Once Again, Muir Has More Than Most : But San Gabriel, Pasadena Are Likely Challengers in Girls Basketball

There has not been much change in the hierarchy of girls high school basketball in the San Gabriel Valley in recent years.

For the most part it has been Muir, Muir and more Muir. The Muir the merrier, you could say.

The Mustangs have been the top team in the valley for the last four years but, with the graduation of front-line stars Pauline and Geannine Jordan, Muir may have company at the top this season.

The two most likely candidates to unseat the Mustangs are San Gabriel, one of the top teams in the valley for the last 10 years, and Pasadena, Muir’s rapidly improving cross-town rival.

Other teams expected to prosper are Monrovia, Wilson, Marshall Fundamental and Rowland. The season starts Monday.

The Top Teams

Muir (Pacific League; 4-A Division)--With the graduation of the Jordan twins, who led the Mustangs to a phenomenal 102-6 record over four seasons, many people forecast a decline at Muir. But that kind of talk may be premature.

While the Mustangs return only two starters from a team that was 29-1 and finished second in the CIF 4-A Division, they still have as much talent as any team in the valley.

Muir has one of the top centers in 6-3 junior Tasha Bradley, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds and earned All-CIF honors as a sophomore, and 5-9 junior guard Angie Grant, a floor leader whom Coach Archie Newton calls one of the quickest players in the state.

The Mustangs have also added two promising transfers since posting a 17-5 summer league record: sophomores Taja Davidson, a 5-7 guard from Tennessee, and Lisa Salsman, a 6-3 center from Maranatha High.

The youthful Mustangs have junior forward Holly Jones (5-10) and junior swingman Kris Collins (5-10) and senior Tracy Frazier (5-9) among their top seven players.

“They’re young and Tasha certainly hasn’t been tested, but we have more depth than we’ve ever had before here,” Newton said.

Newton, impressed with pre-season practices, says the Mustangs are stronger than during the summer. “We were a skeleton crew in the summer,” he said. “I have seen tremendous improvement since then.”

Pasadena (Pacific League; 4-A Division)--For the last four years, the Bulldogs have watched as cross-town rival Muir has dominated the league.

Coach Dudley Stewart is hoping his team can halt Muir’s reign, and he may have the players to do the trick.

The Bulldogs, 16-10 last year, are not the biggest team in the valley but may be quickest.

They also could be among the best shooting teams, led by 5-6 senior guard Rachonne Jones, who averaged 20.5 points a game last season. Pasadena has two other outstanding shooters in junior forwards Anitra Wilkins (5-8) and Marilyn Robinson (5-7) and a solid playmaker in junior guard Stephanie Bennett (5-7).

Pasadena, which does not start a player taller than 5-9, is also counting on junior center Lanette Frankin (5-9) and sophomore forward Karen McGoldrick (5-7).

“We have to use our quickness to be effective,” Stewart said. “I don’t see a team being able to shoot with us, but if we don’t hit our first shot we’ll be in trouble.”

Stewart said this is his best team in seven years as coach of the Bulldogs. “They work very hard and they know what to expect from me.”

Stewart is also encouraged because his team won two of three games against Muir in summer league play.

San Gabriel (Foothill League; 3-A Division)--It is difficult to believe that 6-4 junior center Rachel Norris could be much better than last season when she averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots a game and earned All-CIF honors.

But Coach Bob Stand thinks she is.

“I’ve had her out from volleyball for only a short time,” Stand said of Norris, an All-West selection on the Street & Smith Pre-Season All-American Team. “But if her basketball improvement matches her volleyball improvement, she’s going to have a tremendous year.”

The Matadors, who have won 77 straight league games and 10 consecutive league titles, will pose a lot of problems for opponents if their guards also play as well as Stand expects.

“In Erin Longo, Christine Martinez and Shari Oba, I think we have an excellent group of guards,” he said. Longo is a 5-5 senior who has started for three years, Oba is a 5-1 sophomore and Martinez a 5-3 senior.

Several other key players for San Gabriel, 20-5 last season, are senior forwards Bea Fernandez (5-5) and Dioni Rovello (5-8), freshman forward Ramona Caro (5-8) and sophomore Tina Tu (5-0).

“I think there’s a good chemistry of people working together,” Stand said. “If everybody stays healthy, I’ll feel real good about things.”

