Girls scholastic basketball action locally is never a dull ticket. This season should be no different.
At La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) School, head coach Terri Bamford and perennial power the Lady Torreys come off a 21-11 overall record a season ago, finishing unbeaten in the Coastal South League as champions and also winning the Division IV CIF crown. LJCD finished as the Southern Regional runner-up in Division IV.
This year’s squad will look to the likes of point guard Kiara Stinson, forward/center Janae Fulcher, guard Chelsea Burns, guard Dominique Conners, guard/forward Jamesha Townsend, guard Lindsay Nettinga and guard Gizelle Studevent to lead the way. Top newcomers include Ariana Elegado and Chemayne Shipley.
“Despite the losses of Ashley Booker (Seton Hall) and Breanna Settles (University of Alabama, Birmingham), the Lady Torreys are looking to pick up right where the squad left off last year,” Bamford noted. “The sensational six juniors have improved their games drastically and will be even stronger as a class this year.”
LJCD expects to run an up-tempo offense and hard-nosed full court defense this year.
The Lady Torreys open up their preseason schedule in the fourth annual Sweet Sixteen Invitational Basketball Tournament at La Jolla Country Day School, which began yesterday, Nov. 29, and runs through Dec. 2.
At The Bishop’s School, new head coach Marlon Wells and the Lady Knights enter this season off a 25-5 campaign last year, where Bishop’s finished as a CIF divisional runner-up.
According to Wells, key players look to include Michelle Brunker, Kathleen Roerhkasse, Elaina White, Bianca Padilla and Madison Victor. Roerhkasse was last season’s Coastal South Player of the Year.
Wells noted that he expects his squad will compete with La Jolla Country Day School for league and CIF crowns.
Bishop’s competes this week in the Sportland Tourney. The Lady Knights will also host the Knights Holiday Classic Dec. 21-23.
At neighboring La Jolla High, the Lady Vikings under head coach Ty Eveleth finished 20-9 last winter and were the Western League champions. La Jolla made it to the CIF semis where the Lady Vikings lost to eventual Division III winner Santana.
Key players this year include senior guard Alyssa Wilson (three-year starter), junior guard Olivia Waldon and senior center Rachel Pedowitz.
“We have some solid returners along with an eager bunch of new players that should give us a good chance to challenge for the Western League title once again this year,” Eveleth said. “The girls are working hard to continue to build on the success that we achieved last year.”
La Jolla will play at Monte Vista High on Monday, Dec. 4.
University City High will look to rebound from last season’s 8-18 record, including a 2-8 league mark under head coach John Fiorentino.
The Lady Centurions were led last season by senior Alison Smith. She finished the campaign leading the team in points scored and rebounds.
UC is playing this week in the Coronado Round Robin Tournament.