Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County
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:
Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County