GIRL’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

BEVERLY HILLS

* Coach: Tina Tamura, first season.

* Record: 5-15, 0-8 in Ocean League.

* Top Players: Sasha Spalding, 6-2, center, Jr.; Sepi Haghighi, 5-4, guard, Soph.; Barbara Moskovich, 5-11, forward, Jr.; Iris Dinu, 5-11, center, Soph.

* Prospect: The Normans are going through a rebuilding phase. Spalding averaged 10 points and nine rebounds and was selected to the Ocean League second team last season. Spalding, however, will miss the first half of the season because of an injury to her right ankle.

BRENTWOOD

* Coach: Penny Baizer, first season.

* Record: 15-8, 9-1 in Delphic League.

* Top Players: Erin Hawkins, 5-9, center-forward, Jr.; Lisa Kaplan, 5-6, forward, Jr.; Sharon Sabet, 5-6, guard, Soph.; Dana Barenfeld, 5-7, point guard, Jr.

* Prospect: The Eagles, Delphic co-champions with Crossroads, return four starters. Hawkins, a standout volleyball player, recently decided to play for the team. Brentwood, which was a Southern Section Division V-AA quarterfinalist last season, could be improved.

CROSSROADS

* Coach: Larry Wiener, 12th season.

* Record: 16-7, 9-1 in Delphic League.

* Top Players: Sherrise Smith, 5-3, guard, Jr.; Erin Irving, 6-0, forward, Jr.; Yasmeen Yamini-Benjamin, 5-10, forward, Jr.; Tamiko Hairstron, 5-7, guard, Sr.

* Prospect: The Roadrunners, who have reached the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons, have an outstanding junior class led by Smith. She averaged 21 points and four assists and was selected the league’s most valuable player. The Roadrunners are contenders to win their first Division IV-A championship.

CULVER CITY

* Coach: John Sargent, first season.

* Record: 17-10, 8-4 in Ocean League.

* Top Players: Sandy Woo, 5-7, guard, Sr.; Terisica Marroquin, 5-5, guard, Soph.; Patricia Plant, 5-11, center, Sr., Linda Tin, 5-8, forward, Jr.

* Prospect: The Centaurs lost all-time Southern Section three-point shooter Jenny Nakanishi to graduation, but return starters Woo (six steals), Marroquin and Plant. With strength in the backcourt, a powerful front line and overall quickness, last season’s Division III-A semifinalists will again be a force.

FAIRFAX

* Coach: Judi Edwards, third season.

* Record: 7-6, 5-5 in Metro League.

* Top Players: Celia Mann, 5-10, forward, Sr.; Thelma Dimas, 5-7, forward, Sr.; Chakana Mayo, 5-10, center, Jr.

* Prospect: Fairfax expects big seasons from Dimas and Mann, who are capable of scoring in double figures. Janica Leung, a 5-3 point guard, is a good ball-handler and an outstanding defensive player.

HAMILTON

* Coach: Mark Mizuno, second season.

* Record: 5-14, 4-6 in Metro League.

* Top Players: Miatta Rice, 5-7, guard, Jr.; Natasha Steen, 5-3, guard, Jr.; Ellen Johnson, 6-0, forward, Sr.; Marina Ramos, 5-10, forward, Jr.

* Prospect: Point guard Rice, who averaged 6.4 points, leads a talented junior class. Steen, who averaged 8.1 points, is the top returning scorer. If the Yankees can play as a team, they should contend for the Metro League title.

HOLLYWOOD

* Coach: Ken Hardy, first season.

* Record: 2-14, 2-12 in Northern Conference.

* Top Players: Mishal Ortiz, 5-8, guard, Sr.; Erica Esquivel, 5-9, guard-forward, Sr.; Natasha Smith, 5-11, center, Soph.

* Prospect: The Sheiks, who have won four games in the past three seasons, have moved Ortiz from forward to point guard. Hollywood will try to use its height to outrebound opponents.

IMMACULATE HEART

* Coach: Joel Espinoza, first season.

* Record: 14-11, 4-4 in Sunshine League.

* Top Players: Tina Sabato, 5-10, forward-center, Jr.; Gaynell Lyons, 5-8, forward-guard, Sr.; Christine Sumiller, 5-3, guard, Sr.

* Prospect: The Pandas, who lost eight players and 98.5% of their scoring, are starting from scratch. They look to play an up-tempo game to make up for a lack of height. If their sophomores develop, the Pandas could return to the playoffs.

