NOVA TOPS THE LIST

Even with a young, unproven point guard, Nova gets the nod as the No. 1 team in The Miami Herald's Broward Class 4A-6A poll. Junior 6-2 forward Jassany Williams, an All-Broward second team selection last season, Dominique Jackson, Clarissa Coddington and Tonya Aaron are four key returnees from a team that finished 26-4 after a heart-breaking 49-48 regional final loss to eventual 5A state champion Naples Baron Collier.

Reigning 6A state champion South Broward, which will be led by the inside-outside combo of All-State center Alicia DeVaughn and Krystal Saunders, holds the No. 2 spot, with Blanche Ely fourth and Miramar No. 5. Although physical and deep along the front line, Nova's bid to beat rival Dillard, ranked No. 3, for a third consecutive district title and possibly move on to Lakeland for the first time hinges on how well Coddington manages the point guard role.

The chess match between Nova and Dillard already has begun, with Titans second-year coach Jason Hively expecting Dillard to move to a quicker and smaller lineup featuring Dawnn Maye, Kiana Conner, Lauren McGraw and Jasmin Burger to apply more backcourt pressure.

''I know we have young guards, but Coddington will be running the point,'' Hively said. ``We expect her to do a good job. While we have four post players and can rebound with the best of them, Dillard has the better guard play with Maye. It is hard to pressure her. It makes for a heated rivalry with a lot of respect for each other. I think it's good for girls basketball.''

American Heritage enters ranked No. 1 in the 1A-3A poll with the addition of 5-11 Bianca Lutley, a McDonald's All-American candidate who has signed with LSU.

Lutley could be the dominant guard Heritage needs to get over the hump after being ousted by Miramar Parkway Academy, the reigning 3A state champions, each of the last two seasons. As it stands, Heritage has a formidable lineup featuring Lutley, (ranked No. 25 in the ESPNU HoopGurlz100), Illyssa Vivo, a transfer from Cypress Bay, and Kaley Howard complementing the inside play of Sandra Garcia, a senior 6-2 center who has signed with Wake Forest. Heritage and Parkway, ranked No. 2, are not scheduled to meet in the regular season, but the buzz has begun with the likelihood that Parkway's two-time Broward Player of the Year Erica Wheeler, ranked No. 39 in the ESPNU poll, and Lutley will face off in the state playoffs.

''Heritage has every reason to feel good about getting Bianca. She is very talented,'' Wheeler said. ``But she just got to the school. I have already built a relationship with my teammates.

``I believe we will do what we have to do to win a state championship. We are not worrying about Heritage. When game time comes, it's about who is going to play. I know my team will show up.''

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Top 15 (4A-6A): Krystal Saunders (Jr. G), Alicia DeVaughn (Jr. C), South Broward; Jassany Williams (Jr. F/C), Clarissa Coddington (So. G), Dominique Jackson (Sr. F/C) Nova; Dawnn Maye (Jr. PG), Kiana Conner (Sr. G), Dillard; Joanna Harden (Sr. G/F), Melanie Ducott (Sr. G) Blanche Ely; Chandlir Segarra (So. G) Cooper City; Kinesha Hepburn (Sr. G), Miramar; Rosemarie Ambrose (Sr. F/C), Deerfield Beach; Courtney Dolnick (Sr. G), Cypress Bay; Katherine Rosario (Sr. G) Flanagan; Ryan Finkelstein (Jr. G) Taravella.

• Top 15 (1A-3A): Erica Wheeler (Sr. G), Bianca Thornton (Sr. F), Dijanelle Fowler (Jr. G) Parkway; Bianca Lutley (Sr. G/F), Sandra Garcia (Sr. C), Illyssa Vivo (Jr. G) American Heritage; Amelia Bohlander (Fr. G/F) Westminster Academy; Meaghan Osceola (Sr. G) Pine Crest; Alexis Brown (Sr. G), Kyswanna Williams (Jr. G) Pompano Beach; Vanessa Reyes (Sr. PG), Sheridan Hills; Aimee Osceola (Jr. G/F), Ariah Osceola (Fr. G), Hollywood Christian; Vanessa Durbin (Jr. G/F), Monique Maximilien (Fr. F) North Broward Prep.

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