SGV/Whittier Girls Basketball Preview
South Pasadena, Glendora and Arcadia headline a solid group.
SGV/WHITTIER PREPS SPORTS ZONE PREVIEW
Girls Basketball
Flintridge Prep’s Ashley Chea headlines an outstanding group of players in the area. (Photo courtesy of Flintridge Prep basketball.)
TOP 10 TEAMS IN THE AREA:
1. South Pasadena (2021 Season record: 17-6, Division 2-A)
Players to Watch: Allysan Tse, Dylan Tse, Alyssa Chan
Top Newcomer: Peyton Washington (11)
Outlook: This is the consensus top team in the area. The main reason for it is the Tse sisters. They can shoot the ball prolifically, play terrific defense, and will be most likely by playing collegiate basketball when their high school careers are done. Allysan was a first-team All-CIF pick and Dylan was a second-team All-CIF selection.
The role players would be star players on any other team. Alyssa Chan averaged 9 points and 9 rebounds a game last season and will be counted on heavily in the low post. According to coach Cody Masden, sophomore Jamie Rain Kim is a pure shooter and that is a dangerous commodity to have when you have a squad loaded like this. Add to Peyton Washington, a junior that will be coming off that is projected to be “a huge difference-maker” by Madsen, and you can easily see why this team has big expectations.
They are the clear favorites to win the Rio Hondo League title and are positioned nicely to make a deep run in the playoffs. One of the teams that will be a problem for the Tigers is Ontario Christian, who beat them in the Red Division final of the Keppel Tournament. However, many are projecting OC to be selected into the Open Division – which would bring a huge smile to Tigers fans.
2. Glendora (2021 record: 11-12, Division 2-AA)
Players to Watch: Hailey Schafer, Emmy Barnett, Kennedy Hermann
Top Newcomer: Brianna Gomez, Addison Martin
Outlook: Several years ago, coach Adam Nunemaker attached the title of “Believetown” for this program, and once again, the Tartans step into the familiar role as one of the top teams in the area. You can make a strong argument that Hailey Schafer is one of the top guards in the area. She average 11 points a game last season and was named first-team all Palomares League. Emma Barnett is a shooting guard that will be relied on heavily for point production.
Kennedy Hermann is projected to play in one of the forward slots for Nunemaker. She averaged nearly five points and five rebounds a game. The player that needs to be watched closely is Brianna Gomez. She will be starting for the Tartans this year and you don’t see many freshmen start for Nunemaker. She is listed at 5-foot 1-inch, but I have a feeling she might play bigger than that.
Glendora is slotted in Division 2-AA with other powerhouse programs such as Orange Lutheran, Crean Lutheran, and Sage Hill. It’s all about placement when the brackets come out, but you can count on the Tartans to be battle-tested this season.
3. Arcadia (2021 record: 7-8, Division 2-A)
Players to Watch: Lana Troung, Mel Manell
Top Newcomer: Lexi Mercado, Shirley Freeman
Outlook: Lots to unpack here for coach Adam Conover and the Apaches. The reduced spring season was not kind to the Apaches as they finished the year in 6th place in the Pacific League standings with a 7-8 overall record. That’s not what you expect from a program like this. However, Arcadia is off to a fast start at 4-1 and looks like one of the teams to beat in the Pacific League championship race.
One of the bright spots from last season was guard Mel Manell. The junior averaged 12 points a game but is only averaging five points a game at this stage in the season. We’re projecting her to pick up the scoring pace as the season goes along. The major development is the return of Lana Troung due to a torn ACL injury she suffered last year. She is averaging six points a game in the three games that has played.
When we asked Conover for their top newcomers, we were floored when Conover named FIVE freshmen, Shirley Freeman, Lexi Mercado, Jessica Jiang, Sam Pape, and Kareena Phan. That gives you a feeling that the Arcadia is going to be very good for the next four years. Freeman, a 5-foot 7-inch guard, is leading the team in scoring (averaging 10 points a game).
