GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL: Great expectations

Teams in Southeast Division vie for one of two spots at state

With the emergence of Coronado last season, the Sunrise Region's Southeast Division had a team in the final four at state last year, but with only two teams from Southern Nevada able to qualify for state this season, getting to that same point may be a little tougher for Cougars coach Joe Moyes and his senior-laden squad.

Led by 6-foot-3 senior forward Amanda Smith, (10.2 ppg, 7.8 last year), a second-team, All-Southeast pick, and senior guard Melissa Flores (8.4 ppg, 2.9 apg), a first-team, All-Southeast selection, Coronado, in just its fourth year of existence, won the Sunrise Region, defeating Desert Pines in overtime to advance to the state playoffs in Las Vegas for the first time in more than 15 years.

At state, the Cougars were defeated by eventual champion Centennial in the semis (76-49), but Coronado gained valuable postseason experience in the process and now has its sights set on getting to Reno in late February.

Although Coronado got off to a 6-2 start and was ranked the highest (No. 5) of all Southeast teams in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's initial prep poll, Moyes was less than thrilled with the way his team was playing at the time.

"I think we're starting off kind of slow," Moyes said. "We're slowly progressing and doing what we have to do, but I think there's a lot of room for improvement. We've got some pretty good height and good ball-handlers this year and we're loaded with seniors so that's good."

Besides Smith, who was averaging 9.8 rebounds a game, and Flores, who was leading the team with a 14.0-point-per-game scoring average, Coronado also features seniors Lyndsey Santigate, Stephanie Senef and Nicole Christiansen -- who is expected to return from an ankle injury later this month -- as well as Kristen Meath.

Moyes emphasized the importance of Smith, who was a star on the Cougars' volleyball team this fall and was named to the All-Tournament team of the Lasvegashoops.com tourney held Nov. 26 at the Station's Sports Complex.

"Amanda gets a lot of rebounds for us. She can do it all," he said. "She can post up and she has one of the most consistent outside shooting perimeter games that we have."

Whereas Smith takes care of business in the paint for Coronado, it's Flores' job to run the show and get the ball to the right people at the right time.

"Melissa leads by example on the floor, she makes us run," Moyes said. "And she's such a good player and such a good ball-handler that when we need a clutch play, she's our go-to girl."

And the Cougars coach was proud of what he and his team had accomplished and was looking forward to trying to do it again.

"I think last year we were a young team and really hungry and motivated to win and we did," Moyes said. "We played to our potential and reached our goal of making it to state. And we kind of expect the same this year because we've only lost a couple seniors. I'm very proud of these kids. After four years, we make it to state. They're hard workers."

Likely chasing Coronado in the Southeast this year will be Basic (17-11), coached by Teresa Gallegos. The Wolves started the season out 2-1 and were ranked No. 9 in the city in the Review-Journal's Dec. 16 prep poll.

Giving Basic a solid chance at topping Coronado for the division crown are senior forwards Amber and Ashley Purdie, All-Southeast first- and second-team selections last year respectively. The sisters started this season off right as Amber (14.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 4.7 apg) and Ashley (9.0 rpg) were among the local statistical leaders in girls 4A play.

Senior guard Jocelyn Hooley and Caprice Hughes also will provide leadership for the Wolves, who will get to see how good Coronado is when they play host in a battle of Henderson's best on Feb. 8.

Green Valley (20-9) lost a lot in the offseason when head coach Alma Randolph resigned and star senior Jabrenta Hubbard, the leading scorer in the city last year averaging 20.3 points per game, graduated. Hubbard is now starting for the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., where she plays with another freshman from Las Vegas, Centennial graduate Whitley Cox .

Replacing a four-year starter like Hubbard is difficult, but new Green Valley coach Lorenzo Jarvis does have seniors Heather Trujillo and Kaley King, as well as Victoria Naylor, who has tried to pick up some of the scoring slack in the wake of Hubbard's departure. Naylor was named to the All-Tournament team of the Lasvegashoops.com held at the Station's Sports Complex on Nov. 26.

The Gators proved their worth early this season, almost beating four-time defending state champs Centennial on its home court as Naylor scored 18 points in the loss.

One team that may surprise in the division this campaign is Foothill (15-8), coached by Maria Shepard. The Falcons are coming off their best season ever and return their leading scorer in junior Leah Thomson, a first-team, All-Southeast selection. Foothill did lose some talent to graduation, and a 64-39 loss at Cheyenne on Dec. 2 reveals that maybe a playoff berth in the Southeast is no sure thing. The Falcons were beaten by Northeast top-seed Valley (70-50) in their playoff appearance in 2004-05.

If Green Valley and Foothill should slip, expect Silverado (6-21) and coach Diane Hernandez's girls to garner a playoff spot this season.

After a disappointing season last year, the Skyhawks feature three terrific players in junior Brianna DeSantis (15.1 ppg this year), sophomore Jessica Schmidt (16.1 ppg, 11.8 rpg) and freshman center MiKayla Thielges (8.7 rpg), and look like they have enough scoring power to compete in the Southeast.

And with sophomore Chantelle Pascua and a number of other talented players on her bench, Hernandez may just have the team of the future in the division after Coronado's Smith and Basic's Purdie sisters graduate this year. If there is one team that is capable of a complete turnaround, this is it.

Hopefully improving enough after playing in the Southeast for two seasons now is Liberty (10-12), led by Martin Ferriter.

Last season, the Patriots missed the postseason by one game and with senior center Tanya Tarasiewicz (6-0) back in the fold, Liberty may snag its first playoff spot should Green Valley and Foothill slip.

Tarasiewicz (9.2 rpg) is supported by seniors Janae Bell, Maria Medina and junior Keannice Peters and is capable of helping Liberty taste the postseason for the first time ever this season if the ball bounces right.

Vo-Tech (3-20), coached by Jamie Palmer, might not be in the playoff mix come February, but the Roadrunners do have an exciting player to watch in senior center Rachael Barnes, one of the best rebounders in the Silver State. Barnes, who easily led all girls in rebounding last year, was second (14.4 rpg) this year after hauling down 115 boards in Vo-Tech's first eight games.

Helping Barnes out will be junior guard Fabiola Gandarilla and sophomore swing Mechel'la Logan. Winning just seven games over the last three seasons, the Roadrunners likely won't contend in the division, but may be able to win as many games this year as they have over the last three.

One team not too concerned about fighting for the playoffs but more focused on creating a base for the future is Del Sol (0-23), led by first-year coach Charity Schmitt.

The Dragons made a little school history on Dec. 14 when they defeated Clark, 39-26, for their first varsity basketball win ever as Martha Kolpack scored 16 and La Shay Brewer 12 points for the Dragons.

As far as Coronado's Moyes is concerned, anybody could win the Southeast this year.

"I think Silverado is going to be pretty tough this year and Basic always gives us fits and there's been years in the past where even Foothill plays their best game against us, and that's never easy," he said. "So we're not taking anybody for granted. I think anybody could rise to the top."

Moyes also knows that after last year, his Cougars have a target on their back, but he feels they should get as far this season as they did last.

"It's always tough coming off a solid year because everyone's gunning for you," Moyes commented. "But realistically, we should be able to get where we got last year.

"Under the circumstances, only losing one senior and gaining a whole lot of experience in making it to state ... Our goal is to win the region and to make it to state."

And Coronado's coach sounded a lot like other girls' coaches interviewed regarding who were the teams to beat in the entire city.

"I think it's too early to tell, but I think it will be between Centennial and (Bishop) Gorman and Durango," Moyes said. "They're loaded over there with those teams and we do have good teams in this region as well, but it's still too early to tell."