1988-89 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : The Teams : Brea-Olinda Rebuilds as County Power Shifts

At long last, there is a change in the pecking order of Orange County girls’ basketball.

For years, Brea-Olinda High School has been the No. 1 pick in The Times’ girls’ basketball preview.

Not this time, folks.

Something different--a shift in the balance of power.

For only the second time since 1982, Brea bowed out of the Southern Section playoffs before the championship round. And, though the Wildcats have two great guards, they’re not quite the class of the county this season.

“There’s a little bit of a changing of the guard,” said Mark Trakh, Brea coach. “But there still isn’t a new team up there, is there?”

Indeed, most of the teams in the top 10--Brea, Katella, Valencia, Mater Dei and Fountain Valley--are familiar.

Valencia and Brea will compete for the Orange League championship.

Mater Dei is line for yet another Angelus League championship.

Fountain Valley, defending Sunset League champions, is strong again.

But this season, the best is from down south.

El Toro, Capistrano Valley and Mission Viejo make the South Coast League the county’s strongest this season. The Chargers and Cougars reached the semifinals of the 3-A playoffs last season with teams that got a big boost from underclassmen. And they should get at least as far again this season.

“I’d hate to play in that league,” Trakh said.

Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in Orange County:

1. EL TORO

Hard to believe that a team that lost two players who now play at major colleges is the best team in the county.

But it’s important to note that the Chargers advanced to the 3-A semifinals with those two players--Elaine Youngs and Andrea Young--sidelined for much of the season with leg injuries.

Youngs is at UCLA, playing volleyball and basketball. Young is playing basketball at Rice.

Still, there’s a wealth of talent left for Coach Greg Yeck.

Karie Yoshioka, a junior point guard, runs the offense with relentless abandon. Kristen Bevis, Sara Bone and Paige Lauby give the Chargers a solid inside game.

2. CAPISTRANO VALLEY

The Cougars’ Holly Anderson, a 6-foot 1-inch center, is the best inside player in the South Coast League and a good deal of the team’s offense and defense should come from her.

Last season, she showed good range on her outside jumper and was a terror on the boards. Few were able to keep pace with her.

Capistrano Valley was hurt by the graduation of Heather Schoeny, now playing volleyball at the University of the Pacific, and point guard Angie Capone.

How the Cougars fare this season will depend on their ability to get the ball inside to Anderson.

3. BREA-OLINDA

The Wildcats haven’t dropped out of sight--they’ll play a prominent role once again--but they are young and short.

Up front the Wildcats are 5-9, 5-8 and 5-8. And they start only one senior. Aimee McDaniel and Tammy Blackburn, juniors this season, made the All-Southern Section 3-A team in ‘87-88.

McDaniel, The Times’ player of the year as a sophomore, and Blackburn form the best backcourt in the county, if not the Southern Section.

McDaniel averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists last season and ran the Wildcats’ potent fast-break offense. Blackburn averaged 13 points at shooting guard.

How well the Wildcats do depends on how well the front-court players measure up to McDaniel and Blackburn.

Brea plays its usual killer schedule with nonleague games against powers Louisville and Buena. The Wildcats also play at the Christ the King High tournament in New York City.

4. FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Another team that relies heavily on guards to win.

Kami Bigler and Stacey Hisaka, a pair of 5-7 guards, led the Barons to an unexpected Sunset League championship last season.

However, Hisaka will miss the first 5 weeks of the season after undergoing abdominal surgery. Hisaka averaged 16 points a game last season. Amy Brand, whom Coach Carol Strausburg is counting on for support up front, also is out 5 weeks after knee surgery.

Nevertheless, the Barons will round into shape nicely by the time league play starts.

“I think we’ll be a very good team toward the end of the season,” Strausburg said. “It’s hard to picture now, but we’re capable of being in the top three in the county.”

5. MISSION VIEJO

The Diablos were another team young team that pulled off a surprising league championship last season, squeaking to the South Coast title.

But will there be anyone to take over the scoring and energy of Tricia Stringham, who’s now at Hawaii?

Guards Shannon Morgan and Tina Ranker and center Jennifer Rohrig contributed quite a bit last season and will be the team’s standouts.

Rohrig was an honorable mention all-league selection as a sophomore, and at 6-2 has the best size of any center in the league.

6. KATELLA

There aren’t many players better in the Southern Section than Joni Easterly, who will be an important cog in the Knights’ try for a third consecutive Empire League championship.

She’s a guard/forward who plays as well outside against swift point guards as she does inside against big centers. She hits outside jumpers, rebounds and passes with the best of them.

She was named to The Times’ All-County team and to the first-team Southern Section 3-A team, averaging a county-best 22.1 points a game.

7. MATER DEI

The Monarchs have a remarkable Angelus League record. Over the past 6 seasons they’ve lost one game.

Mater Dei, which advanced to the second round of the 4-A playoffs, again will be the team to beat in the league.

Kelly O’Brien, a rugged 6-0 center, is the team’s top player. In order to beat the Monarchs, teams will have to focus on her.

8. VALENCIA

Brea’s Trakh believes the Tigers are the team to beat in the Orange League.

Kristen McDonald, a 5-11 senior center, leads a scrappy bunch that finished second to Brea last season.

The Tigers advanced to the 3-A quarterfinals without a player taller than 6-0. They should do well again this season. But, again, they’ll have to do it without much height.

9. LA QUINTA

The Aztecs rule the Garden Grove League with an iron fist. They’ve won 7 consecutive league championships and 75 of their last 76 league games, including 26 in a row.

But no one will confuse the Garden Grove League for the South Coast. The level of competition just isn’t the same.

Still, La Quinta was 22-4 last season and advanced to the second round of the 2-A playoffs.

Amy Jalewalia, a 6-1 junior guard/forward/center, averaged 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists last season. Heather Brannan, Tanya Krill and Janet Kanno are the Aztecs’ other top veterans.

10. EDISON

After finishing fourth in the Sunset League last season, the Chargers should challenge Fountain Valley for the league title this season.

Last year was a season of changes for the Chargers. Dave White left as coach after the team won the 4-A championship in 1986-87 season. Randy Williams took over as coach and the team finished fourth.

The transition appears to be complete, though. And Krisden Tanabe, a 5-11 forward, is a big reason why. Tanabe will replace the graduated Wendy Standstedt as team leader.

Other teams to watch:

Esperanza, Kennedy, La Habra, Loara, Marina, Ocean View, Saddleback, University, Woodbridge.