GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Peninsula Remains the Team to Beat : Dream Season Is a Memory, but Panthers Have High Standards

It was a season to remember, a whirlwind year in which the Peninsula High girl’s basketball team won a mythical national championship, went undefeated in 33 games and won the State Division I title.

The victory in the state final in March extended a 43-game winning streak dating to the 1990-91 season, when the same starting five led Palos Verdes to the State Division III championship.

The team’s four senior starters received scholarships to Division I schools and Peninsula earned the No. 1 ranking by USA Today. Now, only junior Mimi McKinney remains from that starting five.

McKinney, though, does not plan to rest on past laurels.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and will probably never happen again,” McKinney said. “It’s time to move on. We have to start thinking about new stuff and go with the flow. I feel pressure inside to personally step up and be a leader.”

The 5-foot-10 forward scored 27 points in Peninsula’s victory over Monte Vista in the state final. McKinney, a Times’ South Bay first-team selection, averaged 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals, and was named the State Sophomore of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.

One of two sophomores chosen to the Southern Section Division I first team, McKinney was ranked among the top 25 players in the nation by USA Today and was a preseason honorable mention All-American pick by Street & Smith’s magazine.

But McKinney isn’t the only player at Peninsula to attract the attention of college recruiters.

Jill Kennedy, a 5-6 guard, recently signed a letter of intent to play at Pepperdine. She made 25 three-point baskets and averaged 6.6 points playing in a reserve role as a junior.

“You don’t get too many high schools except Peninsula to have five players that are better than Jill,” Pepperdine Coach Ron Fortner said. “She could probably start at any other school.”

There probably aren’t many other schools where standards for success are as high, either.

Wendell Yoshida has a 62-2 league record over the past six years coaching at Palos Verdes and Peninsula. His teams have reached a Southern Section final four of the past five seasons.

Peninsula, ranked second in the preseason Southern Section Division I poll and ninth in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, opens its season tonight against Colfax in the eight-team Del Campo tournament in Sacramento, featuring four teams ranked in the state top 20.

“Everybody is out there to get us, but no one can take away what we accomplished,” Yoshida said. “We have different expectations of ourselves. This is a team with its own personality. There’s no way to top what we’ve done, you can only fall short. We’ve done it once, some people will never do it.”

Here’s a look at the area’s top 10 teams. Last season’s record is in parentheses:

1. PENINSULA (33-0)

McKinney and Kennedy are the only starters with significant experience. Forwards Joanna Whitley (5-9) and Ashley Burt (5-8) averaged 3.7 and 2.5 points as juniors.

The Panthers lack a true center and the fifth starting position will rotate between juniors Kirsten Pepys (6-0) and Katherine Foster-Keddie (6-0) or sophomore Allison Fortner (5-9).

Pepys averaged 7.5 points while Fortner, whose father coaches the women’s team at Pepperdine, played on the junior varsity last season.

“I don’t know who we’re going to start. It will just depend on who we play,” Yoshida said. “Who knows? We might start five guards at times.”

2. ST. BERNARD (23-5)

Joi Turner’s junior season allowed her an opportunity to showcase her talents, helping the Vikings advance to the Southern Section Division III-A semifinals.

The 5-4 guard, who will attend San Jose State, averaged 13.4 points and three steals. She was selected to the Division III first team and was chosen the Mission League most valuable player.

Turner’s achievements, though, often overshadowed her teammates.

“We had a tendency to be a one-player team, and everybody sat back and watched Joi,” Coach Lori Pawinski said.

This season should be different. St. Bernard, second in the preseason Division IV rankings, returns Division III second-team selections Olympia Scott and Kelly Schimbukuro.

Scott, a 6-2 junior forward, was selected to the All-Mission League first team and was the most valuable player of the Norco and Hoover tournaments. She averaged 12.3 points and 11.9 rebounds.

Schimbukuro, a 5-2 senior guard, made 37 three-point baskets and averaged 11.2 points and 5.5 assists last season. Schimbukuro, along with senior LeTisha Ducree (5-10) who is expected to receive considerable playing time, combines with Turner to provide an experienced backcourt.

St. Bernard’s front line, though, might be its greatest asset. Marte Alexander, a 6-4 junior transfer from Marlborough High, averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds for the St. Bernard junior varsity last season. Senior Nyambo Anuluoha (5-11) and junior Olanike Farodolu (5-9) add rebounding strength.

“We’re going to be legitimately awesome,” Pawinski said.

3. BISHOP MONTGOMERY (27-8)

As in the past, the Knights figure to face their toughest opposition in Mission League play.

Bishop Montgomery finished behind Alemany and St. Bernard last season but reached the Division II state championship for the first time and a Southern Section final for the second consecutive season.

Alemany, which defeated the Knights to win the Division II-A championship, and Bishop Montgomery are second and third in the preseason Division III rankings.

The Knights will rely on two returning senior starters, guard Shelley Dungo (5-6) and forward Natalie Graham (5-7). Dungo averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists and was named to the All-State sophomore team by Cal-Hi Sports. Graham was an all-league selection, averaging 9.2 points and seven rebounds.

Bishop Montgomery had three players taller than 6 feet last season, but does not have a starter over 5-8 this year.

The Knights will emphasize a fast-paced tempo and a three-guard offense with Dungo and juniors Vonya Posada (5-6) and Gayle Pilapil (5-6). Senior Stephanie Hail (5-8) rounds out the starting lineup.

“We can be just as good as last year. We don’t expect to lose any ground,” Coach Cedric Hurt said.

