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The winter season in high school sports in L.A. has been stop and go. Competition started in mid-December, stopped for the holiday break, started again on Jan. 9, stopped during the teacher strike that began in mid-January and resumed after the strike ended on Jan. 22. Making up for lost practice time is really not possible, but the schedule was modified to make up the games that were missed during the strike. The regular season concludes on Feb. 1. Playoffs start the week of Feb 4. Practice for the spring season starts Feb. 5 and the first game of spring will be on Feb. 14.
Here’s an update on league play at high schools in Northeast Los Angeles as of Jan. 30.
BASKETBALL
Boys

The Eagle Rock Eagles were on the verge of an undefeated winter season at the end of January, with one more game on Feb. 1 against Sotomayor. The Eagles won their second-to-last game, against the Lincoln High Tigers on Jan. 30, by 51-50, with the winning basket coming with only 4 seconds left to play. The win gave the Eagles their first outright Northern League Championship since 2014. Going into the Division II playoffs, the Eagles are ranked #1 and the Tigers #3.
Girls

Eagle Rock has clinched its 8th Northern League Championship, with one game still to play against Sotomayor on Feb. 1. The Eagles have dominated their opponents all season long. Playoff seeding will be on Feb. 2.
SOCCER
Girls
Eagle Rock has won the Northern League Championship. They are 9-0 with one more match against Sotomayor on Feb. 1. Playoff seeding will be announced on Monday, February 4th.

Boys
Marshal has clinched the Northern League Championship with an 8-0-1 record, followed by Sotomayor at 6-2 with one more match on Friday. Playoff seeding will be announced on Feb. 4.
GIRLS WATER POLO

Eagle Rock finished undefeated in the Eastern League. This is their 8th consecutive league championship. Playoff seeding will be announced on Feb. 1.
Softball Tournament

The 20th Annual MLK Winter Softball Tournament for high school athletes started on Jan. 19 and ran through a rain-soaked week. Overall, 94 teams were fielded, racking up a total of 564 games in and around L.A. There is no individual MLK tournament winner, but there is competition, fair play and enjoyment for all.
Photos: Dave Abbott, Splash Art Photography
To contact Dave about this coverage or to purchase
his photos of NELA high school sports, visit:
SplashArtPhotography.com