ST. MONICA — As the season heads into the stretch run, Mariners Head Coach Therese Charkut is pleased to be where she thought her team would be.
Sitting at 13-9 overall and 2-1 in Camino Real League play, St. Monica’s girls basketball team is in third place holding on to the final automatic berth to the playoffs.
Charkut may be OK with her team’s current standing, but that doesn’t mean she’s satisfied.
“We have to work on our consistency,” she said. “We look really brilliant at times, but when we fall apart, it looks really bad.”
That inconsistency was on display Tuesday against Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Charkut said her team didn’t rise to the occasion to snatch second place from Cantwell-Sacred Heart, but she did like the way her team hung in during the close 50-46 loss.
Before St. Monica can continue with its final four league games, the Mariners will get an opportunity to play in the Westside Challenge on Saturday. The one-day event will pit top teams from the Westside against those from the outside. Santa Monica High School is the host.
The game against Gahr gives the Mariners a chance to tune-up before resuming the league schedule and their quest to return to the playoffs, Charkut said.
“If we are consistent,” she said, “I like our chances a lot.”
Samohi boys run streak to 10<p>
Santa Monica’s boys basketball team has extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 88-36 win over Ocean League rival Hawthorne on Wednesday.
The win improved Samohi’s record to 15-5 overall and a perfect 5-0 in league.
The Vikings will get the opportunity to continue the streak tonight against Morningside. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at Samohi.
Lemberger misses victory<p>
Samohi’s girls basketball team was forced to play without its top player Wednesday during a win over Hawthorne.
Head Coach Marty Verdugo said he rested her as a precaution because of lingering hip pain and expects her to play tonight at home against Morningside and on Saturday against Mater Dei during the Westside Challenge. Mater Dei is the number one ranked team in the country according to most polls.
Samohi’s record is 15-5 overall and 5-0 in Ocean League play.
Super Bowl fundraiser for Samohi football<p>
The Santa Monica High School football team will hold a fundraiser at Spitfire Grill on Super Bowl Sunday.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Feb. 7, 15 percent of all food and drink sales will benefit the team. Members of the team and its coaches will be in attendance.
For information or to make reservations, call (310) 846-7562.
daniela@www.smdp.com
