The Times rankings

*--* Rk Team (Rec., Div.) Comment 1 LONG BEACH POLY (36-1, Div. I-AA Jasmine Dixon, Candice Nichols, Taja Edwards ... list of standouts goes on and on. 2 BREA OLINDA (33-2, Div. I-AA Four playoff starters return next season, and they’re better than most think. 3 TROY (26-2, Div. I-AA Coach Kevin Kiernan resigned, but there’s plenty in the cupboard. 4 MILLER (33-3, Div. II-AA) Four players, none of them seniors, averaged double-figure scoring. 5 BISHOP AMAT (27-6, Div. I-AA Lancers reached state final for fourth year in a row, losing in overtime. 6 LYNWOOD (22-5, Div. I-AA) Knights failed to reach section finals for first time in eight seasons. 7 NORCO (32-4, Div. II-AA) May have been Southland’s most improved team over course of the season. 8 SANTA MARGARITA (27-6, Div. I-AA) Stunned Troy in the playoffs, have five of top seven players returning. 9 DIAMOND RANCH (27-2, Div. II-AA) Denied state playoff berth after overtime loss to Norco in semifinals. 10 SAN CLEMENTE (28-6, Div. I-A) Won fifth section title in seven seasons, and four of top five players return. 11 MUIR (26-2, Div. I-A) Darxia Morris & Co. had a stellar season but were early playoff victims. 12 AYALA (31-4, Div. II-A) Starting lineup returns intact for Coach Mel Sims’ Division II-A champion. 13 REDONDO (21-9, Div. I-A) Hoping for state title run, had one of Southland’s most disappointing finishes. 14 NARBONNE (23-3, City) Through no fault of the players, Gauchos were banned from playoffs. 15 MIRA COSTA (25-8, Div. I-A) Everyone who played in section title game returns next season. 16 HART (29-4, Div. I-A) Coach Dave Munroe’s career ends with one of his finest seasons coaching. 17 MARLBOROUGH (27-6, Div. III-AA) Won first state title, has six of top seven players back next season. 18 PERRIS (25-7, Div. II-A) After growing pains, six of the Panthers’ top seven scorers will return. 19 ETIWANDA (23-7, Div. II-AA) Section semifinalist had six victories over teams that were in The Times’ top 25. 20 VENTURA (23-6, Div. I-AA) Washington-bound Kali Bennett, 6 feet 5, averaged 14.1 points. 21 BUENA (23-6, Div. I-AA) Joe Vaughan, state’s winningest coach (761-112), retires after 32 seasons. 22 RIVERSIDE NORTH (24-5, Div. I-A) Won 17 in a row before falling in the section quarterfinals to Mira Costa. 23 ESPERANZA (24-5, Div. II-AA) Lost its best player the first week of the season and still hung tough throughout. 24 MAGNOLIA (21-9, Div. III-AA) With top four scorers back next season, section semifinalist’s future is bright. 25 FOOTHILL (22-7, Div. I-A) Christina Marinacci is one of the Southland’s best sophomore talents.

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