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If the latest CIF-SS computer-generated power ratings are an indication, Orange County girls basketball has one more leading contender for the Open Division than perhaps some believed.
Sage Hill (16-7) has climbed 16 spots to No. 8 in the latest rankings, a key position considering that eight teams have been selected to the Open Division playoffs the past several years.
Sage Hill has reached the Open Division the past two seasons but Lightning coach Kerwin Walters recently predicted that his team could be placed in Division 1.
“I think it’s going to be Division 1 but something can change in a matter of two weeks,” Walters said after the Lightning’s 67-37 win against visiting Portola on Friday in the Pacific Coast League. “Wherever they seed us is what we’re going to do.”
“At one point, (we were) Division 2-AA,” the coach added. “We’ll see.”
Sage Hill rides a season-high eight-game winning steak into Tuesday’s nonleague game against visiting San Jacinto (18-5).
The surge has been highlighted by a 60-42 win against Brentwood on Jan. 18. Sophomore Kamdyn Klamberg paced the Lightning with 16 points.
Orange County’s top contenders for the Open Division remain Mater Dei and Fairmont Prep. The Monarchs and Huskies are third and seventh, respectively, in the section ratings this week.
The playoff pairings are scheduled to be released Feb. 8 at noon.
INJURY UPDATES
Mater Dei standout Kaeli Wynn suffered a knee injury against Rancho Christian on Saturday, her mother and Monarchs coach Jody Wynn said on Monday. The timetable for the junior’s return is unclear, the coach said.
In other injury updates, Fairmont Prep guard Kayla Priest (ankle) is expected to be re-evaluated Friday while guard Lesina Afu (ankle) is expected to play Tuesday against visiting Pacifica Christian, Huskies coach Josh Lozano said.
NOTES
Mater Dei point guard Addison Deal has been selected for the McDonald All-American Game on April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The 6-foot senior signed with Iowa in November. …
Savanna (16-5, 5-0) plays host to Anaheim (12-9, 5-1) on Friday in a key game in the Coast League. In the first round of league, Savanna snapped Anaheim’s 67-game league winning streak with a 58-42 triumph. …
El Toro senior guards Mariana Mina and Bridget Boyd each recently surpassed 1,000 career points. …
Portola’s Amelia Booth, a 5-foot-7 junior, is averaging about 13 rebounds. Coach Brian Barham said Booth’s tenacity brings “juice to the gym.” …
JSerra and coach Chyanne Butler have “mutually agreed” to part ways, the Trinity League confirmed.
JSerra declined further comment but stated earlier in the season that the third-year coach and former USC player had been placed on administrative leave. Assistant coach Phil Talleur became the interim coach for Butler and remains in the position.
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