MIDWEEK REPORT : HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS UPDATE : Seeing Double at Notre Dame

Wayne Gretzky wears No. 99. So does Stephanie Eden.

Mario Lemieux is No. 66. Ditto Stacy Phillips.

Eric Lindros dons No. 88. And, of course, so does Ashly Ritter.

What’s with the double-digit practice jerseys worn by members of the Notre Dame High girls’ basketball team? These girls have hockey on the brain?

“Actually,” said senior guard Lourdes Slinsky, who wears No. 00, “I hate hockey.”

But they love basketball--so much that the quartet has played together and stayed together almost as long as have John, Paul, George and Ringo. And en masse, they’re a smash.

Eden, Phillips, Ritter and Slinsky, all seniors, have been starters and the nucleus of the Knights since all were freshmen. Since then, they have worn the jerseys during every practice and for more than 120 summer-league games.

“It’s a unity thing,” said Phillips, a senior forward.

Said Slinsky: “Most people wear 23, or whatever. This is different.”

Things are different at Notre Dame since the four first suited up in 1992. That season, the Knights were a dismal 7-14. Last season, Notre Dame reached the Southern Section III-A semifinals and finished 20-7.

Currently, the Knights are 5-2 and ranked ninth in the Times’ regional poll.

“We wanted them to have them when they were freshmen,” Coach Rob DiMuro said of the jerseys. “We said, ‘In four years, you’ll be the backbone of this program.’ And they are.”

Boomerang

Valencia, with a first-year girls’ varsity basketball team of eight sophomores and four juniors, had its fortunes rise and fall dramatically last week.

The Vikings defeated Vasquez, 57-2, then lost to Highland, 72-7, the next night. “Anyone who ragged on me for beating a team that badly got what they wanted right away,” Coach Dennis Mifflin said.

Off and Running

Talk about a transition game. Hueneme Coach Larry Miller and his three returning starters all dashed straight from the football field to the basketball court.

Miller agreed to become the basketball coach when Howard Davis quit in October to become an assistant at Moorpark College. A big factor in accepting the dual assignment was that the three football players he is closest to also play basketball.

Ronney Jenkins, of course, is well known for setting a national record by rushing for 619 yards in the final football game of the season. He broke the index finger on his left hand in the game and only Monday began practicing with the basketball team.

George Jones, a four-year starter at quarterback, is the basketball team’s leading scorer. The point guard scored 27 in a game last week and averaged 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds last season.

Rashadd Cousins, a receiver and defensive back, returns at forward where his physical style is usually an asset.

“The transition has been hectic because these guys still have that rock ‘em sock ‘em mentality,” Miller said. “They’ve had to change to finesse and not be so helter-skelter.”

The Vikings are 2-4, but do not play again until after Christmas.

“We have some time to practice, which we are relishing,” Miller said.

Into the Fire

Retirement ended early for Chick Epstein of Birmingham.

Epstein, the Braves’ longtime football and golf coach, stepped down from his football duties after the 1994 season.

But when Birmingham was searching for someone to coach the girls’ basketball team, Epstein was recruited by Athletic Director Lou Ramirez and boys’ Coach Alan Bennett.

“I didn’t want them to lose the program,” said Epstein, who last coached basketball 25 years ago. “I missed the competitiveness, getting up for the big games.”

Epstein took the job. In their first game--a 54-30 loss to Reseda--the Braves were held scoreless in the first quarter.

“Some coach I was, I was wondering if we were ever going to score,” he said.

But Birmingham is making progress. The Braves defeated Monroe last week and don’t have any games scheduled until January, leaving Epstein to get up to date on his basketball knowledge.

“The only advice I got was not to schedule North Hollywood,” Epstein said.

After Thoughts

When boys’ basketball Coach Ron Quarterman left Bell-Jeff to take the same position at Burbank four months ago, he never looked back and never second-guessed himself.

Until Monday.

On a night when Burbank beat Bell-Jeff, 76-62, in a cross-town, nonleague game, Quarterman felt a little out of place on the Bulldogs’ bench.

