They’re Gaining on Alemany

It could become crowded at the top in the Mission League girls’ basketball race. Maybe not as soon as this season, but soon.

Perennial power Alemany, league champion seven of the past 10 years and a Southern Section Division II-AA finalist last season, remains a consensus favorite to win the league title. And Notre Dame, 8-2 last season and a Division III-A semifinalist, remains close behind.

Last season, no other team won more than half its league games. But this season, several teams figure to show improvement.

Programs under young coaches at Louisville, Chaminade, Flintridge Sacred Heart, even Harvard-Westlake--0-10 last season--appear to be on the move.

Of the four, Louisville (13-12, 5-5 in league play) posted the best record last season. And the Royals might emerge as the most formidable challenger to Alemany and Notre Dame.

The return of five starters should ensure that the turnaround begun last season under Coach Paula Getty-Shearer will continue.

“We feel good about what’s happening,” Getty-Shearer said. “I think it was just coming in and starting fresh and everything was just positive from the start. We keep looking to improve and I think we have.”

More dramatic has been the reversal of fortunes at Harvard. The Wolverines (11-2) already have improved on last season’s 6-14 mark and have won two tournaments.

This could be the breakthrough season for fourth-year Coach Dave Bennett, whose goal is to make the playoffs and whose eye is on the future.

“We’re still pretty young and we’re still going to suffer some growing pains,” Bennett said. “But I think we’ll have some pretty good teams down the road.”

Optimism likewise abounds at Chaminade and Flintridge Sacred Heart, where first-year coaches Diane Garza and Susan Harrison have taken over.

“I’m pretty happy with things right now,” Garza said. “We have a lot of young players and it’s a whole new offense.

“But it will probably be Alemany again. Then Notre Dame.”

Around the League

ALEMANY

1994-95: 26-6, 10-0

The Indians are favored to win a third consecutive league title. Carly Funicello, a 6-4 senior center who has signed with UCLA, ranks as one of the region’s most talented players after averaging 14.9 points last season. Sophomore guard Kelli Kobayashi (5-4) might soon be considered the same. Junior forward Francine Bennette (5-11) and 5-4 senior guard Jen Stoughton will play increased roles. Senior guard Stacey Mendoza (5-6) and junior forward Rachel Manning (5-9) both move up from the junior varsity.

CHAMINADE

1994-95: 11-12, 4-6

The Eagles are young but have talent where it counts. Senior point guard Sheila Shalati is a returning starter and second-team all-league selection. Junior center Karen Knokey (5-11) is a good rebounder. Sophomore guards Kerrie Clavadetscher (5-6) and Fuyumi Hashimoto (5-8) have varsity experience.

FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART

1994-95: 8-12, 3-7

The Tologs have one returning starter but several players with varsity experience. Four seniors are expected to start--guards Christina De La Torre and Yanina Mickelsen, and forwards Joanna Porath and Faye Ybanez. Sophomore guard Danielle Dal Ponte completes the lineup. A strong bench includes senior forwards Andrea Grover and Jane Huesman.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

1994-95: 6-14, 0-10

Three sophomores form the backbone of an improved team. Guard Corrie Roberts (5-8) is a returning starter. Forwards Carissa Abbott (6 feet) and Michelle Wong (5-11) are learning fast. Senior point guard Jenna Trabulus (5-3) is a returning starter. Junior forward Christine Bohle (5-10) is a three-year starter. Senior forward Heather Greenfield (5-10) and junior guard Suzanne Wrubel (5-8) should contribute.

LOUISVILLE

1994-95: 13-11, 5-5

The Royals, with five starters among eight returnees, should contend for league supremacy. Junior guard Becky Witt (5-6) was an all-league selection last season. Senior center Adriane Bilek (6-1) and sophomore guard Kari Crawley (5-5) were second-team selections. Junior guard Rosie Chingcuangco (5-1) and junior forward Roxy Romo (5-7) are returning starters.

NOTRE DAME

1994-95: 20-7, 8-2

The Knights have improved each of the past three seasons. Four seniors--guards Ashly Ritter (5-7), Lourdes Slinsky (5-11) and Stephanie Eden (5-7), and forward Stacey Phillips (6 feet)--form the team’s nucleus. Eden, who plays point guard, is an exceptional three-point shooter. Ritter, a three-year starter, is the team’s all-around best player. Slinsky appears to have rebounded from a knee injury that limited her to five games last season.