Metro-Mesa League Preview : Montgomery Youth Brigade Will Have Little Pressure On It--So Watch Out

Montgomery High School’s basketball team was one of the county’s biggest surprises last season, finishing second in the competitive Metro-Mesa League and qualifying for the playoffs.

This season, Montgomery again could be a surprise. Because, again, not many are expecting the Aztecs to do much.

Last season, Montgomery was overlooked partly because it had never qualified for the playoffs.

Now, there’s a different reason. Youth.

Montgomery does not return a letterman, let alone a starter, from last season’s team that went 13-9 overall and 9-4 in league. The best Coach Bob Aguilar can do is start five junior varsity players, three of whom are underclassmen.

As expected, the Aztecs went 1-7 during nonleague play. But Aguilar is hardly up-tight.

“As a matter of fact, I’m very relaxed this season,” Aguilar said. “This is a fun year for me. I like watching these kids improve.”

Aguilar’s going to get to watch them for a couple of years. Only two starters are seniors, so the rest of this year’s newcomers will be back next season.

“What’s really great is that we’ve succeeded in a lot of other areas besides the win-loss column,” Aguilar said. “We’re getting better and you better watch out. If we catch a spark, we could take off.”

Here’s a closer look at the Metro-Mesa League:

BONITA VISTA

Last season’s record: 6-7 league, 10-12 overall.

Finish: 4th place, tied.

This season’s record: 2-0, 5-7.

Coach: Steve Milke.

Top returnees: Randy Burk (6-2, 175, Sr.), Mike Mattarocci (6-8, 225, Sr.) and Steve Macaulay (6-5, 205, Sr.).

Top newcomers: None.

Outlook: Burk, scoring 17 points a game, and Gallardo, averaging 13, have give Milke reason for optimism. However, the key player may be center Mattarocci, who missed the second half of last season with an ankle injury. “He’s just starting to come around,” Milke said. Mattarocci scored 27 points in the Barons’ victory over Mar Vista Tuesday night. “We should be dominating inside with our size but, so far, we’re not doing that,” Milke said. “But, I think the kids are starting to come around.”

CHULA VISTA

Last season’s record: 7-6, 13-13.

Finish: 3rd place.

This season’s record: 2-0, 10-5.

Coach: Mike Collins.

Top returnees: Tony Hyner (6-2, 168, Sr.) and Tommy McKinney (6-5, 175, Sr.).

Top newcomer: James McCurdy (6-3, 190, Sr.).

Outlook: With five seniors in the starting lineup, it is easy to see why most of the league coaches favor Collins’ Spartans. Hyner and McCurdy are averaging more than 30 points and 15 rebounds a game between them. “These kids have a very good work ethic,” Collins said. “Even on nights they don’t shoot well, they can find a way to win.” And, on nights the Spartans do shoot well, Hyner and McCurdy make them tough to beat.

HILLTOP

Last season’s record: 6-7, 12-15.

Finish: 4th place, tied.

This season’s record: 0-2, 7-9.

Coach: Jan Chapman.

Top returnees: Bryan Brooker (6-5, 200, Sr.) and Jud Rachow (6-6, 210, Sr.).

Top newcomer: Mark Dirkson (6-4, 190, Jr.).

Outlook: Brooker, Rachow and Dirkson form an imposing front line but the Lancers don’t have anyone to get the ball inside. Still, Brooker is averaging 15 points and Rachow is averaging 11 points and 12 rebounds. “We’re definitely not an 80-foot team,” Chapman said. “We’re a 40-foot one. We can’t play full-court basketball. When we try to run with people, we’re in trouble. If we can play half-court and bang it inside, we’ll be successful.” The improvement of guards Scott Wallace and Ron White may be the key to the Lancers’ season.

MONTGOMERY

Last season’s record: 9-4, 13-9.

Finish: 2nd place.

This season’s record: 0-2, 1-7.

Coach: Bob Aguilar.

Top returnees: None.

Top newcomers: Kevin Crawford (5-10, 170, Jr.) and Albert Maldanado (6-4, 185, Soph.).

Outlook: The Aztecs, a surprise playoff team last season, are going to be hard-pressed to return. Crawford, a running back in football, and Maldanado, a center who keeps improving, are the team’s best players. “We’re taking our lumps right now,” Aguilar said. “But you have to give us some time.”

SWEETWATER

Last season’s record: 12-1, 19-7.

Finish: 1st place.

This season’s record: 2-0, 5-6.

Coach: David Ybarra, 2nd year.

Top returnees: Scott Catlin (5-7, 165, Jr.), Mahlon Williams (6-3, 193, Sr.) and Brent Lawrence (5-11, 170, Sr.).

Top newcomers: None.

Outlook: The Red Devils may soon be the team to beat. All of that depends on whether Williams, one of the county’s best players, returns. Williams is academically ineligible until at least Jan. 30. Another question mark is whether Sean Styles, a 6-5 center, will return. Styles quit after the season’s first game, but Ybarra says there’s a chance he might return. If Styles comes back and Williams makes grades, Sweetwater will likely repeat as league champion. If not, the Red Devils will be chasing Chula Vista.