HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Early Foothill Showdown for Hart and Burroughs Girls

All of the other games matter, of course.

But perhaps the most-important game--the one that, in large part, could determine who will be champion--will come on opening night of the Foothill League girls’ basketball season.

Hart will play at Burroughs on Tuesday.

The teams battled for the championship last season, with Hart getting an eight-point victory in the third and decisive meeting for its seventh Foothill title in eight seasons. But now, with the addition of Valencia to the league’s varsity ranks, Burroughs and Hart will play each other only twice.

And Hart Coach Dave Munroe remembers what happened the first time his team played at Burroughs last year.

“We lost to them by five,” he said. “They’ve got good athletes. They’re tough to beat in their gym.”

Hart is 9-7. Burroughs is 9-6. But no other team in the league is expected to challenge.

“A lot of teams are going to improve, but I would say it’s going to come down to us and Hart,” Burroughs Coach Doug Nicol said.

Burroughs’ strategy will be to deny the easy shot, and it has the personnel to carry out the plan, with forwards Janelle Simon (6-feet), and JoAnna Garrick (6-2), and center Teroya Roberson (6-3). Talented playmaking guard Joyce Lau has returned from an ankle sprain and should give the big three easy scoring opportunities.

But Hart is also strong on the inside, with 5-11 junior Candace Boller averaging 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds, and forwards Jaclyn Kuptz and Wendy Downen active as well.

Around the League

BURBANK

1994-95: 0-23, 0-12

Burbank is looking at a rebuilding year with only two players returning with varsity experience: guard Melinda Yates and forward Michelle Starkey. First-year Coach Steve Lassiter hopes sophomore guard Chantal Pershing can solidify the backcourt.

BURROUGHS

1994-95: 14-12, 9-3

Guard Kristi Russell quit the team and her loss weakened the lineup and forced Coach Doug Nicol to do some shuffling. For the second time in two seasons, Katie Blackburn has had to move from her natural shooting-guard position to point guard. Janelle Simon averages 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds and has 32 steals. Teroya Roberson averages 10 rebounds and has 36 blocked shots in 16 games.

CANYON

1994-95: 8-17, 3-9

No team will welcome the start of league play as much as the Cowboys, who endured a 2-9 start despite having five experienced varsity players. First-year Coach Paul Broneer made sure every player competed in a fall sport to stay in shape. Perhaps they were a little tired. Canyon likely will battle Saugus and Burbank for a third playoff berth, and the edge could go to the Cowboys if nobody finds a way to stop senior post player Tanya McLaughlin, who averages about 18 points.

HART

1994-95: 21-6, 11-1

The Indians are traditionally one of the league’s strongest teams and this season will be no exception. Senior forwards Wendy Downen and Jaclyn Kuptz--a first-team all-league pick--and junior guard Amanda Hoaglund are returning starters. Although Hart’s outside shooting is a concern, few opponents have been able to stop junior center Candace Boller, the team’s leading scorer.

SAUGUS

1994-95: 11-12, 7-5

The Centurions, like Canyon, stumbled out of the blocks at 2-7. But fifth-year Coach Laurie Roland is intent on turning the program into a winner. She can build around guard Wendy Gussner, who averages 10.8 points, shoots 33% from three-point range and plays tough defense, and Christine Sifferman, a center who averages 10.6 points and five rebounds.

VALENCIA

1994-95: 2-19, JV only

The challenge this year for Coach Dennis Mifflin will be to keep his team competitive and confident. The Vikings have decent size and athletic ability but no varsity experience. Forwards Lauria Rossiter and Kelly Warden and guard Shaleen Sayani, all sophomores, should be among Valencia’s best players.