CITY SECTION: GRANT, NORTH HOLLYWOOD WILL BATTLE FOR SUNSET 6 CROWN.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

A look at the City Section teams:

SUNSET 6

Last season, North Hollywood rolled though league play without much of a challenge. But now, without their two superstars, the road gets a little bumpier for the Huskies.

League co-MVPs Tasheare Thomas and Markia Derby and first-teamer Angelle Hill have all graduated, but the Huskies still have enough firepower to challenge Grant in what should be a two-team race for the league title.

Richelle Sherman, who averaged 10.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, returns at center and will be a team leader as a 6-foot junior.

After Sherman, the Huskies don't return a player who averaged more than five points per game last season, but watch out for the emergence of 5-7 sophomore Kapresha Price, who will team in the backcourt with another sophomore, Anna Janoyan. Three seniors have been called up from the JV team to provide leadership and experience.

Even with North Hollywood's talent, the league title is Grant's to lose. The Lancers return four starters, each of whom averaged more than 10 points per game last season.

The Lancers, who played tournaments in Wyoming and Utah, now have the experience they lacked last season, when they lost in the first round of the City playoffs to eventual finalist Washington.

A pair of juniors will provide the scoring punch for Grant, forward/guard Alexis Weatherspoon and forward Krystal Clay. The 5-6 Weatherspoon, who is also being recruited for track and field, averaged 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game last season.

``She has outstanding speed, quickness and jumping ability,'' coach Steve Brumwell said. ``She can play all five positions, and she is an aggressive defender with great athletic ability.''

Clay, a strong post player at 5-7 who can also shoot from the outside, averaged 12.7 points, 12.4 rebounds and 3.6 steals last season. The offense will be led by senior point guard Leslie Mui, who set a school record last season with 103 assists (4.5 per game).

The rest of the league is more difficult to predict. Poly, which won only one league game last season and finished 5-18, is certain to improve. The only question is how much.

Five-foot-10 senior center Youssra Marjoua, also a star on the girls' volleyball team, returns to lead the Parrots after averaging 9.2 points and 8.8 rebounds last season.

Marjoua's volleyball teammate, Jennifer Alfaro, starts at power forward, but the key for the Parrots will be in the backcourt, where all three key contributors are sophomores. Point guard Loretta Bolongaita returns, while JoAnn Huynh and Ruby Castillo have been called up from the JV team.

Hollywood returns three starters and should improve as well, and will be pushed by Canoga Park and Verdugo Hills.

Canoga Park returns four starters, including 5-11 senior center Tiffany Saunders (10 rebounds per game) and senior point guard Elizabeth Hernandez, so experience will be a plus.

Verdugo Hills could take a bit of a backward step after last season's 6-14 record, mostly because of inexperience. Only three players, senior guard Deyna Barnard, senior guard/forward Carley Oliver and sophomore forward/center Nancy Hoang, return from last year's team.

``We should have a solid backcourt and be intense on defense,'' coach Jon Redford said.

WEST VALLEY LEAGUE

Of all the new City Section leagues, the West Valley may well be the most competitive.

Chatsworth returns three starters to an experienced team that is a perennial contender, and Taft is led by senior Ava Mozafari, one of the City Section's top players last season.

Cleveland, also with three starters back, could make a surprising run as well.

But as usual, the team to beat in the West Valley is El Camino Real. Coach Lori Chandler's team went 10-0 in league last season, 20-5 overall, and returns three starters to a balanced squad that will not lack for leadership.

Karen Shun, a 5-11 senior who can play any position, averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds last season for the Conquistadores. Delivering the ball to her will be 5-5 point guard Christina Aguinaga, who averaged four assists per game but is also a major scoring threat. Aguinaga led El Camino Real with 20 points per game last season.

Aubree Smithey, a 5-8 forward, and Tiffany Farrell, a 5-10 center, also return and will play major roles. But the one to watch is guard/forward Cherhova Shields, a 5-10 freshman who could make an immediate impact for the Conquistadores.

Birmingham and Granada Hills, two young teams, will likely find league wins hard to come by this season.

VALLEY MISSION

Teams that struggled in their previous leagues could get new life in the Valley Mission League, which does not seem to have a clear-cut favorite.

Expect a strong Sylmar team, which returns three senior starters, to challenge Monroe and possibly Kennedy for the league title.

Kennedy, which didn't win a league game last season, could be the surprise team. The Cougars have great depth and will be led by senior point guard Jovan Smith, who averaged 16 points, five assists and four steals per game last season.

``We have a very diverse group this year,'' coach Kurt Keller said, ``which gives us the opportunity to put different lineups on the court. We can go with a big lineup or a small lineup, depending on what we need at the time.''

Center Jevay Grooms returns after a great freshman season in which she averaged 15 rebounds and seven blocks per game. Grooms will provide a strong inside presence, and the Cougars have four other senior guards besides Smith, led by 5-4 Melissa Peneda.

Monroe doesn't have as much depth, but three seniors, Shakaria Jones, Danisha Jasper, and first-team All-Mid-Valley League selection Rasheeda Grey will provide sufficient leadership for the Vikings.

Van Nuys, Reseda and San Fernando should battle at the bottom of the league, although Van Nuys, which won only one league game last season, will improve with 5-9 senior Loucieneh Mansurian. The Wolves have a freshman point guard in Jasica Chaing.

NORTHERN LEAGUE

The new league alignments sent Verdugo Hills and Hollywood away, creating a more balanced league. Eagle Rock returns only four varsity players and will be led by senior Liberty Sagucio, but the Eagles could get a lift with the addition of five players from last year's successful frosh/soph team.