Cif

PROVIDENCE HIGH — Playing solid defense is not just a game plan for the Providence High girls' basketball team, it's a mission. In a CIF Southern Section Division VAA second-round playoff game against Boron Saturday at Providence, the Pioneer defensive effort was in full force. Every time a Bobcat player touched the ball, a Providence defender was there to hound her. And the Boron shooters had a tough time with the Pioneers contesting almost every shot. The fine effort led to a historic 43-28 victory by the Pioneers.

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH — As a freshman with the Bellarmine-Jefferson High baseball team, Philip Diaz-McTague was an All-CIF Southern Section second-team selection. As a sophomore, Diaz-McTague had another fine season, earning All-Santa Fe League first-team accolades, although he did not make any All-CIF teams. His quest to earn his second All-CIF selection of his tenure with the Guards was quashed during his junior campaign, when a severe ankle injury ended his season.

Jim Riggio The Burbank and Burroughs high swim teams have moved up this season, and that might not be a good thing. With the Foothill League schools competing in Division I in CIF Southern Section postseason competition, earning qualifying times for the premier division has been difficult for local athletes. So difficult, in fact, not one Bulldog or Indian swimmer -- in any event -- has met the time standard needed to qualify for the Division I preliminaries That dry spell continued Monday in the league preliminaries at Burroughs.

PROVIDENCE HIGH — Providence High girls' basketball Coach Andrew Bencze was disappointed Wednesday following his team's ouster from the postseason. However, the coach's feelings weren't directed at his squad's 42-33 CIF Southern Section Division VAA quarterfinal loss to Villanova Prep at Providence, ending the Pioneers' season. Instead, his sadness about something else took precedence over his emotions concerning the loss. "I'm not as disappointed with losing the game than I am with the fact that I won't see this group of players in practice [Thursday]

HUNTINGTON BEACH ? The Bellarmine-Jefferson High boys? volleyball team was hoping for a repeat of its postseason success last season when it advanced to the quarterfinals. Those hopes were still intact prior to Bell-Jeff meeting host Sage Hill Tuesday in a Division V second-round match. However, when the match ended, the Guards? playoff run ? as well as their season ? came to a close, as the Lightning came away with a 25-17, 25-10, 25-10 victory. The Lightning (20-9), beneficiaries of a first-round bye, swept the Guards to advance to the third round, and surprised them in the process.

BURBANK — There was likely no sneaking up on opponents this season for Burbank resident and Village Christian pitcher Emily Seidel. Coming into her senior softball campaign, Seidel was already a perennial All-CIF Southern Section selection and a previous All-State honoree who had signed with the University of Nevada Reno. The same can't be said for Burbank second baseman Katie Hooper, who came into her sophomore season with little funfair. When the season came to an end for Seidel and Hooper, they both enjoyed their share of recognition, as the two were honored with All-CIF awards.

BURBANK ? Ginny English isn't about to crunch the numbers. The Burbank High senior doesn't want to make a prediction or set a particular goal of which height she would like to reach in the girls' pole event at the CIF Southern Section Division II preliminaries. English and a group of Bulldogs, as well as athletes from Burroughs, will take part in the event today at Moorpark High. The athletes will be trying to qualify for the CIF Southern Section Finals May 20 at Cerritos College.

The Providence High boys' volleyball team did all it could to let Whitney High hang around in its CIF Southern Section Division V playoff match. The Pioneers came out a little shaky Wednesday in the second-round contest, and made their share of mistakes that allowed the Wildcats to stay in the match. However, Providence finally got its act together, overcoming its early woes, and was able to dispose of the visitors, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16, 25-17.

Cavan Ewing didn't know if he would be a contributor on a L.A. Loyola boys' track and field team that had a legitimate shot to win a CIF Southern Section championship. However, in the Division II final Saturday at Falcon Stadium at Cerritos College in Norwalk, the Burbank resident placed sixth in the triple jump with a 42-foot-8 effort, scoring a point for the Cubs. Loyola easily won the championship with 42 points, outdistancing Compton Dominguez, which finished with 34. "I'm proud to represent Loyola High School, and the city of Burbank, in the CIF finals" said Ewing, a senior.

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH-- The numbers were impressive, but that was the last thing on the minds of the Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls' basketball players when they faced visiting Downey Calvary Chapel in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IVA playoffs. The Guards were simply looking to advance, and they did just that, rolling to a 69-34 victory Wednesday to move into the semifinal round. Bell-Jeff will take on L.A. Windward at 7:30 tonight in a semifinal game at Brentwood High.

