Advertisement

Boys’ Basketball Previews

Share

Tip-off for the 2015-16 prep boys’ basketball season has got underway this week on the local scene. Fountain Valley started the openers with a tournament game Tuesday, while Ocean View and Marina play Saturday, Edison and Huntington Beach next week, and Brethren Christian the following week.

A year ago, Edison played in the CIF Southern Section Division 1A championship game at the Honda Center. Edison, Ocean View and Huntington Beach were playoff participants last year, and the Chargers (Sunset) and Seahawks (Golden West) shared their respective league championships.

Both Ocean View and Marina will play Saturday in the eight-game Coaches for a Cause one-day event at Ocean View.

Advertisement

Below is a capsule look at the local teams.

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Rich Boyce (16th year)

Coaching staff: Chris Gray, Jeff Harrell, Glenn Garrity.

CIF Division: 2AA

Last year’s record: 25-7

Last year’s league finish: 9-1 (co-champion)

CIF results: Runner-up to Division 1A title

Varsity roster: David Atencio, G, Soph.; Alex Ballestros, G, Sr.; Tommy Barlow, C, Sr.; Jake Barton, G, Sr.; Chandler Brunelli, F, Sr.; Jacob Mahony, G, Sr.; Nate Matthews, G, Sr. (second-team all-league); Kyle McCauley, F, Jr.; Hayden Silva, G, Jr.; Jonah Tuato, F, Jr.; Randall Walker, G, Jr. (first-team all-league); Garrett White, F, Sr. (honorable mention all-league).

Returning starters: Garrett White (3.0 ppg.; 5 reb./game).

Coach’s take: “We should be very competitive as long as we stay away from the injury bug,” Boyce said.

Keys to season: “Our biggest key will be competing on the boards. If we can do a good job, we should be fine, Boyce said.”

The schedule: The Chargers will compete in the Corona del Mar, Irvine World News and Palm Desert tournaments during the first month of the season. The defending Sunset League co-champs start league play Jan. 8 at Los Alamitos which shared the Sunset title last year.

“All three tournaments will be challenging,” Boyce said. “Very tough schedule. We will need to be at our best every night.”

Season opener: Dec. 4 (7 p.m.) at Long Beach Cabrillo.

Fountain Valley Barons

Advertisement

League: Sunset

Head coach: Steve Schultz

Coaching staff: Bob Thrall, Edwin Olivares

CIF Division: 1AA

Last year’s record: 10-17

Last year’s league finish: 2-8

CIF results: Did not advance

Varsity roster: Matt Serven, Jr.; Spencer Serven, Soph.; Mike Lightbody, Jr.; Jake Garrett, Jr.; Sean Huynh, Jr.; Cameron Mansouri, Soph.; Adam Trounce, Jr.; Jake Loundenback, Jr.; Cody Newsome, Jr.; Vinh Ngo, Soph.; Jake Bitzer, Soph.; Garrett Young, Fr.; Josh Gray, Soph.

Returning starters: Matt Serven (second-team all-league).

Coach’s take: “We are very young but these guys are one of the hardest working teams I’ve ever coached,” Schultz said. “They bring it every day, have the best attitudes and are fully committed to being their absolute best. They are a pleasure to coach.”

Keys to season: “Being a very small team, keeping a high shooting percentage will be our focus,” Schultz said. “These guys are always looking for each other and move the ball well. They play the game right and as they grow together they will be a solid team.”

Next game: Monday (7:45 p.m.) vs. Yorba Linda (Godinez Tournament).

Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Billy Thompson (2nd year)

Coaching staff: Brett Brown; Drew Bruns; Diego Segura; Tino Zaragoza; Bill Thompson.

CIF Division: 1A

Last year’s record: 17-12

Last year’s league finish: 3-7 (tie-4th)

CIF results: Reached second round playoffs

Varsity roster: Alekos Mitchel, G, Jr.; Andrew Palmer, G, Sr.; Austin Bates, G, Sr.; Drake Sueda, G, Jr.; Fletcher Wilson, F, Jr.; Hayden Moore, G, Jr.; Josh Benitez, G, Sr.; Justin Brodt, C, Soph.; Nate Klein, G, Sr.; Nick Karidakis, G, Sr.; Noah Gonzalez, G, Jr.; Reed Slack, F, Sr.; Sean Strom, G, Sr.; Shea Sueda, G, Sr.; Tanner Picquelle, F, Sr.

Returning starters: Sean Strom (G, Sr.; 5 ppg.; 2 reb./game, 2 asst./game, 2 steals/game); Noah Gonzalez (G, Jr.; 7 ppg.; 62 3-point shots made last year).

Advertisement

Coach’s take: “I am looking forward to coaching this group of young men this season,” Billy Thompson said. “They are very hard-working and enthusiastic. We won’t always be the strongest, fastest or most athletic, but our goal is to compete harder and tougher than our opponent every time we walk on the floor.

Keys to season: “Our team wants to play fast and furious,” Thompson said. “We are looking to create havoc all over the court. We have 15 guys who can all play the game. Having this depth will allow us to wear teams out.”

The schedule: The Oilers will host El Toro and Ocean View in the same week in early-December, teams Thompson called “two of the best teams in the (Orange) county.” They also travel to Bellevue College in Seattle WA. for tournament play the final week of December.

“Our schedule is very competitive this season,” Thompson said. “Thankfully, we have quite a few home games. The Sunset League in itself is filled with some of the best teams in the county. We will look to compete every night and try to make something special happen.”

Season opener: Monday (7:45 p.m.) vs. Godinez (Godinez Tournament).

Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Nick Racklin (5th year)

Coaching staff: Nick Galloway, Jim Morris, John Quinones, Matt Arnall, James Zoucha.

