No. 1? Who Else but Brea? : Teams: With Anton and Erickson returning, Lady Cats are favored to win another State title. This time, in Division III.

OK, so last year was a mistake. A big one.

As many might recall--particularly those in Brea--a few eyebrows went up about this time last year when The Times Orange County Edition chose La Habra over perennial power Brea-Olinda as its preseason No. 1 girls’ basketball team in the county.

It seemed to be a good idea at the time. But it soon became evident the Lady Cats were still the best team around. They drove the message home by going 33-1 and winning the State Division II championship. Their only loss came in a nonleague game against nationally ranked Christ the King, of New York.

Well, fat chance of getting all that egg on our faces again.

Yes, folks, Brea-Olinda is back where it left off last season and where it has been numerous times: The top of the heap among county girls’ basketball teams.

The Lady Cats, who have lost only two of 68 games the past two seasons, are followed on the list by several teams that rated among the county’s best last season and by some promising newcomers.

1. BREA-OLINDA

What else is new?

Brea-Olinda, the defending state Division II champion, is now in Division III with a strong core of returning players who could contend for another state title.

Leading the team are forward Jody Anton and point guard Nicole Erickson. Anton, a 5-foot-11 senior, is regarded by Coach Mark Trakh as the best all-around player in the county. Erickson, a 5-6 sophomore, directs the offense masterfully.

However, the Lady Cats need to replace two key players--center Jinelle Williams (now at UC Irvine) and guard Cathy Lewis--who graduated after last season.

Trakh is counting on 5-10 sophomore Sarah Beckley to fill in at one forward and 6-1 sophomore Colleen Hudson to replace Williams.

2. TUSTIN

Teams with more than one dominant front-line player are the exception rather than the rule in girls’ basketball. In that respect, Tustin is one rare bird with a lot of high flying ahead.

The Tillers, who again controlled the Sea View League race last season, feature a terrific tandem in 6-0 senior center Christine Garner and 6-0 senior forward Shari Needham. The two offer plenty of muscle around the hoop and should be good for a combined 40 points per game.

And if that wasn’t enough height up front, Tustin also has 6-0 senior forward Sylvia Salapski, a second-team all-league selection last season.

With that trio in place, Coach Rick Falk’s main problem is finding two guards who can be remotely compared to last season’s all-league backcourt of Wanda Sequeira and Nancy Vinh. Sequeira, now playing at the University of San Francisco, had 216 assists to go with her 97 steals and had few peers among point guards.

3. RANCHO ALAMITOS

Executing Coach Bob Becker’s team-oriented philosophy to the max, the Vaqueros didn’t lose a game until the Southern Section Division III-A semifinals. They finished the season 26-1.

Several key members of that team return, so Rancho Alamitos should again field a formidable club, on which players subscribe to the belief that individual glory is secondary to performing as a cohesive unit.

“We are trying to get away from ‘self’ and get into ‘our,’ ” Becker said. “We see a lot of selfishness in society and try to eliminate that kind of attitude from our program.”

Among those who conform to the guidelines are 5-9 senior guard Anita Stecker, a Times second-team All-County selection last season, and 5-6 point guard Shannon James. The two, along with Shannon’s younger sister, 5-9 junior forward Timerie, lead the Vaqueros.

Akilah Rodgers, a 5-10 sophomore center, lacks experience but provides good size at the post.

4. COSTA MESA

When pinpointing the reasons for Costa Mesa’s good fortune on the basketball court the past two seasons, one name surges to the forefront: Olivia DiCamilli.

The 5-10 junior guard, a Times All-County choice last season, was the catalyst for a solid Mustang team that advanced to the Division III-A finals after winning the title the previous year.

Costa Mesa finished second to Estancia in the Pacific Coast League last season, but the Mustangs are loaded with height and should be the class of the league this time around, despite losing to graduation two valuable members--guard Rachel Thomas and forward Rachel Ward.

To replace those two, Coach James Weeks will tap into his vast resources. The guard spot will go to 5-9 Heather Robinson, who averaged 20 points with the junior varsity, and the forward assignment probably to 6-0 senior Angela Tonavanik. Junior April Van Sweden, at 6-2 the tallest Mustang, will be at center.

5. WOODBRIDGE

Few expected Woodbridge to win the Division II-A title last season, but the Warriors surprised everyone--including former Coach Russ Davis, now at Estancia.

