GIRLS’ BASKETBALL 1992-93 : TOP TEAMS : Brea’s Still a Force, but Several Others Have Talent, Too

Is this getting old, or what?

Every year at this time, our wheels start turning as we search high and low for the best girls’ basketball teams in the county in compiling our preseason pecking-order list.

And it’s always the same conclusion, although some times more foregone than others. When determining which is at the top, the name Brea-Olinda always surfaces without fail.

Oh, there have been a couple of crazy occasions when, apparently under the undetectable influence of alien beings, we demoted the Ladycats from their rightful place. They soon proved how foolish we were for pulling such a stunt.

So, as common sense dictates, Brea is again our No. 1 choice coming out of the chute. And chasing the Ladycats are a host of fine teams that will shine during the 1992-93 season.

1. BREA-OLINDA

Sure, all-everything Jody Anton is now at USC, but the Ladycats remain the force in Orange County girls’ basketball.

Despite the fact there are no seniors on the roster, the defending State Division III champions will be seeking their fifth consecutive Southern Section title. But the juniors, particularly the three returning starters, can play with anybody.

Point guard Nicole Erickson, a Times’ All-County selection last season, leads the team in her third varsity season. She’s complemented by 6-foot-1 center Colleen Hudson and 5-10 forward Sarah Beckley, a versatile swing player who became a starter midway through last season.

Coach Mark Trakh, opening his 13th season at Brea, is looking to newcomer Lee Moulin to pick up the scoring slack left by Anton’s departure. Moulin, a 5-9 sophomore forward, led the Ladycat junior varsity team with a 15-point average.

2. MARINA

As in past seasons, the Sunset League again should be highly competitive. And the Vikings will be in the thick of things.

The Vikings, under Coach Pete Bonny, won their second consecutive league title last season and advanced to the Southern Section Division I-A semifinals. They have eight returning lettermen who give the squad excellent depth.

The key player, however, is center Jessica Trippet. The 6-0 senior, a Times’ All-County selection, is coming off knee surgery for torn ligaments sustained in the spring. But though her status was questionable a few weeks ago, Trippet is back in form and playing well.

With Trippet working inside, the outside scoring probably will come from all-league guard Aimee Periolat (11 points and four assists per game last season) and 5-9 forward Karla Orosco (seven points, four rebounds).

3. COSTA MESA

A new coach with a winning tradition, Lisa McNamee, takes over a Mustang program loaded with talent. The combination spells success.

McNamee, a volunteer assistant coach last year on the NCAA champion Stanford women’s team, is no stranger to the Pacific Coast League or county girls’ basketball. She guided Estancia to the league championship in 1990-91 and to the Southern Section Division III-AA semifinals.

She inherits a team that came within three points of winning a division title last season and that appears primed to make a strong run at it again.

The Mustangs, the defending league champions, are led by guard Olivia DiCamilli. The 5-11 senior, a Times’ All-County pick, was the county’s top scorer last season with a 22.7 average.

She’ll be joined in the backcourt by 5-10 junior Heather Robinson, who averaged five assists. The front line will be anchored by 6-2 senior center April Van Sweden.

4. HUNTINGTON BEACH

Another fine team from the Sunset League, the Oilers are ready for some serious hoops.

The Oilers, who tied Ocean View for second place in the league last season, were 10-1 in summer league games. Some of those victories were against solid teams, including Costa Mesa, Capistrano Valley and league rival Edison.

Under Coach Nick Bartlett, now in his fourth season, Huntington Beach will rely heavily on all-leaguers Clare Walker and Deana Itow.

Walker, a Times’ second-team All-County selection, led the league in scoring with 201 points. The 5-9 senior forward also averaged 13.1 rebounds. Itow, a 5-7 senior point guard, averaged 14 points and nine assists.

5. CAPISTRANO VALLEY

Coming off a remarkable season in which they won 25 consecutive games in one stretch, the Cougars return to defend their South Coast League championship with another well-balanced team.

Three starters and seven lettermen are on Coach Harlan Peet’s roster, led by 5-8 senior guard Angie White.

White averaged 14.6 points last season and was a Times’ second-team All-County selection. She shared the scoring load with Alisa Farr (11.8 points and 5.5 assists), but Farr is now at BYU, so White will need help from someone else.

