2024-25 Girls Basketball Preview

Key dates

Feb. 14: Regular season ends

Feb. 27-March 1: Championship finals

Defending champions

Open Division: Mission Hills

Division 1: Cathedral Catholic

Division 2: Francis Parker

Division 3: Montgomery

Division 4: Escondido Charter

Division 5: Escondido

2023-2024 Player of the Year: Kyara Walter, Mission Hills

elcajon newsPreseason Poll

Rank; team (first-place votes); last year’s record

1.; Mission Hills (7); 23-9

2.; Francis Parker (4); 21-10

3.; La Jolla Country Day (2); 26-8

4.; Westview; 19-12

5.; Victory Christian; 20-10

6.; Cathedral Catholic; 23-10

7.; Grossmont ;27-9

8.; Bishop’s; 22-8

9.; Carlsbad; 15-14

10.; Rancho Bernardo; 21-11

Others receiving votes: Lincoln, El Capitan, Torrey Pines, Oceanside, Mater Dei Catholic, Rancho Buena Vista, Poway, Bonita Vista, Del Norte, Montgomery,  La Costa Canyon and Scripps Ranch.

Top players

(in alphabetical order)

Name, School, Year 

Sophia Abella, Victory Christian, Sr.

Reagan Bennett, La Jolla, Sr.

Lindsay Biddle, Rancho Bernardo, Jr.

Brieana Brown, Francis Parker, So.

Cary Brown, Montgomery, Sr.

Nayeli Cardona, Imperial, Sr.

Bay Cordova, Mission Hills, So.

Mackenzie Daffron, Otay Ranch, Sr.

Asia Darcuiel, Lincoln, Sr.

Belinda Diaz, Morse, Sr.

Camille Drake, Ranch Buena Vista, Sr.

Jaliyah Fleming, Grossmont, So.

Martina Griffin, Oceanside, Sr.

Mckinley Hanlon, Cathedral Catholic, So.

H.C. Harding, Mission Hills, Jr.

Georgia Hawk, Carlsbad, So.

Keira Heinricy, El Capitan, Jr.

Kirra Herreria, Carlsbad, Jr.

Sarah Heyn, Westview, Jr.

Elyanna Jimenez, Imperial, Fr.

Katelyn Johnson, Poway, Sr.

Riya Khushu, Francis Parker, Fr.

Abby Lesagonicz, Rancho Bernardo, Jr.

Piper Linehan, Santa Fe Christian, Sr.

Malissa McCoy, Lincoln, Jr.

Ava Miles, Valhalla, Sr.

Maddie Moeller, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.

Isabella Mosley, Vista, Jr.

Maleena Nava, Mission Hills, So.

Mackenzie Nitzel, San Diego, Sr.

Lily Oliva, Torrey Pines, Jr.

Gigi Ong, Francis Parker, So.

Alyssa Otero, Mira Mesa, Sr.

Jewell Parker, Hoover, Jr.

Mei-Ling Perry, La Jolla Country Day, Jr.

Bella Riddle, Francis Parker, Fr.

Helen Rosales, Lincoln, Sr.

Aakash Price, Grossmont, So.

Kaitlyn Raagas, Francis Parker, Jr.

Kylie Salzer, Rancho Buena Vista, Sr.

Emily Sample, El Capitan, Sr.

Ivorii Seals, Mira Mesa, Sr.

Kayli Salgado, Hilltop, Jr.

Jennifer Stanion, Santa Fe Christian, Jr.

Safiyah Sugapong, La Jolla Country Day, Jr.

Jamiya Valenciano, Bonita Vista, Jr.

Destiny Walker, Mission Hills, Sr.

Mahlia Washington, La Jolla Country Day, Jr.

Sierra Weckback, Christian, Jr.

Genevieve Whitehead, Montgomery, Jr.

Lily Williams, El Capitan, Sr.

Paige Worthem, El Capitan, Sr.

Yasmine Zufri, Morse, Sr.

Paula Zumstein, Montgomery, Jr.

Key tournaments

RBV Longhorn Classic: Dec. 2-7

Rancho Buena Vista Sweet 16: December 4-7 at La Jolla Country Day

Gold Crown Holiday Tipoff: Dec. 13-15; Main sites are Bonita Vista, Eastlake and Grossmont high schools

Southern California Prep Classic: Dec. 27-30; Main sites are Canyon Hills and El Capitan high schools

Surf and Slam Tournament: Dec. 28-30; Main site is La Jolla Country Day

Overview

There’s a new team on the block.

While the spotlight early in the season will be on LJCD’s Terri Bamford in her march toward the inevitable night she passes Poway’s Jay Trousdale as the all-time most successful coach in the San Diego Section, all eyes will also be on defending Division 2 titlist Francis Parker, a team that returns nine of its top 10 players.

All-CIF first-team sophomore Brieana Brown (6-foot), second-team sophomore Gigi Ong (5-6) and all-league first-team junior Kaitlyn Raagas (5-9) are joined by junior Riya Khushu (6-0) as returning starters. The Lancers might have had all five, but Charley Pegg transferred to Torrey Pines. Expect freshmen like Brie Mendez (5-9) and Bella Riddle (6-0) to move right in.

Chris Kroech’s Mission Hills Grizzlies and Bamford’s Torreys are still expected to set the pace despite the graduation of Mission Hills’ Kyara Walter (Cal State Los Angeles) and LJCD’s Naomi Panganiban (San Diego State).

Mission Hills will be led by Maleena Nava and Destiny Walker, but will be looking for help from Bonita Vista transfer Bay Cordova and H.C. Harding, a transfer from Coppel High School in Texas.

La Jolla Country Day counters with All-CIF first-team player Mei-Ling Perry (5-10), second-teamer Mahlia Washington (5-11) and starting point guard Safiyah Sugapong (5-6).

Parker moves up to Division 1 along with Morse, Victory Christian, El Capitan, Helix and Rancho Buena Vista.

Moving down are Imperial, Eastlake, Our Lady of Peace, Mt. Carmel and Mount Miguel.

STEVE BRAND

Originally Published: November 25, 2024 at 10:42 AM PST