HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / GIRLS’ TOP 10 : Poway Has the Talent to Repeat Champion

If you want to build a champion, mix in some strong post play with solid outside shooting. Add a handful of defense and a dab of finesse. Blend in muscle.

When you take it out of the oven, you get Poway.

The Titans have the right mix, all right. They won the San Diego Section Division I girls’ basketball title last season in a walk. They scored a 56-point victory in the first round of the playoffs and beat Mt. Carmel in the finals by 14. Only two of Poway’s 26 victories were decided by fewer than 10 points.

And they did all that by returning only one starter off a team that had won 21 games a year earlier. A year ago at this time, they were the No. 5 preseason pick.

How could they top 1990-91?

Coach Jay Trousdale could have four starters returning.

Poway’s greatest threat might come from its own league, where Mt. Carmel is ranked third and Fallbrook seventh.

The Avocado League also has a solid 1-2 punch, where Carlsbad is No. 2 and Rancho Bernardo is No. 4. The City Western League has University City No. 5 and Kearny No. 6.

The Times’ 1991-92 San Diego Section Top 10:

1 POWAY

1990-91 Record: 26-2

League: Palomar

Coach: Jay Trousdale

Poway won 23 consecutive games last year and might top that this season. Allison Brady, who excelled in crunch time, is back for her senior season after averaging 10.7 points and nine rebounds per game. Stephanie Guerena and Jamie Shadian are solid outside shooters who will prevent defenses from sagging on Brady. The other returning guard, Julie Lunardi, is the best defensive player. Lost was 6-2 Kara Berg, but she is being replaced by 6-4 Kristen Carlson, who showed steady improvement in the final weeks of the season and proved to be a devastating shot-blocker throughout the playoffs.

2 CARLSBAD

1990-91 Record: 22-6

League: Avocado

Coach: John Duberville

Carlsbad surprised everyone, including Duberville, by advancing to the Division II finals last year. But the Lancers won’t sneak up on people this year. They have three starters back, including one of the county’s top players, junior forward Vanessa Nygaard (16.9 points per game). Junior center Holly Gerdes (10 ppg) and junior forward Renee Demirdjian (11 ppg) also started last year. Senior Dawn Laukes starts at point guard. “With a year’s experience, I think we’ll be better than last year,” Duberville said. “I think we’re going to open a few more eyes. If I was an opposing coach and had to face this team, my hair would curl.”

MT. CARMEL

1990-91 Record: 21-3

League: Palomar

Coach: Tracey Johnson

All of Mt. Carmel’s losses were to Poway, but the biggest loss came when all-time leading career scorer Vicki de Jesus graduated. Replacing her will be tough, but it begins with 6-2 center Kris Grazzini. Having already signed a letter of intent to play at UC Santa Barbara, Grazzini is coming off knee surgery and a disappointing junior season. If she returns to her sophomore form of 10 points and 10 rebounds a game, the Sundevils should provide a formidable challenge. Grazzini should get help from 6-0 Nicol Nicholas. Guard Jennifer Alley averaged 12.4 points last year, and Angie Cooper is capable of burning defenses from the outside.

4 RANCHO BERNARDO

1990-91 Record: 18-6

League: Avocado

Coach: Peggy Brose

Everyone is back from a team that won 18 games in the school’s first year. Forward Robin Blalock (16.0), one of the county’s top scorers, can play inside or outside. Jessica Porter (6-1) provides height and Molly Maloney gives the Broncos some strength. The real test will come in the playoffs when Rancho Bernardo moves from Division III to Division I.

5 UNIVERSITY CITY

1990-91 Record: 20-5

League: City Western

Coach: Steve Vukojevich

Off to a fast start, the Centurions still must prove they can contend after losing the foundation of the league championship team of a year ago--Amy Cleveland and Charlotte Kornik--to graduation. University City likes to play a tough man-to-man defense that forces turnovers (33 two weeks ago in an overtime victory over No. 6 Kearny). On offense, they like to work the ball to Jennifer Gross, a talented shooter. Gross has scored 30 points in one game this year. Great depth returns and most the players know the system.

6 KEARNY

1990-91 Record: 20-9

League: City Western

Coach: Joe Hernandez

Despite three consecutive losses to Western League champion and No. 5 University City dating back to last year, Kearny feels it’s ready to take the league title and return to the section championship game, which it lost to Santana last season. Kearny, a fast-breaking, pressing team, starts all juniors, but four of them have been starting since they were freshmen. Leading the way are the Krause sisters: Shelly (15.6 ppg, 10 rpg) and Melissa (19.4, 8). Michele Haines (10 assists per game) and center Jennifer Short (10 rpg.) complete the foursome. Shona Jones rounds out the starting lineup of a team that has better depth and should be improved with its experience.

7 FALLBROOK

1990-91 Record: 18-9

League: Palomar

Coach: Gerry Port

Fallbrook reached the section semifinals last year and returns seven players, including six who saw appreciable playing time. Though they aren’t real big, they are speedy. Marcia Jeffries (8.0 ppg), Jessica Paris (7.0 ppg) and 5-10 post player Andrea Strategos are all three-year varsity players. Stacey Fordice, Rachel Williams and Rachel Christensen round out the returning nucleus. Unfortunately for them, they are in the same league as Poway and Mt. Carmel . . . but that could make the league race interesting.

8 CHRISTIAN

1990-91 Record: 23-4

League: City Harbor

Coach: Mike Zazvrskey

Tiffany Stutz-led Christian will draw from vast playoff experience, first as Division V section champion but more importantly as runner-up to state champion Atherton Menlo. Stacey Patsko, second leading scorer behind Stutz, is the most noteworthy of the two players lost to graduation, but the Patriots return 12 players from their 1990-91 season, including senior forward Jenny Culbertson and senior guard Wendy Zyphur.

9 MISSION BAY

1990-91 Record: 12-13

League: City Western

Coach: Leslie Sherman

Coach Leslie Sherman said was she was hoping, based on last year’s record, that nobody would recognize her team this early. But, in fact, the Buccaneers started opening eyes last season when they upset eventual section finalist Kearny while starting three freshmen. Now all-league forward Kristin Grebing, guard Antoinette Cocco (12 ppg) and forward Adia Barnes (12 rpg) are sage sophomores. Mission Bay has added Monica Castro, a transfer from Mexico City, at guard. The fast-breaking Bucs were so young last year, they had trouble holding early leads. That shouldn’t be the case this year.

10 EL CAJON VALLEY

1990-91 Record: 28-2

League: Grossmont 2-A

Coach: Robert Holm

El Cajon Valley capped a magical 1990-91 season and won its first section title by defeating Carlsbad, 55-42, in the Division II final. But the Braves lost four starters from that team, including Heidi Holm. Heather Holm, Heidi’s younger sister and Robert’s daughter, is the lone returning starter, but she’s one of the best players in the county. Heather Holm, a 5-11 forward who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, was a Times’ all-county selection last year as a junior.