SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW : Costa Mesa Keeps to Its Schedule

Between puppies and playoffs, Costa Mesa Coach Lisa McNamee runs on a tight schedule these days.

When the girls’ basketball playoff pairings were announced this week at the Southern Section offices, McNamee appeared long enough to see what the Division III-A draw looked like for her top-seeded Mustangs (23-4). The pairings show that Costa Mesa will begin play Saturday against Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (14-10), the third-place team from the Del Rey League.

Then McNamee explained that she had to get home to oversee the nursing of 12 newborn puppies before she rushed off to practice.

“You can catch me at home before 6 or after 8,” she said. “By then, I may know more about St. Paul.”

Several hours later, McNamee didn’t know much more about the Swordsmen, but she was able to put Costa Mesa’s postseason aspirations in perspective.

“One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to be 10-0 in league and we achieved that,” she said. “CIF (section playoffs) was another goal.”

And not just getting there. Based on the Pacific Coast League champion’s record and seeding, winning the title for the first-year coach is a very real possibility. It’s just that the Mustangs would rather to do it without the spotlight in their eyes.

“We would prefer not to be the team on top,” said McNamee, who, as an assistant coach for defending national champion Stanford, knows a thing or two about being No. 1. “Everyone has their best game against a team like that. We’d rather sneak in through the back door.”

Since they can’t, McNamee, The Times Orange County’s 1991 coach of the year when she was at Estancia, has readied her team as the favorites.

“Being No. 1, it’s hard. Everyone’s shooting for us. But we’re prepared for that. We’re looking forward to it.”

With Garden Grove League champion Rancho Alamitos (21-4) seeded second on the other side of the draw, McNamee would welcome a championship meeting between the two.

“Rancho’s tough,” she said. “We have a nice rivalry in the playoffs. It would be a nice way to end the season. And it would be great to have two Orange County teams to show we’re strong (in girls’ basketball).”

Gary Raya, coach of Empire League champion El Dorado (25-2), which is seeded second in Division III-AA, has similar sentiments. The Hawks will meet the winner of tonight’s wild-card game between Riverside Rubidoux (11-14) and Pomona (8-12) in Saturday’s first round.

“There are some good county teams in our division,” said Raya, who has three starters back from the team that lost to Inglewood Morningside in last year’s semifinals. “I think they should do well.”

Other county teams in the III-AA playoffs: Cypress (16-8), the Empire League’s third-place team; Estancia (15-9), the Pacific Coast League’s third-place entry, and fourth-seeded Newport Harbor (18-6), the Sea View League’s No. 1 representative. Woodbridge (20-5), the Sea View’s second-place entry, is the third-seeded team in Division II-AA.

Tonight’s wild-card matchup between Western (13-11) and Fullerton (10-12) determines who will play top-seeded Morningside (22-2), which awaits El Dorado on the other side of the draw.

“We’re just going to have fun and enjoy,” Raya said. “I hope we play well.”

Division III-A at a Glance

Defending champion: Rancho Alamitos.

Top teams: Costa Mesa (23-4), Rancho Alamitos (21-4), Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (19-5), Covina Northview (17-4).

Dark horses: Yucca Valley (10-11), Santa Paula (13-10).

Top Players: Olivia DiCamilli (Costa Mesa), Timerie James (Rancho Alamitos), Tamiko Medcalf (Northview), Akia Morris, (Rancho Verde), Akilah Rodgers (Rancho Alamitos), April VanSweden (Costa Mesa).

Best draw: Rancho Alamitos. Edge goes to defending champion because, compared to Costa Mesa, it won’t have to travel as far to meet opponents in its bracket.

Worst draw: La Canada. The unseeded, first-place team from the Rio Hondo League has a good chance to meet No. 1 league representatives all the way to the championship.

Notes: If Lompoc defeats Pasadena Blair and Costa Mesa wins, the Mustangs will travel to Lompoc for the second-round quarterfinals. It will be the third time since 1989-90 that a team coached by Lisa McNamee has traveled to Lompoc in the playoffs. Said McNamee: “Been there, done that.” . . . Close playoff calls for Rancho Alamitos: Last year the Vaqueros defeated South Hills, 68-66, in the title game. In 1990, they lost to Costa Mesa, 51-49.

Division III-AA at a Glance

Defending champion: Brea-Olinda.

Top teams: Inglewood Morningside (22-2), El Dorado (25-2), Mission Hills Alemany (22-4), Newport Harbor (18-6).

Dark horses: Norwalk Glenn (9-13), Riverside Rubidoux (11-14).

Top Players: Jody Caruso (El Dorado), Nicole DeBruijn (El Dorado), Gina Heads (Newport Harbor), Kamaisha Prewitt (Morningside), Michaela Ross (Newport Harbor), Tina Thompson (Morningside).

Best draw: El Dorado. By virtue of being seeded second, the Golden Hawks avoid top-seeded Morningside, the team they lost to in last year’s semifinals, until the championship game.

Worst draw: Newport Harbor. The Sailors can’t buy a break. Last year, they lost to Brea-Olinda in the semifinals. This year, they could meet Morningside in the semifinals.

Notes: Cause to celebrate: Brea-Olinda moved to Division II-AA this year. Cause for concern: Morningside didn’t. Morningside has reached five consecutive section finals and won four. The Monarchs--two-time State champions and two-time runner-ups--return almost everyone from last year’s team, which lost to the Ladycats in the section’s III-AA championship. . . . After starting 0-2 in league, Empire League champion El Dorado won its next eight games for its first league title since 1976.