With additional reporting by Steve Finley. 

Culver City High School recorded its first Ocean League basketball win last Friday, 79-51 over Hawthorne.

At 1-3 in league and 10-10 overall, the Centaurs open the second half of the season tonight at 7:30 in Lawndale.

The Centaurs return home Wednesday to face El Segundo at 7:30.

“We started to look more like ourselves,” said Culver City coach Adam Eskridge after the win over Hawthorne.

“The effort was better, the ball movement was better, and the rebounding was better. This was a must-win for us.”

Running in fifth place in a six-team league, Culver City needs to climb in the standings if it expects to make the playoffs.

“We set goals in every game,” said Coach Eskridge. “We were able to meet most of them against Hawthorne.

“In the second half of league play, we need to play better, stay focused and go after loose balls.”

Eskridge said his team has been hurting.  “We need to get back to having fun,” he said.

Girls Team

The Lady Centaurs basketball team is tied for first place in the Ocean League at 3-1.

For the season they will take an 11-7 record into tonight’s 6 o’clock game at Lawndale.

Back home on Wednesday, they will play El Segundo at 6, and there is a ajor score to settle.

Earlier this season, El Segundo handed the Lady Centaurs their first Ocean League loss in four years.

The girls soccer team is 10-4-2 overall and 2-2 in the Ocean League.  After opening league play with two wins, they lost twice last week — to Santa Monica and Hawthorne.

They host Lawndale this afternoon at 3. On Wednesday, they are at El Segundo for a 3 o’clock match.

The boys soccer team, 1-3 in the Ocean and 6-8-3 overall, matches up in Lawndale today at 3. They host Santa Monica next Friday at 6.

Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com