Ranking Picture Murky, but Esperanza Is in Clear for Now

Last week’s events left the top 10 in a tizzy, with no clear-cut No. 1 girls’ basketball team in Orange County.

Nine of the top 10 teams lost, the exception being Woodbridge--and the undefeated Warriors dropped from seventh to eighth despite winning the Costa Mesa tournament.

The culprit was the 12-team Orange County Championship, which had eight teams in this week’s top 10 poll. The previous No. 1 team, Troy, lost twice.

Including Woodbridge, there are four teams who could probably lay claim to No. 1:

* Esperanza (11-4), which defeated Troy and No. 2 San Clemente on consecutive nights to win the O.C.C. title.

* San Clemente (12-2), which last week avenged its loss to Irvine, and has beaten Esperanza in two of its three meetings.

* Brea Olinda (8-4), which has lost by 14 points to Harbor City Narbonne and 11 to Oregon City (Ore.), which isn’t that much different from Esperanza’s 10-point loss to Laguna Hills on Wednesday--except Narbonne and Oregon City are at a whole different level than Laguna Hills.

* Woodbridge (14-0) has the county’s best record but benefited from a schedule that lacks the firepower of most other top-10 teams.

Esperanza Coach Marc Hill’s answer to the ranking question after winning the second Orange County Championship title: “Laguna Hills, No. 1, Baby.”

Not quite. Dismissing all excuses--Brea playing two games in 11 hours, Troy without Veronica Johns-Richardson, Rosary without Gayle Sonoda and Hayley Munroe, Huntington Beach without Kelsey Ball--Esperanza, which moved up to No. 1, was the best team around at the end of the day Saturday.

THE CURSE ON TOP

San Clemente’s only two losses have twice cost it the No. 1 ranking. The second-ranked Tritons followed a victory over Troy three weeks ago with a loss to Irvine; this week, the Tritons lost to Esperanza in Saturday’s tournament final after Troy lost twice.

Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan had this to say after the tournament: “I’ve always respected how Brea handled the pressure of being No. 1. I don’t think we’ve done a very good job. Now, we don’t have to worry about it.”

THE DOW JONZ

Whose stock is up or down this week:

* Irvine. Up. Criticized for playing a soft schedule last season and failing to win any meaningful games outside of league, the Vaqueros (10-4) have legitimized their credibility with a string of impressive performances.

* Woodbridge. Down. Absent at the Orange County Championship, missed an opportunity to prove itself against a succession of quality opponents.

* Christen D’Alessandro, Laguna Hills. Up. Along with Christianne Bengard, she is easily lost in the shadow of Megan Aaker, but the Hawks would not have won three games last week, including the upset of Esperanza--No. 1 this week--without strong performances by the non-stars.

* Lara Gray, Woodbridge. Up. Off to a slow start earlier this month, she was the Costa Mesa tournament’s most valuable player.

THREE POINTERS

San Clemente had a stretch last week where it made 28 of 29 free throws, 33 of 35, and 35 of 38. In its last five games, the Tritons made 44 of 53 (83%). . . . Norco and Santiago, who probably should have been playing for the Santiago tournament title, instead met in pool play. Norco won, 49-42. Norco went on to beat host Santiago in the title game, 86-47. . . . Foothill’s Kristen Mann sprained her ankle against Esperanza, and Foothill failed to get off a shot attempt until Mann was fouled 3 minutes 12 seconds later--14 seconds after she reentered the lineup. She made 13 of 29 field goals, her teammates two of eight. Mann missed the next two games but should be in the lineup Wednesday against Mater Dei. . . . Kristine Seko’s four three-point baskets against Anaheim on Friday gave her 33, breaking the school-record of 31 held by Jennifer Narita (1999-2000), with half the season remaining. Kennedy won the Garden Grove tournament.

LOOKING AHEAD

Rosary plays tonight at Irvine in a rematch of what was arguably the season’s best game, Irvine’s 56-55 victory last week in which both teams shot 55.6% from the field and Kristin Thawley scored the winner in the last second.

If you have an item or idea for the girls’ basketball report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com