CIF Division: 2AA

Last year’s record: 11-15

Last year’s league finish: 3-7 (tie-4th)

CIF results: Did not advance

Varsity roster: Braden Meyers, G, Sr.; Peter Serour, G, Soph.; Alex Guerrero, G, Jr.; Nic Draheim, F, Sr.; Jakob Almudun, F, Fr.; Bryson Saffold, G, Fr.; Chance Sommerville, G, Jr.; Alex Alvertos, G, Sr.; Jimmy Lucas, W, Sr.; Ethan Young, G, Sr.; Justin Worrell, Fr, Sr.; Buzz Stafford, Fr, Sr.; Reyhan Patriquin, F, Soph.

Advertisement

Returning starters: Braden Meyers (8.0 ppg., 3.3 reb./game); Ethan Young (3.1 ppg., 3.1 reb./game).

Coach’s take: “This team really values putting in extra work and has a stronger desire to win more than any team I have had here at Marina,” Racklin said. “We will have contributors of seniors all the way down to freshmen this year.”

Keys to season: “Our starting five are pretty solid,” Racklin said. “We need great contributions from our bench players in order to have a successful year.”

The schedule: The Vikings nonleague and tournament schedule has them playing on college campuses at UC Davis, Cal Berkeley, St. Mary’s, and Sacramento State. In addition, they begin the season with a Saturday game against Saddleback at the Coaches for a Cause event at Ocean View High, and play in the ML King Showcase in January at Pal Springs High.

“Our schedule is the same as it always is...games we can win, games we will need to play very well to win, and games that might pose a challenge for us based on match-ups,” Racklin said.

Season opener: Saturday (10:30 a.m.), vs. Saddleback (at Ocean View High).

Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Co-head coaches: Tim Walsh (5th year), Roger Holmes (2nd year).

Coaching staff: Jimmy Harris.

CIF Division: 3A

Last year’s record: 17-11

Last year’s league finish: 9-1 (co-champion)

CIF results: Reached second round of playoffs.

Varsity roster: Zamir Kelly, G, Sr.; Alex Sepulveda, G, Sr.; Andrew Reynolds, Fr, Sr.; Bryson Betti, G, Soph.; Adam Anaya, G, Sr.; Christian Anderson, F, Sr.; Paul Head, G, Soph.; Khristian Nielsen, G, Soph.; Christian Roberts, G, Jr.; Jordan Petty, F, Sr.; Mehkel Harvey, C, Soph.; Blake Meyer, F/C. Sr.; Victor Pajares, C, Sr.; Grant Gochman, F, Sr.; Zachary Goodale, F, Sr.

Advertisement

Returning starters: Zamir Kelly (16.8 ppg., 5.1 assists/game, 4.5 rebounds/game, league co-MVP, first-team All-CIF); Christian Anderson (14.1 ppg., 8 reb./game, first-team all-league); Paul Head (10.4 ppg., 3 asst./game, school record three-point baskets in a game (nine), second-team all-league); Bryson Betti (11.7 ppg., 3.5 reb./game, 3.1 asst./game, 2.1 steals/game; most three-point baskets in a season (83), second-team all-league).

Coach’s take: “We have a good mix of experience and youth on this year’s team,” Holmes said. “I like our athleticism and our ability to get out and run and shoot. The commitment by our guys on the defensive end of the floor will determine how good of a team we will be.

Keys to season: “The key to defending our Golden West League championship is going to be our commitment to being a solid defensive team,” Holmes said. “We can score from multiple spots on the floor, we run, and are athletic. Our hope, as coaches, is that we become just as excited to get defensive stops...then we become a pretty good team.”

The schedule: The Seahawks host the eight-game Coaches for a Cause one-day basketball event that begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. They also host the Jim Harris Memorial Tournament of Champions, a six-day tournament that starts Monday, play an annual nonleague game between city rival Huntington Beach (Dec. 11), and travel to Las Vegas for tournament play the final weekend of December.

“We will play some very good teams that will get us ready to try and repeat as league champions,” Holmes said.”

Season opener: Saturday (6 p.m.) vs. Mission Viejo.

Brethren Christian Warriors

Advertisement

League: Academy

Head coach: Jon Bahnsen (18th year)

Coaching staff: Jeff Jefferson, Fidel Vargas.

CIF Division: 5A

Last year’s record: 7-18

Last year’s league finish: 4-8 (fifth)

CIF results: Did not advance

Varsity roster: Sam Kennard, C, Sr.; Jake McKay, G, Jr.; Nate Sagastume, G, Jr.; Joey Gutierrez, G/F, Jr.; Dante Sanchez, G, Jr.; Gabe Reiser, G, Jr.; Owen Sweeney, G, Jr.; Josh Gorrell, G, Jr.; Chase Blade, G, Jr.; Derrick Yu, F, Jr.; Isaiah Vargas, G, Soph.; Fredy William, G, Soph.; Jack Zhang, F, Soph.; Sam Skarin, C, Fr.

Returning starters: None.

Coach’s take: “This year’s team will be very athletic and offensive minded,” Bahnsen said. “Even with no returning starters, we should definitely contend for a playoff spot.”

Keys to season: “The keys to our season will depend on our ability to progress defensively especially in rebounding the ball,” Bahnsen said.

The schedule: Among nonleague highlights for the Warriors are appearances at the season-opening Calvary Baptist Tournament Dec. 7, the Loatella Tournament and the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Palm Springs during Christmas break.

“I think our schedule is a good mix of competition which will prepare us for league,” Bahnsen said.

Season opener: Dec. 7 (TBD) at Calvary Baptist Tournament.

Advertisement