TWO-TEAM FOOTHILL RACE VALENCIA, HART REMAIN STRONG, BUT OTHER TEAMS WEAKER.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

In a way, an improved Valencia High girls' basketball team might be a good thing for defending Foothill League champion Hart.

After all, without Valencia in the league this season, Hart, which has advanced to the Southern Section Div. I-A final the past two years, might not have any competition.

That's a big contrast from last season, when the Foothill League was among the toughest in Southern California. But each team in the league, except for Hart and Valencia, has lost key players since then.

Saugus graduated its four 6-foot post players and point guard AnnMarie Summerhays, and lost its coach Eric Olsson, who is now at Clovis West of Fresno. Its only emerging star, Taylor Lilley, transferred to Hart.

Canyon lost high-scoring point guard Erica Doyle, Burbank graduated Christine Kepenekian (27.6 ppg) and lost its coach Ricky Hawthorne, and Burroughs of Burbank lost Notre Dame-bound guard Tulyah Gaines, who has moved to Las Vegas.

That leaves Valencia and Hart as the class of the league, barring any surprises. And Valencia coach Jerry Mike and Hart's Dave Munroe aren't afraid to admit as much.

``Not to say anything bad about any of the other teams, but I think it's between us and them,'' Mike said. ``They can do a lot of things that we can't do, and we can do some things that they can't.''

On paper, Valencia should be the favorite. The Vikings once were a dangerous young team capable of knocking off anybody but often prone to inconsistency. But the core of young players - Kelley Tarver, Tamaiya Smith, Lindsey Smith and Daviyonne Weathersby - are now juniors and seniors, and the team has played well over the summer and fall.

Munroe admits as much.

``I think they are the team to beat,'' he said. ``They have everybody back and are a very talented team. Last year, we had to deal with Saugus and their height, and this year we'll have to deal with good guard play and quickness.''

Munroe's modesty aside, it's hard to pick against Hart when the team has junior point guard Ashlee Trebilcock, the Daily News Player of the Year last season who already has orally committed to UCLA.

Trebilcock averaged 19.4 points, five assists and four steals last season and will team with Lilley, a sharp-shooting sophomore Munroe says he was surprised by, despite his team playing against her twice last year when she was at Saugus.

``In our system, which is more up and down the court, she can use her individual talents more,'' Munroe said. ``At Saugus, their system was to feed it into the big girls and she couldn't create as much. ... She really can do it all. I actually think she'd be a pretty good little point guard if we didn't have one already.''

In the post, Hart will start freshman Kalana Inemer, a 5-10 physical presence with a deft touch around the basket and good passing skills.

Those three will form the core of the team, but look for breakout years from seniors Brit Brown and Ali Neill, as well.

``Ali was hurt most of last year, but she's worked hard and gotten stronger and I think she'll surprise a lot of people this year,'' Trebilcock said.

Brown, who will start at wing, also has improved over the summer and should be a solid contributor.

--On the way: Trebilcock's younger sister Whitnee is only an eighth grader, but Ashlee makes a pretty good tutor.

``She's growing like a weed,'' Ashlee said. ``She's 5-6 now, but once she starts growing, she's just going to shoot up.''

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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Reigning Daily News Player of the Year Ashlee Trebilcock, pictured, and transfer Taylor Lilley give Hart backcourt strength.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News