JUNIOR COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Conference Call: Canyons’ Cunnan Is Better

If you think forward Rebekah Cunnan of College of the Canyons was tough last season, just wait until she takes the floor this year.

It may be difficult to imagine, Canyons Coach Greg Herrick says, but the 5-foot-9 sophomore is stronger and quicker than 1993-94 when she led the Cougars (18-13, 10-0 in Western State Conference play) to the WSC South Division title.

“She’s just a workhorse,” Herrick said. “We can’t be successful without her on the floor.”

Cunnan led the conference in scoring (24 points a game) last season and ranked among the league’s top 10 rebounders (8.8 a game).

She’s also a strong defensive player who usually guards the opponents’ top player.

“She just does everything,” Herrick said.

“I don’t remember anyone in our conference who works as hard.”

Canyons has two other returning starters who, combined with the addition of an All-City Section point guard and a 6-4 center, will give the team a big boost.

Carlisa Hamagaki is back at guard and Wendy Wiggins at forward. Hamagaki averaged 12 points last season and Wiggins averaged 10.

Freshman Kyetra Brown, a three-time All-City selection from Jefferson High, will start at point guard, with freshman Kerri Garland (Kennedy) at center.

“Kyetra may be the best point guard I’ve coached in 10 years,” Herrick said. “She is a phenom. She’s a great passer and she is fast.”

The team’s other key players are freshman forward Stephanie Labor (Crescenta Valley) and 6-1 freshman center Cathy Noriega.

The Cougars play host to Fullerton in their opener Saturday night.

Here’s a look at other area teams:

GLENDALE

COACH: Kathy Pudelko, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 11-14

This is the tallest team Pudelko has had at Glendale.

The Vaqueros will start 6-2 Heather Green (Crescenta Valley) at power forward. Judith Nagy (6-2) plays the other forward and her sister, Monica Nagy (6-0), is at center.

Both played at Glendale High.

“We expect a lot from them,” Pudelko said. “They are both great players.”

Sophomore Cindy Thai and Debbie Magana return at guard.

Freshman Keri Peterson (La Crescenta High) gives Glendale back-court depth.

The Vaqueros play host to Antelope Valley tonight.

MOORPARK

COACH: Lisa Ziegler, third season

LAST SEASON: 13-16

The Raiders have little depth so they must dictate the tempo in order to win, according to Ziegler.

“We’re few in numbers so we’re going to be very patient,” she said.

Moorpark’s top returners are forward Janette Oriza, who averaged 17 points a game last season, point guard Joy Garcia, who scored 15 a game, and guard Misty Goodnight, who averaged nine.

Oriza is also a solid rebounder and plays tough in the lane.

Garcia ranked among the WSC’s best three-point shooters last season.

Andrea Knox, a 5-10 sophomore from Thousand Oaks, will start at center as will Khrysla Scanlon( at forward.

Scanlon, an Agoura graduate, played at Cal State Dominguez Hills last season.

The Raiders open against state champion Harbor College today in the Chaffey tournament.

OXNARD

COACH: Alex Flores, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 8-18

The most-exciting thing about this team is that it has an on-campus gym to call home. In past years the team has practiced and played at high school gyms and local recreation facilities.

“It’s going to be great,” Flores said. “We’re all very thrilled about it.”

Oxnard has 10 freshmen, many of whom have been out of school and away from competitive basketball.

One of them, 5-8 guard Sonya Dolittle, is battling for a starting position.

Dolittle played at Oxnard High six years ago and is up against 5-9 Stacey McMillen, who recently moved to the area from the state of Washington.

Faifuaina Liufau, an all-league player at Channel Islands last season, will start at point guard.

Allison Jones, Liufau’s high school teammate, will start at forward along with Monica Maestas.

Laren Newman (6-1) will start at center. As a senior at Oxnard High last season, Newman led the Channel League with 13 rebounds a game.

“This group is stronger than any team I’ve had,” Flores said.