“It was strange,” he said. “I know all those [Bell-Jeff] kids. They’re all good kids. It felt strange coaching against them.”

Quarterman in August said the Burbank job represented career advancement. But, ironically, Burbank, which was ranked No. 5 in the Valley by The Times before the season, improved to only 2-4 with the victory. The Guards are 6-2.

Some Bell-Jeff players, such as Ruben Douglas, who scored 19 points, and Elihu Cobb, who had 18, told Quarterman they didn’t understand why he left.

Quarterman said they wouldn’t understand if he told them.

Bug Bites

The flu bug has stricken both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Bell-Jeff.

The boys’ team had 10 of its 14 players sick for its 76-62 loss to Burbank. Ron Schorth, Earl Barton and Rickey Sanchez missed the game completely. Starting forward Marco Flores and sixth-man Ryan Ortiz suited up, but neither could play more than a few minutes.

Coach Eli Essa said that three players vomited during that game and that Barton was hospitalized on Tuesday with a stomach virus.

Adding to the problem, the Guards (6-2) played four games last week.

“Some of us feel as if our stomachs are about to explode,” said Essa, who also is sick. “We could’ve used some rest between games.”

Only four of Bell-Jeff’s players were in school on Tuesday, but Essa expects to be at full strength for the Guards’ next game, Dec. 20.

The girls’ team has been three players short for its last three games--leading scorer and rebounder Jaclyn Johnson among them. Backup point guard Irma Alvarez and reserve Chrissy Miranda also have missed action.

Around the Leagues

CITY SECTION BASKETBALL

NORTH VALLEY

* Boys’ basketball:

El Camino Real’s Cameron Henderson is off to one of the best starts in the area. He averaged 45.5 points in nonleague victories over Van Nuys and North Hollywood. Henderson became the Conquistadores go-to guy after Jermel Jones transferred to Fremont this summer “I knew he’d score. I didn’t know he would score this much,” Coach Neils Ludlow said. . . . Granada Hills Coach Lou Cicciari doesn’t want to offer any excuses for the Highlanders’ 0-6 start but Granada Hills was hit hard by the flu bug that appears to be circulating around the Valley. Senior Ernest Quinley, the team’s top returning scorer, missed the final two games of the Thousand Oaks tournament and Cicciari himself was under the weather: “We’ve realistically had a chance to win every game we’ve played. We’re still going to be OK,” he said.

WEST VALLEY

* Boys’ basketball:

After losing Tony Hoggatts and Akua Floyd to ineligibility over the past two weeks, Cleveland Coach Kevin Crider is looking for players to complement senior swingman Junior Brignac. He may have found one in 6-8 senior Mike Schultz. A highly regarded pitching prospect, Schultz scored 29 points in the opening round of the Thousand Oaks tournament. . . . Looking for a reason Taft (1-5) struggled early and lost its first four games? The Toreadors made six of 40 three-point shot attempts in the first four games. But things are looking up: Taft picked up a forfeit victory over Narbonne when the Gauchos’ coach was ejected. Taft also played hard against Canoga Park, the early favorite in the Valley Pac-8 Conference, losing, 68-66.

* Girls’ basketball:

Granada Hills has played just two games, which may be a blessing for Coach Carolyn Gunny. Gunny plans to extensively play two freshmen--six-foot center Michelle Ferrucci and point guard Saki Fakiuchi--and figures the extra practice time doesn’t hurt. The Highlanders scrapped plans to play in the Dorsey tournament the opening week of the season. . . . Kennedy guard Tamaya Morris returned to the lineup after missing the first seven games of the season because of the flu.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE

* Boys’ basketball:

One of the most improved players in the area is Verdugo Hills forward Maurice Potter. The 6-6 senior has scored more than 40 points in all three conference games. “He just improved a bunch over the summer,” assistant Kevin Henry said. “We haven’t seen anybody that can slow him down.”

