Monarchs Don’t Plan to Abdicate : But After Mater Dei, Equality Seems to Rule

The record speaks for itself. Mater Dei High School has made four consecutive appearances in Southern Section championship games, won three titles and a posted a 116-6 record under Coach Gary McKnight.

So it should come as no surprise that the Monarchs will be the top-ranked basketball team in Orange County when the season begins Monday. No county team has beaten Mater Dei since McKnight was named the school’s coach for the 1982-83 season.

Perennial powers Crenshaw and Long Beach Poly have defeated Mater Dei twice under McKnight, all four games going into overtime. Crenshaw’s memorable double-overtime victory in last season’s Southern California Regionals snapped the Monarchs’ 59-game winning streak.

The other losses came against St. Bernard in McKnight’s first season and nationally renowned DeMatha in his second. Mater Dei has rolled to 42 straight Angelus League victories under McKnight.

“How many coaches do you know who could name all their losses in the past four years?” McKnight asked. Then again, how many high school coaches have starters living in Tustin, Mission Viejo, South Laguna, Laguna Niguel and Long Beach?

LeRon Ellis’ home became a popular stop-off for college coaches across the nation during the off-season. Ellis, a 6-foot 10-inch All-American center, eventually signed to attend the University of Kentucky next September.

Ellis averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds as a junior, establishing himself as one of the county’s top players in the playoffs and regionals.

“LeRon was so graceful for a big man last season, and now he’s matured physically,” McKnight said. Ellis played on the Monarchs’ water polo team in the fall, giving him added strength for basketball.

Kevin Rembert, the team’s sixth man last season as a sophomore, will move into the starting lineup. Rembert, 6-4, is an excellent leaper and one of four standout juniors on the team. Forward Char Ruppel and guards Mike Hopkins and Mark Ramstack are the other talented underclassmen.

Chris Patton, beginning his fourth season on the varsity, will start at point guard, but look for Ramstack to move into the starting lineup before the Monarchs travel to Arkansas for the King Cotton Classic Dec. 31.

Looming on the horizon is 6-7 freshman Derrick Stone. He practices with the varsity, but will play on the freshman team.

There are some formidable opponents on Mater Dei’s schedule this season, however. Oak Hill Academy of Virginia, ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today and Street & Smith magazine, is among the entries in the King Cotton Classic.

The Monarchs also play in the Orange tournament where powers Dominguez and Santa Clara are entered along with Santa Ana. There are also nonleague games against Capistrano Valley and Ocean View, two teams capable of ending McKnight’s county reign.

Mater Dei is clearly No. 1; the level of talent drops considerably among the remaining top 10 teams in the county. Ocean View is a consensus No. 2, but then there are 15 teams that are virtually equal.

2. OCEAN VIEW

After a lengthy and losing court battle last February against the Southern Section over the right to participate in the playoffs, Ocean View is back.

All sanctions against the Seahawks have been lifted, meaning Ocean View is eligible for the postseason tournament.

Bookend 6-6 forwards Ricky Butler and Desi Hazely led the Seahawks to a 20-4 record, but their eligibility status was also the reason Ocean View forfeited its 1985 runner-up trophy and was unable to compete in the playoffs.

Butler was overweight and played with little motivation during the summer, but he has lost 15 pounds, and Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said Butler is ready for a big season. Butler, who signed with Kansas, averaged 16.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and shot 62% from the field as a junior.

Hazely shot 54% from the field last season and vastly improved during the summer.

“He’s the best athlete on the team, but he’s always been hesitant to show what he can do,” Harris said. “Now, he’s a confident player.”

Shooting guard Doug Rice heads a talented cast from a 24-0 junior varsity. Harris plans to use 10 players with 12 seniors and 2 sophomores on the roster.

“Our game plan is pressure defense with an up-tempo offensive style of play,” Harris said. “Ricky and Desi will be the cornerstones of our team, but 10 players will contribute.”

3. EL TORO

That’s right, the school with the county’s best football team will also have a fine basketball team . . . once the football season ends.

El Toro will likely be missing two starters and its backup center when the Chargers open the season Dec. 6 at Saddleback. Quarterback Bret Johnson and tackles Cory Wayland and Scott Spalding will join the season in progress.

“If we get to the final in football, those three will literally walk off the football field and start playing in the Irvine tournament,” said Coach Tim Travers.

Johnson, considered the county’s best point guard, averaged 16.3 points as a sophomore. Wayland was the team’s top rebounder with a 10.6 average and Spalding (6-5, 250) is an imposing figure at center.

“We tried to get as much done as possible during the summer because we knew the football team was going to be good,” Travers said. “By January, we’re going to be a very good team.”

Travers said forward Eric Speaker is an all-county caliber player and the most improved on the team.

“He’s more aggressive, his defense is better and he’s no longer a one-dimensional offensive player,” Travers said.

4. MARINA

Viking Coach Steve Popovich begins his 12th season with a player he can finally look up to. Mark Georgeson, a 6-10 center, is two inches taller than his coach and anchors a tall and talented front line.

