Vikings Earn Wild Card Berth

Amir Soofi
Mirror contributing writer

   Santa Monica High Men’s Varsity Basketball team claimed a wild card berth in the Bay League playoffs. As the fifth place team in the league, the Vikings will play their first round game at Arcadia Wednesday night. Last Tuesday, February 12, there was a three-way tie for fourth place with Santa Monica and Mira Costa, who were playing each other, and Peninsula all at 7-5. In an extremely close game, the Vikings fell, 50-47. Mira Costa’s Aaron Harris contributed 16 points to help move his team to 8-5.
   Meanwhile, Peninsula demolished Morningside, winless in league, 82-54. Phil Gardner scored 28 points for the Panther victory, also promoting Peninsula to 8-5. Santa Monica sat one game back, in fifth place, at 7-6, prior to Thursday’s match against league leader Redondo Union, to finish off the regular season.
   Unfortunately, Peninsula and Mira Costa’s remaining games were against each other, guaranteeing that at least one of the teams would advance to 9-5, and clinch the third berth from the Bay League. To further increase the odds against the Vikings, previously undefeated Redondo arrived angry after its first league loss to second place Inglewood on Tuesday night, 67-55. The Sentinels capitalized on the return of 6’10” senior center D’Angelo Collins, who only played half of the game, but earned a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, in addition to several blocks, steals, and assists. Collins, who has knee troubles, will prove a valuable asset for Inglewood in the postseason.
   Going into Thursday night’s games, Redondo had secured the league title at 12-1, Inglewood was second at 10 and 3, Peninsula and Mira Costa were tied at 8-5, and Santa Monica was in fifth with 7-6.
   Everything that could go wrong for the Vikings did. Mira Costa, unable to hold off Peninsula, fell 44-37. This placed Peninsula and Mira Costa securely in third and fourth, with records of 9-5 and 8-6, respectively. Even if Santa Monica could surprise Redondo and tie Mira Costa’s record, the Mustangs would win the tiebreaker based on prior games.
   Redondo, playing for a better spot in the postseason, and Santa Monica, not knowing what was happening across town between Peninsula and Mira Costa, played a close game. The Seahawks relied heavily on Keith Ellison who had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The Vikings answered with Brett DeAngelis, who once again broke into the twenties with 25 points. Unfortunately, the Vikings needed another five points, falling to the league champs, 60-55.
   The Vikings hoopsters had a strong regular season under Coach James Hecht, and look to make a run in the Bay League Playoffs. Final regular season Bay League standings are Redondo, 13-1, Inglewood, 11-4, Peninsula, 9-5, Mira Costa, 8-6, Santa Monica, 7-7, North Torrance, 4-10, Leuzinger, 3-11, and Morningside, 0-14.