* Girls’ basketball:

Verdugo Hills’ first conference victory in three seasons, a 46-32 victory over Belmont came at a price. Swingman Ryanne Standley, who has been playing with torn ligaments in her ankle, was advised not to play by her doctor. She missed Tuesday’s loss to Eagle Rock.

CITY SECTION SOCCER

* Boys:

Magnet Conference: After going 0-16 last season as a first-year program, Sherman Oaks CES is 4-0. Aided by the formation this season of a Magnet school conference, the Knights have defeated its other members: Bravo Medical, Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles CES and USC Math and Science.

“We’re going to be heard from in the playoffs,” first-year Coach Dan McDonnell said. “We got beaten by teams like Reseda, Sylmar and Monroe last year but we want to play them this year.”

* Girls:

League A: Granada Hills (2-1-1), which plays in the City’s top league, starts four freshmen and only one senior. The Highlanders are looking forward to the return of standout senior midfielder Rachel Olinger, who has yet to play because of a broken ankle. Olinger is questionable for next week’s Simi Valley tournament but is expected to be ready for League A play in January.

CITY SECTION WRESTLING

* City Section wrestling suffered a blow when Fremont and Gardena dropped their programs this season because of financial woes. That reduces to eight the number of schools with wrestling programs, seven of which are in the Valley.

Attrition also brought realignment: The Valley and Central leagues have been replaced by Eastern (Bell, Granada Hills, Monroe, San Fernando) and Western (Birmingham, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, El Camino Real) divisions. Moreover, league finals have been eliminated. The City finals, scheduled for Feb. 24 at El Camino Real, will follow the regular season.

The City dual meet finals will take place Feb. 15 at Monroe.

* A 14th weight class at 215 pounds takes effect statewide this season. The creation of an additional division between 189 and heavyweight had been under consideration by the California Interscholastic Federation Council since 1990. The council’s wrestling advisory committee approved the new weight class in October.

SOUTHERN SECTION

FOOTHILL

* Boys’ basketball:

Hart is adding two ingredients that might lead to a return to the top of the league standings: Mike Wambolt and Casey Keltner. Wambolt, a 6-4, 260-pound offensive lineman, and Keltner, a 6-2, 175-pound linebacker, reported Monday after helping the Indians’ football team win the section Division II championship last week. Keltner could earn a starting spot at forward by season’s end while Wambolt should be an imposing figure underneath the basket. “I don’t keep guys just to be enforcers,” Coach Mike May said, referring to Wambolt. “He can play post defense. He’s not a great shot blocker, but he can play inside and rebound. And he moves pretty well for his size.” . . . Saugus was doing well to be 4-2 entering the week. The Centurions had four players out with the flu last week. Three others are sidelined this week. “I don’t know if we’re alone on that boat,” Coach Jeff Hallman said. “But maybe I’ll take them to a clinic [for immunization shots] next year.” . . . Canyon has lost starting guard Larry Phillips for three to four weeks because of a dislocated finger. Phillips was averaging eight points a game.

* Girls’ basketball

Canyon (1-6) is back at full strength and hopes to end a six-game losing streak. Facing highly touted opponents such as Crescenta Valley and Simi Valley, the Cowboys played without wing T.J. Jackson (bronchitis) for five games and without wing Valerie Wiggins for three. Wiggins, the team’s best player, collapsed after a game. She was diagnosed with pleurisy. Coach Paul Broneer, meanwhile, is trying to institute a man-to-man defense. “I have five players who can do it,” he said, “but if I put one sub in, we’re in trouble.”

* Girls’ soccer:

Hart Coach Oliver Germond said that, despite the presence of six senior teammates, junior midfielder Laura Qualls has taken charge. “She pretty much dictates how the game goes for us, she’s the leader of the team,” Germond said. The Indians (5-0-1), who shared each of the last two Foothill League titles, have outshot each of their opponents while allowing only two goals.

