Top 10: Ocean View in a Class by Itself, for a While, Anyway

Ocean View High School, with experience, four starters standing at least 6-feet 5-inches and one of Southern California’s best underclassmen, ranks as Orange County’s supreme team . . . at least for the 1985-86 regular season.

The Seahawks won’t participate in the Southern Section playoffs or the state tournament because of sanctions by the section’s Executive Committee.

Ocean View’s program has been placed on a one-year probation after it was ruled that Coach Jim Harris used “undue influence” to retain Lynwood transfers Ricky Butler and Desi Hazely at Ocean View.

Ocean View was ordered to forfeit 24 victories and its 5-A division runner-up plaque from last season. This year, the Seahawks’ season will end on Feb. 12.

Harris, who lost a California Interscholastic Federation appeal, says he will fight the sanctions. Harris, who has retained attorney Raymond Alvarado, says he may go to court.

“We’re going into the season with the attitude that we’ll be in the playoffs until somebody rules otherwise,” Harris said. “The kids are leaving the situation up to me. I won’t quit until somebody tells me I’ve exhausted all legal channels.”

Here’s a look at the preseason Top 10:

1. On the court, the Seahawks have no peers. They’ve been ranked as high nationally as No. 30 in Street & Smith’s basketball yearbook.

Point guard Blaine DeBrouwer, swingman Tony Panzica and Butler are starting their third varsity season. Butler, a 6-6 junior, was a Times’ all-county selection as a sophomore and was named to Street & Smith’s preseason All-Metro team for the Los Angeles area. He is a very physical player even for power forwards.

Hazely, the sixth-man last season, will start alongside center Mike Vogtmann, who averaged 15.7 points and 11.6 rebounds with the junior varsity last season.

Harris will have a frontline of Butler (6-6), Votgmann (6-8) and Hazely (6-5) with Panzica (6-6) joining DeBrouwer (6-0) in the backcourt. DeBrouwer, with his playmaking skills, is the team’s key player. He already has signed with New Mexico State.

“We should be an exceptional team with our size,” Harris said. “I don’t think there’s a better athlete in Southern California playing point guard than Blaine. He’s always been a great ballhandler, now he’s a great shooter.”

Harris said an ambitious summer program was the remedy his players needed after two months of turmoil last spring.

“These kids deserve a lot of credit for focusing on the game of basketball considering what they went through,” Harris said. “The spring practices and summer games had a cleansing effect on us.”

2. Mater Dei: The Monarchs have been No. 1 for three seasons under Coach Gary McKnight for good reason. Mater Dei compiled an 86-5 record during that span and won two Southern Section titles.

The role of being No. 2 could change on Dec. 21 when the Monarchs are expected to meet Ocean View in the Tournament of Champions final in Pomona’s Kellogg Gymnasium.

For most of the summer, Mater Dei actually looked beatable. McKnight discovered that finding replacements for graduated Tom Lewis and Mike Mitchell was a big task as the Monarchs lost nine games. But just when it looked as if Mater Dei was slipping, 6-10 center LeRon Ellis transferred from Portland.

The presence of Ellis, the son of former Los Angeles Laker center LeRoy Ellis, allows 6-9 left-hander Stuart Thomas to move to his natural position at forward. Part-time starter Jim Dwyer (6-5) and starting point guard Tom Peabody (6-4) also return.

The Monarchs will have a new look offensively with more motion predicated on a passing game. McKnight will stress more outside shooting in anticipation of facing zone defenses. Mater Dei is tall, but

the lack of quickness may hurt.

“There won’t be a Tom Lewis to carry us,” McKnight said. “We’ll take some lumps early. I think good teams might jump on us, and I’m not sure we’ll answer the call.”

Translation: Don’t expect a repeat of last year’s 29-0 season, but don’t be surprised if the Monarchs win another 5-A title in Ocean View’s absence.

3. Capistrano Valley: At the moment, Coach Mark Thornton’s team is like a race car without an engine. Starting guards Nathan Call and Scott Stark and backup Todd Beightol are busy breaking records on the Cougars’ pass-crazy football team.

