ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim: 1-19, 0-10 in 1996-97. Coach: Tony Simon (second year, 1-19). Of the five returning players who started last season, four are juniors and one, forward Yuri Alvarado (5-10), is a sophomore. Darlene Tu’ua (5-5), Erica Nunez (5-10) and Brenda Arreola (5-8) are the returning guards. Vicky Trujillo (5-8) is back at forward on a team that could be underestimated.

Brea Olinda: 29-4, 10-0 in 1996-97. Coach: Jeff Sink (fourth year, 88-11). The Ladycats are going for their 16th consecutive Orange League title with only one returning starter, junior guard Lindsey Davidson (5-9 1/2). She averaged 9.9 points and 4.2 assists, but should easily improve on those numbers. Brea won its ninth consecutive Southern Section championship and its backup players got plenty of minutes. Among them: guards Catherine Solorio (5-7 1/2, eight points, four rebounds), Erin Kelly (5-9 1/2, 10.5 points, five steals), Sarah Bonilla (5-8, six points, seven steals), the defensive specialist, and center Amanda Strum (5-11, 7.2 points, 4.6 rebounds) who showed her potential by getting the best of highly touted Nicole Greathouse in a game at Ventura Buena last season. Kelly signed to attend New Orleans. Two players who were injured much of the year should also help, junior outside threat Cory Wink (5-8) and sophomore forward Chelsea Trotter (6-2 1/2), both returning from ACL knee injuries. Trotter, Virginia transfer Kate Ides (6-1 1/2) and sophomore Jill Trader (6-0) give Brea the height it lacked last year when it didn’t have a player taller than 5-11.

Magnolia: 3-20, 2-8 in 1996-97. Coach: Marian Mendoza (second year, 3-20). The Sentinels took their lumps last year with a very young team, but with four starters and seven letter winners returning, they should be more competitive. Four-year varsity player Imelda Ortiz leads the starters, who include sophomore guard Armida Galvez, junior swingman Kristen Risberg (5-7) and senior forward Etta Jackson (5-7). Also help has come from out of town: sophomore forward Crystal Smith (5-8) transferred from Compton, senior guard Candace Carter from Cypress, and junior guard Santa Pizarroz (5-7) from Hawaii.

Savanna: 9-16, 6-4 in 1996-97. Coach: Mike Willey (second year, 9-16). The Rebels lack any proven scorers among the three letter winners who return. Only senior forward Cristina Aquino (seven points, 4.4 rebounds) is back from last year’s starting lineup. Another senior forward, Jamie Racke (5-8), averaged 3.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. Returning junior center Andraya Gibson and newcomer Jessica Thomas, a senior forward, are the tallest players at 5-9.

Valencia: 14-13, 7-3 in 1996-97. Coach: Mike Arias (third year, 24-28). Junior swingman Heather Hoppe (5-4) and two part-time starters, sophomore forward Monika Jackley (5-11) and forward Kelly McKibben (5-11), are back as Valencia tries to repeat its second-place performance from a year ago. Junior guard Sara Ludwig, a two-year varsity player at Canyon, and junior forward Stephanie Poosz (5-6), the junior varsity MVP, could make an impact.

Western: 15-11, 5-5 in 1996-97. Coach: DeVon English (first year). Western won’t have Adrienne Ratajczak (20.5 points) around this year to drive the offense. The Pioneers’ only returning starter is junior guard Lia Eleopoulos (5-8). Three seniors are back, Josette Lapinid (5-6), Michelle Johnson (5-10) and Melinda Pouliot (5-11). A couple of younger siblings, sophomore forward Lori Pouliot (5-10) and sophomore guard Joann Eleopoulos (5-6) join the team.