Bell-Jeff’s Johnson Ready to Give Opponents Stress

Jaclyn Johnson breaks into a wide smile anytime she talks about her return to the basketball court.

The Bell-Jeff High senior forward has been one of the region’s top players since she averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game as a Quartz Hill freshman and was named to The Times’ All-Valley team.

She continued making progress her sophomore season, then transferred to Bell-Jeff before her junior year to live with her aunt, then with her father. The 6-foot-2 Johnson looked to be a dominating force in the Camino Real League.

It didn’t turn out that way.

Six games into the season, playing a tournament game against an old rival, Antelope Valley, Johnson suffered a stress fracture in her right shin.

“It really didn’t hurt that much once the bruise went away,” she said. “But I still couldn’t play. I wish I just could have broken it cleanly. It would have healed faster.”

Johnson sat out 15 games before returning shortly before the playoffs began.

She played reasonably well, helping Bell-Jeff reach the Southern Section Division IV-A semifinals before a narrow loss to Village Christian.

But Johnson still was not completely healthy.

“I had to sit out another month just to make sure,” Johnson said. “But this summer I played so hard I got shin splints.”

Finally fully recovered, Johnson played for the Guards’ volleyball team that recently completed its season.

Her past basketball accomplishments were enough to secure a scholarship with one of the top college teams in the nation. Johnson signed a letter of intent earlier this month with Kansas, an emerging program in the Big 12 Conference.

To prepare for the 1996-97 season, Johnson has been working on her outside game, hoping to spend as much time on the wing as she does inside.

She should get the chance. Bell-Jeff returns its top seven players from last season and expects to contend for its first section title.

“I’m so excited just to be playing,” Johnson said. “Last year was kind of a lost year.”

Actually, Johnson’s teammates may have benefited from playing without her. Guards Cheryl and Falicia Flores and center Stacey Cobb, Johnson’s cousin, all made significant progress last season.

“I hope it makes a difference,” said Bell-Jeff Coach Jim Couch. “They learned to play and win without her and now we have our missing piece back.”

Johnson usually arrives early or stays late after practice to work on her shot, which is slowly extending to the three-point line.

With her combination of size and skill, Johnson will tower over smaller opponents.

She has no regrets about transferring away from Quartz Hill, a Golden League power and Division I school. Johnson said she wasn’t happy at Quartz Hill and wanted a change, which prompted a move to Burbank.

“I hadn’t even heard of Bell-Jeff until I came and visited,” she said. “But I liked what I saw. I liked the school, I liked the coach and I liked the players. I’m happy here.”

Especially when she’s playing basketball.

Other players to watch:

Frontcourt: Buena center Nicole Greathouse has been a mainstay in the Bulldog lineup since her freshman season. The 6-2 senior signed with UC Santa Barbara earlier this month after averaging 17 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season. . . .Paraclete center Kim Whisler, a 6-3 senior, averaged 22.4 points--second in the region behind Simi Valley’s Tawnee Cooper--13.1 rebounds and a region-high 5.4 blocks. Whisler signed with San Francisco. . . .If Thousand Oaks center Jenn Detmer is recovered from mononucleosis, the Lancers will be Marmonte League favorites. Detmer averaged 20.5 points. . . .Candace Boller, will try to lead Hart to a fifth consecutive Foothill League title. Boller has committed to Loyola Marymount.

Backcourt: Crescenta Valley junior Michelle Greco can play both guard positions and may see duty at small forward. The 5-10 Greco was selected Cal-Hi Sports’ sophomore and freshman of the year the past two seasons. She averaged 17.3 points, 4.8 assists and 4.7 steals. . . .Tracey Milburn led Moorpark to an undefeated regular season last year. The Frontier League Player of the Year averaged 16.6 points. . . .Alemany junior Kelli Kobayashi is one of the region’s best point guards. She averaged 12 points and 6.1 assists. . . .Oxnard’s Jaline Bradley led the Yellowjackets with 3.8 assists last season as a freshman.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TEAMS TO WATCH

BUENA, 30-2, Channel League champion, Southern Section Division I-A champion, advanced to Southern California Regional final:

The Bulldogs are perennially one of the top teams in California, and will be again behind senior Nicole Greathouse. The 6-foot-2 center, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, averaged 17 points and 10.9 rebounds. Senior forwards Stephanie Kinnear and Ashley Jackson have experience. The major change will be in the backcourt, where junior Renae Hofmann and sophomore Kelly Murray replace Eboni Conley and Kori Sebek. Buena plays Southern Section powers Irvine Woodbridge and Brea Olinda after the new year and play in a holiday tournament in Florida. The Bulldogs’ first game is Dec. 11.

PALMDALE, 29-4, Golden League champion, Southern Section I-AA runner-up, advanced to second round of state playoffs:

Coming off the most successful season in school history, the Falcons must replace 6-4 center Kristi Rose but not much else. Rose is at Utah, but Palmdale returns senior point guard Monique Nolan and Edniesha Curry, who has signed with Cal State Northridge. Marjorie Knott (6-2) will play center and Casey Bledsoe returns at forward. Freshman L-TanyaRobinett is a promising 6-1 freshman.

QUARTZ HILL, 17-8, Golden League runner-up, advanced to second round of Southern Section I-AA playoffs:

The Rebels got a boost when Kenya Corley and Tiffany Cooke transferred from Antelope Valley. Corley averaged 13.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. Cooke averaged 7.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals. They join guard Sanethia Thomas, who averaged 14 points and has signed with Texas-El Paso.

CRESCENTA VALLEY, 28-2, Pacific League champion, advanced to Southern Section I-A semifinals:

The Falcons lost Amirah Leonard, their top three-point shooter, to graduation but return plenty of firepower. Junior Michelle Greco was Cal-Hi Sports’ state freshman and sophomore of the year. The 5-10 Greco averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds. Junior Tara Gregory, senior Jackie Rhetta and 6-3 sophomore Kelly Paige add to Crescenta Valley’s depth.

Others: Oxnard (18-8), runner-up to Buena in the Channel League last season, returns Nikki Black and Jaline Bradley. . . .Hart (21-8), defending Foothill League champion, returns 5-11 senior Candace Boller and guards Amanda Hoaglund and Jelene Daney. . . .Bell-Jeff (22-6) returns its top seven players and could be one of the top teams in the state in Division IV. . . .Thousand Oaks (24-6), with center Jenn Detmer, is a favorite in the Marmonte League. The Lancers’ toughest competition could come from Newbury Park (15-11) and Simi Valley (27-3). . . .Moorpark (24-1) was unbeaten in the regular season last year and should repeat as Frontier League champion. . . .Alemany (20-8) must replace 6-4 center Carly Funicello, but should remain a Mission League favorite behind point guard Kelli Kobayashi.