ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL : Mission Viejo May Get a Break With Capo Valley’s Call Out

Tonight’s matchup between Mission Viejo and Capistrano Valley high schools, the unbeaten leaders of the South Coast League, features a contrast in styles. But one team’s style figures to be somewhat crimped because of a key injury.

Capistrano Valley (4-0 and 15-2) leads Mission Viejo by a half game in the league race but enters tonight’s 7:30 showdown at Saddleback College without point guard Nathan Call, who turned an ankle in a game against Dana Hills Monday and could be out for another week or more.

Call is considered by many area coaches to be the best floor leader in the county, and his absence is bound to have an effect on the Cougar offense, one that favors the running game.

Todd Beightol, a wide receiver along with Call on the Cougar football team, will fill in at point guard tonight.

Led by 6-foot 7-inch center Tim Knowles, Mission Viejo (3-0, 13-4) is in good position to assume the league lead, something not expected of the Diablos following the graduation of Tom Desiano and Mike Minier, both of whom are playing for Saddleback College.

Forwards Scott Pedersen (6-4) and Jeff Herdman (6-5) help give the Diablos inside strength. The Diablos beat Laguna Hills Wednesday, 88-44, and will do their best to play a halfcourt game against the hobbled Cougars.

Also in the South Coast League: Dana Hills at Irvine and San Clemente at Laguna Hills.

ANGELUS LEAGUE

Mater Dei at Pius X--Warrior Coach Mike Murphy, when asked if any team in the league can beat Mater Dei for the first time in four years: “If anybody can do it, it will be us Friday night. But it will be a long shot at best.” Mater Dei (16-0 and 2-0) should win by a truckload.

Also: Servite at Bishop Amat.

CENTURY LEAGUE

El Modena at Santa Ana--With a record of 3-2 in the league and 6-7 overall, the league title is not out of reach for the Vanguards, but they’ll have to get past the Saints first. Greg Coombs, one of the most underrated coaches in the county, has Santa Ana (5-0, 12-4) in a good position, although it was almost upset Wednesday at Villa Park.

Also: Orange at Santa Ana Valley, Villa Park at Canyon and Foothill at Tustin.

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Los Alamitos at Katella--Question: Who is in first place in the Empire League? The Knights and Bob Erbst? Nope. The Griffins (5-0 and 11-3) are the league leaders, but the road to the title, as always, passes through Tom Danley’s gym. Katella is 4-1 and 12-3. Griffin point guard J.T. Snow is proving himself to be as good an athlete on the court as he was on the football field.

Also: Loara at Cypress, El Dorado at Pacifica and Esperanza at Kennedy.

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

Garden Grove at Rancho Alamitos--Early showdown here. Both are 2-0 in league play, but the Argonauts’ overall record (11-5) indicates that they are in a good position to challenge the defending-champion Vaqueros. Rancho Alamitos’ win over Los Amigos Wednesday put the Vaqueros’ overall record (8-7) above the .500 mark. At this point, a loss would hardly crush either team’s hopes.

Also: La Quinta at Bolsa Grande and Los Amigos at Santiago.

ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim at Valencia--Anaheim (1-0 and 9-5) might just end the season with a winning record. Coach Conrad Byars has his young team playing fundamentally sound ball and with confidence, which accounts for the Colonists’ early success. They may not be ready to challenge ‘Brea-O’Walker’ for the title just yet, but respectability is within reach.

Also: Magnolia at Savanna and Brea-Olinda at Western.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Woodbridge at Corona del Mar--If the Warriors are ever to make a move at the league title, this will be the game. Woodbridge (2-2, 13-4) must find a way to hold the Sea Kings’ Jeff Fryer under his 28.8 points-per-game average. Center/forward Adam Keefe has been playing well all season for the Warriors, but he’ll need a little help from his friends to get by tonight. Corona del Mar is 4-0 and 14-2.

Also: Costa Mesa at University, Estancia at Laguna Beach and Saddleback at Newport Harbor.

SUNSET LEAGUE

Ocean View at Marina--It wasn’t so much that the Vikings lost to Fountain Valley Wednesday, but rather that they scored only 33 points in the process. Included in that total was a two-point third quarter. Marina (1-1 and 11-7) can ill afford such a scoring drought against the Seahawks, five-point victors over Edison. Ocean View is 2-0 and 12-4.

Also: Fountain Valley at Westminster and Edison at Huntington Beach.