girls hoops

The MTAL girls basketball season kicks off Friday.
Don't expect any changes at the top as Stevenson will run off with its third straight girls title in likely Heather Stewart's final season as coach.
In four years under Stewart, the Pirates have improved in each season, posting a playoff win last year.
Here is a quick rundown of the projected finishes in the MTAL.
1. Stevenson: No team has a better starting five, or for that matter, a bench that is nine deep.
2. Santa Catalina: Having shared the title last year with Stevenson, the Cougars have taken a step forward. It's just not as big of a leap as their rivals.
3. Greenfield: No one's talking about the south county school. But they should. The Bruins will be a playoff team.
4. Carmel: At some point, someone other than Eastern Washington University bound Pauline Ferrall has to step up.
5. King City: Don't let the loss of Carolyn Madson fool you. The Mustangs are still a threat in the MTAL in their bid for a 26th straight playoff spot.
6. Pacific Grove: For as athletic as the Breakers are, none of them make basketball their sport of choice.
7. Gonzales: When you're trying to resurrect a program, every win is big.
8. Soledad: It's a road of obstacles for head coach Tito Velasco to get over.