Southern California Division I Girls’ Basketball Preview : Mission Viejo Meets Reseda Tonight in Round 1

You wouldn’t call John Hattrup’s knowledge of the Reseda High School girls’ basketball team extensive. Actually, you wouldn’t call it knowledge.

Hattrup coaches the Mission Viejo girls’ basketball team, winners of the Southern Section 3-A championship last week with a 52-50 victory over Katella.

Mission Viejo (28-2) plays Reseda (15-2) in the first round of the Southern California Division I basketball regionals tonight at 7:30 at El Toro High.

“I know they’re the City 3-A champs and I know they only lost twice this season,” Hattrup said.

In-depth, it’s not.

Reseda defeated North Hollywood, 69-65, in the City 3-A final. The Regents run on offense, allowing them to score a lot of points in a hurry.

They scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to beat North Hollywood, the only team to defeat them during the season. Dana Jones had 23 points and Cheryl Hightower 20. Aggie Garcia, their 6-foot 2-inch center, added 8 points.

Hattrup doesn’t plan to make any special changes to play Reseda.

The Diablos will run and play pressure defense. Junior guard Tricia Stringam, who scored 19 points against Katella, will continue to go to the basket.

“She’s an aggressive kid,” Hattrup said. “She’s not afraid to make things happen. You need those type of players. Some kids freeze up at this time, but not her. I think that was evident in the Katella game.”

The winner tonight will play Edison, Southern Section 4-A champion, Thursday night at 7:30 at Huntington Beach High.

“I’m hoping to get a chance at Edison,” Hattrup said. “It would be a great game for Orange County. . . . Of course, the focus during the season is on the Southern Section title. All this stuff is gravy, but I’d like to get as far as we can.”