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Girls Hoops: Local teams to pick up pace

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Get ready for some up-tempo girls basketball.

Poway High, Rancho Bernardo, Del Norte and Maranatha Christian are all expected to quicken the pace this season. First-year Broncos coach Kyle Williamson and longtime Poway coach Jay Trousdale both expect to pick up the tempo with all-out, full-court presses.

The Broncos are coming off a Division III championship, but will have a new challenge this season after being bumped into Division II. Titans’ coach Truesdale is closing in on becoming the all-time winningest coach in San Diego Section history.

Here is a closer look at the local teams:

Poway

Coach: Jay Trousdale, 29th year

Last season: 20-10, lost in quarterfinals of Division I playoffs.

Division: I

Key players: PG, Daryn Ikeda, Sr.; F, Erin Brunansky, Jr.; G, Shanel Jamison, Jr.; F, Ashley Pyle, So.; F, Kinley Williams, Jr

Outlook: Titans’ coach Trousdale starts the season with 595 career victories. He needs 16 wins to pass former Santana girls basketball coach Wade Vickery as the winningest coach in San Diego Section history. Trousdale hopes to get those wins quickly, as his Titans should be feisty on defense and quick up and down the floor with all of their speed and athleticism.

“I think we are going to be a little faster and more athletic than last year,” Trousdale said. “I think we are going to be able to press more and play multiple defenses and hopefully get some transition points off that.”

Poway has been known for its stingy defensive play under Trousdale and this year it will be guards Ikeda and Jamison leading the way. Ikeda will move into the point-guard position with the graduation of Sierra Claudio. Jamison, Brunansky and the 5-foot-10 Pyle should all contribute to filling up the cylinder.

“Shanel is expected to score for us and Brunansky, too,” Trousdale said. “We hope we can get some scoring from Ashley Pyle. She can score from the outside and the inside.”

The Palomar League could be one of the more competitive races. Westview, Torrey Pines and Mt. Carmel are all going to be tough. But Poway and Rancho Bernardo could also pose a threat to the crown.

“You are going to see a really good competitive league,” Trousdale said. “People are calling Westview the favorite. They are small but they can shoot the lights out. Rancho Bernardo is going to be tough, too. I saw them in the summer and I think they are going to be right there.”

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Rancho Bernardo

Coach: Kyle Williamson, 1st year

Last season: 14-13, Division III champions. Lost in first round of Division III SoCal Regional.

Division: II

Key players: G, Aly Murray, Jr.; F, Jojo Pierick, Jr.; PG, Lala, Reynolds, Sr.; G, Mackenzie Moore, Jr.; G, Kaylee Presnell, Jr.; F, Alexis Jensen, So.; F, Annie Meggers, Jr.

Outlook: The Broncos return the bulk of their Division III championship roster from a season ago, including their top three scorers in Murray, Reynolds and Presnell. In fact, Rancho Bernardo lost just two players to graduation and should challenge for the Division II title this year. Just about the only thing new is first-year coach Williamson, who takes over for Kai Harris.

“I think it is a big jump to go from Division III to Division II, but thankfully we have all the girls returning so we will have a whole bunch of experience,” first-year coach Williamson said. “That should help put us in the right position and give us the opportunity to compete down the stretch of the season. I am very optimistic about our chances at making a run.”

Murray, who averaged over 16 points per game last season, has sprouted to 5-foot-11. The junior forward can light it up from beyond the arc, finish at the rim and snatch rebounds. Reynolds is one of the most talented point guards in the area and Presnell is a sharp shooter. The Broncos have height inside, too, with 6-foot-1 Jensen and 6-foot Meggers. Williamson has implemented some of his style into the team. He plans to run a full-court press for the majority of games and run an up-tempo offense.

“We totally changed everything up in tempo,” he said. “We want to play at a fast pace. We want to press in man-to-man. That has kind of been our signature since I took over. I want to create as much tempo as we can. We believe our best offense is our defense so we want to create havoc with pressure throughout the entire length of the court.”

Rancho Bernardo may have won the Division III title last year, but it still went just 1-9 in the challenging Palomar League. The Broncos should be able to do much better than that his year with their key players being returners.

“Our hopes and expectations are up there for the Palomar League,” Williamson said. “It is such a tough league. Every night could be a grind, but we do feel we have the opportunity to compete with every team on any given night. It just will depend on how we shoot the ball and how our pressure affects the other team. I know the girls are really excited for the challenge.”

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Del Norte

Coach: Jake McNeely, 7th year

Last season: 16-13, lost in first round of Division II playoffs.

Division: I

Key players: G, Jessica Camerino, Jr.; F, Victoria Wilson, Sr.; F, Michelle Altice, Sr.

Outlook: The Nighthawks struggled to score points last season, but still managed to finish with 16 wins thanks to some stellar defensive play. McNeely hopes to continue the latter and add some more offense this season.

“We have to shoot at a higher percentage this year,” he said. “There is no way around it.”

Del Norte lost floor leader Kayla Evans and leading rebounder Malachi Green to graduation. But the Nighthawks return two of their leading scorers in Camerino and Altice. Camerino, a three-year varsity player, is the lone guard with experience. She will need to groom three sophomores at the position, two of them likely starting. Altice showed glimpses of being a force in the post last season and McNeely is hoping to see more of that this year.

“We need to get some consistency out of Altice,” he said. “She has shown the ability to be able to score in double figures. We are going to need that from her in the post.”

The Nighthawks, who were bumped from Division II to Division I this season, will have another tough go of it in the Avocado East League with defending Open Division champion Mission Hills and San Marcos leading the way. Del Norte should be in a battle with Escondido and San Pasqual for that third spot.

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Maranatha Christian

Coach: Nate Jackson, 2nd year

Last season: 10-12, missed playoffs.

Division: V

Key players: C/F, Izzy Landis, Jr.; F, Julia Lawrenz, Jr; G, Rae Salas, So.

Outlook: The Eagles will begin life without center Jackie Kadillak, who graduated as the school’s all-time leader in several categories. Kadillak’s presence will be tough to replace, but a young group will give it a try.

“Losing the school’s all-time best player leaves a big hole,” Jackson said. “But we have an enthusiastic bunch and I think we are going to build on last year’s success.”

Landis will fill the role of center. The 6-foot sophomore only played four games last season after sitting out due to the transfer rule. She averaged five points per game and should provide a boost to the offense. Lawrenz and Salas will also be key contributors. Salas, who also transferred to the school last year, played just one game and set the school record for most 3-pointers in a contest (5). “That was just a teaser of what we can expect from her as a shooting guard,” Jackson said. Maranatha went 6-4 and finished in third place in the Ocean League last season. Jackson expects the team to improve and be more of a contender. Rock Academy won the league title last season but is not in the league anymore. Escondido Charter figures to be the favorite this year.

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