Girls’ Basketball Previews
Fresh starts might best sum up the look of the local scene in girls’ prep basketball.
Not only will new players be added to team rosters for the 2015-16 season, but four schools — Edison (Sara Brown), Fountain Valley (Barry Migliorini), Marina (Kirk Iwami) and Brethren Christian (Jeff Jefferson), begin their new campaigns with new head coaches.
The girls’ basketball sports world lost one of its own last month with the passing of Edison High Coach Dan Wiley who was about to begin his eighth year with the Chargers.
Wiley died suddenly Oct. 26.
Sara Brown, an assistant last year to Wiley, will guide the Chargers in his place.
“Words cannot describe the shock and pain our team and basketball community has experienced with the passing of our coach, Dan Wiley,” Brown said. “He was more than a coach, but a ‘father figure’ to many of the Edison girls’ basketball players who played for him. To me, he was a mentor and someone who I have looked up to and admired since I was 13 years old.
“This season is about more than basketball. This season is about our team playing to the best of our capabilities in honoring Dan’s legacy. We all want to make him proud by accomplishing what we set out to do and we dedicate the entire season to coach. Every day when we leave the gym from practice, the team and coaches huddle and shout, “The Wiley Way.”
Local teams begin their respective seasons this weekend and next week.
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Edison Chargers
League: Sunset
Head coach: Sara Brown (1st year)
Coaching staff: Justin Johnson
CIF Division: 1A
Last year’s record: 19-10
Last year’s league finish: 8-2 (2nd)
CIF results: Reached second round of playoffs.
Varsity roster: Jasmyn Winters, PG/SG, Sr.; Gianna Luna,PG, Jr.; Tayler Nance, G, Jr.; Ashley Niemand, C, Soph.; Alyssa Atencio, SG, Sr.; Jackie Bento, F, Sr.; Leilani Kwe, PG/SG, Sr.; Ryane Bradbury, F, Jr.; Justine Modde, SG/F, Sr.; Jenni Kwok, SG, Sr.; Teagan Heck, G, Sr.; Alexia Schuesler, G, Fr.
Returning starters: Jackie Bento (13.0 ppg., 3.0 reb./game, first-team all-league); Justine Modde (6.0 ppg., 8 reb./game, honorable mention all-league); Jenni Kwok (19 ppg., 5.0 reb./game, honorable mention all-league).
Coach’s take: Brown, who has coached for more than 10 years, served last year as an assistant to Dan Wiley and previously coached for two years at Anaheim Fairmont Prep Academy.
“Collectively, we are a very solid team all around,” she said. “We have a lot of seniors and returning players who understand what is expected and what we need to do in order to accomplish our goals this season.”
Keys to season: “This season will come down to the team continuously improving each day in practice, staying disciplined offensively and defensively, and staying healthy,” Brown said.
Honoring Wiley: The Chargers will honor Dan Wiley by wearing patches on their uniforms, wear shooting shirts with the phrase, “The Wiley Way,” and Brown said the first seat at the head of the Edison bench will be reserved for the late head coach.
The schedule: The Chargers open Monday at the Redondo Union Battle at the Beach Tournament. They travel to Santa Barbara next month for tourney play, and co-host with Marina the Larry Doyle/Dan Wiley Memorial Tournament in late-December. Other key games include nonleague match-ups against Orange Lutheran and La Jolla Country Day.
“This year our schedule is more challenging then last year’s schedule,” Brown said. “We play in the higher divisions in all of our tournaments and have scheduled some competitive nonleague games that will help prepare us for league play and CIF playoffs.”
Season opener: Monday (6:30 p.m.) at Redondo Union (Battle at the Beach Tournament).
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Fountain Valley Barons
League: Sunset
Head coach: Barry Migliorini (1st year)
Coaching staff: Jeff Weinferter, Glenn Urata, Diana Marley, Kayla Marley.
CIF Division: 1AA
Last year’s record: 19-9
Last year’s league finish: 5-5 (4th)
CIF results: Lost in first round of playoffs.
