Santa Ana, Foothill Make It a Two-Team Race

There’s an all-around improvement in Century League basketball this season. But the most improved award won’t go to a team or a player but a battle-- the battle for the league title.

It involves Santa Ana and Foothill high schools. Coaches say all other teams, though improved, can step aside and play for third.

The gap between the Saints and the Knights has narrowed since last season. This season, the teams share many similarities.

Santa Ana is the two-time defending champion. Foothill is the two-time runner-up. Both return three top starters.

The Saints are led by Bobby Joyce, a Times’ All-County forward last season. Joyce, a 6-foot 7-inch senior, averaged 19.9 points and 15.1 rebounds last season. Seniors Leo Leon and Willie Lane each averaged more than eight points and six rebounds.

Foothill has more overall height this season. The Knights will look to Greg Rieber, a 6-5 all-league forward (14 points, 6 rebounds), and Bill Peckham (6-5) and Bill Mazurie (6-3).

Both teams also have plenty of capable players. Santa Ana is nine players deep, seven of those with varsity experience. Foothill brings up five players from last year’s junior varsity team (24-2) that won the league title.

“I think it’ll be very close,” Foothill Coach Jim Reames said. “Things are so similar.”

Both teams found there way to Basketball Nirvana last summer, helping them start the season with extra motivation.

For Foothill, heaven was seven wonderful summer league victories over top-notch teams: Corona del Mar, Lakewood, El Toro, Capistrano Valley, University, Long Beach Poly, and, ta-da , Mater Dei, the defending state and Southern Section 5-A champion.

The result? The Knights, 24-6 for the summer, start the season with great confidence.

For Santa Ana, it wasn’t big games but big names-- does Patrick Ewing ring a bell?--that made the Saints’ summer so swell.

It happened on Saints Across America, a nine-day trip through Washington, D.C., New York City and Springfield, Mass., during which Santa Ana received a private tour of the White House, the Basketball Hall of Fame and Georgetown University.

First stop at Georgetown was the gymnasium. Inside, Ewing and Eric (Sleepy) Floyd were playing one-on-one. John Thompson offered the Santa Ana players a 40-minute pep talk.

“It was a really incredible experience for our guys,” said Saint Coach Greg Coombs. “It made a great big impression on them.”

But do great big impressions spark great hoop sessions? It seemed to for Santa Ana, as it returned to Orange County and finished 23-3 in summer league play.

So, the Knights are ready to play. But the Saints may not be, at least in the early season. Four of Santa Ana’s top seven play football and are involved in Southern Conference playoffs.

“But there’s plenty of veterans, so we’ll be able to come together pretty quickly,” Coombs said.

One who should accelerate that motion is senior Scooti Lynwood, said to have been the county’s best point guard at the start of last season.

Lynwood, all-league as a sophomore, was dropped from the team after two games last year for disciplinary reasons. Many say his return provides the Saints with a winning edge.

Whereas the battle for first place may be close, the chase for third seems wide open.

Three coaches--Jeff Bishop (Santa Ana Valley), Frank Palminteri (Villa Park) and Tim Tivenan (El Modena)--are in their second season, so the effects of last year’s rebuilding season may begin to pay off.

Most of Canyon’s best players from last season’s team graduated. This year’s team lacks height, and may be the only team that hasn’t made obvious improvements from the 1986-87 season.

Here’s a closer look at the league, with last season’s records in parenthesis:

CANYON (12-12, 5-5)

Key personnel--Ralph Pacheco (6-0, guard), Dale LaRue (6-2, forward).

Top newcomers--Brian Bailey (5-10, guard), Jeff Ellis (6-4, center), Kevin Mahoney (5-10, guard).

Outlook--The Commanches lost David Jones, the county’s 12th leading scorer at 20.1 points per game, and all-league forward Randy Simpson to graduation, and return only two players with varsity experience. They lack height, averaging 6-1. Though Ellis and Rodwick provide good inside shooting and rebounding, Canyon Coach Steve Sabins admits their jumping abilities are limited. Watch Bailey and Mahoney for outside shooting, and Pacheco for some outstanding defensive play. Compared to its third-place finish in the league last season, it may be a very tough year for Canyon.

EL MODENA (5-16, 4-6)

Key personnel--Brian Bullock (5-10, guard), Robbie Pietsch (6-4, center), Robert Stevens (6-4, forward), Ramsey Rycraw (6-2, guard).

Top newcomers--Dave Runnels (6-5, center), Nate Bogan (6-3, center), Jeff Leedum (6-2, forward), Russ Weitl (6-1, guard).

Outlook--Last year, the Vanguards began the season without a returning starter. This season they have four and several talented reserves. Rycraw, all-league as a sophomore last year, Bullock and Pietsch should lead the team in its fast break, and Runnels, who returns to El Modena after living a year in Texas, will provide the team with some much-needed height. The Vanguards have more depth, quickness and better overall balance.

FOOTHILL (14-12, 7-3)

Key personnel--Greg Rieber (6-5, forward), Bill Peckham (6-5, forward), Bill Mazurie (6-3, guard), John Willsie (6-8, center).

Top newcomers--Ned Williamson (6-0, guard), Kory Combs (6-5, center), Dan Abel (6-5, center).

Outlook--Reames said this may be the best team he’s had in his 11 years with the school. There’s size (four at 6-5, one at 6-8), experience (five varsity returners), and a confidence-building summer. There’s good shooting and better rebounding. But is it enough to top Santa Ana?

SANTA ANA (21-7, 9-1)

Key personnel--Bobby Joyce (6-7, forward), Leo Leon (5-11, guard) Willie Lane (6-1, forward), Scooti Lynwood (6-1, guard), Oscar Wilson (6-4, forward).

Top newcomers--Mike Zamora (5-11, guard), Rich Espinosa (5-10, guard).

Outlook--The Saints lost defensive specialist Darrell Bailey and Jeff Stewart, the league’s co-most valuable player with Joyce. Once the Santa Ana’s football season finishes, the team should jell by its depth and experience alone. Though the Saints’ outside shooting has been a weakness for several years, Coombs said it’s much improved, and their strength inside should compensate otherwise. “We have a solid team that can play with anybody on a given night,” Coombs said. “As long as we stay together.”

SANTA ANA VALLEY (7-16, 4-6) Key personnel--Brett Beale (6-1, forward), Roshawn Lacy (6-0, guard), Steve Calhoun (6-0, forward), Dedric Bentley (5-8, guard).

Top newcomers--Court Bickmore (6-0, guard).

Outlook--Height is a problem, as the Falcons average only 6-0, so quickness and five returning starters may be their salvation. Beale averaged 24 points and 13 rebounds last season and is strong inside. Calhoun, Santa Ana Valley’s quarterback, is the team’s best outside shot, and Lacy, a wide receiver, jumps well and has the best speed on the team.

VILLA PARK (5-17, 1-9)

Key personnel--Roger Branstine (6-3, forward), Steve Waldrip (6-7, forward).

Top newcomers--Scott Parsons (6-3, forward), Scott Creagan (6-4, forward).

Outlook--OK, things can only get better, right? Other league coaches seem to think so. Branstine (10 points, 7 rebounds) and Waldrip 12 points, 8 rebounds) led the team last season, and are much-improved, according to Palminteri. Villa Park lost 10 games last season by 12 or fewer points, something that Palminteri said suggests the Spartans were “just inches away from being competitive, and (this season) we’ll be contending for a playoff spot.” Watch for an improved fast break and a new and improved defense.