FREEWAY LEAGUE

Buena Park: 5-19, 0-10 in 1996-97. Coach: Ric Reed (seventh year, 18-94). Reed returns five lettermen from last year’s squad and should definitely improve on its last-place finish. Fourth place and an at-large berth are a possibility if the Coyotes can upset a team or two. Defense is where Reed expects to earn his victories. Senior Veronica Velasco (5-9, 11 points, 8.6 rebounds) is back at forward to lead the squad. Senior Kate Ragains (5-9, 10 points) will be at guard and junior Stephanie Pitts (5-10, seven points) returns at forward. Guards Barbara Roby and Darlene Hempel also are back.

Fullerton: 7-19, 4-6 in 1996-97. Coach: Marc Carrido (third year, 10-40). Carrido has been rebuilding the last few years and now has a season to look forward to. Unfortunately, he is up against Troy and Sonora. Seniors Cara Dykes and Shannon Hoerner will lead the team. Dykes (5-10) and Hoerner (5-10) have been playing together since they were freshmen and their leadership is key in keeping this team together. Carrido’s concern this season is keeping his team’s intensity up. “They have gone through many bumps and bruises in the last few years,” Carrido said. But he says this is their year. Look for Fullerton to finish third.

La Habra: 15-12, 7-3 in 1996-97. Coach: Leslie Ferguson (first year). La Habra is usually tough, but center Nori McCrystal (11 points, nine rebounds) will be missed and Lauren Koehler (six steals) is also gone. Two seniors, swingman Morgan Morris (5-9) and guard Melissa Rodriguez (5-4), accompany five juniors and five sophomores.

Sonora: 15-11, 7-3 in 1996-97. Coach: Rick Albano (third year, 33-19). Albano hopes to win the team’s first league title in more than 15 years, but will have to battle defending champion Troy. The Raiders, ousted in the second round by eventual champion Brea Olinda, return four starters and nine lettermen. No one has stepped up to take over the leadership of the team and junior Sarah Fister (6-3, 13 points, 12 rebounds), an all-league selection, might be a good candidate. Fister has improved each season and will need to step it up again to lead Sonora over Troy. Junior Lillian Hewko (5-8, seven points, four assists) will start at guard, senior Kristi De Olivia (5-8, six points, six rebounds) is at forward and sophomore Mindy Clark (6-4, seven points, nine rebounds) at center. Albano is excited about incoming freshman Brandi Davis, who he says is a potential all-county player.

Sunny Hills: 3-19, 2-8 in 1996-97. Coach: Lori Peterson (first year). Like La Habra’s Ferguson, Peterson is in the unenviable position of coaching a mediocre team in a talent-packed league. The Lancers can expect about the same this season as last, but upsets are unlikely. Seniors Jenny Chen and Julie Bai return.

Troy: 22-4, 10-0 in 1996-97. Coach: Kevin Kiernan (second year, 22-4). Troy has won five consecutive league titles and should make it six this season, although Sonora is a threat. The Warriors lost in the second round last season, but are projected as a county top-10 team with all five starters returning. Senior Heidi Hardeman, a second-team all-Southern Section and all-county selection and league MVP, averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists and will return at guard. Seniors Sarah Spencer (6-0 forward) and Tammy Yonamine (5-3 guard) are back to a team that has good height and quickness. Kiernan is very excited about freshman guard Veronica Johns (5-8), touting her as a possible all-county player.