Metro-South Bay Preview : After Castle Park, Things Tighten

The Metro-South Bay League may be involved in its biggest battle in years, but it’s not for first place.

Although not as strong as last season, Castle Park High School’s basketball team should again dominate. Castle Park (13-0, 23-2) was the only team in the league last season with a winning record.

Parity should be restored for the remaining teams, but the determining factor for a playoff bid will be play against the powerful 3-A teams in the Metro Conference. Each league team must play five 3-A teams within the conference.

“This year, the games against the 3-A schools are much more important than in the past,” Coronado Coach Ernie Dickerson said. “The weaker teams are better and the stronger teams are a little weaker than they normally are.”

Marian has already defeated 3-A Montgomery, and Castle Park defeated 3-A Hilltop.

Here is a closer look at the Metro-South Bay League:

CASTLE PARK

Last season’s record: 13-0, 23-2.

Finish: First.

Coach: Forest Partch.

Top returnees: Javier Nunez (5-10, 160, Sr.), John Stanton (5-11, 150, Jr.), Vince Bucca (6-3, 165, Sr.) and Brian Cauley (6-0, 150, Sr.).

Top newcomer: Sergio Lujan (6-1, 180, Sr.).

Outlook: The team is averaging 75.7 points a game, with four of the five starters averaging in double figures. Bucca averages 16.5 points. Overall quickness should make up for the lack of height. Three of its four losses were decided by two points or less. “Last year we would have won those games,” Partch said. Castle Park’s eight victories have been by 10 points or more, including a 83-62 victory over 3-A Hilltop.

CORONADO

Last season’s record: 2-6, 4-16.

Finish: Fifth.

Coach: Ernie Dickerson.

Top returnees: J.D. Douglas (6-1, 160, Sr.), Mark Surber (6-5, 187, Sr.) and Mike Wastila (6-3 1/2, 175, Sr.).

Top newcomer: Dan Mosher (6-3, 180, Sr.).

Outlook: Mosher, most valuable player on last season’s junior varsity team, leads the team in scoring, averaging 10 points. Dickerson has two players at 6-5--Surber and John Johann--but they have only two years experience between them.

MARIAN

Last season’s record: 4-7, 6-17.

Finish: Tied for second.

Coach: Bob Swisher.

Top returnees: Chris Hazeltine (6-2, 180, Sr.) and Pat Landenslager (6-2, 180, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Pat Mendes (5-11, 165, Jr.), Brannon Hays (6-4, 180, Fr.) and Tim Nelson (6-2, 195, Sr.).

Outlook: Marian is the only team so far to defeat a Metro Conference team, Montgomery, and has a 5-5 record going into league play. Hazeltine, a second-team all-league selection last season, and Landenslager provide solid experience.

MAR VISTA

Last season’s record: 4-7, 7-13.

Finish: Tied for second. Coach: Aaron Aubuchon.

Top returner: Albert Sanchez (6-0, 150, Sr.).

Top newcomers: Todd Habel (5-11, 160, Sr.), Robert Marshall (6-3, 175, Soph.) and Eric Syverson (6-3, 175, Soph.).

Outlook: Habel was the leading scorer on the junior varsity team last season and has averaged 25 points a game this season. Syverson had 17 rebounds in a recent game, which beats any single-game performance at Mar Vista last season. But turnovers have hurt. In a recent game, Mar Vista had 44 turnovers. Its 3-10 record is deceiving with two losses each to Torrey Pines and Chula Vista.

SOUTHWEST

Last season’s record: 2-6, 2-20.

Finish: Tied for fourth.

Coach: Steve Selland.

Top returnees: John Walker (6-3, 185, Sr.), Charles Robinson (6-1, 170, Sr.) and Mario Saravia (5-9, 155, Sr.).

Top newcomers: Will Tate (5-10, 150, Soph.) and Adelberto Silva (6-3, 160, Fr.).

Outlook: Southwest (1-9) will have to settle for a rebuilding season. “Our strength could actually be our youth,” said Selland, in his first year. Silva, elevated from the junior varsity team early in the season, is averaging 15 points. Tate is recovering from a broken wrist. Walker, who averaged 17 points last season on a team that averaged only 49, is off to a good start, scoring 22 points a game. But poor rebounding and inconsistent shooting will keep Southwest struggling.