Wide-Open Race Could Go Down to Wire

It speaks volumes about the Marmonte League girls’ basketball race when the coach of the defending champion is worried about a team that won four games last season.

“Channel Islands might have the most talent in the league,” said Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy. “I really believe that. I’ve seen them play and they will contend for the title.”

Just about every team holds the same hope in what should be a wide-open race. Many questions were left unanswered entering league play Tuesday.

Thousand Oaks, the runner-up last season, returns the best player--6-foot-3 center Jenn Detmer. Detmer, who will play volleyball at Stanford next year, averaged 20.5 points and 10.1 rebounds as a junior.

But the Lancers are still looking for players to complement Detmer. Thousand Oaks went 2-2 in the Irvine University tournament last week.

“We still have lots of things to work on,” Coach Chuck Brown said.

Simi Valley must replace Tawnee Cooper, the league’s leading scorer the past two seasons. She is playing for UC Santa Barbara.

“Well, we can’t really replace her, we knew that from the beginning,” Murphy said.

The Pioneers have a good nucleus with senior guard Shannon Malia, who is averaging 16 points, and Christina Mosesso, the sixth player last season who is leading Simi Valley in assists. Simi Valley plays Thousand Oaks on Thursday.

Channel Islands lost close games to Rio Mesa and Bell-Jeff, both strong teams, in the Rio Mesa tournament last week, confirming Murphy’s theory. Even a small improvement would represent the Raiders’ best season since 1994.

Newbury Park is two years removed from its appearance in the Division III state final and returns only one starter from a team that finished third in league.

Royal and Agoura return the core of their teams and could contend for playoff spots. The Highlanders had seven players score in double figures in their season opener and started 4-1.

Westlake finished 13-14 last season but lost more than 70% of its scoring and has no depth from the junior varsity and freshman levels.

However, new Warrior coach John Hattrup has a successful track record at Mission Viejo and Brea Olinda, winning three section titles.

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Thousand Oaks center Jenn Detmer averaged 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks for the Lancers, who finished second last season. Detmer is the team’s only returning starter. . . .Channel Islands returns Elanor Ecoffey and Alma Perez and may be the most improved team in the league. . . .Simi Valley lost leading scorer Tawnee Cooper to graduation but returns guard Shannon Malia. . . .Kristin DeSimone, who averaged 16 points, returns for Agoura. . . .All five starters are back for Royal.

* THE PROMISING: Simi Valley guard Christina Momesso, the Pioneers’ first player off the bench last season, is leading the team in assists, and sophomore Jamie Sturdivant is averaging double figures in points. . . .Agoura junior forward Meghan Skelly must support DeSimone. . . .Royal center Amber Shores and guard Sarah Pavola were second-team all-league picks.

* FAST FACT: New Westlake Coach John Hattrup won the state Division III title in his only season as coach at Brea Olinda in 1994.