This season's CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs have led the Burroughs High boys' tennis team to a familiar place against a familiar opponent. For the second-straight year, the Indians will travel to Palm Desert to take on the No. 1-seeded Aztecs in a semifinal contest. The teams will take to the court at 3 p.m. Tuesday. Burroughs will be looking to avenge a 14-4 loss at the hands of Palm Desert in the 2011 semifinal. The Aztecs went on to capture the division championship.

The Burroughs High boys' tennis team was well represented Friday in the Division II CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament Friday at Cate and Carpinteria highs. The Indians had two singles players taking part, junior Garrett Auproux and sophomore Calvin Fox, along with the doubles team of senior Phillip Lam and junior Kevin Hoang. However, the only person moving on in the postseason as an individual is Auproux, who won his two matches in convincing fashion. Auproux, the two-time defending Pacific League champion, earned a bye in the first round of the competition.

THOUSAND OAKS — The Burbank High softball team isn't very representative of a typical No. 3 league squad in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The Bulldogs were in the hunt for the Pacific League championship until the final regular-season game and although they tied Crescenta Valley for second place, they went into the playoffs as the third seed. La Reina, which captured the Tri-Valley League title after defeating powerhouse Oaks Christian, found out once again how formidable Burbank can be in a Division III game Thursday.

Clinging to a tie late in the game on the road, the Burbank High baseball team was hoping to stay close until its offense came up with a spark. But in the Bulldogs' CIF Southern Section Division II wild-card game Tuesday afternoon, it was opponent Claremont catching fire, while Burbank was helpless to snuff it out. Burbank starting pitcher Andrew Hernandez took a one-run tie game into the sixth, where the Wolfpack struck for five runs to...

MCCAMBRIDGE PARK - A tweak in the lineup did the Burbank High softball team plenty of good Tuesday afternoon. On the eve of her team's CIF Southern Section Division III wild-card home contest against Arroyo Grande, Burbank Coach Nicole Drabecki opted to move Laina Do up to the third spot in the lineup. Do had spent most of the season batting cleanup or fifth. The move paid dividends as Do contributed a pair of run-scoring singles to lead Burbank to a convincing 6-1 victory.

Going into the final game of the regular season, all four local softball teams had either secured league titles or had the chance to capture a share of a championship in their respective leagues. With successful seasons, Burroughs High, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence all qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, as pairings were released Monday morning. For the Indians, who won the Pacific League crown, and for the Guards, who took the title in the Santa Cruz League, both garnered No. 2 seeds in their respective divisions.

BURROUGHS HIGH - Joel Brinton didn't know where to begin. There was the sub-standard first game, the "swift kick in the butt," his Burroughs High boys' volleyball team needed to get going. There was the balanced and efficient second and third games that the Indians won in their CIF Southern Section Division III second-round home playoff match against Yorba Linda. There was the "timid" fourth game that saw the Indians revert back to their first-game form. Then, there was the unforgettable fifth game.

BURROUGHS HIGH - Burroughs High's boys' tennis team was definitely not at full strength in its opening CIF Southern Section Division II match Wednesday. Along with losing a key doubles player to grades, Pacific League singles runner-up Calvin Fox was sidelined with a foot injury and three-year contributor Michael Whelan was playing with an injured wrist. Despite the hardships, the Indians shuffled around their lineup and received maximum results. Burroughs captured eight of nine sets in singles to dispose of the Spartans, 14-4, in a first-round contest at home.

BURROUGHS HIGH — Coach Joel Brinton didn't like how his Burroughs High boys' volleyball team ended the regular season, but he sure was pleased about how the Indians started the postseason. Less than a week after losing to Claremont in the Pacific League finale and feeling like they were "outplayed," the Indians were out for redemption in their first-round match of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs. The Indians weren't perfect, but they were definitely good enough to defeat visiting Village Christian, needing 56 minutes to advance to the second round with a 25-20, 25-20, 25-12 win. "As much as we tried not to think about [the loss to Claremont]

Three area girls' basketball teams enjoyed historic treks through the CIF Southern Section playoffs this past season. Burbank High and Providence both advanced past the quarterfinals for the first time and also earned their first trips to state competition. Bellarmine-Jefferson made its fifth straight appearance in the division semifinals, something no other team in city history has been able to accomplish. With the historic accomplishments came unparalleled recognition, as all three programs had players earn All-CIF accolades in their respective divisions.