CENTURY LEAGUE

Canyon: 23-4, 8-2 in 1997-98. Coach: Nelson Herrera (sixth year, 84-45). The Comanches really need a rebounder to emerge from their newcomers, who include junior Kary Thompson (6-0), Beth Harold (5-10) and Adrienne Thorpe (5-10). Canyon has a nice starting four returning in All-Century League guard Meghan O’Neill (5-10, 12.3 points, 4.8 assists), center Paulette Seaman (5-10), forward Stephanie Hillon (5-10, 10.3 rebounds) and junior guard Trish Christian (5-7). O’Neill, a four-year starter and league most valuable player as a freshman, is an outside threat, and Seaman is a versatile inside/outside player. Christian is a quick defender. Twins Kim and Nicole Gerber, 5-7 freshman guards, are sisters of Esperanza senior Allison Gerber, an All-Sunset League player.

El Modena: 13-10, 5-5 in 1997-98. Coach: John Cahill (ninth year, 94-82). Four starters return, including all-league post player Valerie Matweeff (5-10, 15.4 points, 13 rebounds). Guards Christina Hernandez (5-6, 3.2 steals) and Shannon Baron (5-5, 10 points) are also seniors. Lindsey Galasso (5-4) is a sophomore guard. The Vanguards’ lack of size, in height and bulk, is an area of concern.

Foothill: 10-16, 4-6 in 1997-98. Coach: Ty Watkins (fifth year, 53-46). The Knights figure to be right there when the season ends. Junior Chavaughn Brown (6-2, 12 points, 15 rebounds) averaged 18 rebounds over the last eight games. She is joined by sophomore Kristen Mann (6-1), who averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in seven games last season before being suspended for disciplinary reasons. Jennifer Inmon is a third-year starter. But the player who might put Foothill over the top is sophomore point guard Jacky Williams, who played at Tustin last season and will be the quickest player in the Century League. Though the Knights could start four sophomores and a junior, they should be defensive terrors with good height and quickness.

Orange: 12-11, 3-7 in 1997-98. Coach: Alicia Adams (third year, 21-24). Adams took over a team that was winless the season before she got there. Her three returning starters are two juniors, guard/forward Randi Perry (5-11) and guard Crystal Bernal (5-4), and a sophomore, Elizabeth Ngayan (5-5). Perry (17.7 rebounds) should only get better. Danien McCullers, a 5-10 junior forward who played in Bakersfield last year, should fill the void left by Priscilla Deason (13.6 points), who transferred to Perris. A quick defender, senior Nichole Davis could be valuable against Foothill and Canyon.

Santa Ana Valley: 5-21, 1-9 in 1997-98. Coach: Lionel Horn (third year, 13-39). Guards Ontaneque Ottrix (5-9) and Raven Hebert (5-9)--Valley starters as sophomores--return after having attended school elsewhere their junior years. Ottrix was a second-team performer. Added to junior all-leaguer Lisa Sanchez (5-7, 12 points) and sophomore forward Carina Martinez (5-11, six rebounds), and the Falcons may surprise teams with their pressure defense. It might compensate for three freshmen in the rotation. Their goal is third place, which is reasonable.

Villa Park: 19-6, 9-1 in 1997-98. Coach: Joni Davis (first year). Bianca Larson (6-3, 11.6 points, nine rebounds) leads three returning starters, including guard Laura Dawson (5-9) and forward Tiffany Wood (5-11). A key for the Spartans will be getting the ball to Larson because second-team all-county point guard Missy Bynon (nine assists) is attending Cal State Fullerton.