Girls 4A basketball teams

Matt O'Brien

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:08 a.m.

A look at this year's 4A girls basketball teams:

SUNRISE DIVISION

.bu BASIC

Coach: Jan Van Tuyl (eighth year)

1997-98 Record: 18-10 (11-5, 4th Sunrise)

Top Players: Rana Brown, G, 5-7, Sr.; Nicole Forte, C, 6-1, Jr.; Jennifer Kline, G/F, 5-11, So.

Outlook: The Wolves return two starters from last year's zone-qualifying team, including All-Sunrise performer Kline, an honorable mention all-state selection. Brown, a transfer from Bonanza, should provide some much-needed quickness in the backcourt. Look for Basic to return to the postseason.

.bu CHAPARRAL

Coach: Rochelle Whittaker (second year)

1997-98 Record: 17-8 (13-3, T-2nd Sunrise)

Top Players: Alexia Craig, G, 5-6, Sr.; Julianne Hafen, F/C, 5-8, Sr.; Kayla Shambaugh, G, 5-4, Sr.; Krystal Turner, C, 6-2, Jr.

Outlook: Injuries to Craig (sprained knee), Hafen (broken thumb) and Shambaugh (concussion) assure that the Cowboys will stumble out of the blocks. Sophomore guard Christina Thomas will have to give Turner some offensive support or Chap may get buried in the competitive Sunrise Division.

.bu ELDORADO

Coach: Ronald Chatman (first year)

1997-98 Record: 7-13 (7-9, 6th Sunrise)

Top Players: Kristy Shaw, F/C, 5-10, Sr.; Brittany Sims, G, 5-5, Jr.; Trina Singletary, F, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: Chatman inherits a young team from Bill Love, who stepped down as coach to become the school's athletic director. The first-year coach's initial task will be designing an offense that can attack the box-and-one defenses that many teams will likely employ to try to stop the talented Shaw.

.bu GREEN VALLEY

Coach: Alma Randolph (eighth year)

1997-98 Record: 18-7 (13-3, T-2nd Sunrise)

Top Players: Jereena Bosket, C, 5-10, Sr.; Jenna Hortizuela, G, 5-4, Sr.

Outlook: Randolph lost only two starters from a talented squad that qualified for the zone tournament last year. She will rely on a core group of seniors, including Bosket and Hortizuela, to carry the bulk of the scoring load. Look for Bosket, an honorable mention All-Sunrise selection as a junior, to have a big year and for the Gators to be back in the thick of things in the division.

.bu LAS VEGAS

Coach: Annette Smith (second year)

1997-98 Record: 10-10 (8-8, 5th Sunrise)

Top Players: Jaime Basch, F, 5-8, Jr.; Kristine Dugan, G, 5-7, Sr.; Angel Mack, F, 5-9, Sr.; Monique Miller, F, 5-10, Sr.; Lillie Williams, C, 6-1, Sr.

Outlook: With all five starters returning (including the ever-improving Williams), the Wildcats should be one of the most-improved teams in the Sunrise Division. If Basch and Dugan shoot well from the perimeter, loosening up the inside for Williams, the Cats could be the Southern Zone's most surprising team.

.bu RANCHO

Coach: Rick Campbell (fifth year)

1997-98 Record: 4-16 (2-14, T-7th Sunrise)

Top Players: Victoria Harper, C, 5-10, So.; Shamieka Holmes, G, 5-4, So.

Outlook: The Rams return their top seven players from last year's team, which finished at the bottom of the division. With six underclassmen getting a majority of the playing time, the 1998-99 campaign could be equally grueling.

.bu SILVERADO

Coach: Diane Hernandez (fifth year)

1997-98 Record: 19-4 (14-2, 1st Sunrise)

Top Players: Carly Avello, G, 5-4, Sr., Jayme Connors, C, 6-0, So.; Stormy Hanson, F, 5-8, Sr.; Amanda Verba, G, 5-7, Sr.

Outlook: The defending Sunrise champions have a legitimate shot of returning to the state tournament in Reno. Back are key components Connors, an honorable mention all-state performer as a freshman, and Avello, a dangerous outside shooter. Fifth starter Nikki Hitchens will be a key role player for the Skyhawks, who could challenge Gorman for zone superiority.

.bu VALLEY

Coach: Barney Holmes (first year)

1997-98 Record: 3-17 (2-14, T-7th Sunrise)

Top Players: Christi Acacio, G, 5-1, So.; Kenya Nelson, G, 5-8, Sr.; Zerina Pollard, C, 6-2, Jr.; Marquiesha Stevens, G-F, 5-8, Sr.

Outlook: Holmes takes over after four years of tutelage under successful boys' coach Paul Aznarez. The first-year coach will look to Pollard, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Acacio to provide much of the scoring. The Vikings are susceptible on defense and probably a year away from being competitive.

