SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW : Of the Top Three Teams, Rio Hondo Prep Is in a Class by Itself

On the surface, it appears the Southern Section Division V-A girls’ basketball playoffs should be a battle between unbeaten teams.

Though Rio Hondo Prep (18-0), San Bernardino Christian (22-0) and Long Beach Gethsemane Baptist (21-0) are seeded as the division’s top three teams, Liberty Christian Coach Joe Weddle puts one of the teams in a class by itself.

“I don’t think anyone will come close to Rio Hondo,” Weddle said. “They went to the finals last year and didn’t graduate anybody.

“(When we played Rio Hondo), we set up our defense and the first thing that happens is they bring their center out, and she hits two three-pointers in a row.”

Center Lindy Lunney and All-Southern Section guard Pauline Hampton (12.5-point average) are expected to help prime Rio Hondo Prep’s run to the title.

Weddle was happy with Liberty Christian’s draw, though the Minutemen will face Valley League champion San Marino Southwestern Academy in the first round and would have second-seed San Bernardino Christian waiting in Round 2.

“I felt we were competitive (in losses to) Cal Lutheran (the No. 4 seed), and (Long Beach) Gethsemane Baptist (the No. 3 seed), but we were not competitive with Rio Hondo,” Weddle said.

Liberty Christian (11-10) finished behind St. Margaret’s and Cal Lutheran in the Academy League. Jen Caruso leads the offense, averaging more than 18 points. She has also made 33 three-pointers, punctuating the team’s outside strength.

“I think we’re dynamite outside,” Weddle said. “We ran into problems with the bigger teams.”

Amy Coffman, who averaged 12 rebounds, is the primary inside threat, but Weddle stressed the Minutemen need a great game if they want to keep advancing.

“We’ve played some tough teams, but we have to play at our absolute best if we want to be competitive with those teams,” he said.

One of those teams is Academy League rival--and champion--Cal Lutheran (16-2), the lone-seeded team (No. 4) from Orange County.

Ellen Eberhard paces the Hawks, averaging 17.1 points. Stacey Walker, a two-time league most valuable player, averages 12.4 points and 4.6 assists, and guard Sarah Geiger averages 7.1 assists.

Division V-AA--St. Margaret’s and Capistrano Valley Christian are the only county schools in the division, and both received tough draws.

St. Margaret’s (9-10), the Academy League runner-up, starts the playoffs with a game at North Hollywood Oakwood.

Oakwood (9-7) finished second to Encino Holy Martyrs (20-2) in the Liberty League.

If the Tartans can defeat Oakwood, they would face the tournament’s top-seeded team, Victor Valley Christian (21-3). The Royals won the Christian League and finished fourth in the Division V poll.

It isn’t much easier for Capistrano Valley Christian (9-13), which received an at-large berth out of the Olympic League.

The Eagles play host to Chadwick in a qualifying game tonight. Delphic League champion Brentwood, the eighth-ranked team in Division V, plays host to the winner Saturday.

Division V-AA at a Glance

Defending champion: Mission Prep.

Top teams: Victor Valley Christian (21-3), Covina Western Christian (16-3), San Luis Obispo Mission Prep (15-5), Encino Holy Martyrs (20-2).

Dark horses: Brentwood (17-6), Pasadena Poly (12-9). Delphic League champ Brentwood has fourth-seeded Holy Martyrs Armenians in its bracket, but defeated the Armens, 35-28, earlier this season. Pasadena Poly lost to Mission Prep in the finals last year and could meet again in the semifinals.

Top players: Aline Altibarmakian (Holy Martyrs), Nece Bonds (Mission Prep), Lisl Cochran-Bond (Pasadena Poly), Heidi Elliott (Capistrano Valley Christian), Leanna Green (Western Christian), Courtney Kanagae (Pasadena Poly), Haylee Red (Coast Union), Bridget Smith (Western Christian), Amy Taylor (Mission Prep), Julie Uhrman (Brentwood), Darcy White (Desert).

Best draw: Victor Valley Christian. Top seeded and also ranked fourth in Division V, the Jackrabbits should coast into the semifinals before facing Brentwood or Holy Martyrs.

Worst draw: St. Margaret’s. If the Tartans can upset Oakwood, runner-up to fourth-seeded Holy Martyrs in the Liberty League, they probably will face top-seeded Victor Valley Christian in Round 2.

Notes: Capistrano Valley Christian and St. Margaret’s are the only Orange County schools in the V-AA Division, and both could face early exits. Capistrano Valley Christian plays host to a qualifying game but has Brentwood waiting in Round 1 if the Eagles advance.

Division V-A at a Glance

Defending champion: Baptist Christian.

Top teams: Rio Hondo Prep (22-0), San Bernardino Christian (22-0), Long Beach Gethsemane Baptist (20-0), Cal Lutheran (16-2).

Dark horse: Ribet Academy (13-4). The Heritage League champions have Cal Lutheran, the only seeded team with a defeat, in their bracket and could sneak into the semifinals.

Top players: Jen Caruso (Liberty Christian), Ellen Eberhard (Cal Lutheran), Pauline Hampton (Rio Hondo Prep), Tamika Harold (Gethsemane Baptist), Yvette Hassakoursian (Ribet Academy), Kristen Johansen (Highland Hall), Michelle Johnson (Rio Hondo Prep), Lindy Lunney (Rio Hondo Prep) Audrey McMurry (San Bernardino Christian), Nichole Page (Gethsemane Baptist), Susan Stewart (Owens Valley), Stacey Walker (Cal Lutheran).

Best draw: San Bernardino Christian. The second seed should cruise into the semifinals against unbeaten Gethsemane Baptist.

Worst draw: Liberty Christian. The Minutemen travel to San Marino Southwestern Academy, the Valley League champion, for a first-round game, then San Bernardino Christian awaits in Round 2.

Notes: Rio Hondo Prep, San Bernardino Christian and Gethsemane Baptist are the class of the field, finishing 1-2-3 in the final Southern Section Division V rankings. Ribet Academy, one of eight teams to receive a first-round bye, lost to Rio Hondo, 58-29, earlier this season. San Bernardino Christian’s Audrey McMurry averages 24.7 points, and returning All-Southern Section players Page (22.9 points) and Harold (19.3 points) highlight Gethesemane Baptist’s attack.