HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : SANTA FE LEAGUE : Bell-Jeff Lacks Size but Not Depth or a Willingness to Shoot

St. Genevieve High might have the most talented team in the Santa Fe League this season, but Bell-Jeff is expected to challenge for the title with an exciting and entertaining offense.

With no player taller than 6-2, Bell-Jeff’s moniker, the Guards, is appropriate.

“We’re not big, but we do have good quickness and we can shoot the three-pointer,” 10th-year Coach Joe Dunn said. “We should be a fun team to watch.”

Greg Dunn (6-0), the coach’s son, Nick Sanderson (6-2) and Chris Dyer (6-1), all returning starters, are the Guards’ three designated-bombardiers.

If opposing teams stuff the middle to shut down Bell-Jeff’s inside game, Dunn, Sanderson and Dyer won’t hesitate to fire from long range.

Dyer, a first-team all-league guard last season, averaged 10.9 points a game, Sanderson averaged 10.1 and Dunn chipped in with 7.1.

“They’re all capable of hitting 50% from the three-point line,” Joe Dunn said. “We won’t be afraid to pull up on the break and take that shot.”

The other two starters for Bell-Jeff will be Henry Polee (6-0) and Matt Corse (5-11).

Polee, an excellent leaper, is the cousin of Dwayne Polee, the former Manual Arts High and Pepperdine standout. He is one of only two seniors on the team.

Dunn’s biggest concern is Polee’s and Sanderson’s concentration.

“I need them to play at an all-out level when they’re in the game,” Dunn said. “They both have a tendency to pace themselves, which we don’t want in our offense.”

Dunn, who has an uncommonly strong bench, feels there is no need for Bell-Jeff’s players to play at only 90% of their capabilities.

“We’ve got 10 guys who are going to see a lot of time this season,” Dunn said. “When a player gets tired, we’ll just sub for him.”

David Bowman (6-0), Ray Witt (6-0) and Mike Cesta (5-10) will lead the Guards’ reinforcements.

Cesta is the only Guard with any bulk at 185 pounds. The rest of his teammates, who are in the 150- to 160-pound range, rely on speed and quickness.

“We’ve got some greyhounds,” Dunn said with a laugh, “but they’re small greyhounds.”

Though Dunn is optimistic about his run-and-gun offense, he knows that defense ultimately will determine Bell-Jeff’s success.

The Guards’ quickness will be a defensive asset, but their lack of height could prove to be detrimental.

“I’m 6-2,” Dunn said. “And when I’m in the huddle and can see the top of most kids’ heads, I know we’re small.”

Small, quick and entertaining.

St. Genevieve

COACH: Dave Hoffman, first year

LAST SEASON: 11-11; fifth in league, 7-7

THIS SEASON: After coaching the Chaminade junior varsity to three league titles in the past four seasons, Hoffman expects the St. Genevieve varsity to contend for the league title. “We could win it, but we could also finish fourth,” Hoffman said. “This league is so balanced that a team could lose three league games and still win the title.” With three returning starters, Ruben Aguirre, Mike Walker and Chad Russell, and a deep bench, Hoffman’s optimism is understandable. Aguirre (6-1), an all-league guard, scored 13.1 points per game last season and forward Walker (6-2) grabbed 7.9 rebounds per game. Point guard Mike Cassidy (5-8), the son of Cal State Northridge Coach Pete Cassidy, and forward Mark Colon (6-1) are expected to complete the starting lineup. Chris Fregeau (6-5) and Ronny Nielsen (6-4, 205) give St. Genevieve good height and bulk off the bench. Roland De La Maza, Dominic Mueller and Dara Kargari also will see plenty of playing time in Hoffman’s equal-opportunity offense. “We won’t have one dominant scorer,” Hoffman said. “We’ll probably have six or seven leading scorers during the course of the season.”

Bell-Jeff

COACH: Joe Dunn, 10th year

LAST SEASON: 13-10, fourth in league, 8-6

THIS SEASON: With three starters returning from last season, Bell-Jeff not only has one of the most experienced teams in the league but one of the quickest and most entertaining. “We’ll be fun to watch,” Dunn said. “We’ll basically have five guards in our starting lineup. Every one of our starters will be able to handle the ball and three of them shoot it very well from outside.” Chris Dyer (6-1), Nick Sanderson (6-2) and Greg Dunn (6-0), the coach’s son, all started as sophomores last season and all can hit the three-pointer. “That’ll definitely be part of our offense,” Dunn said. “We’re capable of hitting 50% of our shots from that range. If teams give it to us, we’re going to take it.” Junior Matt Corse (5-11) and senior Henry Polee (6-0) complete the starting team. Bell-Jeff’s bench might be its strongest asset as Dunn plans to use 10 of his 13 players regularly. “We plan to run and press as often as possible,” he said. “You need fresh bodies to do that.” Juniors David Bowman (6-0), Ray Witt (6-0) and Mike Cesta (5-10) will lead the reinforcements.

Chaminade

COACH: Mike Lynn, seventh year

LAST SEASON: 17-8; tied for first in league, 12-2

THIS SEASON: Lynn, who will have to replace Kevin Black, is eagerly awaiting the end of football season. Black, a 6-7 center, took his averages of 22.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game with him when he graduated in June. Tim Lavin and Andy Connolly are still on campus, but they are playing running back and tight end for Chaminade’s football team in the Southern Section Desert-Mountain Conference playoffs. “We should have a pretty balanced team once the football season is over,” Lynn said. “We’re not going to have a dominant player like Kevin, but that might be to our advantage. Last year, people keyed on shutting down Kevin. They won’t be able to do that this season. I think we have a team that can score from many different positions.” Without Black, the Eagles will run the fast break more often. Steve Hurdle will direct Chaminade’s attack at point guard and Alex Rigolizo (5-11) should start alongside Hurdle. Lavin (6-2), John Carolan (6-2) and Chris Bruckner (6-4) will vie for the starting forward spots and Connolly (6-2) is expected to be the starting center.

Harvard

COACH: Greg Hilliard, third year

LAST SEASON: 18-6 overall, tied for first in league, 12-2

THIS SEASON: Harvard’s offense revolved around Steve Green (16.6 ppg) and Mike Lowe (14.9) last season. This season the Saracens’ attack will have more balance with better athletes but less experience. “We’re not going to have any big guns this year,” Hilliard said. “But we will have more guys who can score.” That should be a plus for Harvard, which struggled last year when Green and Lowe were shut down. Charles Patton, a 6-1 senior who averaged eight points a game at point guard last season, will start at off-guard and Dan Rosenburg (5-7) will direct Harvard’s attack at point guard. Senior Dan Saferstein and junior Jeff Given, both 6-2, will start at forward and 6-3 Scott Wood will start at center. Wood missed all of last season because of a severe case of shin splints. Aden Fine, a 5-9 senior guard, Brian Domyan, a 6-4 sophomore forward-center, and Bob Hillman, a 6-0 senior guard-forward and standout volleyball player, provide depth.