Andrew Park

Now that the school year is coming to a close, it's easy to look back on the past few months and wonder what might have been. "If only . . . " is a phrase often heard at conclusions. Hot Topics wonders, "If you could repeat this last school year, what would you do differently?" "I would have participated in all the clubs I signed up for."

Marissa Irvin reached the final of the girls' 18-year-old division with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Michelle DaCosta of Huber Heights, Ohio, in the Easter Bowl tennis tournament Thursday at Riviera Resort and Racquet Club in Palm Springs. Irvin, a Santa Monica resident and senior at Harvard-Westlake High, will meet Lauren Kalvaria of Indiatlantic, Fla., today in the girls' 18s championship. Kalvaria defeated Jennifer Hopkins of Leawood, Kan., 6-1, 6-3. "I am playing well," Irvin said.

Among the masses, the thousands of young tennis players in the 96th annual Southern California Junior Sectional Championships this week, it's easy to spot the rivalries. Among the boys and girls, in all the age divisions, the seeded players know each other well.

The day played out just like John Paul Fruttero had imagined in his daydreams. The school's hope for a championship riding on him, he would win the crucial match. And just like in his dreams, Fruttero defeated John Han of Fullerton Sunny Hills High on Wednesday to give San Marino a 10-8 victory and the Southern Section's Division II tennis team championship at Lacey Park in San Marino. With about 150 spectators in attendance yelling "J.P."

One of the best and most obscure tennis tournaments in Southern California will be May 30-31 at SeaCliff Country Club in Huntington Beach. The Southern Section individual boys' tennis championships feature the future of college and pro tennis. However, they rarely attract much interest beyond the players' families, friends and coaches.

Do you agree of disagree with this statement. I will never feel as good about Los Angeles again as I did before the recent violence erupted. Don't know: 4% Agree strongly: 21% Agree somwhat: 20% Disagree somwhat: 28% Disagree strongly: 27% "Before it was OK. There were a lot of gangs around here. It didn't bother me at all because I didn't get involved. Now I don't know if I trust this neighborhood, or the politicians."

Holy flying scissors, Batman! Was that Catwoman I just saw caterwauling, or was it . . . Catman? No Paris catwalk this! Just a small modeling platform in the senior cutting room of Otis College of Art and Design, but an appreciative audience of seniors wildly cheered and catcalled for their junior classmates as they modeled their own inventive Halloween creations. Xay Vongphackanh was clearly "Queen of the Jungle," in his purrfectly feline lioness costume.

These companies and/or individuals filed for liquidation (Chapter 7) or reorganization (Chapter 11 or 13) in federal Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana in the week ended Friday. * Planet Pacific Inc. Location: Mission Viejo Type of business: N/A Filing: Chapter 7 Assets: $0-$50,000 Liabilities: $101,001-$500,000 Case number: 17025 LR Petition signed by: Robert O. Deming, president/secretary Date filed: 7-9-99 * William S. Wilson, Wilson Security Services Inc.

A jury took less than four hours to find a Victorville man guilty Thursday of first-degree murder for the 1989 ambush shooting of a business associate. Edwin Winslow Bennett, 30, faces a term of 25 years to life in prison, plus five years for the use of a firearm, when he is sentenced March 27. James E. Busher, 48, an engineer and convicted racketeer, was shot five times at the St. Andrew Trailer Park in Santa Ana.

Yosemite National Park has closed Tioga Pass Road through the high country to tour buses because of wet ground, prompting complaints from some lodging operators in the Eastern Sierra. Buses mostly carrying foreign tourists over Tioga Pass into Yosemite are a common sight in summer as well as a major economic factor in the resort town of Mammoth Lakes. But park officials barred buses weighing more than 15,000 pounds until the ground beneath the road dries out.