SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW : Best Way to Head Into This Division May Be Blindfolded

Harlan Peet, girls’ basketball coach at Capistrano Valley, had just finished looking over the Southern Section playoff pairings Monday afternoon. His expression--dazed and confused--told all.

“I don’t know anything about anyone,” Peet said.

Peet, a first-year coach, has reason for looking lost. Aside from a few teams playing in tonight’s Division I-AA qualifying round, Capistrano Valley is the only Orange County team entered in this division.

“The others?” Peet said, “I haven’t seen any of them.”

Of course, not seeing top-seeded Palos Verdes Peninsula might be your best defense, at least psychologically. Peninsula, the top-ranked team in the Southern Section, is 25-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today. You don’t need to see this team to believe it--the Panthers intimidate by word of mouth.

Last week, the Panthers took on Ventura Buena, one of the state’s strongest programs under Coach Joe Vaughn. The result? An 83-59 Peninsula victory--and the worst defeat in Vaughn’s 18-year career. Peninsula shot 28 of 54 from the floor, eight of 15 from the three-point line.

Peninsula--a 3,109-student campus that opened last fall as the merger of Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Miraleste high schools--can partly thank Orange County for some of its power.

Kristen Mulligan, a 5-foot-7 senior guard and last year’s Division III co-player of the year, transferred from Santa Margarita to Palos Verdes two years ago. Last season, she helped Palos Verdes to the Division III State and section titles. This year, she is one of four starters who average more than 10 points.

Jeffra Gausepohl, a 6-5 senior center, is the team’s power inside and a shot-blocking specialist. Guards Raquel Alotis, a 5-8 junior, and Mimi McKinney, a 5-10 sophomore, are the other key Panthers.

The race for second place should be more interesting.

Lynwood, 22-1 and the second-seeded team, features a strong trio in 6-4 senior center Janet Davis, 5-6 senior guard LaTasha Burnett and 5-10 sophomore guard Timicha Kirby. Third-seeded Capistrano Valley (24-1) is led by 5-8 junior Angie White and 5-9 senior Alisa Farr, and fourth-seeded Chino (22-4) has 5-10 senior Kerri Collins at forward and 5-6 junior Amee Pina at point guard.

Division I-A--Top-seeded Thousand Oaks (23-1) doesn’t have quite the power of Peninsula, which gave Thousand Oaks its only loss (56-47) this season, but it has one of the state’s best players in Michelle Palmisano. Palmisano, who averages 24.5 points, set a Ventura County career scoring record this year with 2,496.

Second-seeded Coachella Valley (20-1) doesn’t have much height--5-11 center Wendy Totten is its tallest player--but its quickness has made it a viable contender. Buena (22-2), seeded third, features 6-2 1/2 junior center April Buck as one of four players 6 feet or taller. Mamawi Duffy, Tremayne Parker, Teyonye Mosley and Adimika McGee lead fourth-seeded Pasadena (20-3).

As far as Orange County is concerned, Marina (21-4) and San Clemente (17-6) are the best hopes. Marina, which won its second consecutive Sunset League title, has 5-11 junior post player Jessica Trippet (15 points, 10 rebounds) as its offensive leader. San Clemente is led by Maili Rohner, Kristin McOwen and Michelle MacIntyre.

Division I-AA at a Glance

1991 champion: Morningside.

Top teams: Palos Verdes Peninsula (25-0), Lynwood (22-1), Capistrano Valley (24-1), Chino (22-4).

Dark horse: Millikan (20-5).

Top players: Janet Davis (Lynwood), Michelle Esparza (El Rancho), Alisa Farr (Capistrano Valley), Jeffra Gausepohl (Peninsula), Taniko Hilbert (Millikan), Mimi McKinney (Peninsula).

Best draw: Peninsula. The Panthers shouldn’t face a serious challenge until the semifinals, where they’ll probably meet Chino.

Worst draw: Glendale (17-7). After an easy first-round game, will probably face Lynwood in the second round.

Notes: Last season’s champion, Morningside, dropped to Division III-AA, which made room for the new powerhouse, Peninsula, a school of 3,109 students comprised of the former Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Miraleste high schools. Peninsula is the top-ranked team in Division I, Lynwood is ranked third and Capistrano Valley fourth.

Division I-A at a Glance

Defending champion: Thousand Oaks.

Top teams: Thousand Oaks (23-1), Ventura Buena (22-2), Coachella Valley (24-1), Pasadena (20-3).

Dark horses: Marina (20-4), San Clemente (17-6).

Top players: April Buck (Buena), Mamawi Duffy (Pasadena), Michelle Giordano (Buena), Marion Jones (Thousand Oaks), Michelle Palmisano (Thousand Oaks), Tremayne Parker (Pasadena), Jessica Trippet (Marina), Inez Valenzuela (Coachella Valley).

Best draw: Thousand Oaks. Won’t be challenged until quarterfinals, where it probably will meet Arroyo (18-4).

Worst draw: Buena. May meet San Clemente (17-6) in Round 2.

Notes: Thousand Oaks’ Palmisano, the 1991 Division I player of the year, has 2,896 career points, fourth-best in state history. She is the Southern Section’s career leader in three-point field goals with 188. . . . Buena, which has won 15 Channel League titles in 16 years, recorded its 10th consecutive 20-victory season this year.