HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GIRLS’ PREVIEW : Morningside Maintains No. 1 Ranking

Lisa Leslie and Coach Frank Scott have moved on, but Inglewood Morningside still is the team to beat during the 1990-91 girls’ basketball season.

Leslie, who was named state player of the year the last two seasons, is a freshman at USC, and Scott, who led the Monarchs to two consecutive Division I state championships, is in his first season as a Trojan assistant.

Even so, Ron Randle, Morningside’s first-year coach, should have no problem continuing the Monarchs’ winning ways, and they hold the top position in The Times’ Southern California preseason poll.

1. MORNINGSIDE

Southern Section Division I

Pioneer League. Last Season (32-3)

Opposing coaches may not pull their teams off the court at halftime trailing, 102-24, as South Torrance Coach Gil Ramirez did last season, but they may want to. Leslie is gone, but the Monarchs have their other starters back. Leading the way will be Princess Murray, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, and Janet Davis, a 6-3 junior forward. Akiba Flanagan and Tyesha Whiting, who combined to average 15 points and 13 rebounds a game last season, also return.

Morningside will not have to wait long to find out how good it is. The Monarchs will be tested early in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions starting Wednesday. The key for Morningside may well be the play of underclassmen Tina Thompson, a 6-1 sophomore, and Tameka Kirby, a 5-9 freshman.

2. CHINO

Southern Section Division I

Baseline League. Last Season: 27-3

Coach Joe Murillo has won three Southern Section titles, and this season’s Chino team may be his best. The Cowgirls will be led by Beth Beers, a 6-3 center; Francine Moreno, a 5-8 junior, and Michelle Kahler, a 5-6 point guard.

Last season, Chino lost to Morningside, 75-48, in the Southern Section 5-AA Division semifinals, but look for a better showing from the Cowgirls this season with the addition of sophomore Amee Pina and junior Keri Collins. Chino will also be in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

3. VENTURA BUENA

Southern Section Division I

Channel League. Last Season: 26-2.

After winning its first 26 games last season, Buena lost to Newhall Hart in the Southern Section 5-A Division final and then lost to Morningside in the first round of the state playoffs. This season, Coach Joe Vaughan’s Bulldogs are deep again, with guard Mia Palkie, an All-Southern Section performer last season, and Leanne Ishikawa, who showed improvement last summer.

Vaughan, who began the season with a 342-31 record, also will have returning starter Jennifer Wells and sophomore center April Buck. The Bulldogs will be tested on Jan. 18, when they play host to the nation’s top-rated team, Christ the King of New York.

4. LOS ANGELES WASHINGTON

City Section 4-A Division

Southern League. Last Season: 29-4

Coach Phil Chase no longer has All-City cousins Detra Lockhart and Remitha Houston, who graduated, but back is Charisse Sampson, who is considered one of the nation’s top juniors. Sampson has started for Washington since her freshman year and last season averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds a game. Last season, the Generals won their second consecutive City title, but lost in the state tournament to Morningside.

5. LYNWOOD

Southern Section Division I

San Gabriel Valley League.

Last Season: 28-3.

Coach Maurice Roberson has three key starters returning, Kim Barfield, a 5-10 forward who averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds last season; Sheronda Colbert, 5-11 center, and Bridgette Polk, a 5-9 guard. Last season, the Knights lost to Morningside in the Southern Section 5-AA final.

6. PALOS VERDES

Southern Section Division III

Ocean League. Last Season: 29-6.

The Sea Kings will be loaded this season with the addition of transfers Kristen Mulligan, who averaged 22.1 points last season for Santa Margarita, and Jeffra Gausepohl, a 6-5 junior from Pennsylvania. Coach Wendall Yoshida also has five starters back from last season, headed by Monique Morehouse, a 6-3 junior. The Sea Kings also will have highly regarded freshman guard Mimi McKinney.

7. LAKEWOOD

Southern Section Division I

Moore League. Last Season: 20-5.

It is not difficult to guess where Lakewood’s strength will be this season. Coach Dow Larson has one of the best inside combinations in the state in 6-2 Melissa Gower, who averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds last season, and 6-1 Charon Johnson, who averaged 16 points. Akia Hardy and Keshana Ladet will control the backcourt for the Lancers.

8. GAHR

Southern Section Division II

San Gabriel Valley League.

Last Season: 19-6.

With the addition of Allison Arredondo, who transferred from Los Alamitos, Gahr figures to be a force. Coach Tom Pryor also has his five starters from last season. Arredondo, a 6-1 junior, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season and will join Shemekia Brown, a 6-2 center who averaged nine points and seven rebounds last season; Kris Waldorf, a junior guard; and Cindy Alen, a 6-0 forward.

9. OXNARD CHANNEL ISLANDS

Southern Section Division I

Marmonte League. Last Season: 23-7.

Center Sal Tauau, a 6-foot senior who averaged 12 points and 13 rebounds last season, is the best of four returning starters for Coach Ryle Lynch-Cole. Another senior to be counted on is Candis Carper, a 5-11 forward who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds last season.

10. BREA-OLINDA

Southern Section Division II

Orange League. Last Season: 33-1.

Last Season, the Wildcats were the Southern Section’s top team after defeating Morningside and Washington during the regular season but lost in the state Division III final. Coach Mark Trakh lost his top guards, Aimee McDaniel and Tammy Blackburn, who led the Wildcats to a 63-3 record and two Southern Section titles, to graduation, but back are Jinelle Williams and Jody Anton.

11. CARSON

City Section 4-A Division

Pacific League. Last Season: 22-7

Last season, Carson was no match for Washington in the City 4-A semifinals, losing, 73-34, but the Colts have six players back from that team. Coach Jay Park’s top player is 6-1 Bernice Alafua, who averaged 19 points last season. Bernetta James and RayJanette Lampkins will start in the backcourt.

12. REDLANDS

Southern Section Division I

Citrus Belt League. Last Season: 23-5.

Coach Gary Luebbers has four returning four starters, including Kim Burr, who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds a game last season, and Penny Porter, who averaged 13 points. Guard Heather Michaelis, who averaged 10 points and seven assists, will lead the team at point guard.

13. COSTA MESA ESTANCIA

Southern Section Division III

Pacific Coast League. Last Season: 14-13.

Last season, Estancia rallied in the playoffs to reach the Southern Section semifinals, largely on the play of Patrice Lumpkins. Coach Lisa McNamee again has Lumpkins, who averaged 13 points, to go along with Melody Earle, who averaged 15.3, and Monique Sweet.

14. LOMPOC

Southern Section Division III

Northern League. Last Season: 21-4.

All-Southern Section Nicki Manzo looms as the main force for Coach Sherman Hansen’s Braves this season. Manzo, a 6-5 senior who averaged 24.3 points and 14.6 rebounds last season, will team with Twilla Sims, who won the State 300-meter hurdles title two years ago, and freshman Kim Wuiest.

15. SANTA MARIA ST. JOSEPH

Southern Section Division IV

Los Padres League. Last Season: 28-4

Coach Ed Torres has his entire team from last season and that team outscored postseason opponents by an average of 37.5 points in reaching the state Division IV final. The Knights will be led by the McConnell twins, Amy, who averaged 16.7 points and 16.7 rebounds; and Anna, who averaged 16.5 points and 6.3 assists. Claudia Nunez and Jennifer Anaya will also play key roles for the Knights.