For the first time in 20 years, the St. Monica boys basketball team has won a share of a league championship.
By defeating La Salle and Mary Star on the road in the final week of the regular season the Mariners tied La Salle for the Camino Real League title.
St. Monica finished the regular season with a 17-9 record and was scheduled to host a CIF playoff first round game Wednesday night, February 17 at 7:30 p.m. against Nipomo High from the Santa Maria area.
“We’re very excited,” said Coach Tony Depa. “Winning the league after all these years is a pretty big deal for us.”
St. Monica is on a six-game winning streak but lost a coin flip with La Salle for playoff position. As a result, the Mariners were considered the second place team for the playoffs and were seeded 11th in 4-A.
St. Monica defeated La Salle, 68-62, a major victory since it had lost to the same team earlier in the season at St. Monica.
Depa praised Ryan Capiro and Ryan Featherston for their leadership in that game.
Completing their regular season schedule, St. Monica then won at Mary Star, 55-48.
Crossroads, which struggled all season in the powerful Olympic League after winning 11 of 14 non-league games, was granted a playoff berth in 5AA. The Roadrunners, who are seeded 11th, will play Wednesday night at Animo Leadership.
Brentwood, seeded sixth, will host Village Christian, also on Wednesday.
Pacifica Christian of Santa Monica, which plays in 6AA, is seeded 13th and will visit Newbury Park Christian in the first round.
In the girls’ first round playoff games on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Crossroads of the 4A division will go to 10th seeded Marymount.
In 5AA No. 10 St. Monica plays at Sacred Heart in the first round and 12th seeded Brentwood will visit Alverno. In 5A New Roads has a first round game at Saddleback Valley Christian, also at 7p.m.
Mitch Chortkoff
Mirror Sports Editorsports@smmirror.com