“I’m trying to coach a fast-break team without a fast player,” Thornton said. “We’re missing two-fifths of our starting lineup and four-fifths of our punch.”

Once the missing pieces are assembled, the Cougars should become one of the best 4-A teams. Call, the county’s best point guard, has signed with Brigham Young University. Center John Waikle (6-9) and forward Jason Trask (6-7) have signed with Weber State.

“This is the deepest team I’ve had,” Thornton said. “I have 10 players who can play. I feel good about this team. The big question is how the two big kids play. We’re not bad inside, and we’ll run as well as anybody in the county.”

Waikle transferred from Villa Park three weeks before the start of last season, and had problems adjusting to Thornton’s fast-break style.

“He never knew our system last year,” Thornton said. “This year, he knows the offense and the defense. He’s gotten stronger and developed some inside moves.”

Call averaged 9.4 assists per game, and Stark was the team’s leading scorer over the summer. Shawn Reed, a 6-4 forward, also returns.

4. Mission Viejo: Among its 23 victories last year was a season-opening win over Ocean View that finally established Mission Viejo as a bona fide power. This season, the basketball fraternity is acknowledging that Coach Bob Minier’s program is among the county’s best.

Minier has another big team with starting center Tim Knowles (6-7) and starting forward Scott Pedersen (6-4) back along with reserve Jeff Herdman (6-5). Knowles, who averaged 8.8 points and 9.2 rebounds, is one of the county’s best players.

The question is at guard. Minier doesn’t have a true point guard, and Pedersen will be asked to move to guard at times. But the Diablos looked strong in the summer, winning the Westmont Tournament and the Pepperdine Team Camp.

“We should be a good rebounding team with some good scorers,” Minier said. “The lack of quickness could hurt. But if we play our game, we will be very tough to beat.”

Mission Viejo will meet rival Capistrano Valley Jan. 17 at Saddleback College and again on Feb. 7 at Mission Viejo in South Coast League play.

5. Katella: If only the Knights’ could come up with something new on its 20th anniversary. After all, trips to the playoffs have become routine.

Veteran Coach Tom Danley’s spring rite of qualifying for the postseason tournament has been going on for 19 years. No other county coach can match that mark.

The Knights advanced to the 3-A quarterfinals last season, and Danley’s main man, 6-8 forward Bob Erbst, returns for his senior season. Erbst was the target of a heavy recruiting campaign, and ultimately chose USC.

“He’s a super, but I think now that Bob has signed, the recruiters will be after Richard Lucas,” Danley said. “He’s a 6-6 version of (former Katella star) Dan Wright.”

Lucas broke his leg last season and broke Danley’s heart. “We would have won the league with Richard in the lineup,” he said. “I think you’ll be impressed with him this year.”

Katella’s pressing, fast-breaking style should be at its peak this season with the addition of Lucas and 6-5 forward Darrell Baldwin, who missed some games last year with back problems.

“I hope I have the depth to play our style of basketball,” Danley said. “I think we can go eight, maybe nine, deep. We’ll try to keep Erbst and Lucas in the lineup as much as possible and then rotate three other players in and out to keep everybody fresh.”

6. Corona del Mar: Coach Jack Errion begins his 36th season on the prep level with a 548-323 record. In nine years at Corona del Mar, he has won 176 games, five league championships and the 3-A division title twice. But this could be his last season.

When asked if he is planning to retire after the season, Errion said: “I don’t know. I haven’t made a decision. It’s something I’ll evaluate at the end of the year.”

Forward Jeff Fryer, the county’s second-leading scorer last season with a 23.4 average, returns. He shot 55% from the field, and the majority of his shots were from the 16-22 foot range.

Guard Doug Green (5-10) and forward Sean Turner (6-2) also return. Green will be asked to complement Fryer’s scoring; Turner is a defensive specialist. Tim Christiansen (6-4) and point guard Tod Bearbower are up from the junior varsity team.

“People keep telling me we’re going to be good, but I don’t know,” Errion said. “We don’t have much size, so we’re trying to be a little upbeat and get up and down the court quicker.