Conover is concerned about lack of experience and how his squad will play defensive from the low post. But if you get into a track meet with this team, good luck in beating them. As for the playoffs, Arcadia is slotted on 2-A which means that they are in with South Pasadena, Los Altos, California, and several solid programs from throughout the area. Don’t be surprised to see this team playing deep into March.
4. Keppel (2021 record: 10-1; Division 2-A)
Players to watch: Kylie Ng, Jolin Chin, Jennifer Nitta, Annie Ye
Top Newcomer: Jada Ly, Doris Lai
Outlook: After being slotted in Division 1 last year – where they suffered a first-round loss to Downey – the Aztecs are back in Division 2-A and that should be great news for Aztecs fans. When it comes to speed, toughness, and the ability to shoot from any spot on the court, no one does it better than Keppel. They have earned the reputation as one of the toughest teams to play. Usually, they don’t have any bigger than 5-9, but that won’t be the case this year.
Kylie Ng was the Almont League MVP last spring, averaging 15 points a game. Jolin Chin, her partner in the backcourt, was a first-team All Almont League pick and averaged 14 points a game. When those two players are clicking, the Aztecs will be tough to beat. The player that bears close watching this year is Annie Ye. She is a 6-foot 1 sophomore and was a second-team all-league pick averaging eight rebounds a game.
As for the newcomers, coach Jose Herrera is high on freshman Jada Ly. “She reminds me of Patricia Chung as a freshman,” Herrera said. That’s scary when you consider that Chung is now playing at Long Beach State.
Don’t put a lot of stock into the slow 1-4 start for the Aztecs. Herrera loves to load up his nonleague schedule because once the Aztecs hit Almont League play, they simply don’t get challenged. This team will be firing on all cylinders when the playoffs arrive. They lost to South Pasadena 55-44 earlier in this season at Keppel, but expect that game to be more closer if they play in March. This is a very dangerous team that can’t be overlooked this season.
5. La Salle (2021 record: 9-5, Division 3-AA):
Players to Watch: Resse Wong, Audrey Chen, Ellie Chen, Ryann Riddle
Top Newcomer: Kaden Cortes
Outlook: No team is more poised for a big season more than La Salle. Third-year coach Scott Wiard, who just got married recently, really likes his team this year, and that says a lot.
Just how good this team can be will be determined when Ellie Chen gets back into the starting lineup. Chen is currently out with an injury, but she is at 100 percent, she might be the best player in the area. Reese Wong, a junior, is averaging 10 points a game and is picking up where she left off from the spring. Audrey Chen, Reese’s younger sister, has also improved her tame and is averaging 10 points a game at this point in the season.
Wiard has two newcomers that he is high on. Freshmen Kaden Cortes is putting up big numbers (10 points a game) as a guard and sophomore forward Ryann Riddle (who missed last year due to a knee injury) is averaging seven rebounds a game, second behind Avery Ward (10 rebounds a game).
La Salle is sequestered in the Camino Real League and must contend with St. Mary’s Academy every year for league supremacy. The great part is that once they enter postseason play, they’ll be a major player in Division 3-AA. The only other area teams in the division are La Canada (who has dropped off a bit this year) and Santa Fe.
Factor in the bench coaching of SGV legend Richard Wiard, and you can understand why a lot of people like the Lancers to make a big run in the postseason in 2022.
6. Bonita (2021 record: 14-3, Division 1)
Players to Watch: Ana Eckler, Brianna Graham
Top Newcomers: Naomi Acuna, Serenity Henderson, Andrea (Rey) Torres
Outlook: Every year we have a team in the area that is misplaced in playoff divisions. This might be the team this year. The Bearcats lose one of the best players in Southern California in forward Alisha Wilson. She was simply a tough matchup for anyone that had to guard her last year. Her loss will be felt.