GOLDEN

* Boys’ basketball:

Quartz Hill did not win a league game last season, but the Rebels might have the smarts to win a few this year. Forward Jeremiah Brooks helped clinch a 49-48 victory over Franklin on Tuesday when he reminded Coach Bernard Nichter during a timeout with 11 seconds left and Franklin in possession of the ball that Quartz Hill had three fouls to give before the Panthers could shoot free throws. The Rebels fouled three times, denying Franklin a chance at a game-winning shot. . . . Palmdale, the three-time defending league champion, won three of its first four games. No surprise, right? Coach Garry Phelps is surprised, having lost nine seniors. “I thought they’d get better later in the year,” he said. “But they don’t want to break the string of league titles.”

* Girls’ basketball:

Littlerock appears to be recovering from its first week of the season, in which the Lobos played five days in a row, losing their first four games. They are now 3-4. Surprisingly, nobody complained about fatigue that first week. “They haven’t been a complaining group so far,” Coach Tom Hegre said. “I don’t think they realize when they’re getting that tired. They just move a little slower.” Guard Kristin Phillips is averaging 14.5 points, but the bad news is Jamie Foster, who leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals, will be out a few weeks after eye surgery.

PACIFIC

* Boys’ basketball:

Suffice to say Coach John Goffredo had difficulty finding teams for this season’s Crescenta Valley tournament. Hence, the Falcons played Valley Alternative in an opening-round game Tuesday and the result was predictable: Crescenta Valley 98, Valley Alternative 29. Said Goffredo: “It was either them or our JV team.”

CHANNEL

* Boys’ basketball:

Ceneka Shaw, a 6-foot-6 post player, has a rare flaw in his game. “He is too unselfish,” Buena Coach Glen Hannah said. “I want him to be more offensive-minded because he is such a tremendous talent.” Shaw is getting the message, averaging 18.1 points in leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 start. . . . After playing in the Loyola and Beverly Hills tournaments the past two weeks, Buena will not play again until the Ventura tournament the week after Christmas. “Those two tournaments were the hardest part of our season, driving to Los Angeles nearly every day,” Hannah said. “It gave us a chance to see what to practice on.” . . . Ventura was 1-2 in the Beverly Hills tournament, defeating Glendale after opening with two losses.

* Girls’ basketball:

Rio Mesa, off to a 4-0 start, defeated highly regarded Bell-Jeff, before losing in the final of the Gold Coast tournament last week. The Spartans are led by Chante Guggia, Carol Saldana and Trina Ayala. . . . With several transfers, Oxnard (2-3) is stocked with talent, but the Yellowjackets found the going rough in the Woodbridge tournament last week, losing by less than five points to Edison, Gahr and San Clemente. “We’ve got to get on the same page,” Coach Ryle Lynch-Cole said.

MARMONTE

* Boys’ basketball:

Having made 37 three-point baskets in eight games, guard Brent Bush of Newbury Park obviously has his coach’s blessing to fire away. “We have a big green light in our gym,” Coach Steve Johnson said. “That’s for Brent.” Bush, who is shooting 49% from three-point range, set a school record last season with 81 and has blown past the career mark of 92 held by Robert Fick (now catcher on the Cal State Northridge baseball team). Bush is averaging 21.8 points a game. . . . Channel Islands won the Nordhoff tournament and finished second in its own tournament, but the Raiders’ most impressive performance was their loss to highly regarded Dorsey in which they stayed even until the fourth quarter. “We still need to prove we can beat teams in our league,” Coach Gary Abraham said. Point guard O.J. Thomas, a 5-8 sophomore who started last season, was most valuable player of the Nordhoff tournament and is averaging 12 points and 5.5 steals a game.

* Girls’ basketball:

Although Simi Valley is the prohibitive favorite, Coach Dave Murphy is worried that his team does not match up well against Thousand Oaks, a perennial power that slipped to a record of 18-10 last season. “They are big inside and we are guard-oriented,” Murphy said. . . . Meanwhile, Lancer Coach Chuck Brown worries about his team’s guard play. “Point guard? We don’t have one,” he said. “We play guard by committee. And with league play beginning, we don’t have time to experiment any more.” . . . Camarillo (0-4) has yet to win under first-year Coach Diane Wilson-Graham, who got a late start with the team after taking over from Tara McLean-Emery in early November. McLean-Emery is an assistant at Ventura College.

