HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : One Top Rival Calls Westchester Class of City Girls’ Teams

Phil Chase, Washington High School girls’ basketball coach and self-proclaimed expert on City girls’ basketball, says he knows how good Westchester is.

“It’s them, and then everybody else,” according to Chase.

Which is interesting, because Westchester Coach Beverlie Pendleton apparently doesn’t even think hers is the best team in the City. “Right now, I’d have to say Kennedy is the best team,” she said.

Chase says Pendleton “doesn’t realize what she has.”

This puzzler may not be settled until the playoffs in March, but the Morningside tournament next week should be an indicator of just how good Westchester, which begins the year atop the girls’ City rankings, really is.

“We’re looking pretty good,” Pendleton said. “Our offense is looking a lot better. We seem to be a more cohesive unit.”

Pendleton, in her second year, has the City’s two finest players, center Trisha Stafford and off-guard Tammy Story. Said Chase: “Two all-state (level) players. When they’re gone, she’ll realize what (she) had.”

Westchester, which got 21 points a game from Stafford and 16 a game from Story last season, will also start Dana Johnson, a junior, at point guard and Tammie Sadler, a senior and strong rebounder, at forward. Sophomore Relinda Reed is the fifth starter.

“Right now, we have only eight varsity players,” Pendleton said. “I’m hoping to move up somebody. Last season, we started with 10 and went with eight, so it can be done.”

Look for Chase--who will get a first-hand look at Westchester in the Morningside tournament, which features several of the City’s and Southern Section’s top teams--to be close to Westchester, either way.

“We’ve got a lot of good players but no great ones,” Chase said of his Generals, who begin the season ranked No. 2.

“We’re going to try to run all the time and put a lot of pressure on the other teams. We may get beaten in the first half, but expect us to be competitive during the second half. Every game I’ve had with this group of kids, we’ve won the fourth quarter.

“We have the most experience, I think of any of the City’s top teams.”

Washington, which is in the 4-A division Mid-City League with Westchester, has returning forward Erika Stinson, who is good for 12 points and 17 rebounds a game, according to Chase. Sophomore point guard Detra Lockhart played junior varsity last season, but Chase considers her one of the City’s top players.

Shooting guard Missa Houston, a three-point specialist; forward Michelle Tucker, who averaged nine points and nine rebounds a game, and Tracy Hawkings round out the Washington squad. Hawkings, a freshman, is an outstanding shooter who should develop into an excellent player, according to Chase.

Kennedy, the defending 4-A champion, is ranked No. 3 despite having lost its coach, Craig Raub. New coach Toya Holiday, an All-City player for Kennedy, will take over a team that has won 90 consecutive Mid-Valley League games but lost its best player--Diane DeCree, Holiday’s younger sister--to graduation.

Shouldering most of the scoring load will be senior guard Tisa Rush, a Times All-Valley selection last season. Another guard, senior April Ham, is expected to help Rush with the scoring, and forwards Kristine Anderson and Dawn Coleman are ample rebounders.

Fremont, which went 14-10 last season in the City’s toughest league, the Mid-City, round out a top four that appear to be a notch above the rest in the City.

Returning is the City’s best point guard, Porchia (Ms. Magic) Brown, a deft passer who averaged 21 points a game last season.

“We haven’t proven we can beat Westchester or Washington,” Matt Taylor, Fremont’s coach, said. “But I think we are capable. If we play to our ability, I think we can play with anyone (in the City).”

Shooting guard Tracie Smith and swing player Shaleicia Bunch give Fremont a rounded offensive attack. Rebounder Keke Drummer is as good a defensive player as there is in the City, according to Taylor.

Other city 4-A teams to watch: No. 5 Fairfax, which has scoring guard LeDon Echols and forward Jessica Fairbanks back; No. 6 Carson; No. 8 Cleveland, with 5-11 Dawn Stewart, a returning All-City selection, and Nancy Nicholls, also 5-11; and El Camino Real, which enters the tough Valley League with five returning starters, most notably junior guard Lisa Huffaker.

In the 3-A division, Reseda and North Hollywood figure to dominate. They played for the title last season, Reseda winning in an upset.

The Regents, ranked No. 7 by The Times, have Cheryl Hightower, a 5-7 sophomore who averaged 18 points a game last season at guard and forward. With the graduation of high-scoring Dana Jones, now at San Jose State, Hightower figures to be the center of attention as a point guard this season. Three other starters return for Reseda--forwards Freida Kalajian and Sharlene Cirrito, and 5-11 junior Aggie Garcia.

No. 10 North Hollywood, which beat Reseda twice in West Valley league play only to lose in the final, 69-65, has four starters on a team that has won the league title for three straight years. All-City point guard Leticia Carranza, a senior, returns, along with wings Michelle Cabaldon and Gwen Mickelson, and post player Sandrine Rocher.

Other players to watch: guard Kim Brown of L.A. Jordan, 6-2 center Kisha Martin of University, forward Valerie Agee of Palisades, and guard Claudia Jones of Crenshaw.

TIMES’ CITY GIRLS POLLS

No., School, League 1986-87 Record 1. Westchester, Mid-City 13-5 2. Washington, Mid-City 15-8 3. Kennedy, Valley 20-3 4. Fremont, Mid-City 14-10 5. Fairfax, Marine 9-10 6. Carson, Marine 8-7 7. Reseda, West Valley 15-4 8. Cleveland, Valley 7-7 9. Jordan, Marine 16-4 10. North Hollywood, West Valley 15-2