They accomplished what seemed impossible on the strength of a well-balanced squad and the presence of 6-2 center Deanna Harry, a Times All-County player who averaged 20 points and 15 rebounds. But Harry is now playing at Chapman University, so the Warriors don’t have a dominant player to rely on anymore.

But what Woodbridge has is depth, probably more than it had last season.

The Warriors feature an excellent point guard in 5-5 junior Florencia Luppani and three tall and capable front-line players in 5-10 senior forward Jenny Fenton, 5-10 junior forward Nicole Quinn and 5-11 senior forward Belinda Taub, a varsity player throughout her high school career who missed last season after knee surgery.

6. LA HABRA

Coach John Koehler, who has guided the Highlanders to 11 Freeway League titles, said his team’s forte this season is rebounding and defense. That’s a fair assessment, particularly when the player minding the key is someone with the wingspan of 6-5 center Zrinka Kristich.

The senior, who towers over practically every opposing center, proved last season that she can handle every facet of the game. She averaged 11.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and had more than 120 assists. And she is intimidating enough to help make the Highlanders a first-rate team, especially with a little help from her teammates.

That’s where point guard Martha Hernandez, guard Jeanette Little and a host of players from last year’s JV team come in. Hernandez averaged 7.2 points and took care of the ball. Little provided some outside shooting but is more of a defensive specialist.

Koehler, however, will be hard-pressed to replace forwards Leslie Ferguson and Ana Kristich, Zrinka’s sister. The 6-foot Ferguson, now playing volleyball and basketball at Redlands, averaged 15.8 points and nearly 10 rebounds. Ana Kristich, now playing volleyball at Cal State Northridge, averaged 10.2 points and 10.1 rebounds.

Juniors Jackie Kelly and Beth Ploog, senior Melissa Hidalgo and sophomore Sydney Rogers will compete for those positions.

7. OCEAN VIEW

The Seahawks held their own in the tough Sunset League with a young and inexperienced team last season, and with four returning starters and seven returning lettermen on the roster, they appear to be a team to reckon with this season.

Ollie Martin, the fifth-year coach, has set high goals for his team: Win 20 games, take the league title, win a tournament and reach the finals of the Division I playoffs.

The first three are definitely achievable, and Martin is looking for 5-11 center Nikki Vivion (13.3 points per game last season), 5-6 guard Tricia Lindquist (7.2-point average) and 5-8 forward Kristin Brun (6.9 points) to steer the team in that direction.

8. EDISON

Another Sunset League power deep in personnel, the Chargers hit the hardwood this season with three returning starters and seven returning lettermen under third-year Coach Philip Abraham.

Leading the troops are 5-9 guard Melanie Iwamasa, a four-year varsity player who made the all-league team last season; 5-4 junior guard Joan Paje, and 5-10 senior forward Katie Colclough. Iwamasa, the team captain, can play any position, and Paje is a three-point specialist.

Abraham also figures that 5-1 junior guard Leila Ryan, a transfer from Trabuco Hills, will provide the speed to allow the Chargers to run an efficient transition game.

9. UNIVERSITY

How does a school that only broke even in 24 games and 10 league games the previous season rate so high this year? By having four returning starters, five other returning lettermen and several newcomers from its JV team that went 22-1, that’s how.

Coach Doug Sorey, who has a 72-49 record in his five seasons with the team, has the players with the potential to improve on those numbers.

His squad includes a big front line with 6-0 senior forward Tara Wolff (12.9 points per game), 6-0 senior center Christie Loud (10.8 points) and 5-11 sophomore forward Jennifer Stanley (4.0 points).

Rashida Smith, a junior guard who was the most valuable player on the JV squad, will handle the backcourt duties with junior Nicole Gallardo.

10. SAVANNA

Under former Coach Brad Pickler, the Rebels gained respectability and culminated their efforts with a 20-6 record last season and a second-place finish behind Brea-Olinda in the Orange League.

The coaching duties have changed hands, with Dean Cazett taking over this season, but many of the players responsible for Savanna’s success return to put the Rebels among the county’s elite.

Chief among them is 5-7 junior point guard Stacey Aliff, the team’s best outside shooter who carried a 14-point scoring average last season; 6-foot junior center Sara Works and 5-7 senior guard Wendy Castro.

Others to watch: Cypress, Estancia, Fountain Valley, Marina and Newport Harbor.