By Loren Kopff
The Suburban League kicked off its six-game per team, seven week slate on Sept. 26 when Norwalk visited Cerritos in a battle of double wing offenses. But tonight, the marquee tilt takes place at Ron Yary Stadium on the Bellflower High campus as Artesia (3-1) faces Mayfair (1-3).
Last season, the Pioneers came up one point short against the Monsoons as a result of a missed extra point in the third quarter. Mayfair scored the game winner in the fourth quarter, then survived a missed field goal at the end of the game in a 28-27 contest. The Monsoons have allowed 136 points this season but their three losses have come to Downey, Murrieta Valley and Lakewood.
Elsewhere tonight, Gahr (2-2) hosts La Habra in its final non league game. The Gladiators actually have three on-the-field losses and have allowed 91 points. Recently, Lakewood had to forfeit its 36-0 win over Gahr for using an ineligible player. Also tonight, Valley Christian (1-2) hosts longtime rival Ontario Christian (2-2) hoping to avenge last season’s 48-10 loss to the Knights. V.C. still has won nine of the past 14 meetings including five of the last seven at Crusader Field.
When Cerritos took the field against Norwalk, the Dons entered with a 1-2 record after slamming Ocean View 63-38 on Sept. 20. The win snapped a 23-game losing streak but six of those games, all in league action last season, were not played on the field. The 63 points are the most scored since the Dons defeated Artesia 57-24 on Nov. 14, 2003 and the most against a non league opponent since Sept. 7, 2001 when Cerritos slammed Brethren Christian 57-6. .
VOLLEYBALL
La Mirada posted its first victory of the season after sweeping Artesia 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 this past Tuesday in the Suburban League opener for both teams. Senior outside hitter Alexis Meraz paced La Mirada (1-4, 1-0) with 12 kills and 11 aces. Artesia (1-4, 0-1) was led by senior middle blocker Daisy Briseno (five kills, five aces, two blocks). The Pioneers visited John Glenn on Sept. 26 and will host Norwalk on Tuesday.
Cerritos, which has yet to play a match on its own court, will host La Mirada on Tuesday and Norwalk on Thursday. The Lady Dons were 2-4 entering their road match with Downey on Sept. 26. After being swept by St. Joseph on Sept. 19, Gahr will host Santa Fe on Tuesday before opening San Gabriel Valley League action on Thursday against Warren.
Glenn (1-4, 0-1) was swept by Mayfair in the league opener and will compete in the Whittier Tournament today and Saturday, visit Bellflower on Tuesday and go to La Mirada on Thursday while Valley Christian remained hot to begin the season. The Lady Crusaders (5-0) survived a 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13 ordeal with St. Joseph this past Tuesday. V.C. began the week ranked seventh in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division II-A top 10 poll. It will also compete in the Whittier Tournament, host Fairmont Prep on Tuesday and visit Maranatha on Thursday.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Cerritos boys cross country team placed third in the Division I category last weekend in the Three Course Challenge at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, OR. Jonathan Carranza came in 14th place with a time of 20:13 on the ‘difficult’ course while Christian Cortez finished in 23rd on the ‘easy’ course with a time of 16:17. Running on the ‘moderate’ course, freshman Bill Chuang placed 31st with a time of 20:26.
The Cerritos girls finished in eighth place with freshman Melissa Oshiro coming in 33rd place (21:00) on the ‘easy’ course, Monique Gavilanes (25:55) and Stacy Park (26:00) finishing in 33rd and 34th respectively on the ‘moderate’ course and Catherine Lin taking the 33rd spot on the ‘difficult’ course with a time of 26:37.
