Teams, Players That Figure to Succeed on Court

As the busy holiday tournament schedule winds down, these are the top girls’ basketball players and teams to watch the rest of the way.

The top 20 teams in the Southern and City sections:

1. Brea-Olinda, Southern Section, Division III-AA--Longtime coach Mark Trakh departed for Pepperdine but left a veteran team to assistant John Hattrup. All five starters returned for the Ladycats.

2. Lynwood, SS, I-AA--Ellis Barfield enjoyed his rookie season as coach, guiding the Knights to the State Division I championship. Six players return.

3. Playa del Rey St. Bernard, SS, IV-AA--The low division is deceiving, because the Vikings, defending State Division IV champions, have both talent and size with three players taller than 6 feet.

4. Ventura Buena, SS, I-A--After Brea-Olinda, the Bulldogs have been the Southland’s most solid team for the last 10 years. There is plenty of young talent, including sophomore Eboni Conley.

5. Long Beach Poly, SS, I-A--The Jackrabbits have plenty of experienced players returning, but they must cope with the death of coach Ed Gaffney, who died from a heart attack in August.

6. Palos Verdes Peninsula, SS, I-AA--The Panthers were undefeated two years ago, but they struggled last season and finished 17-9. They return an experienced lineup.

7. Lakewood, SS, I-AA--The Lancers, led by senior Amy Heaton, have more than enough depth to contend for their first Moore League title in three years.

8. Mission Hills Alemany, SS, II-A--The Indians have four starters back from last season’s III-AA runner-up team. Coach Melissa Hearlihy is 170-46 in nine seasons.

9. Santa Ana Mater Dei, SS, II-AA--The Monarchs improved their playoff chances with the addition of 5-8 guard Melody Peterson, a top transfer from Monrovia.

10. Perris, SS, I-A--A surprise playoff qualifier last season, the Panthers have higher expectations this time. Sophomore Maylana Martin leads a young team.

11. Crenshaw, City, Division 4-A--The Cougars are overwhelming favorites to retain their section title in a down year for the City. Center Kim Howse is the top returnee.

12. Cerritos Gahr, SS, II-AA--The Gladiators will battle Lynwood for the San Gabriel Valley League title. They return four starters.

13. Ventura, SS, II-A--Look for another battle in the Channel League between Ventura and cross-town rival Buena. Ventura is led by 5-7 guard Ember Brown.

14. Cerritos, SS, I-A--If Lynwood or Gahr relax, watch for the Dons to challenge in the San Gabriel Valley League. They have five returning starters from a 19-8 team.

15. Irvine Woodbridge, SS, II-AA--What the Warriors lack in depth they make up in size. Center Melanie Pearson is 6-1, forward Angela Burgess 6-3.

16. Inglewood Morningside, SS, III-AA--The Monarchs, perennial contenders, field a young team with only two seniors, Cheryl Dickson and Karen Turner.

17. Nordhoff, SS, III-A--The Rangers, who moved up a division, expect to contend for the title. They are led by 6-2 center Rachel McSorley.

18. Torrance Bishop Montgomery, SS, III-AA--The Knights are coming off their most disappointing season in the last three years but should improve with several returnees, including 5-6 guard Shelley Dungo.

19. Long Beach Millikan, SS, I-AA--The Rams, another Moore League contender, feature a balanced team led by forwards Blanca Loza and Neisha Cleveland.

20. Hacienda Heights Wilson, SS, II-A--The Wildcats were the area’s most surprising team last season, winning the Miramonte League and II-A title. They want to prove their 28-2 record was no fluke.

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The Southland’s all-star lineup:

Center--Olympia Scott, 6-3, St. Bernard. The senior played in the Olympic Festival at San Antonio last summer and has signed to attend Stanford.

Power forward--Colleen Hudson, 6-1, Brea-Olinda. The senior averaged 17 points and nine rebounds last season for the state champion Ladycats.

Small forward--Timicha Kirby, 5-11, Lynwood. Perhaps the top player in the state, she led her team in scoring last season and has been mentioned on several preseason All-American teams.

Shooting guard--Mimi McKinney, 5-9, Peninsula. A three-year starter for the Panthers, she averaged 20 points and nine rebounds last season.

Point guard--Nicole Erickson, 5-8, Brea-Olinda. As a junior, she averaged 22 points and seven rebounds. She signed with Purdue.

Others to watch--ShaLynn Carr, 5-8, guard, La Verne Bonita; Tawana Grimes, 5-9, guard, Lynwood; Nicole Simmons, 5-6, guard, Ontario; Shannon Perry, 6-0, forward, Cerritos; Amy Heaton, 6-0, forward, Lakewood; Marte Alexander, 6-4, center, St. Bernard; Maylana Martin, 6-2, center, Perris, and Jessica Eggleston, 6-0, forward, Cypress.