1995-96 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : OLYMPIC LEAGUE

Brethren Christian: 9-12, 4-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Kim Harris (third year, 12-29). Prospects: The Warriors return four starters but are still very young--they will start three juniors and two sophomores. Junior guards Ann-Marie Harbour, Melissa McDaniel and April Harriman have started the past two seasons and have improved every year. The Warriors lost junior guard LaCoya Cole, a first-team all-league selection last season, who transferred to Cypress. Harriman moved from forward to guard to make room for sophomore Cindy Oparah, a 5-11 forward. Rachael MacDonald, a 6-4 sophomore, is the Warriors’ starting center.

Calvary Chapel: 6-15, 3-7 in 1994-95. Coach: Russ McClurg (second year, 6-15). Prospects: The Eagles played the early season without three starters, 6-2 junior center Jill Overby, 6-2 senior forward Jenny Roberts and 5-6 junior guard Whitney Hoover, who were playing with the school’s volleyball team in the state tournament. Calvary Chapel will benefit from the return of 5-6 junior guard Janelle McConnell, who sat out last season after having knee surgery.

Cerritos Valley Christian: 27-3, 9-1 in 1994-95. Coach: Eleanor Dykstra (25th year, 432-89). Prospects: The Crusaders have made a habit of winning the league title the past four seasons and that probably won’t change soon. Valley Christian has won a total of 17 league titles, seven Southern Section titles, including the last four, and also made its second-consecutive appearance in a state final last season. Valley Christian’s one league loss last season was to Orange Lutheran, but star Crusader forward Jodi Parriott did not play. Although Parriott, who averaged 25 points last season, has moved on to USC, Valley Christian still is a powerhouse. It has two returning first-team all-league players: Crystal Rosenthal, a senior guard, and Tandee Taylor, a 6-2 junior center. The addition of transfers Kiyoko Miller, a senior guard who was the most valuable player of the Orange League last season for Brea Oinda, as well as Monique Toney, a junior guard from Esperanza, should keep the Crusaders in the hunt for their first state title.

Ontario Christian: 13-11, 3-9 in 1994-95. Coach: Mike Van Hoven (third year, 26-23). Prospects: Annie Musser, a junior point guard who was a second-team all-league selection last season, is the Knights’ only returning starter. Other probable starters are Bev Fikse, a junior guard, Kadie Tillema, a senior forward and Katie Docter, a 6-0 junior center. Orange Lutheran: 15-9, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Mark Kempf (sixth year, 52-40). Prospects: The Lancers were poised to win their first league title since 1981, but lost their final three games, including a loss to Whittier Christian. Orange Lutheran lost to Paraclete in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV-A tournament. Liz Pappas, a senior guard, averaged 12 points per game.

Whittier Christian: 18-8, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Steve Rodriguez (first year). Prospects: Rodriquez takes over for Ken Cronquist and may have to do some rebuilding. The Heralds finished tied for second in league last season with Orange Lutheran and made a good showing in the Division IV-A playoffs, defeating Santa Monica St. Monica in the first round before losing to third-seeded Sun Valley Village Christian in overtime in the second round. But Whittier Christian lost its two standout guards from last season’s team--Alana Kempton graduated and Kim Menke transferred to Cerritos Valley Christian. Leah Borders, a 5-11 sophomore center, is one of the Heralds’ top returners.