.bu VO-TECH

Coach: John Fink (first year)

1997-98 Record: 2-18 (2-14, T-7th Sunrise

Top Players: Tiffany Evans, C, 5-8, Sr.; Tangela Gardner, G, 5-5, Sr.; Keleana Rosier, G, 5-6, Sr.; Keisha Stevenson, F, 5-7, So.

Outlook: "We're short, but we're slow," quips Fink, who will certainly need a good sense of humor to get through the 1998-99 campaign. The Road Runners, entering their fourth year of varsity competition, are simply overmatched in the competitive Sunrise Division.

SUNSET DIVISION

.bu BISHOP GORMAN

Coach: Sheryl Krmpotich (first year)

1997-98 Record: 22-5 (9-3, T-2nd Sunset)

Top Players: Liz Cansdale, G, 5-9, So.; Anne Sostman, G, 5-7, Sr.; Paige Sutton, C, 6-2, Sr.; Tiffney Touton, G, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: Former Lady Rebels assistant Krmpotich has inherited a squad that probably could have given her 1997-98 UNLV team a run for its money. Returning for the defending zone champions are Sutton, a first team all-stater who signed early with Nebraska, and Touton, potentially an upper-level Division I prospect. Cansdale and Sostman should provide consistent shooting from the perimeter. Last season, the Gaels reached the 4A final four. A return trip should be within their reach again this spring.

.bu BONANZA

Coach: Cathy Szymarek (fifth year)

1997-98 Record: 12-11 (7-5, 4th Sunset)

Top Players: Shastian Gago, G, 5-8, Sr.; Ronda Williams, F, 5-8, So.

Outlook: The Bengals are afflicted with the dreaded Doughnut Syndrome -- they have a huge hole in the middle. With no starter over 5-8, Szymarek's squad will be overmatched in the paint. Look for the Bengals to push the ball up the court at every opportunity.

.bu CHEYENNE

Coach: Karen Weitz (third year)

1997-98 Record: 20-10 (10-2, 1st Sunset)

Top Players: Tiffiney Adams, F, 5-9, Jr.; Heather Sanders, G/F, 5-10, Sr.; Tenecia Jackson, G, 5-6, So.

Outlook: The Desert Shields will miss last year's Southern Zone Player of the Year Yolanda Banks, but Adams should help fill the void. Jackson is a capable ball-handler and good passer, who could steer Cheyenne to a second consecutive state tournament appearance.

.bu CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

Coach: Gina Davis (first year)

1997-98 Record: 8-12 (4-8, 5th Sunset)

Top Players: Emily McCarter, F, 5-9, Sr.; Riki McCarter, G/F, 5-5, So.; Nikki Richards, G, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: After serving as an assistant the past two years at Las Vegas High, Davis takes over the helm of the Lady Spartans from departed Rich Handley. Emily McCarter is a big-time scorer, but she will be double-teamed throughout the year. Six-foot junior Jackie Pincock will have to produce down low for Cimarron to be competitive.

.bu CLARK

Coach: Linda Silver (seventh year)

1997-98 Record: 4-16 (1-1, 7th Sunset)

Top Players: Ashley Ablahani, F, 5-7, So.; Samantha Dixon, G, 5-7, Jr.; Lauren Gerali, F, 5-8, Jr.

Outlook: With only one returning starter from last year's team, the Chargers will once again find themselves stuck in the cellar of the Sunset Division.

.bu DURANGO

Coach: Tom Farmer (second year)

1997-98 Record: 18-8 (9-3, T-2nd Sunset)

Top Players: Danielle Boyack, G, 5-6, Jr.; Shelli Gordon, G, 5-6, Jr.; Jennifer Johnson, F, 5-9, Jr.; Courtney McCandless, G/F, 5-10, Sr.

Outlook: Farmer lost three starters from last year's state qualifier, but should have a competitive squad again thanks to the return of Boyack. The All-Sunset point guard will pair with the sharpshooting Gordon to give the Trailblazers one of the best backcourts in the Southern Zone.

.bu MOJAVE

Coach: Iris Marshall (first year)

1997-98 Record: 17-7 (junior varsity)

Top Players: Nicole Ireland, C, 5-10, Jr.; Jacina Redden, G, 5-5, So.

Outlook: With no seniors, the inexperienced Rattlers could get a rude welcoming in their first foray into the competitive Sunset Division.

.bu PALO VERDE

Coach: Gina Piccolo (first year)

1997-98 Record: 21-2 (junior varsity)

Top Players: Amy Larios, F, 5-9, Jr.; Ryann Russell, G, 5-7, Jr.

Outlook: Like Mojave, the Panthers are likely to take a pounding in their first year of varsity competition.

.bu WESTERN

Coach: Sam Johnson (fourth year)

1997-98 Record: 7-13 (2-10, 6th Sunset)

Top Players: Tiffany Day, C, 5-11, Sr.; Jessica Senter, F, 5-10, Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors have plenty of size with Day and Senter, but nobody to get them the ball. Senior point guard Adrianna Costello will have to elevate her game in order for Western to break .500 in Sunset Division play.

archive