GIRLS’ DIVISION V BASKETBALL PREVIEW : La Jolla Country Day Taking Run at Third Title in a Row

La Jolla Country Day will go after its third consecutive San Diego Section Division V girls’ basketball title when it plays Christian in the final today at 4 p.m. at Golden Hall.

Both coaches--La Jolla Country Day’s Jack Wigley and Christian’s Rod Bell--have quick teams and game plans that call for continuous full-court pressing.

“They press, and we press. I think it will be a running rat race,” Wigley said.

Bell agreed but added, “We have them on height, and I think if we can control the boards, we’ll win this game.”

Top-seeded La Jolla Country Day (21-2) has an outstanding starting five but not much depth. Of three reserves, first off the bench are a freshman and a sophomore.

Junior Isabel Schoepflin (16 points a game) was the co-player of the year in the Coastal League, which the Torres won with an 8-0 record. Schoepflin and seniors Nancy Dickerson, Edy Coleman and Julie Corbo have been around for La Jolla Country Day’s other two championships--a 48-32 victory over Lutheran in 1988 and a 49-47 victory over Calvin Christian last season.

Sophomore Tiffany Stutz (the fifth-leading scorer in the county at 19.6 points per game), junior Stacey Patsko and senior Erika Jonte lead the Patriots, who finished tied for second in the City Harbor League. Third-seeded Christian (12-10) lost in the Division IV semifinals the past two years.