MARLBOROUGH

* Coach: John Ferrante, third season.

* Record: 15-9, 4-4 in Sunshine League.

* Top Players: Deborah Sternlight, 5-11, forward, Sr.; Kim Carter, 6-1, center, Sr.; Jannine Mackie, 5-8, guard, Jr.; Heidi Erbsen, 5-4, point guard, Jr.

* Prospect: The Mustangs have plenty of size. Sternlight, a starting middle blocker on the volleyball team, is the team’s strongest front-line player in 10 seasons, according to Ferrante. With development of backcourt players, Marlborough could be among the league leaders.

MARYMOUNT

* Coach: Jenny Nady, fourth season.

* Record: 4-16, 0-8 in Sunshine League.

* Top Players: Claudine Mouren-Laurens, 5-7, forward, Jr.; Tammy Bradford, 5-8, forward, Jr.; Erin Harding, 5-6, guard, Jr.; Katie O’Keefe, 5-9, forward, Sr.

* Prospect: The Sailors expect to be much improved. Mouren-Laurens, who averaged 5.3 points, Bradford (four points), Harding (6.3 points) and O’Keefe (two points) are returning starters.

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY

* Coach: Ed Aronin, fourth season.

* Record: 12-6, 6-2 in Sunshine League.

* Top Players: Taryn Reynolds, 5-7, guard, Soph.; Jenny Hatch, 5-6, forward, Jr.; Gina Ameri, 5-9, center, Sr.; Jennifer Anderson, 5-8, forward, Soph.

* Prospect: The Regals have been to the playoffs four consecutive season under Aronin. Reynolds, who led the team with a 20 points a game, was selected to the Division IV-A second team as a freshman. Notre Dame will be challenged by Flintridge Sacred-Heart for the Sunshine League title.

PALISADES

* Co-coaches: Joi Tanita and James Payton, first season.

* Record: 1-12, 1-5 in Western League.

* Top Players: Nicole Codd, 5-8, forward, Jr.; (Jagger) Ford, 5-8, forward, Sr.; Lisa Shakiban, 6-0, center, Jr.; Tracee Avila, 5-9, forward, Sr.

* Prospect: The Dolphins will have several new players and new coaches as they begin their rebuilding phase. Codd and Ford will lead what is expected to be a balanced scoring attack.

PILIBOS ARMENIAN

* Coach: John Yegiaian, first season.

* Record: first season of play.

* Top Players: Armine Sahagian, 5-6, forward, Sr.; Taline Mazlumian, 5-5, guard-forward, Sr.; Lilit Andonyan, 5-5, forward, Jr.

* Prospect: The Eagles have an eight-player squad, four of the players having competed in a church league and the tallest being 5-foot-7. The Hollywood-area school has a free-lance schedule in Division V-AA.

ST. BERNARD

* Coach: Lori Pawinski, sixth season.

* Record: 30-4, 12-0 in Mission League.

* Top Players: Olympia Scott, 6-3, forward, Sr.; Marte Alexander, 6-4, center, Sr.; Olanike Farodola, 5-9, forward, Sr.; Tracie Oaks, 5-5, guard, Soph.

* Prospect: St. Bernard won the State Division IV title last season and returns Scott, who was selected The Times’ 1993 Westside player of the year. Scott, who played in the Olympic Festival, averaged 13.6 points and 11 rebounds. Alexander, who was selected to the Westside first team, averaged 7.9 points and seven rebounds. Scott has signed with Stanford and Alexander with Arizona. The Vikings are favored to win their third Division IV-AA title. Anything less would be an upset.

ST. MONICA

* Coach: Alan Mindell, first season.

* Record: 2-17, 1-11 in Camino Real League.

* Top Players: Rachel Jaspe, 5-3, guard, Sr.; Becky Botello, 5-9, center, Jr.; Hirut Kidane-Marian, 5-4, forward, Soph.; Stephanie Seiler, 5-4, guard, Fr.

* Prospect: Mindell takes over as coach after three seasons at Brentwood. The Mariners will go through a rebuilding phase but expect to be competitive by playoff time. St. Monica does not have any standout players. Jaspe is the top offensive player with five other players contributing to the team’s scoring.

SANTA MONICA

* Coach: Heidi Overseer, first season.

* Record: 8-12, 4-4 in Bay League.

* Top Players: Monyka Johnigan, 5-11, forward-center, Sr.; Jaime Goodrich, 5-9, guard, Jr.; Yimei Wong, 5-7, guard, Soph.

