SuHi slams door on Mariners, 53-10, in girls hoops action

Jessica Bautista, last year’s South Bay League Player of the Year, scored a game-high 17 points and teammate Lucille Gleason poured in 15 points to lead the Sweetwater High School girls basketball team to a lopsided 53-10 league victory against visiting Mar Vista on Wednesday. The win improved the Red Devils’ record to 4-1 in league play, 11-4 overall.

“We shared last year’s league championship (with Montgomery) and we’re hoping to win league again but make it our own this year,” sixth-year SuHi coach Heather Huckaby said after the game. “We’ve got an experienced team. We have five girls who were either starters or near-starters last year. It’s a little frustrating how we started out.”

Sweetwater tipped off league play with a 42-39 loss to visiting Olympian on Jan. 5. The Red Devils have since won their last four games and will host Montgomery on Wednesday, Jan. 26, to close out the first round of league play. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

Olympian (13-3 overall) took a spotless 4-0 league record into Wednesday’s game against Montgomery.

The Devils could yet scramble the standings. SuHi defenders constantly grabbed rebounds or made steals that led to buckets on fast-breaks against Mar Vista.

Jonalynn Fuertes had seven points against Mar Vista while Janine Elpidio contributed five points.

Sweetwater defeated El Camino in overtime  last season in the opening round of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs.