HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEAGUE PREVIEWS : Expectations Abound, Particularly at La Reina

The La Reina High girls’ basketball team might struggle all season to replace graduated first-team all-league forward Shane Anderson, but the Regents are handling another hurdle with aplomb.

A planned midseason coaching change.

Allison Sain, the Regents’ third-year coach who in 1994-95 guided the team to a 10-12 overall record and a second-place league finish with a mark of 7-3, is expecting her first child in late January.

Stan Hirsch, La Reina’s vice principal and girls’ basketball assistant at the school, will take over for the remainder of the season, guiding the team in its quest for a second consecutive Southern Section Division IVAA playoff berth.

“It was a little disappointing that it worked out this way but you can’t always plan these things,” Sain said. “[The birth] is right about when league starts but that’s almost good because Stan can take over at a transition point in the season.”

Hirsch, who in his first stint as a La Reina varsity assistant coached Sain when she played from 1981-85, doesn’t anticipate any problems.

“I told the team I would get to as many practices as I could until I had to take over,” Hirsch said. “It’s worked out so that I’ve been to almost every practice and all but two games so the girls are used to having me around.”

Hirsch has no intention of overhauling Sain’s team and said he plans to stick with La Reina’s current starting lineup and substitution patterns. At the same time, he already has made significant contributions to a team that is struggling to overcome the loss of Anderson.

“Shooting is our main concern right now,” said Hirsch, who has reworked one of the Regents’ offensive schemes.

“We’ve straightened out our free-throw problems but we need to convert shots from five or six feet on a more-consistent basis. I started keeping a shot chart three or four games ago and showed [the team] that the shots were there but we weren’t converting.”

While Hirsch prepares for his promotion, Sain is doing her best to carry on.

“It’s gotten a little uncomfortable and that’s a little frustrating because I’m a hands-on coach and I like to get out there and show them how to do things,” she said.

Sain’s players keep an eye on their coach, even as they follow her directions at practice and games.

“We worry about her and watch out for her,” junior forward Jennifer Toon said. “She wants to be out there with us but we don’t want her to get hurt.”

The Regents are aware that Sain’s big day might occur any time in the next few weeks.

Hirsch, for one, is not worried.

“The hospital’s right down the street from our school, so as long as it happens at a home game we can get her there quickly,” he said with a laugh.

The Local Teams

FILLMORE

1994-95: 20-4, 9-1

The Flashes are the clear choice to repeat as champions, in large part because of the trio of Julie Arundell, Christie Rosenblad and April Kozar. Arundell is a 5-foot-10 senior forward who averages 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Rosenblad is a junior point guard averaging 14 points and six assists. Both earned all-league, All-Ventura County and All-Southern Section Division IVAA accolades last season. Kozar, a 5-foot-10 junior center, averages 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior guard Elizabeth Arguelles and junior forward Jennifer Smithwick round out the starting lineup. “Right now we’re playing as good or better than last year,” Fillmore Coach Jeff Fauver said. “We look to run first on offense and we try to create a lot of turnovers with a pressing defense.”

LA REINA

1994-95: 10-12, 7-3

Whether the Regents can replace graduated power forward Shane Anderson and her 16-point average may be a season-long question. “Offensively we need to build confidence,” said Coach Allison Sain, whose team was second in the league last season. “The games we’ve lost we couldn’t score in. That responsibility has to be spread around.” The team has no seniors and four of the five starters are juniors. Forward Kindrea Cuccia has been the standout so far, averaging 12 points and nine rebounds. The other forward is Jennifer Toon, and Andrea Mevoli (5-9) is the center. Sophomore Susanna Murley is the point guard and a solid defensive player averaging four steals. Catherine Fontecha is the shooting guard.

OAK PARK

1994-95: 18-9, 7-3

The Eagles finished third last season and figure to be in a similar position again, especially if their rebounding is as good as advertised by first-year Coach Keith Case. Three starters return, led by first-team all-league selection Natalie Davis, a senior guard. Alicia Barron, a 6-foot senior center and honorable mention all-league choice last season, and 5-8 junior forward Michelle Frankson are the other returnees. Senior Gina Riportella moves into the starting shooting guard role while sophomore guard/forward Angela Chen, 6-foot senior center Christina Croege and junior forward Stephanie Hoagland are in the hunt for playing time. Freshmen guards Morgan Murphy and Cori Grover could also be factors.

ST. BONAVENTURE

1994-95: 5-18, 2-8

Last season’s fifth-place finish was forgettable for the Seraphs but they appear to have improved enough to rise above Carpinteria and Bishop Diego. Seniors and third-year starters Alisa Doran and Amber Davis are the key returnees. Doran, a senior guard and a two-time first-team all-league selection, averages 17 points, and the 5-10 Davis is a senior making the transition from point guard to forward. The other three starters are new: junior forward Jennifer Cordial, averaging nine rebounds, junior guard Candice Bartosh and senior guard Amanda Wallet. “We’re averaging 23 turnovers a game but that’s indicative of a young team,” Coach Marsha Dedrick said. “The players see someone open, hesitate, then throw it anyway. By that time someone’s standing in the way.” On the bright side, the bench features players from last season’s junior varsity, which was 17-3 and won the league title.