Narbonne Has Shot at No. 1 This Season

The Harbor City Narbonne High girls’ basketball team could not compete for City Section or state titles last season because of rules violations that occurred in 1997.

The Gauchos, though, finished 21-3 with an eye toward this season.

“We’re not out to prove anything, but we will be ready to play,” said 6-foot-2 senior Ebony Hoffman, who has signed a letter of intent with USC. “This team has a chance to really do some things.”

Narbonne opens the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by several publications.

“Our main goal is to win the City championship, the regional title and the state championship,” Narbonne Coach James Anderson said. “If we’re lucky enough to be in the No. 1 spot at the end of the season, so be it.”

Narbonne’s road to a mythical national title will not be easy. The Gauchos will compete in the Brea Olinda tournament this week and the Santa Barbara tournament Dec. 17-21.

Here are 10 teams to watch:

1. HARBOR CITY NARBONNE

The Gauchos have more talent than any team in the Southland.

Hoffman, who averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds last season, is one of the top seniors in the nation, point guard Loree Moore (12 points, seven assists) is one of the top juniors and forward Lisa Willis (12 points) is one of the top sophomores.

Defending City champion Palisades and runner-up Washington will probably be the Gauchos’ biggest competition in the City.

2. VENTURA BUENA

A very good team--Buena has won 66 consecutive Channel League games--got significantly better when Courtney Young transferred in from Santa Monica Crossroads in August.

Young, a junior, averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds last season and is regarded as one of the top juniors in the nation.

She joins a team that already featured 6-3 junior Kelly Greathouse and 6-2 sophomore Courtney LaVere.

3. CHINO DON LUGO

Diana Taurasi, who has signed with Connecticut, and Crystal Baird, who will play at Montana, lead the Conquistadores.

Taurasi is one of the top scorers in Southern Section history and wasted no time getting started this season by scoring 52 points in Don Lugo’s opener.

4. LYNWOOD

Laconia Hatcher, an outstanding shooting guard, leads a talented and deep team that is expected to win the San Gabriel Valley League and challenge for a Southern Section title.

5. CHINO HILLS AYALA

Senior guard Candice Allen, who will play next season at Arizona, and Chantea Fleming are the leaders of a team that has been on the verge of winning a section championship for three years.

6. BREA OLINDA

The defending Division II state champions lost four starters and their top reserve from last year’s team, but they still have Stanford-bound center Chelsea Trotter, who has recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in last season’s state playoffs.

7. PLAYA DEL REY ST. BERNARD

The Vikings are primed for a run at their second section and Division IV state title in three years.

Junior Shannon Howell is one of the top players in the Southland.

8. RIVERSIDE J.W. NORTH

The Huskies have Tamara Thomas, Shandrika Lee and just about every other key player back from last season’s team that was 27-3.

9. VENTURA

The Cougars, led by Kristen Gleisberg and Alex Gientke, knocked Don Lugo out of the playoffs last year and are one of the top teams in the Southland, but they are not even the best team in their league. That distinction belongs to Buena.

10. LONG BEACH WILSON

Senior Dawn McCullouch leads a Bruin team that will try to navigate a Southern Section I-AA division that also includes Ayala and defending champion Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Others: Huntington Beach Edison, Santa Ana Mater Dei, Cerritos.