1995-96 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : FREEWAY LEAGUE

Buena Park: 1-20, 1-9 in 1994-95. Coach: Cedrick Reed (fifth year, 9-57). Prospects: After two dormant seasons that has seen Buena Park lose 36 of its past 43 games, Reed has to hope his squad has hit bottom and can begin to turn things around. The Highlanders are still starting from scratch; he has only two returning starters in 5-10 junior forward Patricia Cetorelli (10.0) and 5-3 senior point guard Sandra Chavez (4.0). Last season, Reed set a goal of winning five games. This season the goal is 10. Eventually he will get a team to catch up to his aspirations.

Fullerton: 13-11, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Marc Carrido (first year). Prospects: Carrido said he has no illusions on the season the Indians will have. Fullerton is that young; no starters back, only three returning players, and a roster jammed with sophomores. In the beginning Carrido will try build around 5-10 sophomore forward Cara Dykes, 6-0 sophomore forward Shannon Hoerner, and 5-6 junior guard Karyna Martinez. After that, only time will tell.

La Habra: 18-7, 9-1 in 1994-95. Coach: John Koehler (16th year, 325-82). Prospects: Koehler is one of the county’s winningest coaches, and has gotten La Habra into the playoffs 15 consecutive years. This season will be a challenge to keep that streak going. The Highlanders have only four returning players, none of them starters. The new foundation of 6-0 senior center Erin Allard (3.2), 5-7 junior guard Lauren Koehler (1.5), 5-9 sophomore forward Lisa Moreno (1.7), 5-10 sophomore guard Morgan Morris (2.0) has little varsity experience. The Highlanders are quick but not big, and have shown some early problems shooting. Still, Koehler says if you’re going to beat La Habra, beat them early; he expects to be a factor in the league race again.

Sonora: 6-17, 4-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Rick Albano (first year). Prospects: Even having high-scoring, 5-6 senior guard Aiyana Nash (26.3), was not enough to nudge the Raiders into the playoffs last season. Albano says this season will be different. Sonora is young but also has some height with 5-8 sophomore forward Kristi DeOliva (4.0), 6-1 freshman center Sarah Fister and 5-10 sophomore Melissa Ryan. Last week Sonora won its first opening game in five years. Albano plans to win many more.

Sunny Hills: 1-23, 1-9 in 1994-95. Coach: Marty Perez (first year). Prospects: The Lancers seek a fresh start under Perez after enduring a horrid season that saw them fit one victory between an 0-16 start and an 0-7 finish. The sole victory came against Buena Park (which won the rematch for its lone victory). Perez has seven returning letterman, none of which averaged more than three points per game. The sole returning starter is 5-2 sophomore guard Jenny Chen. It won’t get much better soon, but Sunny Hills should win more than once this season.

Troy: 18-6, 9-1 in 1994-95. Coach: Brad Sand (fifth year, 76-24). Prospects: The past four years the Warriors have run roughshod over the other Freeway residents, losing only five of 40 league games and winning three consecutive titles. (Last year they tied La Habra for the league championship.) This should be the season everyone else extracts their pound of flesh; Troy is young, and doesn’t have great height or inside strength. But Sand does have three returning starters, including 5-7 senior guard Janea Butler (5.0) and 5-10 sophomore guard Heidi Hardeman (8.0). And the Warriors have something else; the intangible of knowing how to win.