Others to Watch

Marshall Fundamental (Alpha League; 1-A Division)--The Eagles may be a 1-A team but do not play like one.

With most of their top players returning from last year’s team, which finished 16-5 and made the 1-A playoffs, Marshall can play with most teams in the valley.

The leader is 5-9 senior guard Kelly Collins, an All-CIF performer who averaged 28 points, including a 59-point game, and 14 rebounds.

“Besides having a 3.5 grade-average, she is smart on the court,” Coach Marsha Wilson said. “She has the drive to be good and that makes any player successful. I think she also intimidates players with her quickness.”

The Eagles have other fine scorers in sophomore forward Kadra Oliver (6-0), who averaged 11 points as a freshman, and senior guard Frine Flores (5-8), who averaged 16. Other standouts are sophomore point guard Darby Nishi (5-6) and junior forward Monica Lopez (5-8).

Marshall should have depth with reserve forward Carla McClendon (5-8), a senior, and sophomore guard Michelle Demus (5-8).

“I think the whole team is improved but our bench strength is really a high point,” Wilson said.

Monrovia (Rio Hondo League; 2-A Division)--There is no question about the tallest team in the valley. The Wildcats, 18-5 last year, easily have that distinction.

The Wildcats will start three 6-footers on their front line that is led by 6-3 senior center Eular Carlyle, who grew almost two inches in the off-season after averaging 13.5 points and 16.5 rebounds as a junior.

“She has matured as a person as well as in her basketball skills,” Coach Alec Esparza said. “She’s receiving a lot of interest from colleges.”

Toss in junior forward Lori Thompson (6-1), who averaged 13.5 rebounds last season, and sophomore forward Kirsten Ballweg (6-0), a junior varsity star last season, and the Wildcats have the size to intimidate most teams. They also have size on their bench with 6-3 freshman forward Tina Boatwright.

“We’re going to be one of the taller teams in this area,” Esparza said. “Size will not be a problem.”

Monrovia’s size is complemented by a talented group of guards led by senior Lisa Crosskey (5-5), an all-valley performer who averaged 19 points and 4.5 assists as a junior. Two other guards are senior Carolyn Fish (5-9) and junior Teresa Mitchell (5-9).

Rowland (Sierra League; 3-A Division)--The Raiders had their good and bad games last year and finished with a 10-13 record.

With four starters returning, Coach Jenene Koehler thinks her team may be a little more consistent, and that could make all the difference.

Leading the way is 5-7 junior guard Julie Garcia, the floor leader who averaged 13 points and 4.5 assists last season. The other starters returning are senior guard Kelly Nishioka (5-4), senior forward Stephanie Jones (5-9) and junior center Gina Corral (5-10).

“Those kids have played together for three years,” Koehler said. “They’re real hard workers and they love to play.”

The other starter will be either Tammy Rodriguez, a 5-6 senior forward, or Tammy Knouff, a 5-6 junior forward.

Koehler said her team’s success may depend on the performance underneath the basket by Corral. “We’re going to have to get good play out of her to make our inside game work,” she said.

The Raiders will also rely on quickness, led by Garcia, that helped them finish second to Pasadena in the tough Temple City Summer League.

“We have good talent but we can’t overlook anybody,” Koehler said. “I think we’re smart and we like to run. We’ll play a full-court game. But we have to avoid the ups and downs we had last year.”

Wilson (Sierra League; 3-A Division)--Considering that his team has won or shared the Sierra League title four straight years, Coach John Crowther understands why the Wildcats are favored again.

He is just hoping to match those expectations.

“Depth could be a problem,” Crowther said. “Five players form the core.”

It may not be a problem if Wilson receives another strong season from senior Stephanie Coons (5-11), a guard and forward who is regarded as one of the top players in the valley. She averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season.

“She worked very hard over the summer and she’s just real solid,” Crowther said. “She’s a strong rebounder and a dependable all-around player. She’s a real nugget.”

The Wildcats, 19-6 last season, have a solid floor leader in senior point guard Alison Kuruma (5-2) and a fine rebounder in senior center Linda Banbury (6-1). Kuruma averaged 12 points and 5.4 assists as a junior.

Two other starters are sophomore guard Tina Getherall (5-1) and senior forward Wendy Ray (5-6). After them, the Wildcats will have to rely on many newcomers for bench strength.

“We’re inexperienced,” Crowther said. “The key is to get the new kids a lot of playing time before league time.”