GIRLS’ BASKETBALL 1993-94 / SMALL SCHOOLS

HUNT. BEACH CLAREMONT

1992-93 RECORDS OVERALL: 2-10 LEAGUE: 2-8

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Mike Smith: 2-23

RETURNING STARTER YR. HGT. P Stacey Johnson So. 5-6 G

TOP RETURNERS: None

TOP NEWCOMER YR. HGT. P Jessica Belsky So. 5-6 G

OUTLOOK

Like last season, the Cougars are fielding a young and inexperienced team. But Smith is getting used to it. Unable to keep girls involved with the program for the last three years, Smith has had to deal with new faces every season. The only returning player with experience is Johnson, who received honorable mention honors in league last season. And though Smith says Johnson is developing into a good player whose outside shot is improving daily, the 5-6 sophomore can’t do it alone. “It’s frustrating to always have to go through the basics with a team,” Smith said. “For example, there’s one girl, Vanessa Wilker, a sophomore volleyball player who was one of the greatest basketball players I’ve ever seen, but her parents won’t let her go out for basketball. It’s just frustrating.” Despite the problems, Smith is remaining positive. This season won’t be a complete bust, Smith said, believing the Cougars will do better than their 1-10 record last season. “We’re running a mini-camp with a professional basketball player working with our kids. I think this will help a lot. It’s not that the girls are not good players, it’s just that they need that experience.”

SCHEDULE

December 7 vs. Wildomar California Lutheran; 10 vs. Pacific Shores; 14 at Palos Verdes Estates Rolling Hills Prep; 17 vs. Harbor City Gateway Christian.

January 4 at Calvary Chapel; 7 at Heritage Christian; 11 at Bethel Baptist; 14 at Long Beach Gethsemane; 18 at Norwalk Pioneer Baptist; 21 vs. Rolling Hills Prep; 25 at Gateway Christian; 28 vs. Calvary Chapel.

February 1 vs. Heritage Christian; 4 vs. Bethel Baptist; 8 vs. Gethsemane; 11 vs. Pioneer Baptist.