Another loss is coach Taylor Anderson, who recently accepted an assistant coaching position with Claremont-Mudd this past fall. She was a rising star on the coaching circuit in the area and will be greatly missed in the coaching box.
Darren Baumunk is now the new head coach and he has some interesting pieces to work with. Ana Eckler is one of the top guards in the area and is a two-time Palomares League first-team pick. She’ll be joined in the backcourt by Lauryn Ureno.
The player that will be counted on for major production this season is senior forward Bryanna Graham. She averaged 12 points and seven rebounds a game last season and was a nice compliment to Wilson. She’ll be asked to play a bigger role this season.
Although many of the teams from Division 1 will be slotted into the Open Division, it’s still going to be an uphill battle if Bonita has any plans on making a serious postseason run. They’ll need to have a big presence in the low post and with a new coach comes to acclimation process that can a little bit of time. Look for the Bearcats to battle it out with Glendora for Palomares League supremacy.
7. Sonora (2021 record: 19-6, Division 2AA)
Players to Watch: Jazmin Sheikh, Larissa Robles, Kiki Graham
Top newcomer: Leah Saynes
Outlook: Want a team that you can buy some stock into this season? This could be your team. The Raiders are thriving these days under coach Melissa Barajas and you can be sure that this team should be taken lightly. They were the co-champions of the Freeway League (with OC powerhouse Troy) and they figure to give them another run for their money this season.
Jazmin Sheikh is a senior guard that headlines an outstanding backcourt. Shiekh scored 10 points a game last year along with five rebounds. Larissa Robles, another sweet-shooting guard, also averaged 10 points a game last year. The Raiders also added recent transfer Leah Saynes into the mix and brings in more versatility.
The defense has always been a hallmark of this program and that won’t change according to Barajas.
As for the postseason, this is the perfect division for the Raiders. They match up very well and should be one of the team teams to follow. When you consider that Glendora and San Dimas are in this division as well, it’s going to be fun to watch.
I’m buying plenty of stock into this team. Watch closely!
8. San Dimas (2021 record: 13-7, Division 2-AA)
Players to Watch: Allison McGill, Olivia Romero, Janessa Rodriguez, Jazlynn Rodriguez
Top Newcomers: Jaelyn Ramos, Pricilla Ramos
Outlook: What a year for veteran coach Gary Jackson. His team made one of the more magical runs in the playoffs last year, only to suffer a loss in the final seconds of a CIF Southern Section final to Ayala. However, they were also involved in one of the more exciting games of the year and that was in the semifinals when they defeated South Pasadena in overtime.
And you know how many players they lost from last season's roster? Zero!
That’s right, the Saints have loaded again in 2022. This means you’ll be getting more Allison McGill from her spot at guard. The junior averaged 10 points a game last year and was named first-team All-Valle Vista League and first-team All-CIF. Olivia Romero is the perfect compliment to McGill. She tallied eight points a game and all earned first-team all-league status.
Then comes the low post where you’ll find two of the premier forwards in the area in Janessa and Jazlynn Rodriguez. Janessa scored 15 points a game last year and was named first-team All-CIF and All-Valle Vista League. Jazlynn started making per presence felt late in the season. And Jackson like the potential in freshmen Jaelyn and Pricilla Ramos.
You might be wondering, why are the Saints ranked eighth? Simple, there’s a lot of talent in the teams that are ranked above them. That doesn’t mean we don’t like the Saints. Let’s just say we’ve got them ranked at eighth and they could easily move up the ladder with a productive nonleague performance. You can be sure that this team will be on my radar screen.
9. St. Paul (2021 record: 7-8, Division 1)
Players to Watch: Gloria Barrera, Fiyone Halie
Outlook: No team was hit harder at graduation than St. Paul. Prolific shooting guard Valerie “Sunshine” Huerta is now at Central Washington University and that leaves a big hole to fill for legendary coach Robert Miller (who also happens to be school principal).
