SUNSET LEAGUE

Edison: 18-9, 5-5 in 1996-97. Coach: Dave White (11th year, 204-72). Four of the top six players return from a team that lost to San Clemente in the Division I-A playoffs, 54-52. Forward Christina Patterson (5-10, 10 points, five rebounds), forward Allison Libeu (5-10, four points, four rebounds) and guard Melanie Cherney (5-9, eight points, three assists), all juniors, are returning starters. Sophomore center Michelle Zylstra (6-0, eight points, eight rebounds) showed a lot of potential. Junior forward Trisha Grady (5-11) and senior guard Erica Harrison (5-6) round out the returning players. By the playoffs, the Chargers could be rolling.

Esperanza: 22-6, 9-1 in 1996-97. Coach: Marc Hill (16th year, 247-135). The Aztecs have all five starters back from last year’s team, which was seeded third in the Division I-AA playoffs but upset at Fontana in the quarterfinals, 65-56. Senior center Leah Combs (6-2, 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 50.7% FG), a first-team Times all-county choice, has signed with Arizona State. She needs 230 points, 173 rebounds and 82 steals to set career school records. Complementing her inside game will be a procession of returning starting guards, seniors Heidi Hill (5-8, 4.2 assists) and Beth Weidler (5-9, Southern California College) and juniors Allison Gerber (5-10, 10.4 points) and point guard Kim Omer (5-5). There are three senior reserves, center/forward Deondra Verhoeven (6-0), a part-time starter last season, and forwards Airan Alvarado (5-8) and Lyndie Lewis (5-9).

Fountain Valley: 10-17, 4-6 in 1996-97. Coach: Carol Strausburg (21st year, 342-186). The county’s winningest coach has only one returning starter, senior center Kelly Boeke (6-2, 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds). The Barons have four players 6-0 or taller, including senior Stacy Schultz (6-0), junior Lindsay King (6-0) and sophomore Laura Williams (6-1). If Fountain Valley can knock down the outside shot, it could be a spoiler.

Huntington Beach: 16-11, 4-6 in 1996-97. Coach: Bill Thomson (third year, 27-26). Phouangmaly Pravongviengkham (17.7 points) and Stephanie Draeger (12.3 rebounds) have graduated, and Erica Waetjen transferred to Calvary Chapel. Junior guard Megan Masuda (seven points, 45% from the floor) and junior forward Kelly Medlen (8.5 points, eight rebounds, 3.4 assists) were starters, and senior guard Debbie Slama averaged nine points as a reserve for the Oilers, who can’t afford an injury.

Los Alamitos: 10-14, 3-7 in 1996-97. Coach: Mike Ford (eighth year, 59-108). Los Alamitos finished last, but made the playoffs and lost 51-46 in the first round to a 24-4 Diamond Bar team. Center Kristin Geoffroy (6-6) signed with Kansas after averaging 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and more than two blocks as a junior. She will be joined by her freshman sister, Lyndsay (6-5). Starting forward Jilynn Smith (6-1) and guard Jennifer Mitamura, both seniors, add to the mix. The key for the Griffins will be guard play.

Marina: 18-8, 5-5 in 1996-97. Coach: Pete Bonny (eighth year, 170-49). Another typical Viking team with quickness, good defense and a strong transition game. Natalie Nakase (13.8 points, 6.6 assists), a first-team all-county player, may be the county’s best guard. Junior forward Chanda McLeod (5-11, 9.9 points, 8.8 rebounds) provides the inside game, and junior guard Karyn Fierst (3.7 points, 1.8 steals, 1.8 assists) also returns to the starting lineup. Two 5-10 seniors, Heather Culbertson and Melissa Lewis and 5-11 sophomore Nikki Lee could be invaluable depth-wise in a league with Combs, Boeke and the Geoffroys.