STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Mission Viejo Girls Get Shot at Revenge : Diablos to Meet Edison Again Tonight

Mission Viejo High School plays Edison in something more than just another girls’ basketball game tonight at 7:30 at Huntington Beach High.

First, the game is a semifinal of the Division I Southern California Regionals. The victorious team will play the winner of tonight’s game between Point Loma, the three-time state champion, and Kennedy of Granada Hills in the championship game Saturday in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

The game also will serve as the unofficial Orange County championship.

During the regular season, Edison, Brea-Olinda, Katella and Mission Viejo were considered the strongest teams in the county.

Mission Viejo defeated Katella, 52-50, in the 3-A final. Katella had beaten Brea-Olinda in the semifinals.

Edison, Southern Section 4-A champion, beat Brea, Katella and Mission Viejo during the regular season. Edison defeated Mission Viejo, 51-45, in the final of the Edison-Marina tournament in December.

Which brings us to another facet of the game: revenge.

“You’ve got two teams here that know each other,” said John Hattrup, Mission Viejo coach. “There’s a lot of pride, and we have wanted another shot at them since the tournament.”

Each is predominantly a senior team, and each depends on a running offense and full-court pressure defense.

Here’s a closer look at key positions:

Point guards: Michelle Hennessey is a four-year starter for Edison. Averaging 8 assists and 4 steals a game, she is one of the quickest players in the county.

Christie Wile has been Mission Viejo’s most valuable player the past three seasons. She set the Southern Section single-season assist record this season, which is now at 288.

Wile, at 5-feet 8-inches, is much taller than the 5-3 Hennessey, which may be a key, since Wile is one of the best rebounding guards around.

Shooters: Denise Ogburn, a senior, is a three-year starter at Edison. Her range extends to 20 feet, and she shoots well off the break. Her shooting can break open a game. Ask Hattrup.

Tricia Stringam, Mission Viejo’s junior guard, is her own fast break. One of the most aggressive offensive players in the county, Stringam is tough on the drive and able to pull up for quick jumpers.

Once again, Mission Viejo has a size advantage. Stringam is 5-9, Ogburn 5-5. But Ogburn averages 5 assists and 4 steals a game. She may be the better overall player.

Post players: The balance of power in Orange County shifted from Brea-Olinda to Edison when 6-1 center Kristi Smith transferred from Elsinore High to Edison last summer. Smith has been spectacular this season, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds and shooting 58% from the floor. The most mobile big player in the county, she is perhaps the best player, too.

Mission Viejo’s Colleen Amaya, also 6-1, is shooting 67% from the floor. She plays exclusively in the low post but moves strong to the basket and has an excellent shooting touch from 10 feet. Hattrup also will use Lori Totosz in the post.

Smith is a better player, but Amaya and Totosz are very effective at what they do: getting the ball low, turning and scoring. Amaya had 27 points against Reseda.