Winning girls basketball teams at La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School and The Bishop’s School is nothing new. As the new season tipped off recently, expect things to stay the same at the two Coastal League schools this winter. LJCD returns its top seven players, while adding two new talented freshmen. LJCD returns senior starting point guard Ariana Elegado and senior Chemayne Shipley, a multidimensional player who has three-point range. Returning juniors include Gillian Howard, who is considered one of the top post players in the country in the class of 2011; Kaylah Miller, a shooter with three-point range and Shayla Dinwiddie, who brings valuable experience to the team. They also return sophomore twins Maya and Malina Hood, both multidimensional players who cause havoc on both ends of the floor. Finally, the Lady Torreys added two freshmen, Briteesha Solomon, a 5-foot-8-inch high-flyer who can touch rim, and Kelsey Plum, a lefty guard who can shoot and knows how to score. With their valuable experience and addition of the new impact freshmen, the Lady Torreys expect to contend for a ninth CIF title and a trip to the state championship. “This team has the ability to control the tempo of the game,” LJCD head coach Terri Bamford commented. “Offensively, we are multidimensional and have the ability to shoot threes, dominate in the post and attack the basket.” LJCD opened up its non-league schedule last week in the seventh annual Sweet Sixteen Invitational Basketball Tournament. The Lady Torreys will then compete at the Troy Tournament, followed by the Nike Tournament of Champions. LJCD has also scheduled non-league games with Beverly Hills, Villa Park and Mt. Miguel. At The Bishop’s School, another perennial power awaits opponents in the Coastal League and beyond. Head coach Marlon Wells and the Lady Knights went 30-3 a season ago, winning the CIF Division IV crown and losing in the Southern California regional finals. Three starters return from last year’s stellar squad: seniors Briana Martinez and Elaina White, and junior Alissa Campanero. “We have a strong nucleus coming back from last year’s team, and we look to get back to the CIF championship,” Wells said. Bishop’s carried a 3-1 record following action last week, including a 66-24 thumping of Steele Canyon. In the win over Steele Canyon, White led the way with 21 points, with double-digit points also from Martinez (14 points), Campanero (12) and Bryn Stark (11). — Editor’s note: La Jolla High did not respond prior to press time with information on its team.