Varsity roster: Hope Nguyen, Soph:; Kayleen Amimoto, Sr.; Anderson Zumbo, Sr.; Ester Rodriguez, Jr.; Malia Baricuatro, Soph.; Remmington Chicoine, Jr.; Emily White, Jr.; Emily Vu, Jr.; Monet Oncu, Soph.; Megan Lai, Fr.; Ruth Nguyen, Sr.; Megan Hugues, Soph.
Returning starters: None
Coach’s take: Migliorini is in his first year at the helm. He was head coach of the ABA professional team, the California Dream (2014), assistant coach at Cal State Los Angeles (2013), and assistant coach at Cerritos College in Norwalk.
“We are very young, so this team will develop all year,” he said.
Keys to season: “Developing enough ball handling and speed to be a quality team,” Migliorini said.
The schedule: The Barons compete starting Monday at the University Tournament, and next month host their own tournament.
“Its a very challenging schedule especially for a team this young and with little varsity experience,” Migliorini said.
Season opener: Monday (N/A) at University Tournament.
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Huntington Beach Oilers
League: Sunset
Head coach: Russ McClurg (13th year)
Coaching staff: Ashleigh Wood, Saki McClurg.
CIF Division: 1A
Last year’s record: 19-8
Last year’s league finish: 6-4 (3rd)
CIF results: Reached first round of playoffs.
Varsity roster: Zoe Mathews, C, Soph.; Rachel Harris, G/F, Jr.; Kaylyn Nakaji, G, Jr.; Adrienne Dang, PG, Jr.; Mira Nagle, C, Jr.; Courtney Suruki, G, Jr.; April Soedel, C, Jr.; Rebecca Byer, F, Jr.; Frankie Wade-Sanchez, F, Jr.; Kameelah Anderson, C, Sr.; Samantha Gray, G, Sr.; Anna Bullock F, Sr.; Kaitlyn Nojiri, PG, Sr.; Lindsey Mason, PG, Sr.
Returning starters: Frankie Wade-Sanchez (15.5 ppg., 6.4 reb./game, 8.6 asst./game); Samantha Gray (8.6 ppg.); Kaylyn Nakaji (9.8 ppg., 6.1 reb./game); Kameelah Anderson (3.5 ppg., 3.6 reb./game).
Coach’s take: “This is a team that has worked really hard on getting better on defense and I think it will result in lower scoring games this season,” Russ McClurg said. “The coaching staff has worked really hard on team chemistry, work ethic and accountability. We will look to push the tempo as we are much quicker then last season. Lots of experience, maturity and growth should help us attain our team goals. We look to compete for a top three (league) finish and improve our overall record. We would also like to get past the first round in CIF this year.”
Keys to season: “If we stay healthy, work hard and trust each other, then the success will take care of itself,” McClurg said.
The schedule: A tough slate finds the Oilers going up against Santa Margarita, Beckman, Esperanza and Mission Viejo in nonleague play, competing in tournaments at Fountain Valley, the Nike Tournament of Champions, and Costa Mesa, before starting up league play after the first of the New Year.
Season opener: Dec. 3 (7 p.m.) at Beckman.
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Marina Vikings
League: Sunset
Head coach: Kirk Iwami (1st year)
Coaching staff: Steve Shatafian, Christine Nguyen, Katelyn McCutchens.
CIF Division: 2AA
Last year’s record: 4-22
Last year’s league finish: 1-9 (6th)
CIF results: Did not advance
Varsity roster: Sadie Atwood, G, Jr.; Marybel Crespo, F, Sr.; Mary Dishoian, F, Sr.; Michelle Esparza, G, Jr.; Tricia Fukuzawa, G, Jr.; Sabrina Gerth, F, Sr.; Christine Lam, F, Sr.; Sarah Lin, G, Jr.; Christina Mark, G, Sr.; Katie Nguyen, G, Fr.; Celine Tran, F, Soph.; Jomira Velasquez, G, Sr.
Returning starters: Christina Mark
Coach’s take: “We’re going to play hard and compete every game,” Iwami said.
