The day began with three. By day’s end, only two remained.
Three Lady Vikings’ squads took the field on Thursday afternoon and evening, but only two advanced to the next round as CIF-SS playoff action continued on Feb. 17.
While the Santa Monica High School girls’ water polo team failed to advance to the quarterfinals in its Division 6 CIF-SS playoff match up against Anaheim Western, the Lady Vikings’ basketball and soccer squads earned victories in each of its first-round match up on Thursday.
Taking the pool at Katella High School in Anaheim, the Samohi girls’ water polo squad, (13-14) hoped to build upon its first round victory against Hemet and defeat Empire League champion Western High. However, the Lady Pioneers were too much for Lady Vikings, as Western eliminated Samohi with an 11-5 victory in Anaheim.
Two days earlier, Samohi defeated Hemet, 9-2; Western advances to play San Gabriel Valley League champion Downey Warren.
Meanwhile, the seventh seeded Lady Vikings (20-8) basketball squad defeated Moreno Valley Rancho Verde, 52-39, in first round of Division 1AA CIF-SS playoff action at Samohi on Feb. 17.
The Lady Vikings won despite converting just 20 of 63 field goals (32 percent).
Senior Samohi guard Bianka Balthazar led all scorers with 17 points, while her fellow senior guard Moriah Faulk added 10 points; Brandi Carter paced the Lady Mustangs with 13 points. Lashanique Youngblood added 11 for Rancho Verde (22-5).
Up next for Lady Vikings basketball is No. 10 Laguna Hills at home on Feb. 19. The South Coast League champions defeated Palmdale, 53-31, on Feb. 17 to advance to the second round.
Rounding out the evening was the Lady Vikings soccer crew (14-7-2) , who defeated Malibu, 5-1, in its Division 4 CIF-SS first round contest.
Five different players scored at least one point for Samohi, with Julia Ganz leading the way with nine (four goals and one assist); Cheyenne De Los Reyes notched three points with one goal and an assist.
Samohi, who claimed the Ocean League title, advances to the second round, where it will travel to Alhambra to face Ramona Convent on Feb. 22.