“We have Fryer and some other good athletes. All the starters are seniors with good, athletic ability. It’s matter of how well we adjust to an up-tempo game.”

7. Servite: The Friars slipped but didn’t fall last year after the transfer of seven players. Servite had averaged 17.5 victories per year under Coach Larry Walker but managed only 10 wins last season. It was enough to get Servite to the playoffs for the ninth straight season.

The Friars should return to form this year as a top 10 team with senior point guard Bob Coady and junior forward Tony Smalley back. Coady is one of the county’s best guards, and is being recruited by Division I schools.

Smalley is the most talented player on the team. He’s quick with good shooting range. He and Coady are expected to carry most of the scoring load.

“Judging from the summer, this team should hold its own with most anyone we play,” Walker said. “Physically, we will be all right. Mentally, that is, believing in themselves, remains to be seen.”

Two other juniors--6-8 center John Arabia and 6-3 forward James Rollins--will join Smalley on the frontline.

“I like our quickness and aggressiveness,” Walker said. “Our forwards need some experience, but there are some talented players on this team.”

8. Huntington Beach: OK, so the Oilers won only nine games on the court (they gained three forfeit wins) and failed to make the playoffs last season. But Coach Roy Miller’s best player, 6-7 forward Steve Pemper, was forced to play on the junior varsity after transferring from Liberty Christian.

Pemper moves to the varsity along with 6-6 Shawn Jensen. They join returning 6-4 forward Darren Snow, giving Miller a formidable frontline. Shane Pariseau, a 6-0 senior, will start at point guard.

“I’ve been experimenting with different lineups and may go with three guards for more quickness,” Miller said. “Pemper is a sleeper. He’s a versatile player who can play the post or move to the wing. He’s got good range.

“Jensen is the biggest surprise on the team. He sat on the bench as a sophomore, but worked his tail off to become a varsity player. He was my project.”

The Oilers better be good. They will participate in the county’s most competitive league against Ocean View, Marina and Edison.

9. Los Alamitos: They’ve come from as far away as New York and Tennessee and as nearby as across the San Diego Freeway in Long Beach. Three transfers have increased the paper work in the school’s administration office and bolstered the Griffin basketball program.

Ryan Blossey, 6-2, was an all-county guard as a sophomore in Rochester, N.Y. He is considered the most talented of the trio, though Coach Steve Brooks says he has never seen him in a game situation.

Moe Warner, a 6-5 forward, transferred from Tennessee when his father was transferred to Los Alamitos Naval Air Station. Matt Treece, a 5-11 guard, didn’t have to travel far. He’s from nearby Long Beach Wilson.

The transfers should blend nicely with three-year varsity member J.T. Snow and Mark Schmitz in the starting lineup. Brooks said their presence has added a new, competitive spirit on his squad.

“This is a young team, and it’s difficult to judge the chemistry,” he said. “The attitude, camaraderie and intensity in practice has been very encouraging. Blossey and Snow have been winners on the football team, and I’m hoping their success will be contagious.”

10. Santa Ana: The Saints have a very young but talented team that is probably a year away.

Two juniors--6-3 forward Jeff Stewart and 6-0 guard Darrell Bailey--will start their second season, and two sophomores--6-5 forward Bobby Joyce and 5-11 point guard Scooti Lynwood--should have an immediate impact.

Eric Turner, a major-college quarterback prospect, also returns. Turner averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds last year, but he won’t join the team until after the football playoffs.

Bailey was one of the Century League’s leading defensive players, and Lynwood is an excellent ballhandler. The big question is how well Joyce and Lynwood adjust to varsity competition after competing on a 23-0 freshman club.

Others to Watch: Marina, Edison, El Dorado, Brea-Olinda, Valencia, Fullerton, La Quinta, Saddleback, Estancia, Irvine and Laguna Beach.

The Teams 1. Ocean View

2. Mater Dei

3. Capistrano Valley

4. Mission Viejo

5. Katella

6. Corona del Mar

7. Servite

8. Huntington Beach

9. Los Alamitos

10. Santa Ana