Georgeson, who signed with Arizona, averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. “He has a nice shooting touch and is very mobile for a big man,” Popovich said.

Forwards Dan Floyd (6-7) and Steve Guild (6-6) give the Vikings one of the tallest front lines in the county. Guild averaged 13.6 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore.

Mike Meyers, a senior point guard, averaged 14 points per game last season and has excellent range. He is the nephew of former UCLA All-American David Meyers.

The Vikings, who finished third in the Sunset League in ‘85-86, should be one of the most improved teams in the county.

“They have to be the league favorites,” Harris said. “We look up to them at every position.”

5. SERVITE

OK, so the Friars missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years last season after tying with St. Paul and Pius X for second place in the Angelus League.

Servite was a very young team that should be vastly improved in 1986-87. Tony Smalley, a 6-4 forward, averaged 19.3 points and was selected to the all-league team.

“He’s one of the top five players in the county,” said Larry Walker, Servite coach. “He ranks right up there with Mike Witt, Scott Sinek, Jeff Osgood and Steve Buechele as the best players to ever play at Servite.”

Smalley will have a better supporting cast this season. John Arabia and Nick Marusich, both 6-8, give Walker his biggest team in four years.

“Neither is a Bobby Erbst-caliber player, but together they will create a lot of problems for opposing teams,” said Walker, referring to the former Katella star now at USC.

Shawn Sullivan and Brett Caya start in the backcourt. Sullivan is the team’s best outside shooter and earned all-league honors. Caya is the point guard.

6. SANTA ANA

The Saints will likely also open the season without two returning starters. Bobby Joyce and forward Darrel Bailey are starters on Santa Ana’s defending Southern Conference championship football team.

Joyce, a 6-6 center, averaged 15.5 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore. He has received letters from St. John’s, Maryland, Nevada-Las Vegas, USC, Oregon, Oregon State, Fresno State and Arizona.

“I expect Bobby to be one of the top recruited players in Southern California next year,” said Greg Coombs, Santa Ana coach.

Guard Scootie Lynwood, also a junior, was fifth among the county’s assist leaders with an 8.1 average. Bailey, a senior, has been the Saints’ best defensive player the past two seasons.

Defense has been Santa Ana’s forte since it adopted Fresno State’s matchup zone three seasons ago. Leo Leon, who had an excellent summer, will start until the football players return.

“We had a real good summer, winning the Lake Tahoe tournament that had 32 teams from six states,” Coombs said. “Hopefully, the good summer will carry over to the season.”

7. WOODBRIDGE

Bill Shannon remembers when his team could “sneak up on people. We managed to win 21 games doing that last season.”

There will be few surprises this season. Woodbridge has been ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section’s 2-A division poll.

The front line features 6-7 center Adam Keefe, 6-7 forward Vince Bryan and 6-4 forward Bill York. Keefe, one of the best sophomores in the county last season, averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and shot 60% from the field.

Bryan, a rugged 200-pounder, has signed a national letter of intent with Brigham Young. Guard David Townsend, a standout on the football team, is team captain and leader.

Chris Deibert led the sophomore team to a 12-2 record. He will be a key reserve and, along with York, is counted on to help the Warriors win the Pacific Coast League.

“I’m not happy with our defense right now, but last season, we played about four minutes of zone, so the man-to-man defense is always the last to come around,” Shannon said.

Woodbridge travels to Las Vegas Dec. 26 to play in a national tournament.

8. FOOTHILL

Veteran Coach Jim Reames scheduled Mater Dei this season, which is a good indication that the Knights will be pretty good.

“I wouldn’t have scheduled Mater Dei if I didn’t think we could play with them,” Reames said. “We’ve got a chance.”

The Knights finished 20-6 last season, one game behind Santa Ana in the Century League. Reames has 5-10 guard Doug Kopcha and 6-5 forward Bill Peckham returning. Kopcha shot 54% from the field as a junior.

The key player is point guard Chris Aquevequez, who was on the Knights’ championship junior varsity. Aquevequez led freshmen, sophomore and JV teams to league titles. The front line features Peckham, Greg Rieber (6-5) and Pat Dorn (6-2).

“We beat Servite and lost to El Toro by three points in the summer, so I think we’ll be pretty good,” Reames said.

9. LOS ALAMITOS

Will Moe Warner develop into a consistent player? How far will Ryan Blossey be behind after missing summer basketball with mononucleosis? Is Bret Pagett ready to become a varsity starter?

Those are the lingering questions as Los Alamitos enters its season opener Monday against Warren in the Laguna Beach tournament.

“Moe had an excellent summer and will be one of the top players in the county,” said Coach Steve Brooks.

And Blossey? “That’s my biggest concern,” Brooks said. “He averaged 19 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in our final seven games last season. We missed him the entire summer.”

Well, the Griffins didn’t miss him that much. They were 26-6 without him, including victories over Servite, Ocean View and Long Beach Millikan.

Pagett, son of Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett, is a fine, all-around player who is the team’s best outside shooter. Los Alamitos will have good size and depth.

