GIRLS' BASKETBALL: RANGE WARS : SUMMER IN WYOMING FUELED PALMDALE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Some might think Wyoming isn't the ideal place for teen-age girls to spend their summer vacation.

But for the Palmdale High girls' basketball team, the towns of Laramie and Rock Springs - the sites of important off-season tournaments - were paradise.

The Falcons aren't the Golden League's dominant girls' basketball program by mistake. Much of the credit behind Palmdale's success - five straight championships and just one loss in league play - is a daring summer schedule that included playing tournaments in Wyoming, Salt Lake City and San Diego, among others.

These Falcons needed all the extra basketball they could find. Just one starter, sophomore guard Jennifer Albertson, is back for a team that went 10-0 in Golden League play last season.

Albertson is now the seasoned veteran as a still-young sophomore and looks back on Palmdale's offseason tournament schedule as a necessity if another title is to be won in an improved Golden League.

``We got some valuable experience this summer. In the beginning, we were getting used to playing with each other, but I think we were much better,'' Albertson said. ``Other teams were sitting around this summer. We were out there playing every day.''

Even in years when the Falcons had experience and top talent like Edniesha Curry, Kristi Rose, Casey Bledsoe, Vonneta Lanier and Summer Hoban, coach George Corisis depended on his teams gaining valuable court time on the out-of-state trips.

``The Antelope Valley is like 10 years behind what everyone else does around here. In L.A., teams are playing seven days a week (in the summer). You can drive 20 miles and find good competition to play,'' Corisis said.

``We'd rather make one long trip to Wyoming and Utah and get in 20 good games instead of driving all the way down and back to L.A. every day.''

And with so little experience coming back, this was a critical summer for the Falcons.

``Without what we've done in the summer, we'd never win a game in the Golden League,'' Corisis said. ``The girls were able to see some good teams and I think they've learned how to play as a team.''

Palmdale also doesn't duck anyone in preseason play no matter what the situation is. The schedule includes appearances in two of Southern California's most prestigious tournaments, at Santa Barbara and Ayala High.

State finalist Harvard-Westlake, ranked first in the Daily News preseason poll, visits Palmdale on Dec. 16.

The Falcons had a losing record when entering Golden League two years after playing a similarly brutal nonleague schedule. But that team went 9-1 to win the Golden League.

``We might not get a lot of Ws early on, but I hope the tough games will have us ready for Golden League play. We'll be competitive in all our league games,'' Corisis said. ``You have to believe in the players that you have.''

AT A GLANCE

Team: Palmdale girls' basketball

Coach: George Corisis

1998-99 record: 18-7 overall, 10-0, first place in Golden League

Top returnees: G Jennifer Albertson, Soph.; F Judy Collier, Jr.

Top newcomers: C Tiffany Spottiswood, Jr.; F Teiosha George, Fr.; G Jade Ford, Sr.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO (color) Only sophomore guard Jennifer Albertson, pictured above, is back for a Palmdale team that went 10-0 in Golden League play last season.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Box: At a Glance (see text)