For Starters, Western’s Out of Luck; Magnolia Is the Favorite

Greg Hoffman swears that Western High School, or at least its gymnasium, was built on some kind of ancient burial grounds.

How else could the Pioneer basketball coach rationalize the series of misfortunes, the strange twists and turns--and breaks--that have doomed his team this season?

Hoffman had to dismiss his best player, Chuck Powell, from the team last week for disciplinary reasons. One of last season’s captains, starter Art Giovannini, a star on Western’s football team, decided not to go out for basketball.

Wayne Hurtado, a junior who started for the Pioneers last season, has a broken thumb and is probably out for the season. Donye Mitchell, a transfer guard from Dominguez High, tore ligaments in his knee in a football game last month and is probably out for the season.

Wil Jefferson, a 6-6 transfer from Sacramento who would have been Western’s starting center, broke his wrist in practice last week and is out indefinitely.

Five probable starters are now five definite spectators. Suddenly, a team that most figured would contend for the league championship will be fighting for its life.

But none of this surprises Hoffman, the fourth-year coach and resident hoodoo guru.

“This happens every year,” Hoffman said. “Last year, we had a starter (Patrick Bush) break an ankle trying to dunk before the season, and he missed all but the last two games. The year before that, we had a guy (David Shimagawa) break both of his wrists trying to dunk in a nonleague tournament.

“This is my fourth year of coaching purgatory.”

With Western apparently out of the playoff picture, Magnolia, Valencia and Brea-Olinda are the favorites to win the league’s three playoff berths.

League coaches are picking Magnolia, which has four returning starters and has an imposing front line of 6-foot 7-inch Mark Lyon and 6-6 Mike Goff, as the favorite, with Valencia and defending league-champion Brea-Olinda close behind.

Anaheim, whose tallest player is 6-1, and Savanna, whose only returning starter has been slowed by a foot injury, are rebuilding.

Here’s a closer look at the Orange League:

Ernest Johnston (6-0 forward), Alvaro Osuna (6-1 center).

Top newcomers--Derk Folkert (5-11 guard), James Craemer (5-11 guard), Danny Castro (5-11 guard), Greg Van Alfen (5-9 guard).

Outlook--Coach Conrad Byars’ top player and only returning starter, Johnston, is the quarterback on Anaheim’s football team, which is still competing in the Central Conference playoffs. By far the league’s smallest team, the Colonists will rely on a fast-break offense and a full-court, pressure defense. Johnston, a very physical forward, and Osuna, the team’s tallest player, will draw the toughest defensive assignments, guarding the opponents’ tallest players.

Top newcomers--Mike Thorum (6-3 forward), Matt Chamberlain (6-5 forward/center), David Dittman (6-0 guard).

Outlook--Rick Jones, a 10-year assistant at Brea, replaced 12-year Coach Gene Lloyd, who resigned last March after the Wildcats’ 26-4 season. Four starters graduated from that team, including 6-10 center Kevin Walker, who averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds and is now at UCLA. But the Wildcats will have good height with Terry, who averaged 20 points for the junior varsity last season, and Chamberlain. Chiotti and Thomas, younger brother of former Brea star Paul Thomas, are excellent outside shooters.

Top newcomers--Bill Czech (6-3 forward), Saul Osuna (5-10 guard), Duong Tran (5-11 guard) and Jeff Fittante (6-3 forward).

Outlook--Al Walin is calling this team the best he has had in his 12 years as Magnolia coach. The Sentinels have size, speed and experience, with four starters returning. Magnolia was 18-6 during the summer, winning the Villa Park League and finishing third behind Servite and Katella in the Katella League. Lyon, one of Orange County’s top forwards, averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last season, and Goff averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds. Banuelos is the team’s best outside shooter, and Gorrien will be the point guard.

Mike Campbell (6-3 forward), Eric Shinkle (6-7 center), Tim Killman (6-5 forward).

Top newcomers--Richard Kemple (5-7 guard), Robbie Booker (6-2 forward), Jay Turner (5-9 guard), Mike Nguyen (5-5 guard), Bobby Rivera (6-0 forward).

Outlook--The Rebels slipped to 6-14 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons under Coach Tom Gregory. Campbell averaged 14 points last season but is slowed by the foot surgery he underwent six weeks ago. Five of the top eight players will be juniors or sophomores, so Gregory is expecting some mistakes. “But this team works harder than the team I had last year,” Gregory said. “If coaching doesn’t screw them up, we should be good in a year.”

Dennis Burbank (6-5 center), Darren Robinson (6-0 guard) and Jeff Franck (6-5 forward/center).

Top newcomers--Pat Hernandez (6-3 forward), Bernie James (6-0 guard), Chris Barr (5-11 guard) and Mike Munoz (5-11 guard).

Outlook--Tiger Coach Ray Rodriguez has had problems in the past with depth, but he believes he has at least nine players who will contribute this season. His strength is in the front line with Burbank, a returning all-league player who averaged 13 points, and Franck. Valencia will be bolstered by several players from last season’s 19-3 junior varsity. Robinson, who played forward last season, will move to guard, and James will probably be the other starting guard.

Mark Sanchez (6-3 forward), Chris Bowen (6-2 forward).

Top newcomers--Joey Romero (6-1 forward), Craig Shimahara (5-9 guard), Ed Salvador (5-10 forward) and Wil Jefferson (6-6 center).

Outlook--Several players who didn’t figure to see much action this season will become starters for Hoffman, who enters the season with nine varsity players. It’s doubtful that the Pioneers will be able to improve upon last season’s 10-11 record and second-place league finish--Western’s highest league finish in 20 seasons. “We’ll be way down,” Hoffman said. “Unfortunately, our league is the strongest it’s been in years.”