Girls’ basketball: Shhh, we can forget my mistakes when you’re ready

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Waited all year for this to happen. Was told from the beginning that I had put too much faith in San Clemente. Started the Tritons at No. 3 in the preseason rankings, only to be disappointed with December losses. But victories the last two weekends have redeemed me -- oh, and redeemed the Tritons, too -- making me look a whole lot better with my preseason ranking. And that’s really what’s important, making me look good.

If San Clemente wins the Division I-A title -- it has four starters from last year’s championship team -- no one will remember that I also had Windward and Brentwood in the top 25, and had excluded Millikan and Edison. I won’t tell if you won’t.

Who’s in: Santa Monica.

Who’s out: Marlborough

So what happened?

San Clemente (21-4): After going a month without facing a top-tier opponent, the Tritons in the last two weeks beat perennial San Diego Section power La Jolla Country Day and then-No. 10 Magnolia. Those are major results. The 44-43 victory over LJCD avenged a 32-point loss the first week of the season. That 34-point swing is, in a word, stunning. San Clemente also has a win over No. 11 Perris, so the Tritons slot in at No. 9, making a well-deserved 11-position jump. Better late than never.

Mira Costa (19-5): The Mustangs had one of the greatest weeks in program history a couple weeks ago when they beat Redondo and Lynwood to jump from No. 20 to No. 8. Last week, they lost to Redondo and Mater Dei on back-to-back nights and dropped from No. 7 to 17. A victory over either would have prevented such a tumble.

Santa Monica (21-4): Since losing by three points to Inglewood, the Vikings have dominated Ayala by 22 points and avenged the loss to Inglewood by 18. Earlier this season, they had lost to Marlborough by three points and then avenged themselves with a nine-point victory. This could be a team that simply needed to find itself -- or believe in itself -- and it rose to the occasion down the stretch.

Marlborough (15-9): There’s no disgrace in losing to Ventura, but the Mustangs haven’t inspired much confidence since an upset of Brea at the Nike TOC on Dec. 21. It showed the team’s potential, but it was also the last hurrah. They fall out, making way for Santa Monica.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.musicmoz.org