Woodbridge Is Hoping to Reach New Heights

No matter what basketball league Woodbridge High School was in this season, the Warriors could be among its favorites.

After all, Woodbridge returns its front court--junior center Adam Keefe, senior forward Vince Bryan and senior forward Bill York from last season’s 21-7 team.

Keefe was first-team All-Sea View League and Bryan second-team. Guard and team captain David Townsend, who’s also back, made honorable mention.

Keefe averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds and Bryan 14 points and 7 rebounds a game.

During the summer, Woodbridge left the Sea View League, which was in the 4-A division, and joined the new Pacific Coast League, which is 2-A. Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Orange and Trabuco Hills are the other teams in the league, which was formed to group schools with comparable enrollments.

So the Warriors became the instant favorite to win the Pacific Coast League as well as the 2-A.

Woodbridge is the preseason No. 1 team in the Southern Section 2-A poll. And, unlike last season, when Coach Bill Shannon thought his team was underrated, Woodbridge has become a high-profile program.

“We had a talk with the kids during our shoot-around Wednesday,” Shannon said. “We talked about what’s been written so far and we told them we have yet to play a game. We also told them what’s written after the game is what’s really important.

“We also talked about the difference between potential and reality. The bottom line is still for them to go out and do their best.”

It comes as no surprise that the other five coaches picked Woodbridge to win the league.

“I don’t know how to beat Woodbridge,” Laguna Beach Coach Ed Bowman said. “I guess you have to spread the floor and make them come after the ball. That’s about the only way I can think of that will work.”

Here’s a closer look at the Pacific Coast League.

Top newcomers--Greg Ertel (6-0, forward), Paul Kos (5-8, guard).

Outlook--The obvious problem for the Mustangs is height. There are 42 players in the program and not one is taller than 6-1. No member of the varsity is taller than 6 feet.

“You would think we would be a run-and-gun team, but in our scrimmage it didn’t work out,” Coach Craig Falconer said. “We have good shooters and we will be able to score. It’s just a matter of if we can rebound and stop other teams from outscoring us.”

Top newcomers--Pete Schmidt (6-4, forward), Rob Appel (6-2, forward), Dusty Grant (6-0, guard), John McKeown (6-3, forward), Scott McDonald (6-1, guard), James Henry (6-4, forward).

Outlook--With the graduation of Coby Naess, the Artists lost much of their inside power, and returning starter Herdman will be forced to play a little more inside.

The Artists also lost another inside player in Henry, who suffered a blow to the lung Monday. He will be out from a week to a month. Schmidt, the most valuable player on last season’s junior varsity team, and McDonald should help replace Naess.

“We have good shooting from the outside,” Coach Ed Bowman said. “But we need more experience and need to rebound better inside.”

Top newcomers--Mike Smedes (6-4, forward), Trent De Vrevqd (6-5, forward), Dan Pelton (6-1, guard).

Outlook--The Hawks suffered through a 5-16 season last season but return five players with extensive varsity experience.

Shefe started at guard as a freshman and returns as a sophomore two inches taller. Kawada also returns at point guard and Nelson and Hardy both started last season as forwards. Colburn, who also returns, was a part-time starter, so Laguna Hills should have plenty of experience.

Smedes, a junior transfer form Arizona, is coming off knee surgery but was given a doctor’s release to play Tuesday. Pelton transferred from Mission Viejo will play guard and forward.

“This year is the year we suffered for last year,” Coach Dave King said. “We are ready for the season and really looking forward it.”

Jeff Smith (6-2, forward), Dan Adams (6-2, forward).

Top newcomers--Rusty Olson (6-3, forward), Bob Mantor (6-4, forward), John Cahill (5-10, guard), Khang Tran (6-1, guard), Mike Stock (6-0, guard).

Outlook--The Panthers have only two retuning starters, and Stock and Smith are still playing football.

First-year Coach Dan Paxton is also faced with replacing three-year starter Dave Roth, who is at Chapman. Roth averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds a game last season.

Olson, who played on the JV team last season, is expected to be the featured offensive performer and will play at a swing position in an effort to get him outside to shoot more.

Cahill is going to play point guard.

“We’re all wondering if there will be life after Roth,” Paxton said. “We hit the weights hard since last spring, which will help our rebounding, but we don’t have a lot of size to go with our height.”

Top newcomers--John Barnes (6-2, forward).

Outlook--This is Trabuco Hills’ first season as a varsity program, although the Mustangs played all varsity opponents last season and finished 13-12.

Height is not a serious problem for Coach Butch Taylor, but experience is.

Swanwick will be called on to control the middle, but he is only a sophomore. Welch and McNeill are seniors and will join Swanwick up front but neither, like the rest of the team, has played as competitive a schedule as Trabuco Hills is playing this season.

Barnes is a transfer from Indiana and will play both forward and guard.

“We’re in a little over our heads right now,” Taylor said. “If we can learn somethings and hold together, we can have a good season, though.”

Top newcomers--Rob Lee (6-2, forward), Derrick Odum (5-10, guard), Ted Tobiason (5-11, guard), Chris Deibert (6-2, forward).

Outlook--The Warriors are stocked well enough for not only a league title drive but a Southern Section 2-A division title.

The front line of Keefe, Bryan and York return, as does team captain David Townsend at guard. Townsend is still playing football.

Bryan signed with Brigham Young University before the season started, and although Keefe is a junior Shannon said he has received letters from more than 50 colleges already.