Brea Olinda

Brea Olinda and Ventura Buena have combined to win seven Southern Section girls' basketball titles in the last four years and the two powers figure to lead the pack again this season. But who's No. 1? The teams play in different divisions--Buena in Division I and Brea in Division II--so the two won't clash with any section or state titles on the line. But they will meet Feb. 1 at Buena High. The rest of the top teams in the area begin the season chasing these perennial powers.

For the Windward High girls' basketball team, winning a state championship last season wasn't enough. "We haven't gotten any respect," said Texas-bound senior Imani Stafford. That's what happens when you're a Division 4 school in California, a hotbed for girls' basketball. And that's why Windward, which has fewer than 400 students in grades ninth through 12th, has added to its schedule this year a game against perennial superpower Long Beach Poly, which has more than 4,000 students.

1996 RECORD: 4-6 overall, 2-3 in league COACH: Jon Looney (54-40-1 at school) RETURNING STARTERS: 6 on offense, 5 on defense TOP RETURNERS Eric Albrecht, RB/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Tommy Blaylock, OL/DL, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Nate Criner, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Aaron Ison, OL/DL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Scott Leing, RB/LB, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Gene Rose, WR/DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Fred Thomas, OL/DL, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Rosuli Webster, WR/DB, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Steve Willmer, DB/WR, 6-2, 175, Sr.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored 16 points and Jessica Duarte added 12 as Santa Ana Mater Dei won its third consecutive Southern Section championship Friday night with a 63-54 victory over Brea Olinda in the girls' Division 1AA final at the Anaheim Convention Center. The third-seeded Monarchs (29-1) led by as many 15 points early in the second half. "In this day and age, as much basketball as these girls play, it's hard to peak at the right time, but we're playing our best basketball right now," Mater Dei Coach Kevin Kiernan said.

Brea Olinda and Santa Ana Mater Dei are less than 20 miles apart, but the rivalry between the schools' girls' basketball teams extends nationwide. They're the two top-ranked teams in America, according to ESPN, and after winning their Southern Section Division 1AA semifinals Tuesday at the Anaheim Convention Center, they will each vie for their third consecutive championship later this week. To get there, top-seeded Brea Olinda defeated fourth-seeded Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 55-36.

Irvine Woodbridge had lost just three times in its last 50 girls' basketball games, but host Brea Olinda proved up to the challenge Saturday, defeating the Warriors, 51-42, in a nonleague game in front of 1,000. Sophomore Lauren Pedersen's three-pointer 20 seconds into the game initiated the proceedings and Brea Olinda, ranked No. 8 by The Times, went on a 20-6 run to build a 25-14 halftime lead.

FRIDAY'S GAMES Boys SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 5A Van Nuys Montclair Prep (23-8) vs. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (24-5), 5 p.m. at Santa Ana Mater Dei ? These two Alpha League teams split in league play, but Sierra Canyon won, 68-51, on Feb. 8 and has the physical advantage with a group of talented young players, led by sophomore guard Jahmel Taylor (21.6 points). Montclair Prep, going for its fifth section title, has to deal with Sierra Canyon's full-court press.

Brea Olinda and Santa Ana Mater Dei are less than 20 miles apart, but the rivalry between the schools' girls' basketball teams extends nationwide. They're the two top-ranked teams in America, according to ESPN, and after winning their Southern Section Division 1AA semifinals Tuesday at the Anaheim Convention Center, they will each vie for their third consecutive championship later this week. To get there, top-seeded Brea Olinda defeated fourth-seeded Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, 55-36.

The Times' high school girls' basketball rankings, by Melissa Rohlin: Rk. School (record, division); last week's results; next game (last rank) 1. Brea Olinda (25-0, SS-1AA); def. El Modena, 94-22; Villa Park, 66-33; vs. San Clemente, Thursday. (1) 2. Long Beach Poly (23-2, SS-1AA); def. Long Beach Jordan, 60-30; Cabrillo, 76-7; vs. Los Osos, Thursday. (2) 3. Mater Dei (24-1, SS-1AA); def. JSerra, 64-23; Santa Margarita, 76-23; vs. King, Thursday. (3) 4. Cajon (27-1, SS-1AA)

After more than two months of preparation, high school basketball enters its win-or-go-home phase on Wednesday with the start of playoff action, and no division will be tougher than Southern Section Division 1AA for boys and girls. The pairings were released Sunday, and Long Beach Poly (24-1) was awarded the No. 1 seeding in the boys' bracket, with Brea (25-0) receiving No. 1 in the girls' draw. Both face strong tests along the way. For Poly to win it all, it could face challenges from No. 2 Santa Ana Mater Dei (24-2)

Watching 6-foot-11 Kyle Caudill walk barefoot into the Brea Olinda gymnasium at 6:45 a.m. last fall with a smile on his face for a workout with classmates helps explain why he refused to play the transfer game that has become so common in Southern California high school basketball. He enjoys hanging out with friends he has known since kindergarten. He thrives in the classroom with a 4.1 grade-point average. Each season, his statistics and skills have improved, allowing him to receive a college scholarship.