Canyons and Valley State Strong Cases

They are talking repeat at Ventura College, while at Canyons and Valley, they are aiming for the junior college women’s state championships.

And why not?

The Pirates again are loaded and could win their second consecutive state title, and Canyons and Valley nearly reached the Final Eight tournament last year.

They’ll start on the road to San Jose, where the finals will be held in March, with season-opening games today.

Here’s a rundown of the area teams:

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: Jackie Lott, seventh season

LAST SEASON: 9-17; tied for fourth in Foothill Conference at 5-7

Ten freshmen and two sophomores comprise the Marauders. Forward Stacey Hartwell averaged 7.5 points and was 10th in the conference with 177 rebounds last season. Guard-forward Chakana Mayo (5.1 points per game) is the other returning player. The newcomers include guards Chanel Edwards from Palmdale High, Natascha Green from Antelope Valley High and Kristin Phillips from Littlerock High.

CANYONS

COACH: Greg Herrick, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 20-13; second in Western State Conference South Division at 7-3

The Cougars won division titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95, and look poised to make another championship run. Point guard Kyetra Brown, who averaged 14.2 points two seasons ago, returns after sitting out last season. She is complemented in the backcourt by LaCresha Clark, a former Hart High standout, who transferred from Evansville. Newcomers include guard Amanda Chelette, daughter of Antelope Valley men’s Coach Newton Chelette. Last year she averaged 11 points at Quartz Hill High.

GLENDALE

COACH: Dyan Miller, first season

LAST SEASON: 11-19; third in WSC South Division at 5-5

Miller replaces Kathy Pudelko, who coached the Vaqueros for six seasons. The key returning players are 5-foot-10 forward Nicole Codd and 5-3 guard Vanessa Cortes, who received All-WSC honorable mention last season. Codd averaged 7.9 points and 7.8 rebounds, and Cortes averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 assists.

MOORPARK

COACH: Sherry Ruter, second season

LAST SEASON: 12-17; fifth in WSC North Division at 3-7

All-WSC North Division selection Trisha Palmquist returns for the Raiders. The 5-10 guard from Village Christian High last season averaged 15.9 points and 7.6 rebounds. Also back is 5-11 center Theresa Rough, who grabbed 236 rebounds last year. Guard Carrie Billone contributed with 100 assists.

OXNARD

COACH: Alex Flores, seventh season

LAST SEASON: 19-12; third in WSC North Division at 5-5

The Condors are coming off their best season since 1985-86, when they finished 16-12. They advanced last season to the Southern California regional but lost to Harbor, 69-63, in the first round.

PIERCE

COACH: Larry Allbritton, third season

LAST SEASON: 5-23; sixth in WSC South Division at 0-10

Since the 1991-92 season, the Brahmas are 4-46 in division play. They lost top player Michelle Johnson, who averaged 16.2 points and 17.2 rebounds, to graduation so they’ll have to find someone else to carry the load. That could be sophomore point guard Sandra Santos and sophomore forward Brenda Blandon.

VALLEY

COACH: John Taylor, fourth season

LAST SEASON: 26-10; first in WSC South Division at 10-0

The Monarchs have firepower with All-State guard Shawanda Hotchkiss, who led the WSC in scoring last season with a 20.3-point average. Starting forwards Jacque Tennies (8.3 points, 7.8 rebounds) and Lisa Nielsen (7.8 and 8.0), and guard Virginia Juarez (4.7 assists) also return.

VENTURA

COACH: Ned Mircetic, seventh season

LAST SEASON: 35-0; first in WSC North Division at 10-0

Forward Adria Sneed, an All-State second-team pick, leads Ventura. She was the division’s scoring champion, averaging 15.5 points. Forward Cindi Jensen averaged 11.9 points in the regular season and forward April Garrish averaged 7.4 rebounds. Point guard Marina Torres, the state co-player of the year last season, is now at Oregon State.