JUST PREPS : A page dedicated to high school athletes, their families and coaches--and to those who follow high school sports : Look South for Power in ’96 : Orange County Teams Lead Girls’ Rankings, With Woodbridge No. 1

Perennial contenders Palos Verdes Peninsula and Ventura Buena continue to be factors among the top girls’ basketball programs in the Southland, but the power base has definitely shifted south, to Orange County.

Six schools from Orange County are in The Times’ Top 20 preseason rankings and several others were contenders. The county accounted for four of the top five teams, including No. 1 Irvine Woodbridge, which won the Division II state title last season and has top prospects in forward Melanie Pearson and guard Erin Stovall.

A look at the teams:

1. IRVINE WOODBRIDGE (Southern Section, Division II-AA): The Warriors have four players who started for last year’s team that finished 33-1 and won the Division II state title. The big question is Coach Pat Quinn, in his first season as successor to Eric Bangs (296-69).

2. VENTURA BUENA (Southern Section, Division I-A): The Bulldogs have advanced to the divisional final six years in a row, and there’s no reason to think they won’t make it seven. Coach Joe Vaughn, in his 21st season, has a solid group of players, including senior guards Kori Sebeck and Eboni Conley.

3. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (Southern Section, Division I-AA): Veteran Coach Carol Strausburg has two of the top players in Orange County in forwards Nicole Strange and Jennifer Ludwicki. Last season, when the Barons reached the I-A semifinals, Strange averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds and Ludwicki 19 points. They will get help from 5-foot-11 center Heather Basco.

4. SANTA ANA MATER DEI (Southern Section, Division I-A): Don’t be surprised if the Monarchs end up No. 1. Coach Mary Hauser, 52-7 in two seasons, led her team to the Division I state championship game last season. She has the tools, including preseason All-American guard Melody Peterson, who has already signed with Stanford.

5. BREA-OLINDA (Southern Section, Division II-A): The Ladycats still have one of the area’s elite programs. The school has won 13 consecutive league titles and seven consecutive divisional titles and expects to add to those this season. The team should have plenty of scoring punch with the return of guards Jennifer Saari and Marissa Bradley.

6. CRENSHAW (City Section, Division 4-A): The Cougars solidified themselves as the new power in the City Section by winning their third 4-A title in a row last season. Things look bright again with junior center Naila Moseley, last year’s player of the year, back.

7. PALOS VERDES PENINSULA (Southern Section, Division I-AA): He lost two of his top players from last season, so Coach Wendell Yoshida will go with a lineup of three guards, including seniors Eden Palacio and Karen Hartman and junior Anka Dusevio.

8. MISSION HILLS ALEMANY (Southern Section, Division II-A): Despite double- and triple-team coverage last season, 6-4 Carly Funicello averaged 15 points and seven rebounds for the Indians, who lost to Woodbridge in the II-AA final. She heads a talented lineup that includes forward Francine Bennette and guard Jen Stoughton.

9. CHINO (Southern Section, Division I-A): The Cowboys, eliminated by Buena in the I-A semifinals last season, will contend with a team headed by 5-10 forward Rasheeda Clark. She is joined inside by Jean Clark and Denice Jung, both 6-1.

10. TORRANCE BISHOP MONTGOMERY (Southern Section Division III-AA): The Knights lost to Newbury Park in the III-AA final and the Division III state quarterfinals last season, but they appear to be the class of the division this time. Coach Yvette Angel has many experienced players back, including guards Tashara Carter and Danielle Graham and center Tiffany Washington.

11. HUNTINGTON BEACH MARINA (Southern Section, Division I-A): Pete Bonny has won 78% of his games in six years as coach, but his most vivid memory is a heartbreaking 44-42 loss to Woodbridge in the II-AA semifinals last season. The teams are in different divisions now, which may help the Vikings, who have three solid players in forwards Sonya Bryant and Kirsten Cappel (6-2) and guard Christa Ellis.

12. CRESCENTA VALLEY (Southern Section, Division I-A): The Falcons have one of the top underclassman in the state in sophomore forward Michelle Greco, who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds last season and was voted the freshman player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports.

13. CERRITOS (Southern Section, Division I-A): After reaching the I-A quarterfinals last season, Coach Ann Dena Sjoerdsma decided to toughen her schedule. Although the Dons, who are led by guards Sherilyn Frazier and Keisha Harris, should go unchallenged in the Mission Valley League, their schedule should pay off in the postseason.

14. CERRITOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN (Southern Section, Division IV-A): The Crusaders shouldn’t have any problem winning their fifth divisional title in a row. Coach Eleanor Dykstra’s team, which already featured 6-2 center Tandee Taylor and guard Crystal Rosenthal, was helped by the addition of guards Kiyoko Miller and Monique Toney.

15. HUNTINGTON BEACH EDISON (Southern Section, Division I-A): The Sunset League may be the toughest in the state this year. The Chargers figure to contend for a divisional title but could finish third in their league. They are led by 6-foot forward Marie Philman.

16. PASADENA MUIR (Southern Section, Division III-AA): The Mustangs don’t have great size, but they make up for it with speedy guards. Seniors Shannon Lee and Kyla Johnson averaged in doubles figures last season, and should do well in a lower division.

17. DIAMOND BAR (Southern Section, Division I-AA): In four seasons with the Brahmas, Coach Jim Salyer has an 89-18 record and three Sierra League titles. Diamond Bar finished 25-3 last year, and back are forwards Carrie Wright and Brandi Favre.

18. LYNWOOD (Southern Section, Division I-AA): After winning two I-AA titles in a row, the Knights slipped a bit last year. They should rebound with a lineup that includes 6-3 center Tanisha Johnson, forward Kristian Jackson and guard Danielle Gaskin.

19. WASHINGTON (City Section, Division 4-A): The Generals should challenge Southern Pacific Conference foe Crenshaw for the championship. The team has its top two players back, including senior guard Tina Greer and junior forward Laneishe Williams.

20. PERRIS (Southern Section, Division II-A): Center Maylana Martin, who recently signed with UCLA, averaged 33 points and 18 rebounds last season. The addition of freshman guard Asia Petty should improve the Panthers.