The schedule: The Vikings start local play Friday at the Downey Tournament which continues through Dec. 3. Also in December, they host Ocean View in nonleague play, travel to Nevada for the Las Vegas Invitational, and co-host with Edison the Larry Doyle/Dan Wiley Memorial Tournament. They play their first five Sunset League games on their home floor starting in January.
“It’s important to start well in the first half of league since they’re all at home,” Iwami said. “Tough second half of the season.”
Season opener: Friday (N/A) at Downey Tournament.
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Ocean View Seahawks
League: Golden West
Head coach: Kim Morris (8th year)
Coaching staff: Shane Morris, Deja Duke, Meghan Myer, Steve Harris, Eduarda Abrantes.
CIF Division: 3A
Last year’s record: 19-8
Last year’s league finish: 7-3 (2nd)
CIF results: Reached second round of playoffs.
Varsity roster: Jackie Moss, PG , Jr.; Sally Morris, G, Sr.; Treasure Robinson, G/F, Sr.; Erica Almiranez, G, Soph.; Helen Reynolds, C, Fr.; Kaylie Knowles, G, Jr.; Emi Yamasaki, G, Soph.; Amy Thompson, F, Sr.; Emma Robinson, G/F, Sr.; Danelle Almiranez, G, Sr.; Madisyn Newberry, C, Sr.; Dailyn Nguyen, G, Sr.
Returning starters: Treasure Robinson (17 ppg., 8 reb./game, first-team all-league); Sally Morris (8 ppg., first-team all-league); Madisyn Newberry (10 reb./game, second-team all-league); Danelle Almiranez (6 ppg, all-league honorable mention).
Coach’s take: “Senior laden team made up of veterans, and some youngsters that increase our depth,” Kim Morris said. “We are poised to do well.”
Keys to season: “Stay healthy,” Morris said.
The schedule: The Seahawks begin their new campaign Saturday at their own Coaches For a Cause one-day event. They will participate in upcoming tournaments in Atascadero, their own Hawk Holiday Classic, and the KSA Tournament in Orlando, FLA.
“I think we have a competitive schedule that should prepare us for a league title run and going a little deeper into the playoffs,” Morris said.
Season opener: Saturday (3 p.m.) vs. Lakewood St. Joseph.
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Brethren Christian Warriors
League: Academy
Head coach: Jeff Jefferson (1st year)
Coaching staff: Annie Huie
CIF Division: 6
Last year’s record: 4-19
Last year’s league finish: 0-12 (6th)
CIF results: Did not advance
Varsity roster: Chelsea DeLaCruz, G, Sr.; Bria Gamble, G, Sr.; Alyssa Park, G, Sr.; Sierra Whitmire, G/F, Sr.; Amber McKee, F, Jr.; Kayla Trautman, F/C, Soph.; Brittney Cuervas, G, Soph.; Sydney Workington, F, Soph.; Jessica Holloway, G, Fr.; Gabbie Pecata, G, Fr.; Sierra Martin, F/C, Fr.; Chloe Daniels, F, Fr.
Returning starters: Chelsea DeLaCruz (4.0 ppg.); Sierra Whitmire (5 ppg.); Kayla Trautman (5 ppg., 5 reb./game).
Coach’s take: Jefferson, a four-year player at Brethren Christian (Class of 2009) and former boys’ junior varsity basketball head coach at the school, is in his first year at his alma mater.
“Our team this year is made up of key returners from last year’s team and some new, young, incoming talent,” he said. “I look for the two to mix well together and help in the process of rebuilding our program. We have some great leadership from our returners that should help our younger players prepare for varsity competition.”
Keys to season: “Our intensity and defense,” Jefferson said. “Our goal will be to speed the game up and utilize our depth at the guard position.”
The schedule: The Warriors will play in the Liberty Christian Tournament before the start of league play, and take on Hesperia Christian in the annual Small Schools Showcase in January.
“We open the season with a couple of tournaments where we should be able to compete and build confidence, preparing us for a tough league schedule,” Jefferson said.
Season opener: Wednesday (4 p.m.) at Tarbut V’Torah.
