Preview: Century League

December 05, 2007 3:00 AM

By CARLOS ARIAS

OCVarsity.com

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A detailed look at the teams, top players and important games.

League Notebook

•Last season's league standings: 1. Brea Olinda (10-0, 33-2); 2. Villa Park (8-2, 15-12); 3. El Modena (6-4, 15-11); 4. Tustin (4-6, 12-13); 5t. El Dorado (1-9, 8-18); 5t. Canyon (1-9, 5-22). ...

•Brea Olinda reached the Division I-AA finals before losing to Long Beach Poly, 55-53, and it reached the Division II state championship game before losing to Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, 54-49. Other Century League teams to make the playoffs last season were Villa Park (second round), El Modena (first round) and Tustin (first round). ...

•The Century League is grouped in Division I-AA with the Moore, Marmonte, Trinity, San Gabriel Valley, Channel, Freeway and Del Rey Leagues. ...

•Brea Olinda would have had another top freshmen, but point guard Alexis Perry suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that will postpone her high school debut until next season. ...

•Brea Olinda hopes to get Lauren Bell (torn ACL) back by the time league play starts. ...

•Brea Olinda coach Jeff Sink on Hartman: "She has unbelievable hands, she never brings the ball down and she's smooth as silk." ...

•Brea Olinda will be competing in the Blue Division of the Nike Tournament of Champions from Dec. 19-22 in Chandler, Ariz. The Ladycats will be in the Platinum Division of the West Coast Jamboree from Dec. 28-31 in Northern California. ...

•Villa Park's Nicole Ballestero, who made first team all-league as a freshman, averaged 22 points per game in two playoff games. ...

•Villa Park travels to Southridge, Oregon, fro a tournament from Dec. 21-23 and the Spartans will be in thye Costa Mesa Winter Classic from Dec. 26-29. ...

•Villa Park coach Kim Cram-Torres said consistency will be the key with her team this season. The Spartans remain young after starting three freshmen last season. Cram-Torres said big games will be the true test. ...

•El Dorado will play in the Gary Raya Classic from Dec. 10-15 at El Doradao High and in the Larry Doyle O.C. Championships from Dec. 26-29 at Edison High/Marina High. ...

•Tustin's Taiyande Huskey averaged 23.5 points, 3.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game last season. ...

•Tustin is in the Segerstrom Tournament from Dec. 10-16 and in the Costa Mesa Winter classic from Dec. 26-29. ...

•El Modena's Lauren Gross averaged 14.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game last season. ...

•El Modena should get some good experience playing in the Segerstrom Tournament from Dec. 10-16 and in the Larry Doyle O.C. Championships from Dec. 26-29 at Edison High/Marina High.