However, the Swordsmen look like they have a new star in the making in freshmen guard Gloria Barrera. She is a three-position player on the court (guard, forward, center) and is lighting up the scorebook this season. She scored 26 points in their win Saturday over Flintridge Prep. She could be the best of a talented group of freshmen in the area this season.
Fiyone Halie and Maya Mendoza are also two underclassmen that have shown tremendous growth and will be counted on heavily this season.
The tough part of evaluating the Swordsmen is knowing that they’ll be playing in the brutal Del Rey League with St. Anthony, and Bishop Montgomery before entering the playoffs in Division 1. Put them in the Camino Real League and that would have been fun to see them clash with La Salle twice. But with arch-rival Bishop Amat on the docket, we’ll take that matchup any day of the week.
10. California (2021 record: 12-4, Division 2-A)
Player to watch: Valerie Romero
Newcomer to Watch: Natalia Sanchez
Outlook: The Condors are off to a nice start at 4-2 and look like one of the teams to beat in the Del Rio League. The only loss on the resume is to Walnut and we’ll forgive them for the loss.
No player has made a bigger impact on her team in the Whittier area more than Valerie Romero. The 5-foot 7-inch senior scored 15 points a game last season and has picked up where she’s left off this season by leading the team in scoring with 16 points and seven rebounds a game. She’ll be the focal point for many opponents this year.
The Condors also have a sweet-shooting freshman in Natalia Sanchez who is averaging 11 points a game. She is going to be a legit player in the area for the next three years.
As always, the Condors will be in an intense pitched battle with La Serna for Del Rio League supremacy and another playoff contender you can add into the mix for Division 2-A. You can understand why area basketball fans love D-2A.
On the outside looking in: Northview, La Canada, Rosemead, Flintridge Prep, Walnut
FIVE THINGS I’LL BE WATCHING THIS SEASON
1. Could this be the year of the freshman?
I’ve been covering girls basketball for a good long minute and I can’t remember so many coaches listing freshmen as top newcomers on their squads. It’s insane.
You have Kaden Cortes at La Salle, St. Paul’s Gloria Barrera, Brianna Gomez at Glendora, Arcadia’s “Fab-Five” (check their profile), Jada Ly at Keppel, Jaelyn and Pricilla Ramos at San Dimas, Kristine Lozano at Sierra Vista, Jenn Musso at La Canada, Anelly Alba at Northview and Sophia Ikslander at Gabrielino.
And you can be sure they’ll be more than will come into the spotlight as the season progresses. The talent for the class of 2025 is going to be off the charts.
2. Who is the best girls basketball player in the area?
Flintridge Prep’s Ashley Chea. Area hoops fans got robbed of seeing her play last year when she tore an ACL in the season opener against South Pasadena (and the Wolves still won 48-44). She’s trained over the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks and even caught the attention of the late LA Lakers great Kobe Bryant.
The challenge for her is to trust her teammates consistently. In the win over Garfield last week at the Keppel Tournament, Chea set a new school record for points scored in a game with 40. In an area that features so many top-notch players, Chea is in a class of her own.
3. Which team from the area make a deep run in D-2A
South Pasadena. This team is loaded! The Tse sisters are fun to watch. But they aren’t the only reason why this team is good. A strong roster along with good coaching makes this team the overwhelming choice to make it to championship weekend. They are a must-watch for area fans.
4. Of the team that didn’t make the top-10, who is the team to follow.
Walnut. Coach Lori Huckler once again has the team to beat in the Hacienda League. They have some nice wins early in the season, but they are in Division 2-AA, which is loaded with top-notch teams from Southern California. Pencil them in a sleeper.
5. Which team has the biggest upside that you are buying stock into?
Sonora. The most fun team to watch. They load up their schedule with the powerhouse teams in Orange County and give Troy fits every year. They are unselfish with the ball and coach Melissa Barajas has done a great job in turning this program into one of the consistently successful teams in the Whittier area. Don’t sleep in the Raiders.
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