10. TUSTIN

The Tillers move into the 3-A division Sea View League after finishing fourth in the 4-A division Century League.

Rog Middleton, one of the biggest surprises in the county last season, returns. Middleton, a 6-4, 200-pound junior, averaged 18.4 points and 7 rebounds as a junior. He is strong inside and has good moves to the basket.

The other standout is 6-6 center Leo Parker, a junior, who averaged seven points and seven rebounds last season.

“Leo has developed and improved tremendously,” said second-year Coach Tim O’Brien. “I think on a given night, we can play with anyone in the county.”

Part of O’Brien’s optimism stems from newcomers Brad Cantrell, Vern Broadnax and Bobby London, who led the Tillers’ sophomore team to a league title.

Others to Watch--Capistrano Valley, Corona del Mar, Estancia, Irvine, Katella, Magnolia, Mission Viejo, Troy and University.

Best Bet to Break Through--Mission Viejo.

Next Wednesday: Top teams, top players in girls’ basketball. THE COUNTY’S BEST

Kenny Bennett (La Quinta) 5-8 senior guard: Was first-team All-Garden Grove League selection last season. Plays point guard and is an excellent ball-handler and passer. Ricky Butler (Ocean View) 6-6 senior center: Averaged 16.2 points and 11.6 rebounds last season. In top 15 in Long Beach Press Telegram’s Best in the West. Vince Bryan (Woodbridge) 6-7 senior forward: Averaged 13 points a game last season. Has signed national letter of intent at Brigham Young University. Nam Cao (Bolsa Grande) 5-8 senior guard: Averaged 13.4 points and 6.3 assists last season. Weighs just 125 pounds ... Excellent passer and shooter. Gaylan Dottin (Saddleback) 6-5 junior forward: One of top 25 players at last summer’s Superstars Camp. Was overshadowed last season by teammate Bryant Walton (now at Cal). LeRon Ellis (Mater Dei) 6-10 senior center: Street and Smith preseason All-American this season. Signed national letter of intent to Kentucky. Mark Georgeson (Marina) 6-10 senior center: Improved more than any county player during the offseason. Mobile with nice shooting touch. Voted among top 10 in Best in West. Steve Guild (Marina) 6-5 junior forward: Has been a starter since his freshman season. Averaged 8.9 rebounds a game last season. A tough inside player. Desi Hazely (Ocean View) 6-6 senior forward: Shot 54% from the field last season. A strong, physical inside player and an excellent rebounder. Mike Henderson (Edison) 6-2 senior guard: Very good outside shooter, ball-handler and floor leader. Was quarterback for the Chargers’ football team this fall. Jeff Herdman (Mission Viejo) 6-6 senior forward: Averaged 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game last season. 61% field-goal percentage ranked third in Orange County. Mike Herring (Irvine) 6-5 senior guard: One of top 25 players at last summer’s Superstars Camp. Averaged 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds... Signed letter of intent to BYU. Bret Johnson (El Toro) 6-1 junior guard: Quarterback on Chargers’ top-seeded football team. Averaged 16.3 points a game... Excellent outside shooter and passer. Bobby Joyce (Santa Ana) 6-6 junior center: Averaged 12 rebounds a game last season (third in Orange County). Averaged 15 points a game last season. Adam Keefe (Woodbridge) 6-7 junior center: Led county in rebounding as sophomore with 12.5 per-game average. Averaged 18.5 points a game and shot 59% from the field last season. Richard Lucas (Katella) 6-6 senior center: Should emerge as one of the Knights’ top offensive players this season. Has signed a national letter of intent to attend Oregon. Scootie Lynwood (Santa Ana) 5-10 junior guard: Averaged 8.1 assists per game last season (fifth in Orange County). One of the top point guards in the county. Mark Lyon (Magnolia) 6-7 senior forward: Averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. Will join 6-6 forward Mike Goff to give Sentinels strong front line. Scott McCullough (Capo Valley) 5-10 senior guard: Averaged eight points a game as reserve guard and spot starter . Will start at point guard for the Cougars. Rog Middleton (Tustin) 6-4 senior forward: Averaged 18.4 points and 7 rebounds a game last season. Very strong inside player who weighs 200 pounds. Kevin Rembert (Mater Dei) 6-4 junior forward: Power forward, is outstanding leaper and rebounder. Was the Monarchs’ sixth man last season but will start this season. Mark Rudometkin (Troy) 6-4 senior forward: Cousin of former USC star John Rudometkin. Excellent outside shooter and probably Freeway League’s best player. Joe Small (Bolsa Grande) 6-2 junior forward: Averaged 15.5 points and 10.6 rebounds a game last season. A quick, physical inside player with good moves and leaping ability. Tony Smalley (Servite) 6-4 senior guard: Averaged 19 points a game last season. Excellent outside shooter. Was an All-Angelus League, first-team selection. Moe Warner (Los Alamitos) 6-5 senior center/forward: One of the top 10 players at last summer’s Superstars Camp. Good jumper and excellent inside player.