Mater Dei seeks to reach the state title game again this season.
Photo by Louis Lopez
2015-16 Southern Section Preseason Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
* Long Beach Poly, Chaminade (West Hills) and Brea Olinda (Brea) are featured in the
California overall Fab 5, and thus are not listed for the Southern
Section Fab 5.
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Head coach: Kevin Kiernan
2014-15 record: 31-3
The Monarchs lost in the Southern Section Open Division title game to Chaminade and after they avenged that setback in the Southern California regional final, they lost to St. Mary's (Stockton) in the state title game for the Open Division. Co-Open Division Player of the Year Katie Lou Samuelson has graduated and guard Andee Velasco has done the same. Six-foot-4 center
Allyson Rosenblum is the returner with the highest scoring average from last season (10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds) and sophomore
Kendyll Toomey will seek to build upon a freshman season that saw her post 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while appearing in all 34 contests.
See last season's Southern Section girls basketball computer rankings2. Windward (Los Angeles)Head coach: Vanessa Nygaard
2014-15 record: 22-10
The Wildcats won the Southern Section 1AA crown and won their first game in the Division I regional tournament. Player of the Year Emily Surloff graduated but
Jayde Woods returns at guard after an all-CIF season as a junior. Surloff was the only senior on the roster, so expect Windward to be a factor in the Open Division this campaign.
See MaxPreps Southern Section girls basketball pro photos3. North (Torrance)Head coach: Lauren Kamiyama
2014-15 record: 29-3
The Saxons earned the Southern Section 3AA title over El Dorado (Placentia) but then lost to the same team in the Southern California regional semifinals. Division Player of the Year
Brittany McPherson returns for her junior season and so does
Daylene Taualii, another junior who was on the all-Division 3AA Team. Last season's Saxons had six sophomores and one freshman. Expect more wins as they grow.
See last season's California girls basketball playoff brackets4. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)Head coach: Kurt Ruth
2014-15 record: 24-8
The Broncos went 1-1 in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, then rolled to the Division I regional semifinal before losing to Serra. Six-foot-1 guard
Jaelyn Brown was an all-Open Division selection as a junior and led the team in scoring at 17.9 points per game and 11.4 rebounds. The next two leading scorers also come back for their senior seasons: 5-foot-10
Brittany Reed (16.2) and 5-foot-7
Nasrin Ulel (10.6).
See last season's Southern Section girls basketball stat leaders5. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)Head coach: Alicia Komaki
2014-15 record: 25-5
The Trailblazers went 1-1 in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs but turned that into a Division IV state championship, the third in a row for the program. Kennedy Burke graduated after an all-CIF season but she is one of only three players who have moved on.
Alexis Griggsby (5-9) returns for her junior year after being named second-team all-area by the Los Angeles Daily News.
