GIRLS’ PREP BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : County Teams Have a Tough Act to Follow

It might be tough for girls’ basketball teams in Orange County to match last season’s playoff performances, but this year’s crop of athletes might have the talent to keep pace.

Enjoying their most successful season ever last year, Orange County teams won three Southern Section titles. Brea-Olinda won the 3-A championship, Katella the 4-A and Valencia the 4-AA.

Brea-Olinda captured the county’s first state championship, the Division II title, and Katella, led by all-state guard Joni Easterly, made it to the state Division II final.

Brea-Olinda’s Aimee McDaniel was named player of the year in her division last season and La Quinta’s Amy Jalewalia led the state in scoring with a 31.2 average.

While Easterly has gone to USC, some new faces have joined some of the familiar ones. Brea-Olinda (26-0), which has on a school-record 48-game victory streak, returns all-state players McDaniel, Tammy Blackburn, Jinelle Williams and Jody Anton.

Jalewalia has raised her scoring average to 33.4 points and Edison’s Debbie Fischer has set records for most three-point baskets in a game (10), season (92) and career (100).

In 3-AA, top-seeded Brea-Olinda has a first-round bye and plays the winner of the game between Bassett (11-9) and El Dorado (7-13) on Saturday. In 4-A, top-seeded La Habra (19-3) plays the winner of Katella (9-15 and Garden Grove (11-11). In 3-A, top-seeded Rancho Alamitos (18-3) plays the winner of St. Paul (3-18) and Covina 9-14).

Other county teams expected to perform well are Ocean View (24-0), which plays the winner of West Covina (19-4) and Hueneme (14-10); Woodbridge (20-4, which plays the Loara (13-10) and California (16-6) winner, and La Quinta (23-3, which plays the Buena Park (9-9) and Pioneer (10-12) winner.

* COMPLETE PAIRINGS: C11