Kingco Conference Girls Basketball Capsules

Division I

Bellevue

Nickname - Wolverines.

1993-94 record - 2-13 KingCo (fourth in Division I), 4-14 overall.

Coach - Cathy Grosslin, second season (4-14 record).

Top returning players - G Ali Jefferson (5-8, jr.), P Aimee Smith (5-11, sr.), F Jocelyn Kidd (5-10, so.), G Leslie Danz (5-7, jr.), P Katy Bassett (6-0, so.).

Key newcomers - G Jamie Richards (5-9, jr.), G Becki Ashbaugh (5-5, fr.), P Misty Gabbard (6-0, fr.), G Jessica Curry (5-5, fr.).

Outlook - Young Wolverines are experienced, talented, improved. Still, will be tough to put dent in top half of division. But could be playoff year.

Bothell

Nickname - Cougars.

1993-94 record - 10-5 KingCo (second in Division I), 14-9 overall (eliminated at Wes-King bi-district tournament).

Coach - Terry Galloway, sixth season.

Top returning players - W Dana Johnson (5-10, sr.), W Nicole Krell (5-10, sr.), P/W Shae Harriman (5-8, sr.), PG Sarece Butler (5-5, jr.), P Sara Raynor (6-3, jr.), P Brenda Fitzer (6-2, jr.), P/W Sara Nichols (5-11, jr.).

Key newcomers - W Karina Kelly (5-7, jr.), W Jennifer Babin (5-9, so.).

Outlook - Four starters return, including point guard Butler, post Raynor and senior wings Johnson and Krell. Talented team is quick, tall, skilled, deep and might give school its first girls basketball state-tournament appearance.

Lake Washington

Nickname - Kangaroos.

1993-94 record - 14-1 KingCo (division champion), 24-5 overall (KingCo champion, Wes-King runner-up, sixth at AAA state tournament).

Coach - Roger Hansen, third season (43-15).

Top returning players - G/P Sarah Yarbrough (6-2, sr.), G Martha Yarbrough (5-10, jr.), P Susan Jung (5-11, sr.), G Kelly Middlesworth (5-5, jr.), G Kerry Hansen (5-7, sr.), G Laura Brown ,5-6, sr.), P Maureen Morrison (5-10, jr.), P Sara DeVine (5-11, jr.).

Key newcomers - P Meghan Geddes (5-10, so.), P Anna Sturing (6-3, so.), P Hillary Fitzpatrick (5-11, jr.).

Outlook - Kangs return only one starter, Sarah Yarbrough, but she's a first-team all-KingCo center and NCAA Division I signee (University of the Pacific). And she has a younger sister who leads talented group of first-year starters. Newcomers? Kang JVs were undefeated last year. Two games - Dec. 16 (vs. Bothell) and Feb. 10 (ditto) - should settle division race.

Mercer Island

Nickname - Islanders.

1993-94 record - 6-9 (third in division), 10-13 overall (eliminated at district).

Coach - Carla Curfman, first season.

Top returning players - G Laura Reimers (5-7, jr.), C Dana Purcell (6-1, jr.), G Amy Parker (5-8, jr.), C Kirsten Brandin (6-0, jr.), G Erin Meyer (5-6, jr.).

Key newcomers - F/C Maya Jones (5-11, so.), F Darcy Clothier (5-11, so.), P Taryn McDonald (5-10, so.), G/F Marisa Hahn (5-6, so.).

Outlook - Positive attitude, intelligence, height are strengths. But youth and inexperience - no seniors and no returning starters - make this a building year for M.I.

Division II

Inglemoor

Nickname - Vikings.

1993-94 record - 7-8 KingCo (third in division), 10-12 overall.

Coach - Frank Naish, sixth season.

Top returning players - G Karen Maines (5-8, sr.), G Rose Connely (5-6, jr.), P Jocelyn Mitchell (6-0, sr.), G/F Kristin Mak (5-8, jr.), F Lisa McConnachie (5-8, jr.).

Key newcomers - P Holly Gendzwill (6-1, jr.), G/F Serene Smart (5-8, jr.), F Katie Mather (5-9, sr.), F Heather Ellsworth (5-8, sr.).

Outlook - Four starters return from team that qualified for KingCo playoffs, including two of league's top 10 scorers - Maines (12 ppg) and Mitchell (11.1). Tough-D Vikings might be frontrunner in KingCo's most balanced division.

Interlake

Nickname - Saints.

1993-94 record - 10-5 KingCo (second in division), 16-8 overall (eliminated at district).

Coach - Al Russell, fourth season.

Top returning players - G Tina Baker (5-8, sr.), G Crystal Rector (5-10, jr.), G Betsy Ruud (5-10, jr.), P Amie Karkainen (5-11, so.), P Laura Nicolaysen ,5-10, jr.).

Key newcomers - P Catherine Iosua (6-0, sr.), P Shirley Stewart (5-11, jr.), G Tallie Laverty (5-6, jr.), G Mary Pan (5-5, jr.).

Outlook - Three starters, all guards, return and Saints have best overall height in recent history. Quickness and experience are strengths. Biggest weakness might be lack of true center in league full of 6-2, 6-3 posts. Division contender.

Newport

Nickname - Knights.

1993-94 record - 3-12 KingCo (fourth in division), 4-16 overall.

Coach - C.J. Sealey, third season (8-32).

