Crean Lutheran girls open CIF Southern California Regionals on the road

Crean Lutheran’s girls basketball team hopes to get back on the winning track Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran High School)

After more than a week off, Crean Lutheran’s girls basketball team is back in action Tuesday night in the opening round of the CIF Southern California Regional Tournament.

The No. 11-seeded Saints (25-6) will face No. 6-seeded Mission Vista, the CIF San Diego Division 3 champion in San Diego. Mission Vista is 21-2.

“The girls have been working hard to get the chance of continuing our season together in the state playoffs,” said Crean Lutheran Coach Kelsi Walker.

The Saints were eliminated from the CIF playoffs when they lost to Santa Fe 64-48 in the 4A semifinals on Feb. 15.

“It was devastating losing to Santa Fe in the CIF semi’s,” Walker said. “They held us to our lowest scoring game of the year, so we have to make sure to have good ball movement and hit the open shooter against Mission Vista. We are a young team (starting two freshmen) so this whole playoff journey has been a great learning experience as we continue to grow as a program. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The winner of Thursday’s game advances into the second round Thursday against the winner of the Carson-San Dieguito Academy winner.