“We have a little bench and good talent. By the time we hit conference (play) we will have jelled and we’ll be a force to reckon with.”

Oxnard will play Antelope Valley at home in its opener on Nov. 22.

PIERCE

COACH: Larry Albritton, first season

LAST SEASON: 5-22

Allbritton served as a two-year assistant before taking over the program this season. He has 10 players, the most he has seen on the Brahmas’ roster.

“We’ve never had this many,” Allbritton said. “We’re looking good and the depth is great. It’s really going to help us.”

The downside is that the school’s gym is still off limits because of damage caused by the Jan. 17 earthquake, so the team must practice and play at nearby Taft High.

Sophomore Ana Gonzalez, who ranked second in the WSC in assists last season, is back at point guard. Diane Lakatta is back at forward and much improved, according to Allbritton.

“She really worked hard during the summer,” Allbritton said. “She didn’t have a great season last year but she’s our go-to person.”

Kim Butler, a 6-1 freshman from Simi Valley, will start at center. The rest of the starting lineup is still being decided.

Pierce’s season opener is Nov. 19 at Saddleback College.

VALLEY

COACH: John Taylor, second season

LAST SEASON: 14-18

The Monarchs have three starters back from last season and a total of seven returning players.

Vonya Dangerfield, a second-team All-WSC pick, will start at forward. Dangerfield, the team’s most valuable player as a freshman, averaged 10 points and seven rebounds a game last season.

Dangerfield will be joined by Nikki Hamilton in the front court. Hamilton, an All-City selection at North Hollywood High, is the team’s best defensive player. She averaged seven points and six rebounds in ‘93-94.

The Monarchs’ other returning starter is point guard Maggie Hause, a Burroughs High graduate who averaged seven points and five assists as a freshman.

The rest of the starting lineup includes freshmen Dimara Haymond and Valery Brady. Haymond, a 5-10 center, averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds at Monroe High last season and was an All-City selection.

Brady, a 5-6 guard from Notre Dame, was an All-Mission League choice last season.

“I think we have a very experienced team and a very quick team,” Taylor said. “The chemistry is also outstanding.”

Valley will play in the Mt. San Antonio College tournament this week.

VENTURA

COACH: Ned Mircetic, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 26-6

The Pirates have two players back from last season’s team that lost to Cypress in the second round of the playoffs.

Julie Hardy, the area’s only returning All-State pick, is a 5-11 forward from Buena High who averaged 21.6 points and 9.6 rebounds a game for Ventura last season.

“She’s going to be better this year,” Mircetic said.

“Aside from the fact that’s she’s physically better, she’s more mature and that will make a difference.”

Forward Amy Blackburn, who averaged eight points and six rebounds a game last season, is the team’s other returning starter.

Amber Magner, a transfer from Loyola Marymount, and freshman Tori Anderson of San Diego will share one guard spot.

“Amber is a great all-around scorer and her maturity will help us a lot,” Mircetic said.

“Tori is one of the best athletes I’ve seen. She has explosive quickness and she’s a great ballhandler.”

Freshman Marina Reyes, who recently moved to Ventura from Mexico, will start at point guard.

The 5-4 Reyes is a skilled defender with good speed, Mircetic said.

The Pirates open the season this weekend at the Chaffey tournament in Rancho Cucamonga.

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: Jackie Lott, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 11-13

The Marauders have one player back from last season, forward Wendie Tjulander, a part-time starter who averaged seven points and five rebounds.

However, Lott says she has several talented freshmen who played in competitive high school programs.

Lori Furman, an All-Southern Section Small Schools Division selection from Bethel Christian in Lancaster, will start at point guard, with 6-foot freshman Valesha Fletcher at forward.

Krista Martinez, Fletcher’s teammate at Quartz Hill High last season, will start at guard. The last starting position is still up for grabs.

“We’re very inexperienced, but we have a lot of athletic ability,” Lott said.