Top returning players - G Tammy Chou (5-7, sr.), F Becca Huttula (5-10, jr.), C Christine Meyer (6-0, sr.), F Nadia Naraine (5-10, sr.), G Erin Dixon (5-7, sr.), G Laurie Ramstedt (5-6, sr.).

Key newcomers - C Anna Mickelson (6-0, fr.), F Beth Hupp (5-9, so.), G Elizabeth Gorey (5-7, jr.).

Outlook - Could be breakthrough season for Sealey's Knights, who return four starters from team that lost 10 games by fewer than 10 points each.

Redmond

Nickname - Mustangs.

1993-94 record - 12-3 KingCo (division champion), 19-6 overall (KingCo runner-up, eliminated in winner-to-state district game).

Coach - Jeannine Ewing-Frable, sixth season.

Top returning players - P Aubrey McFadyen (6-1, jr.), F Nykya Johnson (5-10, jr.), F Sarah Meadows (5-9, jr.), G Rachel Allen (5-4, jr.), G Nicole Cerelejia (5-4, jr.).

Key newcomers - P Lauren Ashbaugh (6-1, so.), G Larissa DePriest (5-5, so.), G Joanna Bowns (5-2, so.).

Outlook - Only one starter returns, and Mustangs have no seniors. But good size up front and successful program should carry team to playoffs again.

Division III

Eastlake

Nickname - Wolves.

1993-94 record - 3-13 KingCo (fourth in division), 3-13 overall.

Coach - Jan Nicholas, second season (3-13).

Top returning players - F/C Shera Looney (6-2, jr.), C/F Shawna Davis (6-3, sr.), F Heather Chilcote (5-8, jr.), G Ingrid Anderson (5-5, sr.), F Jennifer Miller (5-9, sr.), F Jill Sharp (5-9, jr.).

Key newcomers - F Brooke Ingalls (6-0, so.), G Kim Sorenson (5-8, so.), G Betsy Cushman (5-6, so.).

Outlook - Second-year Wolves have tallest team in KingCo again. This time, they also have experience and guards. Should challenge favorite Sammamish for division title.

Issaquah

Nickname - Indians.

1993-94 record - 6-10 KingCo (third in division), 6-14 overall.

Coach - Mark Lutzenhiser, third season (12-28).

Top returning players - G Jessica DeCoria (5-7, jr.), G Katie Desmond (5-7, sr.), F Jodi Sackville (6-0, jr.), G Brenda Lundberg (5-8, sr.), G Carrie Smith (5-7, jr.), F Carrie Anderson (5-10, sr.).

Key newcomers - G Courtney Hellem (5-3, fr.), F Kim Evanger (5-9, fr.), G Heidi Price (5-8, jr.), F Jamie Ingles (5-9, so.).

Outlook - Three starters return, including team's top two '93-94 scorers, Sackville (10 ppg) and Desmond (8.3 ppg). Might find upward mobility tough in division with many improved teams.

Juanita

Nickname - Rebels.

1993-94 record - 2-14 KingCo (fifth in division), 3-16 overall.

Coach - Susie Jones, first season.

Top returning players - G Nicole Bahr (5-4, jr.), F/C Anne Martineau (5-9, jr.), C Adria Sneed (6-1, sr.), G Amy Olson (5-7, sr.), G Christy Graden (5-8, jr.), G/F Jody Rauch (5-8, sr.).

Key newcomers - G Shennae McNairy (5-2, so.), C Jennifer Kutz (6-0, so.), G/F Tristanne Schmidt (5-7, sr.).

Outlook - Experience, post play and speed are strengths for Rebels, who rushed from '94-95 gate with 17-point win over Issaquah. Juanita's biggest margin of victory last season: eight (in overtime). If Rebs recover from loss of point guard Sarah Singer (knee injury), they could make district-playoff waves.

Sammamish

Nickname - Totems.

1993-94 record - 14-2 KingCo (division champion), 20-8 overall (third KingCo, district semifinalist, state qualifier).

Coach - Kathy Langston, 18th season.

Top returning players - W Cindy Jensen (6-0, sr.), W Jill Butler (5-6, sr.), P Michele Dick (5-9, sr.), W Amy Loscher (5-5, sr.),. W Julie Sponar (5-8, sr.), W Shelby Henkel (5-4, jr.), P Stacey Emerick (6-0, jr.), W Kay Dolan , 5-9, jr.), W/P Gina Belloni (5-11, so.).

Key newcomers - P Natalie Duryea (5-9, so.), W/P Colleen Dillon (5-8, jr.), W/P Heidi Brunhaver (5-8, so.).

Outlook - Totems aren't big, but nine return from state-tournament season that came a year earlier than expected. Returning starters Jensen, Butler and Dick lead division favorite/KingCo contender.

Woodinville

Nickname - Falcons.

1993-94 record - 11-5 KingCo (second in division), 13-13 overall (eliminated at district).

Coach - Karen Bryant, second season (13-13).

Top returning players - F Megan Rabin (5-8, sr.), G Mandy Cufley (5-5, sr.), C Leslie Tuiasosopo (6-2, sr.), PG Mandy Cobrea (5-6, jr.), F Danielle Rabin (5-8, jr.), F Janelle Nagel (5-9, jr.).

Key newcomer - F Jaime Thompson (5-8, jr.).

Outlook - Tuiasosopo returns after one year away from basketball and brings much-needed strength in middle. Rabin and Cufley are returning starters. Defensively strong team must find more points after graduating top three '93-94 scorers. If somebody steps up, Falcons could step into Totems' title path.