By Pete Borello
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High school girls basketball has always been one of the strongest sports in the area, annually churning out championship-contending teams and college-quality players.
This year should be no different.
All six local teams appear capable of challenging for a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs — it takes just a .500 record in league or overall to qualify — and a few of them seem talented enough to go far in the postseason. As usual, defending CCS champion Pinewood School looks to be the best of the lot and has state-title aspirations.
Here’s how the teams shape up for 2002-03:
Los Altos High
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division.
Coach: Vern Hubbard, first year.
Last season: Fourth in division and 10-13 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: PG Jennifer Herrera; Fs Lindsey Stephens, Emily Reid and Alyce Jorgensen; SG Leslie Lam; C/PF Lauren Schaefer.
Top newcomers: G Ana Jauregui; PF/Cs Brooke Patmor and Rebecca Schultz.
Outlook: With nine players back, Hubbard expects Los Altos to be better than a year ago and finish among the division’s top three teams. A majority of the returners logged significant minutes last year and three of them started. Point guard Herrera and forward Stephens are the Eagles’ most prolific scorers, while Plank is a solid shooter. The 6-foot-2 Schaeffer will be counted on for low-post defense and rebounding. Hubbard, promoted from assistant coach, said his biggest concern is the team’s lack of mental focus.
Coach’s quote: “The girls need to understand that they can’t pick and choose when to play hard. If they don’t, we’re going to get beat.”
Next game: 7 p.m., today, hosting American.
Mountain View High
League: SCVAL El Camino Division
Coach: Paul Romig, first year.
Last season: Second in division and 20-7 overall; lost in first round of CCS Div. III playoffs.
Key returners: PG Marisa Serapio; F Peyton Paulick; PF Rachel Deshong; SG Danielle Robledo.
Top newcomers: Fs Lauren Sitler and Kelsey Quickstad; C Alice Walker.
Outlook: Romig, athletic director at St. Martin’s School, takes over a Mountain View team that reached the playoffs the past two seasons under Karl Hawkins. If the Spartans are going to make it three years in a row, they’ll do so with several new starters. With Emily Stetler and Jaclyn Brode graduating, floor leader Serapio is the team’s lone returning all-leaguer. Paulick may be the team’s best scorer, while freshman Quickstad should only get better with experience.
All-leaguers Emily Stetler and Jaclyn Brode have graduated,
Coach’s quote: Romig could not be reached before deadline.
Next game: Today at the Cupertino Tournament.
St. Francis High
League: West Catholic Athletic League.
Coach: Mike DeCarlo, ninth year.
Last season: Second in the De Anza Division and 13-13 overall; lost in CCS Div. II quarterfinals.
Key returners: F Ellen Porshneva; PG Jennifer Bow; SG Lauren Haugh; C Megan Plunkett; PF Micki Maestri;.
Top newcomers: SG Kim Mooney; F Devon Tracy; SG Mary Beth Curley; F Colby Lyman; PF/Cs Diane Copenhagen and Taylor Whittell.
Outlook: St. Francis, coming off the worst season in DeCarlo’s tenure, should be much improved. The Lancers’ record may not show it, though, since they’ve moved into the WCAL. Seven of the teams in the new league went deep into the CCS playoffs last year and DeCarlo said “every game will be an absolute war.” The coach has plenty of new weapons to fight this war, including frosh-soph MVP Mooney and five members of the state champion volleyball team. Porshneva is the team’s best scorer, while fellow all-leaguers Bow and Haugh make up a formidable backcourt.
Coach’s quote: “We want to advance far in the playoffs — that’s the goal. I think we have a much better chance of doing so than we did last year.”
Next game: Friday at the Half Moon Bay Tournament.
Pinewood School
League: Private Schools Athletic League.
Coach: Doc Scheppler, eighth year.
Last season: League champion and 28-3 overall; won CCS Div. II title and lost in NorCal final.
Key returners: PF Katy Digovich; SG/PG Kiely Schork; SG/SFs Yasemin Kimyacioglu and Stacie Roshon; PG Daniela Roark.
Top newcomers: Fs Anna Tracy and Liz Altmeier.
Outlook: Although Pinewood graduated star point guard Sarah Feely, the team is still regarded as one of the best in the state. The 5-11 Digovich is an elite forward who’s tough to defend in the post and continues to improve her outside shot. Schork is a dangerous three-point shooter, while Kimyacioglu is a top-notch defender. Scheppler said sophomore Roark has benefited from playing behind Feely for a year. Transfer Tracy, who earned all-league honors at Burlingame last season, gives the Panthers another solid defender and perimeter shooter.
Coach’s quote: “If we stay healthy and play like we’re capable of playing, we can win state. The girls aren’t going to be happy with anything less.”
Next game: Thursday at the Nike Tournament (Phoenix).
Homestead High
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Judy Auclair, second year.
Last season: Last in the De Anza Division and 5-25 overall.
Key returners: PG Jenelle Kitasoe; F/G Mandy Wald; PF Joanna Harris; SG Elyse Maru.
Top newcomers: G Melissa Manuel; PF Shelly Baxter; SG Elham Mirshafiei.
Outlook: Dropping into the friendlier El Camino Division should do wonders for Homestead. Auclair is hopeful the Mustangs can finish first or second in the division, then get past the opening round of the playoffs. The team has a pair of capable scorers in juniors Wald and Kitasoe; the coach considers Wald a legitimate division MVP candidate. Sophomores Manuel, Baxter and Mirshafiei are expected to contribute as well. Homestead has plenty of quickness, but losing post player Bonnie Berridge to club volleyball leaves the squad short on size.
Coach’s quote: “If the sophomores can get past the nervousness of playing on the varsity level, we’ll be a good team.”
Next game: Friday at the Half Moon Bay Tournament.
Gunn High
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coach: Sebastian Poitier, second year.
Last season: Sixth in division.
Key returners G/F Kristi Merilo; PG Natasha Gude; SG Claire Cruz; G/F Kaja Martin; G/F/C Chelsea Taylor; G Jessica Perricone; F Michelle Rybka.
Top newcomer: G Leanne Perricone.
Outlook: After two-straight losing seasons, Gunn might just be ready to compete for a CCS berth. The Titans return seven players who played major minutes last year and all that experience should certainly help their cause. The team is still young, however, with sophomore Jessica Perricone one of several underclassmen Poitier will rely on.
Coach’s quote: Poitier, could not be reached by deadline.
Next game: Today at the Burlingame Tournament.