4. MORNINGSIDE (18-12)

It’s no secret the Monarchs will focus their game plan around senior Tina Thompson, who recently signed a letter of intent with USC. The 6-2 center, a Times’ South Bay and Southern Section Division III first-team selection, averaged 23.2 points and 12.4 rebounds to help Morningside to the Ocean League championship and the III-A title game.

“Most people tried to stop Tina or let her get her points and shut down the rest of the team,” Coach Rod Tatum said.

That kind of thinking might need to be revised. Morningside’s starting five remains intact, with Tatum forecasting improved scoring balance.

Seniors Kameisha Pruitt, who averaged 10.6 points, and Aisha Edwards are back at guard, with junior Cheryl Dickson (5-10) and senior LaTricia Sibley (5-11) at forward. Senior Charisse Barnett (6-1) was a part-time starter.

5. REDONDO (16-10)

Redondo became only the second team to defeat Morningside in league play in 10 seasons en route to a second-place Ocean League finish. Redondo could turn the tables on league champion Morningside this season.

The Sea Hawks reached the second round of the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs and the consolation championship of the Santa Ana tournament during the summer.

“We should have had the league title last year,” Coach Stephen Brown said. “We let (Morningside) run off with it, but we have a legitimate chance for it this year.”

Senior forward Tiffany Williams (5-10), a two-time all-league selection who averaged 14.2 points and 9.5 rebounds last season, is one of four returning starters. Sophomores Leah Santa (5-10) and Andrea Miller (5-9) complete the Redondo front line. Santa, an all-league selection as a freshman, averaged eight points and 6.3 rebounds.

Junior Mandy Chavez (5-3) will be joined at guard by Myrna Delamora (5-2), a senior transfer from Bishop Montgomery.

6. NORTH TORRANCE (20-7)

The Saxons shared the Pioneer League title with Torrance last season, but Leslie Mukogawa and Jennifer Tojo, two first-team all-league selections, could help North win the title outright.

Mukogawa and Tojo are among three senior starters back from the team that reached the Division II-A semifinals.

Mukogawa (5-7) will move from point guard to forward and Tojo (5-7), the Saxons’ top perimeter shooter and the league’s most valuable player as a sophomore, returns at off-guard. Senior Corine Morita will fill the other guard position. Sophomore Bridget Moss (5-9) and junior Janeen Handy (5-7) will play forward and center.

7. TORRANCE (19-7)

Point production should not be a problem for the Tartars, with seniors Tiffany Fujimoto and Julie Tamishiro.

Fujimoto (5-7), a two-time Times’ South Bay and Southern Section Division II selection, averaged 13.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior.

The versatile forward, the Pioneer League’s most valuable player, helped lead Torrance to a share of the league championship and a berth in the II-AA quarterfinals.

Tamishiro, a 5-3 guard, ranked among the section’s best three-point shooters, making 37 from outside the 19-9 arc.

Senior guard Wendy Shimohara (5-0) and junior forward Sara Saulk (5-9) also started last season. Junior Ieesha Donadelle (6-1) was a part-time starter at center.

8. SOUTH TORRANCE (16-9)

Stephanie Pfau (6-0), a second-team Times’ South Bay selection, showed promise as a sophomore, averaging 16.2 points. The Spartans tied for third in Pioneer League play, but reached the quarterfinals of Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs, losing to eventual finalist Morningside.

9. INGLEWOOD (18-8)

It will be a rebuilding year for the Sentinels, who have lost six of their 10 players from last season’s team to graduation. Inglewood’s only two Bay League losses came to state champion Peninsula and the team advanced to the second round of the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs.

Inglewood, though, returns senior Stevena Richards (5-10), junior Kena Jackson (5-5) and sophomore Yanick Clay (5-11).

Richards, a two-time all-league selection at forward, averaged 11 points. Jackson, an agile point guard, averaged three assists and Clay, a forward, averaged six points and five rebounds.

10. NARBONNE (13-13)

The Gauchos might be one of the City Section’s most improved teams. Narbonne moves from the 4-A to 3-A Division as part of a three-team Pacific League of the Southern Pacific Conference with Gardena and San Pedro.

The realignment was made in response to a City Section directive that required conferences to split into one 3-A or one 4-A league in order to achieve better playoff and competitive balance.

Guard Denise Takamoto (5-3) was selected to the 4-A first team as a sophomore two seasons ago. Last year, she averaged 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds as Narbonne which finished third in Pacific League play behind Carson and Banning.

Takamoto will be joined by Valerie Ogawa, a three-point shot specialist, at guard. Forward Lenora Tuisalo’o (5-9) was a second-team all-league selection, averaging nearly seven rebounds a game.

OTHER TEAMS

West Torrance (15-10) earned a share of third place in the Pioneer League with South last season. Laurie Shimizu (5-5), a Times’ South Bay second-team selection, averaged 16.2 points as a junior.

Carson (16-6) rode to the City 4-A semifinals last season with Bernice Alafua, a three-time Times’ South Bay all-star. The Colts do not have a player of Alafua’s caliber this season, but have improved depth. They also have one of the most-imposing players in Brandie Gray, a 6-4, 245-pound junior center. Senior guard Yvonne Ale (5-7), sister of former Carson and UCLA football standout Arnold Ale, is the top returner.

Banning (18-6) reached the City 4-A championship and won the Pacific League title last season, but the Pilots will be hard-pressed to compensate with the loss of 4-A first-team selections Michelle Campbell and Rayjanette Lampkin to graduation. LaTrece Polk (5-4), Leneshia Pittman (5-10) and Kim Fuller (5-9) are three senior returning starters.