Saddleback Targets Two State Tournament Berths

The Saddleback men’s and women’s basketball teams play for berths in the state tournament at 7 tonight, and in both cases the opponent is a familiar one.

The Saddleback men’s team, seeded seventh, plays at No. 2 MiraCosta (27-3). This is the third time the teams have met this season. MiraCosta won at home, 82-80, in the season-opener in November and won again, 72-62, in the semifinals of the Rancho Santiago tournament in late December.

“If you can’t get up to play MiraCosta,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said, “you don’t have a pulse.”

Saddleback (26-5) is led by sophomore guard Anthony Carter who is averaging a state-high 27 points. He scored 28 points in the first meeting and 25 in the second against MiraCosta.

In the other regional finals: No. 8 Chaffey (28-7) is at No. 1 Ventura (29-2); No. 6 Antelope Valley (26-6) is at No. 3 Santa Monica (29-4) and No. 5 Los Angeles City (27-6) is at No. 4 Riverside (31-5).

The Saddleback women’s team has the advantage of playing at home.

The Gauchos (28-0), the second-seed team in Southern California, take on No. 7 San Diego Mesa (23-6). Saddleback beat San Diego Mesa, 69-62, in November. Saddleback is led by forwards Cha-Ron Walker and Shanna Renken, who each average 15 points. Guard Maureen Skehan averages 13.

In the other regional finals: No. 8 Victor Valley (24-6) is at No. 1 Ventura (31-0); No. 6 Riverside (25-9) is at No. 3 Cerritos (25-6) and No. 5 Chaffey (27-3) is at No. 5 Los Angeles Valley (26-9).

The men’s and women’s winners advance to the state tournament March 7-9 in San Jose.