Huntington’s lady hoopsters

Mike Sciacca

The 2001-02 girls’ high school basketball season begins this week with

all four Huntington Beach teams taking the court.

There are two new head coaches on the scene, Ryan Bettencourt at

Huntington Beach, and Corey Kelly at Edison.

A look at the teams:

SCHOOL:Huntington Beach OilersCOLORS: Black & Orange

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Ryan Bettencourt

YEAR AT SCHOOL: 1st

ASSISTANT COACHES: Ron Uehle, Stephanie Horiuchi, Megan Masuda

2000-2001 RECORD: 16-12

LEAGUE FINISH: Second/tied (5-5)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost second round

RETURNING STARTERS: Kelsey Ball (G/F, 6-1, Sr.); Alisha Mountford (G,

5-3, Soph.); Amy Shaw (G, 5-7, Sr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Mo Finn (G/F, 5-9, Jr.); Madison Parks (F/C, 6-2, Soph.);

Megan Molden (G/F, 5-10, Jr.); Julie Heida (G, 5-8, Jr.); Shiho Shinjo

(G, 5-4, Jr.); Elmo Rezaei (G, 5-6, Sr.).

OUTLOOK: Bettencourt comes to the program after serving two years as

varsity coach at Northwood High in Irvine. This will be his 15th year of

coaching basketball. His first squad consists of six returners from a

year ago, including three starters. Ball has received a basketball

scholarship to Pepperdine University.

“We have the ability to score inside as well as on the perimeter,”

Bettencourt said. “We have two players over six feet and that should be a

big asset in terms of rebounding. The keys for us this season will be our

team chemistry and developing consistent guard play during the

preseason.”

SCHOOL: Ocean View Seahawks

COLORS: Cardinal & Gold

LEAGUE: Golden West

HEAD COACH: Adara Newidouski

YEAR AT SCHOOL: 3rd

2000-2001 RECORD: 9-16

LEAGUE FINISH: Third (4-4)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost in first round.

RETURNING STARTERS: Leila Abufarie (G, 5-7, Soph.); Kristen Graves (G,

5-5, Sr.); Erica Williams (G, 5-8, Soph.); Elyse McNeff (G/F, 5-8, Jr.);

Andrea Letcher (F, 5-10, Jr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Jessica Aragon (F/Post, 5-9, Sr.); Connie Esposito (Post,

5-10, Soph.); Vanessa Alderfar (G, 5-6, Fr.); Erin Berry (G, 5-3, Fr.).

OUTLOOK: Newidouski will put a young squad on the court but will

benefit from the return of first-team all-league performers in Abufarie

and Graves.

“We will run an up-tempo style of game, pushing the ball up the

floor,” Newidouski said. “Defensively, with added quickness, we will look

to press.”

SCHOOL: Edison Chargers

COLORS: Green & Gold

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Corey Kelly

YEAR AT SCHOOL: 1st

ASSISTANT COACH: Kyle Murphy

2000-2001 RECORD: 18-10

LEAGUE FINISH: Second/tied (5-5)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost in second round to Saugus

RETURNING STARTERS: Bianca Ziemann (G, 5-9, Sr.); Rachael Ziemann (G,

5-9, Sr.); Kristen Chidley (F, 5-10, Sr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Pearl Hosokawa (G, 5-8, Jr.); Valerie Katayama (G, 5-6,

Soph.); Jennifer Oden (C, 6-2, Jr.); Jessica Harris (F, 5-8, Soph.);

Stacy Birk (F, 5-10, Jr.); Rebecca Kepilino (C, 5-11, Fr.); Erin Clancy

(G, 5-7, Jr.); Kristen Stevi (G, 5-7, Sr.); Kristen Grant (F, 5-8,

Soph.).

OUTLOOK: Kelly previously coached the Edison boys’ varsity team before

assisting the girls’ squad last year. He has worked with his two

returning all-league players, twins Bianca and Rachael Ziemann, since the

two were sophomores. Now seniors, the Ziemann twins have signed with

Loyola Marymount University.

“This should be a fun year,” Kelly said. “We’ve had a good summer and

I think that will carry over to the season. We are athletic and can shoot

the ball. The Sunset League is very good from top to bottom but I really

think this team will be competing for a league championship.”

SCHOOL: Marina Vikings

COLORS: Navy, Columbia Blue & Gold

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Butch Fredlow

YEAR AT SCHOOL: Third

ASSISTANT COACH: Karyn Fierst

2000-2001 RECORD: 15-13

LEAGUE FINISH: Second/tie (5-5)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost in first round

RETURNING STARTERS: Nicole Nichols (C, 6-2, Sr.); Cindy Romanowski (G,

5-7, Sr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Sarah McLeod (G, 5-8, Jr.); Nicole Akiyama (G, 5-5, Sr.);

Emily Matayoshi (G, 5-1, Soph.); Sara Marquez (F, 5-9, Jr.); Ida

Chavoshan (F, 5-8, Sr.); Christie Carlile (C, 6-2, Soph.); Kelly Prince

(F/G, 5-8, Soph.); Mimi Kaneko (F, 5-9, Jr.); Jackie Joe (G, 5-4, Jr.).

OUTLOOK: “We will only be as good as our guard and center play,”

Fredlow said. “We have to play smart and use good, solid team defense.”