That support probably will come from 5-11 forward Susan Scott and 5-9 forward Stacey Howes. Scott averaged 12 points and Howes averaged eight. Both were chosen to the league’s second team.

The Cougars, who lost only two games last season, reached the Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals.

6. NEWPORT HARBOR

Gone to Stanford on a volleyball scholarship is Maureen McLaren, the 6-foot center who was such an integral part of Newport Harbor’s effort last season.

But Coach Shannon Jakosky still has four returning starters, including Kala Ross, who put the Sailors among the best in the county. They also are top contenders for the Sea View League title.

Ross, a 5-10 senior, came into her own last season. She averaged 17.5 points in leading Newport Harbor to a second-place tie with University in the league behind Tustin and the Southern Section Division III-AA semifinals.

Forward Genevieve Evarts (nine points per game), and guards Gina Heads (eight points) and Kristi Izumita (four points), also return.

The team’s major problem, Jakosky said, is a lack of experience. The Sailors have six sophomores on their roster.

7. DANA HILLS

The Dolphins, who are poised to challenge Capistrano Valley for the South Coast League title, have been improving steadily over the past two seasons.

After winning 13 of 24 games in 1990-91, Dana Hills went 17-9 last season and gave a tough Lakewood team all it could handle before losing, 51-46, in overtime in the first round of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs.

Coach Mike Chapman, who has engineered the Dolphins’ resurgence, has three starters and six lettermen returning.

The best of the group is 5-10 senior forward Adara Newidouski, a first-team all-leaguer who averaged 15.6 points. She’ll get plenty of help from 6-0 junior center Karun Grossman (six points per game) and 5-4 guard Nicolle Zuniga, who contributed four assists per game.

8. WOODBRIDGE

After a surprisingly sub-par showing in the Sea View League last season (fourth place with a 6-4 record), Woodbridge regrouped and advanced to the Southern Section II-AA semifinals. Don’t look for any letdowns from the Warriors this time.

Picked by several other coaches in the league as the team to beat along with Newport Harbor, the Warriors feature three returning starters.

Two of them, Florencia Luppani and Lisa Ramos, are the starting backcourt tandem on a squad loaded with talented guards. Luppani, who was born in Argentina, averaged five points and 8.5 assists last season. Ramos, a 5-6 senior, averaged eight points.

The other starter, 5-10 forward Nicole Quinn, is returning from a knee injury that required surgery and that forced her to miss most of the season.

Coach Eric Bangs, who has 210 career victories, also has size on the roster with 6-4 sophomore center Angela Burgess and 6-foot freshman forward Melanie Pearson.

9. RANCHO ALAMITOS

Few teams have enjoyed as much success the past two seasons as the Vaqueros have. And the tide isn’t about to turn.

Last season, the Vaqueros won the Southern Section Division III-A crown and made it to the Southern California Regionals Division III finals, where they lost to eventual State champion Brea-Olinda, 70-51.

The previous season, Rancho Alamitos reached the section Division III-A semifinals and finished with a 26-1 record. Since Coach Bob Becker took over the program in 1989-90, the Vaqueros are 70-9.

Becker must find a suitable replacement for point guard Shannon James, a Times’ All-County selection who averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 assists, but he has capable personnel elsewhere.

Among the key returning players are 6-foot forward Timerie James (10 points and eight rebounds) and 6-foot center Akilah Rodgers, who Becker calls the most improved player on the roster.

10. CYPRESS

With Denise Selbe in charge the past three years, the Centurions have won two consecutive Empire League championships and played well in the Southern Section playoffs. It should be more of the same this season.

The Centurions have six players back, including three excellent starters--Jessica Eggleston, Susan Flaming and Julie Adams.

Eggleston, a 5-11 junior forward, averaged 18 points and was the league’s most valuable player in 1991-92. Flaming, a 5-5 junior guard, averaged 10 points, and Adams, a 5-11 sophomore forward, also averaged 10 points.

Selbe, who has a 60-22 career record, said Flaming is a fundamentally sound point guard with a consistent outside shot.

Others to watch: Edison, El Dorado, Katella, La Habra, Mater Dei, Ocean View, San Clemente, Troy, University and Western.