1995-96 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Corona del Mar: 13-15, 4-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Garth Flint (seventh year, 64-103). Prospects: After a five-year dry spell, the Sea Kings should qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Forward Lindsay Warmington (5-6, 12.5 points), who had 45 three-point baskets as a freshman, and all-league center Jennifer Gardner (6-1, 9.1 points, 13.4 rebounds) are back, along with two other returning starters, guards Brittany Simon and Melissa Ford.

El Toro: 8-15, 3-7 in 1994-95. Coach: Carol Murphy (third year, 12-32). Prospects: Guards Kristen Kopp and Amy Vowels are the only returning starters to a team Murphy thinks will work well together. Kopp, a point guard, has improved her game, and graduates from the junior varsity team, junior center Jessica Henry and sophomore Emily Gleason (5-11) will provide the size inside.

Irvine: 12-13, 3-7 in 1994-95. Coach: Shawn Patchell (first year). Prospects: Irvine was senior-dominated last year, but only point guard Julie Primero (5-6) and junior center Sonja Dahlman (6-0) were with the team from start to finish. Two sophomores called up in midseason, forward Jami Allred (5-10) and center Lauren O’Hara (6-2), will join them in the starting lineup.

Newport Harbor: 22-6, 8-2 in 1994-95. Coach: Bob Dukus (first year). Prospects: The Sailors were hit hard in the off-season. Coach Shannon Jakosky (102-59) resigned, and starters Jenny Jennings (10.7 points) and Mary Anderson transferred to Capistrano Valley. That left only one returning starter--junior point guard Andree Verhulst (5-8, 8.2 points, 4.2 assists). Among those expected to fill in are junior center M.E. Clayton (5-11), junior guard Colleen Eadie (5-7), and guards Mindy Alford and Michelle Klytta. A transfer from Saddleback, forward Janet Diaz, also fits into the mix. Depth and team speed are strengths, but experience is an obvious weakness. Dukus was 51-68 at Santa Ana.

Santa Margarita: 6-12, 2-8 in 1994-95. Coach: Ryan Bettencourt (first year). Prospects: This is a reconstruction year for the Eagles, who have a new coach in Bettencourt (12-13 at Pacifica) and only one starter, sophomore center Michelle Chambers (5-11), back from last year’s last-place team. But Bettencourt says this team is coachable and should be able to play decent defense. Junior guards Megan Cargile and Tiara Stone, and sophomore forward Karlie Reiss (5-8) will have to step up and assist Chambers.

Woodbridge: 33-1, 10-0 in 1994-95. Coach: Pat Quinn (first year). Prospects: The Warriors are The Times’ choice as the preseason No. 1, with four starters back from a team that won the Division II State championship. In fact, they are Cal-Hi Sports’ top-ranked team nationally, and No. 10 in the USA Today poll. With 6-4 center Angela Burgess graduated, the Warriors can now run to their hearts’ content. Two Times’ all-county first-team selections, senior forward Melanie Pearson (6-1, 11.3 points) and junior guard Erin Stovall (5-7, 14.9 points), can be counted on in the clutch, and junior forward Krissy Duperron (6-0, 12.4 points, 8.5 rebounds) is equal to both. Guard Tammy Weaver (5-5, 5.6 points) also was an all-league player. Other top returning players who could step into this lineup with ease are junior guard Carly Moss (5.7, 3.4 points), center Erin Conley (6-1, 2.6 points), and sophomore guard Nicole Roberts (5-7, 1.4 points). Freshman Debby Caine is the natural successor to Weaver at point guard. There’s no question about the Warriors’ talent. The biggest question mark might be Quinn, who’s succeeding Eric Bangs (296-69).