City Section’s New Six-Pack Seems to Be Watered Down

Comprised of former Mid-Valley League members North Hollywood and Grant, former East Valley League representatives Poly and Canoga Park, and ex-Northern League schools Verdugo Hills and Hollywood, the new Sunset Six League is the weakest of the new City alignments involving teams from the region.

Three of the girls teams--Hollywood, Verdugo Hills and Poly--have yet to win a game.

“It’s hard to get too excited about our league,” Coach Rich Allen of North Hollywood said.

North Hollywood (9-6), which went undefeated in Mid-Valley League play to claim its ninth consecutive league title last season, still is working toward becoming more than a two-player team.

The Huskies have 6-foot forward Richelle Sherman (18.9 points, 12.9 rebounds) and guard Kaipresha Price (17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds).

But they don’t have much else. The streaky Huskies won their first three games--including a victory over highly-regarded Crescenta Valley--and recently won the Bell-Jeff tournament and had a six-game winning streak. That string ended with an overtime loss to Rio Mesa (5-8), followed by a loss to Chatsworth.

Grant lacks height and relies heavily on the outside shot and a spread offense.

Alexis Weatherspoon averages 15.6 points, Leslie Mui is at 13.8 and Krystal Clay checks in at 12.7 for the Lancers (9-6).

Canoga Park (7-6) already has posted more victories than it had the previous four seasons combined. In that span, the Hunters, who were 4-12 last year, went 5-59.

Tiffany Saunders, a 5-11 junior, is large reason for that improvement. She averages 15 points and four blocked shots.

Verdugo Hills (0-7) has Deyna Barnard, who averages 15.3 points.

Hollywood (0-3) and Poly (0-10) hope to improve through the league season.

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El Camino Real was 10-0 in league play last season, but the Conquistadores were challenged by Taft and figure to be again--beginning today.

El Camino Real (9-5), which won the Reseda tournament last week, hosts Taft in a West Valley League opener at 4 p.m.

Sophomore guard Christina Aguinaga averages 19.7 points and 2.3 assists and 3.4 steals, and junior forward Karen Shun averages 13.2 points and 8.9 rebounds for El Camino Real. Aguinaga has made 42 of 97 three-pointers (43.3%), Shun nine of 28 (32.1%).

Shun, Cherhara Shields and Tiffany Furrell are 5-10 or taller and give the Conquistadores an edge over most teams on the boards.

Aubree Smithey, a 5-8 forward, is an all-around player averaging 8.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Taft (9-2) counters with four players averaging nine points or more, lead by Lisa Hawkins (13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds).

Three-year starters Hawkins and guard Denisha McCoy (16 of 25 on three-pointers) are joined by Schquay Brignac, a transfer from Cleveland who has averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals.

Chatsworth (9-4) hopes the challenges of an upgraded schedule have prepared it for the league season.

Liz Sun averages 12.6 points, eight rebounds and 4.6 steals, and Ashley Shelton averages 9.5 points and 2.1 steals for the Chancellors.

“Every game, someone else steps up,” Coach Raquel Alotis said. “We have a lot of girls who have contributed for us.”

Junior forward Kelly Patterson has averaged 13.2 points and 11.8 rebounds to help Granada Hills to a 9-5 record.

Octavia Askew and Ofalangi Mailangi have made Birmingham (5-5) competitive.

Cleveland (6-7) is young with freshmen Tanya Bernard and Lisa Tran and sophomore Kelley Chatman, but the Cavaliers could also be in the mix of the City’s most competitive league.

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Monroe, at 10-5, appears to have the most talent in the Valley Mission League, and has not been hurt as badly as other teams by injuries, illnesses and absences.

Monroe has four players scoring seven points or more per game, with Shakaria Jones and Rasheeda Gray each averaging 14.4.

Silvia Simiano and Corina Velazquez each average around nine points a game for San Fernando (7-6).

Kennedy (6-6) might may have the league’s best player, Jevay Grooms, who averages 11.2 points, 16.7 rebounds and six steals.

Reseda (6-8) won the East Valley League last season and has got an unexpected boost with the arrival of Kristin Armendariz, who averages 13 points a game.

Armendariz has proven a good compliment to Andrea Bermas, who averages 15.4.

Shani Harris and Lila Stucki have played well for Sylmar (5-10) and Stephanie Cisneros recently rejoined the Spartans after playing on the JV team two years ago but sitting out last year to concentrate on volleyball.

Gladys DeLaTorre leads Van Nuys (3-9) with averages of 12.3 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals.