SPORTS : SCORECARD: FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMENTS FROM AREA EVENTS : PREPS

La Canada High had a week any athletic director would envy.

The Spartans’ boys’ basketball team and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs with victories on Friday.

The basketball team, seeded No. 1 in the 3-A Division, finally got past the quarterfinal stumbling block that it had encountered the past four seasons. Junior center Richard Mandeville scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds as the Spartans defeated Harvard-Westlake, 92-50. Ryan Asplund added 17 points for La Canada, which forced 16 turnovers and advanced to the semifinals against Playa del Rey St. Bernard.

The boys’ soccer team also was impressive in a 3-2 victory over Saddleback in a 1-A quarterfinal. Dwight Barnes, David Rivero and Jorge Ortiz scored three goals in the first 15 minutes, and the Spartans held on to advance to the semifinals against Corona.

The girls’ soccer team got only one goal from Marisa Eland, but the Rio Hondo League champions made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over Anaheim Canyon in a 3-A quarterfinal. La Canada advanced to the semifinals against top-seeded Torrance.

Ribet Academy also enjoyed a good week as its boys’ and girls’ basketball teams advanced to 5-A semifinals.

Lydell Hill scored 25 points as the Fighting Frogs boys’ team, which is the defending Southern Section and state champion, defeated Liberty Christian, 85-47.

Ribet met Rio Hondo Prep in the semifinals.

The Ribet girls’ team beat California Lutheran, 72-54, and also advanced to a semifinal game against Rio Hondo Prep.

The Southern Section baseball schedule begins Friday with Crescenta Valley playing at La Canada, Hoover at St. Francis and Buckley at Flintridge Prep.

Glendale is at San Luis Obispo Saturday.

Ribet Academy opens against Bel Air Prep on Monday.

The California Interscholastic Federation and Reebok will award $2,000 scholarships to the boy and girl who are selected scholar athlete of the year.

Applications for the award are available at high school counseling offices. Each school can nominate two athletes.

The application deadline is April 3, and judging will be completed May 11. The awards will be presented at the state track meet June 6 in Cerritos.

Information: (714) 521-5711.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Glendale College men’s basketball team was hoping for an upset in the Southern California regional playoffs.

But Rancho Santiago (22-9) proved too formidable and eliminated the Vaqueros, 77-64.

Sophomore Beau Hossler scored 16 points as Rancho Santiago, the champion of the Orange Empire Conference, won its 13th consecutive postseason game in the past three seasons.

Alfonso Pule scored 21 points and Juwan Smith added 16 for Glendale, which finished 13-16.

COLLEGES

The Occidental College men’s basketball team could not have asked for a better finish.

The Tigers defeated Pomona Pitzer, 99-72, and Claremont, 110-78, to conclude their season with a seven-game winning streak.

Occidental, under Coach Brian Newhall, finished 14-12 overall and 7-7 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Richard Mandeville, La Canada--Mandeville, a 6-foot-11 center, scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds in the Spartans’ 92-50 victory over Harvard-Westlake in the Southern Section 3-A quarterfinals.

It was the first time in five seasons that La Canada advanced past the quarterfinals.

Mandeville, a junior, scored 14 points in the second half and did not play the final six minutes.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Alphonso Pule, Glendale--Pule, a sophomore guard, scored 21 points in the Vaqueros’ 77-64 loss to Rancho Santiago in the first round of the Southern California regional playoffs.

Pule, an All-City player at Franklin High, also scored a season-high 33 points in Glendale’s regular-season finale against College of the Canyons.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

Bruce Heicke--Heicke, a former All-Western State Conference basketball player at Glendale College, is averaging 5.6 points and 1.8 rebounds for UC Davis.

Heicke, a 6-1 junior guard, is competing this week in the Northern California Athletic Conference playoffs. UC Davis finished the regular season 17-10.

MISCELLANY

Registration for L.A. Gear/American Roundball Corporation spring basketball leagues will be held Sunday and March 15 at North Hollywood High. Boys and girls in grades 7-12 are eligible. All students who sign up will make a team and receive a jersey, shorts and shoes. Information: (818) 995-3761.