Oilers grow with familiarity

Growing pains were bound to happen for Huntington Beach’s hockey team.

It’s certainly not an easy task to learn how to play together when players are in and out of the lineup.

That is the reality of high school hockey. Injuries are already a part of the game, and many of the players miss additional time with their school due to club team commitments.

With only two hours of practice time a week, Coach Shawn Pitcher’s team had been hard-pressed to develop the more chemistry-dependent parts of the game, namely special teams.

The Oilers were left to learn in game situations, and consequently, they dropped their first five contests of the season.

As of late, however, things are starting to come around. Huntington Beach is 1-2-1 over its last four games, and it is sporting a manageable minus-1 goal differential.

During the five-game losing streak that opened the season, the Oilers were outscored, 20-8.

“The improvement has been the chemistry aspect,” Pitcher said in a text Wednesday night. “The kids are a little more familiar with each other.”

“Also, our special teams has gotten a little better, as we have devoted a little more time to it at practice.”

Getting deeper into the season allows teams to focus more on specifics like their power play and penalty-killing units.

Count Huntington Beach among those who should be grateful for the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League’s playoff structure. Every team in Division 3 is entered into a single-elimination bracket, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye.

Coming into this weekend’s slate of games, Huntington Beach (1-7-1-0, five points) is sixth out of the seven teams in the Coast View Conference.

Woodbridge also has five points, but the Oilers got out of the cellar by beating the Warriors back on Nov. 19. A four-goal third period lifted Huntington Beach to a 5-2 victory, with Evan Stapleton scoring the tying and go-ahead goals.

The Oilers will face Long Beach Prep (3-6-0-0, nine points) on Saturday at Lakewood Ice. The puck drops at 2:55 p.m.

Girls’ basketball rankings released

In the first edition of the CIF Southern Section girls’ basketball rankings, two area teams made the cut.

Those two schools are Huntington Beach and Edison, both of which reside in a deep and talented Sunset League.

The Oilers (4-2) begin the year ranked 11th in Division 1A, while the crosstown rival Chargers (5-0) come in at No. 15.

Huntington Beach avenged a season-opening loss to Aliso Niguel with a 62-46 triumph over the Wolverines (5-2) on Monday. Thursday night’s road matchup against seventh-ranked Esperanza gave the Oilers an opportunity to climb up the Division 1A rankings.

Frankie Wade-Sanchez scored a game-high 28 points to lead the Oilers past Aliso Niguel, with Kaylyn Nakaji adding 13 points.

Edison has won five straight to open the year. After winning the Gold Bracket of the Redondo “Battle at the Beach” Tournament, the Chargers’ next test will come in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions right before Christmas.

CIF-SS Girls’ Basketball Rankings

(First release – as of Dec. 12)

Division 1AA

1. Long Poly

2. Sierra Canyon

3. Harvard-Westlake

4. Etiwanda

5. Alemany

6. Windward

7. Brea Olinda

8. Serra

9. Ventura

10. Mater Dei

11. Chaminade

12. Valencia/Valencia

13. Troy

14. Vista Murrieta

15. Redondo Union

16. North Torrance

Division 1A

1. Fairmont Prep

2. Valley View

3. Orangewood Academy

4. Buena

5. JW North

6. Bishop Montgomery

7. Esperanza

8. ML King

9. Mira Costa

10. El Dorado

11. Huntington Beach

12. Antelope Valley

13. Diamond Bar

14. Agoura

15. Edison

16. Kennedy

Division 2AA

1. Rowland

2. Camarillo

3. Dos Pueblos

4. Arroyo Valley

5. Twentynine Palms

6. Rosary Academy

7. Santa Margarita

8. JSerra

9. St. Joseph/Lakewood

10. Temescal Canyon

11. Barstow

12. Los Altos

13. Walnut

14. St. Monica Catholic

15. Culver City

16. Downey

Division 2A

1. Marlborough

2. Righetti

3. Ayala

4. Rio Mesa

5. Glendale

6. Warren

7. Covina

8. West Covina

9. Burbank

10. Notre Dame Academy

11. Leuzinger

12. Lompoc

13. Lompoc Cabrillo

14. Aliso Niguel

15T. Riverside Poly

15T. Ridgecrest Burroughs

15T. Segerstrom

Division 3AA

1. Glendora

2. Pacifica

3. Palos Verdes

4. Diamond Ranch

5. Royal

6. Gahr

7. Yucca Valley

8. Heritage

9. Peninsula

10T. Sultana

10T. Rialto

12. Oxnard Pacifica

13. San Clemente

14. Trabuco Hills

15. San Jacinto

16. Cerritos

Division 3A

1. Los Osos

2. St. Mary’s Academy

3. Rancho Verde

4. Viewpoint

5. Flintridge Prep

6. Moorpark

7. Lancaster

8. Crossroads

9. Irvine

10. La Salle

11. Simi Valley

12. Paso Robles

13. Montebello

14. Golden Valley

15. Beaumont

16. Shadow Hills

Division 4AA

1. Village Christian

2. Pasadena

3. Oxford Academy

4. Cathedral City

5. Whittier Christian

6. Jurupa Valley

7. Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks

8. Santa Monica

9T. Laguna Hills

9T. Cerritos Valley Christian

11. Maranatha

12. Ontario

13. St. Bonaventure

14. California

15. Westlake

16. Eastside

Division 4A

1. Knight

2. Foothill Technology

3. Beverly Hills

4. Pomona

5. Holy Martyrs

6. San Marino

7. Aquinas

8. Alhambra

9. Providence

10T. Santa Clara

10T. Pioneer

12. San Marcos

13T. Big Bear

13T. Whitney

15T. Faith Baptist

15T. Northview

Division 5AA

1. California Lutheran

2. Pilibos

3. Pasadena Poly

4. Webb

5. Heritage Christian

6. Loara

7. Mesa Grande Academy

8. St. Genevieve

9. Bishop Diego

10. University Prep

11. Rosemead

12. Rubidoux

13. Downey Calvary Chapel

14. Westridge

15. La Reina

16. Workman

Division 5A

1. Silver Valley

2. Bell Jeff

3. Desert Christian Academy

4. Mary Star of the Sea

5. Woodcrest Christian

6. Sherman Indian

7. Trinity Classical

8. Riverside Prep

9. The Archer School

10. Ontario Christian

11. Connelly

12. Boron

13. Lone Pine

14. Saddleback

15. Carpinteria

16. Arrowhead Christian

Division 6

1. Rolling Hills Prep

2. Santa Clarita Christian

3. Grace Brethren

4. Lancaster Baptist

5. Western Christian

6. CSDR

7. Desert Christian/Lancaster

8. Eastside Christian

9. Coastal Christian

10T. Lucerne Valley

10T. Tarbut V’Torah

10T. Santa Rosa Academy

13. Academy for Careers and Exploration

14. Trona

15T. Lycee International

15T. Sacred Heart of Jesus

15T. Linfield Christian