1995-96 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Aliso Niguel: 7-16, 2-8 in 1994-95. Coach: Deni Christensen (third year, 16-28.) Prospects: Junior Deanna Mitchelson (10.1 points, 19.7 rebounds), a Times all-county second team player and the league MVP, moved to Bakersfield. Sophomore center Brooke Hyman (6-2, 10.1 points, 11.8 rebounds) should be the hub of the offense. She’ll be surrounded by forward Amy Burchett and junior guard/forward Sarah Walbrink, the team’s defensive player of the year. Last season’s weakness was guard play and getting the ball to Mitchelson inside; with freshman Tara Mutukisna, guard play should be improved.

Costa Mesa: 19-9, 7-3 in 1994-95. Coach: Len Whitacre (second year, 19-9). Prospects: The Mustangs have a two-time all-league first-team player in junior guard Koo Kim (13.8 points), but will be without two-time all-league center Corri Lurmann (6-1, 13.4 points, 11 rebounds), who’s sitting out her senior season; Kim is complemented by returning forwards Katie Grogan (5-9) and junior Chanel Anderson (5-9). After finishing second in league, Costa Mesa lost in the Division III-A quarterfinals, 55-50, to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Estancia: 17-7, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Russ Davis (sixth year, 98-30 ). Prospects: This will be the Jessica Waltz Year at Estancia. The senior guard is a four-year starter and a three-year All-Pacific Coast League player who enters the season with 486 career assists--well within reach of the 600 that will rank her among the best in Southern Section history; she should also finish with more than 800 points and 700 rebounds, according to Davis. Waltz averaged 10.5 points and 5.8 assists last season. She should get some help from junior forward Jill Black (5-10), 8.5 points) and sophomore guard Amy Deming (5-10), the junior varsity MVP.

Laguna Beach: 3-19, 0-10 in 1994-95. Coach: Lyman Olney (sixth year, 25-77). Prospects: The PCL was the most improved league overall last season, and that has made it difficult for the Artists to make many inroads. Still, they have all five starters back, including twin junior guards Chrissy (8.8 points) and April Chambers (7.7 points), and senior guard Meredith Olney (6.0 points). Their strength is defense, but they’ll still need to find a way to score.

Laguna Hills: 17-8, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Lynn Taylor (fourth year, 34-36). Prospects: The Hawks have the county’s tallest player in junior center Tayyiba Haneef (6-6, 10.7 points, 10.4 rebounds), and one of its most underrated in junior guard Tamara Inoue (10 points)--both first team all-league players. Laguna Hills’ top six players return, and the improvement of junior forward Whitney Houser (5-11, six points) and sophomore forward Erin Larsen (5-8, four points) should take some of the pressure off Haneef and Inoue. Forward Marissa Treinen (5-9, five points) is second to Haneef in rebounding and is the best defensive player. This junior group improved last season from 6-16 to 17-8; the schedule has been upgraded, so last year’s weakness--rebounding--and lack of depth are critical facets of the game.

University: 19-7, 9-1 in 1994-95. Coach: Bob Bernal (fourth year, 47-29). Prospects: The Trojans were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Huntington Beach. They return a powerful sophomore rebounder in Monique Mathews (9.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 48.1% from the field), along with three nifty guards: Raschelle Lawrence (8.5 points, 4.6 assists) and juniors Lyz Day (6.1 points, 34.3% from the three-point line) and Taylor Stokes (5.3 points). They have to replace Pamela Loud (8.6 rebounds).