Ali Vogler: 1-2. Katrina Olmedo: 0-1, HBP. Dylan Smith: 0-2, FC. Annie Lu Rios: 0-1, HBP, K. Megan Garcia: 0-1, HBP
Pitching: Bella Lopez: 1.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 35.00 ERA. Bella Urbina: L, 0.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP 73.50 ERA. Katrina Olmedo: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 12.00 ERA
Monday, March 4: Lady Mariners vs Duarte, Duarte win 19-8
Batting/Baserunning: Bella Lopez: 0-3, RBI, FC. Savanna Hernandez: 1-3, R, RBI, BB. Sophia Lopez: 1-3, R, 2 K, SB Bella Hernandez: 0-3. Ali Vogler: 3-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI. Katrina Olmedo: 1-2, HR, 2 R, RBI, K. Dylan Smith: 0-4. Annie Lu Rios: 1-2, 3 RBI, BB. Megan Garcia: 3-3, 2B, 2 R
Pitching: Bella Lopez: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10.50 ERA. Bella Urbina: L, 3.0 IP, 10 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 25.67 ERA
Lady Mariners Record: 2-4 Next Game: Wednesday at Santa Monica, 3:15pm.
Saint Monica Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, February 27: Mariners at Providence, Providence win 3-0
Wednesday, February 28: Mariners vs Crossroads, Crossroads win 3-0
Friday, March 1: Mariners vs Grant, Grant win 2-0
Mariners vs Selma, Sylmar win 2-0
Saturday, March 2: Mariners vs Birmingham, Birmingham win 2-0
Mariners vs Kennedy, Kennedy win 2-0
Mariners vs St. Bernard, Mariners win 1-0
Mariners vs Le Lycee, Mariners win 1-0
Mariners vs Poly, Poly win 1-0
Mariners Record: 3-8 Next Game: Thursday vs Math & Science College Preparatory, 5pm.
Saint Monica Boys Golf
Monday, February 26: Mariners at Don Bosco Tech, Mariners win 206-270
Wednesday, February 28: Mariners vs La Salle, La Salle win 194-219
Next Matchup: Monday, March 11 at Bishop Amat, Time TBA
Saint Monica Boys and Girls Track and Field
Friday, March 1-Saturday, March 2: Condor Invitational and Distance Carnival
Mens 100 Meters Varsity Finals: 8- Elijah Wilson (Freshman), 12.25 seconds. 10- Evan Benet (Freshman), 12.59 seconds
Mens 100 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 11- Josh Granados (Sophomore), 14.47 seconds
Mens 400 Meters Varsity Finals: 31- Christopher Barnes (Freshman), 1:00.34. 33- Mason Collier (Junior), 1:00.71
Mens 400 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 11- Matthew Martinez (Freshman), 1:00.69
Mens 1,600 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 85- Nicco Osti (Sophomore), 5:37.49
Mens 110 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 17- Anav Oommen (Senior), 20.86 seconds
Mens 4×100 Relay Varsity Finals: 9- Joshua Barnes (Senior), DeQuan Carter (Freshman), Anthony Mason (Freshman), Elijah Wilson (Freshman); 46.27 seconds. 18- Evan Benet (Freshman), Mason Collier (Junior), Christopher Barnes (Freshman), Bradley Cassier (Freshman); 48.55 seconds. 20- Dylan Valenzo (Sophomore), Luke Griffin (Junior), Martin Tate (Freshman), London Collins (Freshman); 49.29 seconds
Mens Shot Put Varsity Finals: 25- James Morva Jr. (Senior), 32-04.00. 49- Dino Hidalgo (Sophomore), 26-05.00
Mens Long Jump Varsity Finals: 32- Anthony Mason (Freshman), 15-10.00
Womens 800 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 54- Vivian Boubion (Sophomore), 3:13.41. 70- Ellie Perkins (Sophomore), 3:24.12. 74- Andrea Ayala (Sophomore), 3:32.84
Womens 1,600 Meters Freshman/Sophomore Finals: 67- Ellie Perkins (Sophomore), 7:13.20
Womens 100 Meter Hurdles Varsity Finals: 24- Macula Story (Junior), 27.26 seconds
Womens 4×100 Relay Varsity Finals: 15- Eva Farris (Sophomore), Chiara Falchi Mure (Junior), Serenity Furbert (Senior), Nina Meraz (Junior); 59.52 seconds
Next Meet: Wednesday, Camino Real League Meet, St. Paul High School, 3pm.