HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

The Hoover girls’ team is 8-11 and tied for third place in the Pacific League at 2-3.

That’s a considerable improvement over the last two seasons, when the Tornadoes were a combined 8-31, 1-19 in league play.

Last week, Hoover defeated rival Glendale for the first time anyone at the school can remember.

Two of the key players have been Xiomara Ramos and Lorrena Herrera, although it rarely shows in the box scores.

Ramos, a junior guard, is regularly assigned to cover opponents’ top scorers.

Herrera, a 5-foot-7 senior center, is averaging more than eight rebounds.

“She’s like our Dennis Rodman,� Coach Jack Van Patten said. “At least, a Rodman without any of the negative aspects.�

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Coach Melissa Hearlihy of Alemany is one of the most organized girls’ coaches in the region.

Road trip itineraries are figured to the minute, as are her practices.

But even she must admit to a little luck with the timing of her pregnancy.

Hearlihy is expecting her second child in August, during the Southern Section dead period when contact with players is not permitted.

When she had her first child, Josh, in 1993, Hearlihy missed three games and rushed back to her team five days after delivery.

“This works out a little better,� she said. “Of course, it will eat into my vacation, but we can work that out.�

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Rumors have circulated in recent weeks that the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions might be in danger of folding.

Coach Andrew Butcher of host Santa Barbara insists those rumors are unfounded.

“It’s still on,� he said.

The 64-team, four-bracket tournament featured 14 of the nation’s top 20 teams and included area teams Buena, Ventura, Harvard-Westlake, Chatsworth, Palmdale and Nordhoff.