The Times’ rankings

Martin Henderson’s final girls’ basketball top 25:

*--* Rk. Team (rec., div.) Comment (last rank) 1 LONG BEACH POLY (31-2, Div. I-AA) May have been best team in the country by end of season (1). 2 NARBONNE (31-5, City) Victoria Sanders, third coach in three years, kept talented group in line (7). 3 MILLER (30-3, Div. II-AA) Won a section title behind Wells sisters and Brianna Hall (3). 4 L.B. MILLIKAN (28-5, Div. I-AA) Courtney Clements-led Rams reached section finals for first time (2) 5 CAJON (30-4, Div. II-A) Layshia Clarendon, Darshae Burnside, Bjonee Reaves powerful 1-2-3 punch (13). 6 VENTURA (27-3, Div. I-AA) Nobody averaged more than seven points, but defense was ferocious (14). 7 BREA OLINDA (25-4, Div. I-AA) Stunning loss to Ventura wiped out any chance of return trip to state final (5). 8 REDONDO (28-4, Div. I-A) Atonye Nyingifa, unheralded supporting cast won section title in “down” year (6). 9 SAN CLEMENTE (26-6, Div. I-A) Led by Kristen Riley, Tritans came on strong in second half of season (9). 10 MIRA COSTA (28-7, Div. I-A) Megan Richardson, Mikah Maly-Karros undone by officiating in state final (17). 11 CHATSWORTH (26-7, City) Could be average or spectacular, but was at its toughest in the playoffs (19). 12 LYNWOOD (23-8, Div. I-AA) Freshman Sheila Boykin gives Knights someone to build around (8). 13 MAGNOLIA (27-7, Div. III-AA) Gave solid performance against Sacred Heart Cathedral in state title game (10). 14 MUIR (28-3, Div. I-A) Finished one point short of Magnolia for opportunity to play for state title (4). 15 AYALA (29-6, Div. II-A) Triple-overtime heartbreaker kept Gardner sisters, Jasmin Holliday from state final (12). 16 PERRIS (26-5, Div. II-A) Three of top five players, including leading scorer Kiyana Stamps, will be back (11). 17 MATER DEI (25-4, Div. I-AA) Kalena Lewis is one of the Southland’s outstanding freshman talents (16). 18 FOOTHILL (24-5, Div. I-A) Should be stellar next season as only one player graduates from quarterfinalist (18). 19 MARLBOROUGH (23-10, Div. III-AA) Seniors Nikki Speed, Dominique Chen enjoyed sixth straight section title (NR). 20 EDISON (21-4, Div. II-AA) Undone in playoffs by injuries, Priscila Cergol, Bonnie Samuelson return in ’09 (15). 21 JSERRA (21-8, Div. I-AA) Led by Jourdan Banks, Lions were one of season’s more pleasant surprises (22). 22 S. MARGARITA (23-5, Div. I-AA) Melissa Zornig was one of the region’s outstanding sophomores (23). 23 TROY (23-5, Div. I-AA) Six of top eight players return, but senior Amanda Sims won’t be among them (20). 24 SUMMIT (29-3, Div. III-AA) Section finalist, with no seniors, wasn’t challenged until the playoffs (25). 25 ETIWANDA (23-8, Div. II-AA) Amber Williams-led young squad beat section finalist Los Osos twice (NR). *--*