* Prospect: The Vikings are young, with half the team consisting of sophomores and freshmen. Goodrich and Johnigan (12 points) are returning starters. Santa Monica will work the ball inside to Johnigan in their half-court offense and should be strong defensively.

UNIVERSITY

* Coach: Patricia Peisner, 12th season.

* Record: 8-8, 5-5 in Coastal Conference.

* Top Players: Sandy Ginoza, 5-7, forward, Sr.; Denise Ishimaru, 5-4, point guard, Jr.; Kristin Okita, 5-3, guard, Soph.; Lauren Hymes, 5-10, center, Jr.

* Prospect: Having moved up to the 4-A Western League, the Warriors will have to hustle to compensate for their lack of height. The backcourt players have outstanding ball-handling skills. This is an exceptionally quick, tenacious team that could wear down opponents.

VENICE

* Coach: Debbie Dreier, fourth season.

* Record: 16-6, 8-2 in Coastal Conference.

* Top Players: Yuriko Jung, 5-8, guard-forward, Jr.; Carly Furuno, 5-4, guard, Sr.; Jamila Locke, 5-7, center-forward, Sr.; Vicki MacKenzie, 5-8, center, Sr.

* Prospect: The Gondoliers will be an improved passing and rebounding team. A strong scoring attack complements outstanding defensive play. The experienced backcourt combination of Jung (13 points) and Furuno (nine points) will continue providing team leadership. Locke (10 rebounds) and MacKenzie (eight rebounds) are good jumpers. Venice could go far in the playoffs.

WESTCHESTER

* Coach: Ann-Marie Powledge, third season.

* Record: 12-6, 6-2 in Western League.

* Top Players: Akiba Lambert, 5-2, guard, Sr.; Pauline McGee, 6-2, center, Jr.; Chasity Martin, 5-7, forward, Jr.; Tiffany Lewis, 5-10, forward, Soph.

* Prospect: Westchester and Venice are expected to be the top teams in the Western League. Point guard Lambert averaged 16 points and six assists. The Comets have good shooting forwards in Martin and Lewis, who also plays volleyball. But Westchester’s inexperience could prove costly.

WINDWARD

* Coach: Andy Bernstein, fourth season.

* Record: No games played.

* Top Players: Kearney Viser, 5-6, guard, Fr.; Colleen Harvey, 5-5, guard, Sr.; Dao Le, 5-6, point guard, Jr.

* Prospect: With only five players, the Wildcats had to forfeit all of last season’s schedule. They now have nine, but six are freshmen. With quickness and good ball-handling, Windward will play at an up-tempo pace and try to make up for their inexperience.

YESHIVA

* Coach: Gwen Vallone, third season.

* Record: 2-12, 0-8 in Liberty League.

* Top Players: Orit Arfa, 5-5, forward, Sr.; Dinat Binyamini, 5-4, point guard, Sr.; Hindi Stohl, 5-6, forward, Soph.

* Prospect: The Panthers have improved their teamwork, ball-handling and rebounding. Although limited because the school does not have a gym or practice facility, Yeshiva should be improved.

BOYS’ PREVIEW

BRENTWOOD

* Coach: Bob Ingram, 11th season.

* Record: 20-8, 9-3 in Delphic League.

* Top Players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 6-5, center-forward, Sr.; Teddy Miller, 6-1, guard, Jr.; Courtney Scott, 6-2, guard-forward, Sr.; Jake Willens, 5-9, point guard, Jr.; Gerry Washington, 6-1, guard, Jr.

* Prospect: The Eagles might be quicker and more athletic than last season’s Division V-AA semifinalists. Standout Mike Green now plays for Navy, but Abdul-Jabbar (10.5 points, six rebounds), Miller (eight points, four assists) and Scott return as starters. If they develop rebounding strength, Brentwood could become a force in the Delphic League.

PILIBOS ARMENIAN

* Coach: Carlo Honanian, first season.

* Record: first season.

* Top Players: Haig Avakian, 5-11, guard-forward, Sr.; Hagop Sargissian, 5-9, guard, So.; Hagop Baronian, 5-11, forward, Sr.

* Prospect: In their first season, the Eagles will be establishing a foundation for a solid program with hopes of joining a league in 1994-95. They have a limited free-lance schedule with 11 players and will practice on an outdoor asphalt court. Several players have community league experience. Lacking height, they will emphasize defense to utilize their quickness.