* Boys’ soccer:

Opponents of Agoura tend to key on senior forward Adam Eyre. But Chargers’ Coach Steve Hoffman calls 6-foot-6 junior midfielder Kyle Alexander his secret weapon.

“[Alexander]’s got about a size-16 shoe and he looks so awkward with the ball but he’s got a great touch,” Hoffman said. “People look at him and think, ‘What’s a basketball player doing out here?’ but then he puts the ball down and goes right by them.”

MISSION

* Boys’ basketball:

Alemany (3-2) is off to a slow start, thanks to a variety of illness that has struck the Indians. Not only have several players been struck by the flu, senior forward Tim Nelson came down with chicken pox. “We’re just kinda waiting around to see if anyone’s gonna get them,” Coach Rob Webb said. “If anyone’s gonna get them, they’re gonna get them this week.” . . . Eyebrows raised when Harvard-Westlake struggled to three consecutive victories to win the Thousand Oaks tournament. The Wolverines rebounded from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Santa Barbara, then went to double-overtime to defeat Thousand Oaks in the final. Junior center Jason Collins was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

* Girls’ basketball:

The boys’ basketball team at Harvard-Westlake receives a heap of attention. But Harvard’s girls’ team quietly has jumped to a 5-1 start, including a championship victory in the Campbell Hall tournament. The Wolverines were 6-14 last season, 1-9 in league play. Said Coach Dave Bennett: “The Alemanys and the Notre Dames in our league are still ahead of us. But I think we’re catching up to the Chaminades and the Louisvilles.”

* Girls’ soccer:

Harvard-Westlake All-American midfielder Natalie Kim returned from a broken wrist last week but the Wolverines hardly skipped a beat in her absence.

Harvard-Westlake, 8-1 after Monday’s victory over Marymount, lost a 1-0 match to Westlake but has knocked off regional powers Buena and Crescenta Valley.

FRONTIER

* Boys’ basketball:

The 12-player roster at Santa Clara averages 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, the tallest team in Coach Lou Cvijanovich’s lengthy tenure. . . . Calabasas won the Calvary Chapel tournament in early December and junior guard Ryan Coleman was named tournament most valuable player. Coleman was averaging 20 points per game as of Monday. . . . Nordhoff has dressed its entire varsity team for only three of its first eight games. The Rangers were reduced by illness, injuries and forgetfulness. Two players had to sit out a game against Santa Ynez in the Fillmore tournament last week when they brought the wrong color uniforms. Coach Jim Hall was so short on players at one point he promoted the freshman team’s starting five for a loss against Carpinteria.

TRI-VALLEY

* Boys’ basketball:

Oak Park has found an early scoring touch, despite the presence of 11 first-year varsity players. The Eagles were averaging 60 points a game through Monday, and are led by their three returnees: guards Randy Gastwirt and Vaughn Corley and forward Danny Wasserman. “They’re not coming off the floor,” Oak Park Coach Rob Hall said of the trio. “We played four games in the Faith Baptist tournament and I doubt if any of them missed more than three or four minutes the whole time.”

* Girls’ basketball:

Fillmore rebounded from a loss in the championship game of its own tournament in early December to win the Nordhoff tournament. The Flashes’ starting lineup of forwards Julie Arundell and Jennifer Smithwick, center April Kozar and guards Christie Rosenblad and Elizabeth Arguelles has been set since the first game.

SANTA FE

* Boys’ basketball:

There is a youth movement at Bell-Jeff, which defeated defending state champion Montclair Prep on Saturday to win the Faith Baptist tournament. Sophomore Ruben Douglas is averaging 21.1 points per game, sophomore Elihu Cobb 17.3 points and freshman Kent Dennis 15 points.

Contributing: Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus, Tris Wykes, Peter Yoon.