DIVISION III-AA

Defending champion: Pasadena Muir.

Top teams: Mission Hills Alemany (20-6); La Puente (21-1); Rosary (15-11); Pomona (17-8).

Dark horse: Any team that has the best player in the division is a threat, and many consider Anna Lembke of Ocean View (11-15) the division’s best player. She is averaging 21.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and shooting 68.9% from the field.

Top players: Maggie Barnett (Rosary); Kate Beckler (Alemany); Rebecca Beelner (Ocean View); Vickie Beelner (Ocean View); Sarah Belavic (Rosary); Romina Bollini (Rosary); Cara Dykes (Fullerton); Bethany Ferr (Fullerton); Alexis Hill (Pomona); Shannon Hoerner (Fullerton); Kelli Kobayashi (Alemany); Anna Lembke (Ocean View); Mara Sheppard (Ocean View).

Notes: Ocean View (11-15) had losses to such formidible teams as Capistrano Valley, Esperanza, Long Beach Poly, Marina, and also lost three times while playing a national tournament in Wyoming. Ocean View didn’t play any Division III-A teams. . . . Despite its record, Rosary could make some noise in the division. The Royals like the uptempo game, and teams that are ill-prepared for the pace could wilt. . . . Rosary, too, is well-balanced--especially against this level of competition. Sarah Belavic (12.5 points, 8.2 assists) is an outside threat, shooting 41.9% from the three-point arc, and Romina Bollini (14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds) is an inside threat, shooting 53.5% from the field.