THE PREPS : HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : Fighting Irish Lost a Lot, but They Still Have a Lot

Last season, the Garden Grove League was a given. Opposing coaches were lining up to give Kennedy High School the championship even before the boys’ basketball season began.

The Fighting Irish were gracious enough to take it, running away with the title. But Kennedy didn’t stop there as Coach John Mayberry’s team fought its way to the Southern Section 3-A championship.

This year, the league’s coaches are not quite so generous. Most still favor Kennedy, but . . .

“A lot remains to be seen,” Rancho Alamitos Coach Terry Munson said. “Kennedy lost a lot. They still have size and talent and, of course, that playoff experience. But La Quinta and Pacifica should be right up there, and we should be a factor.”

Said Mayberry: “I think the Garden Grove League is as good as it’s ever been. But don’t count the Fighting Irish out.”

Indeed not.

Sure, Kennedy lost the Keith brothers, Michael and Maurice. And Wendell Lauderdale also hasdeparted. But there are enough players back almost to guarantee Kennedy at least a spot in the playoffs, if not another league championship.

Guards Mike Pettengill and Jim Barker return. Reserves Greg Hansell and Tom Deep will step in to fill the holes on the front line.

“Kennedy has by far the best athletes,” La Quinta Coach Jim Perry said. “The best and the most.”

While that may be true, La Quinta does have the best athlete in forward Scott Campbell. He was one of the main reasons the Aztecs finished second last season.

Rancho Alamitos’ top three players--David Green, Gary Lira and Tim Pavelec--return. The Vaqueros also added some size, which is something new for Munson.

“I think it’s the first time we’ve been able to put five guys 6-foot or taller on the court,” Munson said. “We’re not the biggest team in the league, but it’s an improvement over last year.”

As far as sleepers go, coaches are keeping an eye on Pacifica, which hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 1971. Three starters return, and two players at least 6-5 are up from the junior varsity.

That should allow Coach Rhett Heckel’s team to improve on its seventh-place finish last season.

“We’ll see,” Heckel said. “I thought we had a pretty good team last year and we finished seventh.”

Here’s a closer look at the Garden Grove League:

BOLSA GRANDE--Tom Cardoza is the team’s third coach in as many years. He will spend the season trying to rebuild the Matadors, who won the league title 2 years ago.

With Joe Small (23 points per game) now playing at Rancho Santiago, there is little to build with.

GARDEN GROVE--The Argonauts’ tallest player is only 6-2 and only three players are more than 6 feet.

“We’re not looking to dominate the boards,” said Coach Gene Campbell, whose team finished tied for fourth last season. “If we can hold our own, we’ll have met our objective.”

That objective might be unattainable as Garden Grove’s center, Phil Pinnon, is only 5-10. Senior Joe Squyers (6-2) moves from guard to forward and will be counted on to rebound--a lot.

Squyers and senior Brian Tran (5-10) will be asked to carry the load offensively.

“We’re going to run a lot,” Campbell said, “if we can get a rebound.”

KENNEDY--The Fighting Irish have one of the county’s best backcourts in Pettengill (5-10) and Barker (6-3).

Pettengill’s 9.6 assists per game led the county last season. Barker, a forward last year, averaged 11 points as the team’s second shooter after Michael Keith.

The big question is whether Hansell (6-5), Deep (6-5) and Ray Townsend (6-5) can dominate the inside. Hansell and Deep were seldom-used reserves, and Townsend was ineligible last season.

“I think Townsend could be a real sleeper this season,” Mayberry said. “He’s really improved a lot and played well during the summer.”

Mayberry also has a good group of newcomers up from the junior varsity.

Jeff Williams (6-4) should help inside. Eric Odenthal (6-2), Todd Murakami (6-1) and John Zarelra (6-2) will play forward and guard.

LA QUINTA--Scott Campbell (6-5), who already has signed a letter of intent to attend Cal State Fullerton, averaged 18.3 points and should improve on that statistic.

However, the Aztecs, who were 17-8 last season, have some holes to fill if they are to challenge for the title.

“We have one real player,” Perry said. “After that, if we ever have to get a rebound, we’re going to lose.”

Campbell and forward Scott Link (6-3) are the team’s tallest players. But the Aztec center, Tom Ho, stands only 6-1.

The key to the team will be how quickly guards James Starter (6-2), Billy Snyder (5-11) and Ty Vu (5-9) improve. Starter was a reserve last season and Snyder and Vu played on the junior varsity.

One of them will have to step forward and replace point guard Ken Bennett, who averaged 5.4 assists last season.

“We’re really counting on those three kids,” Perry said.

LOS AMIGOS--As Carlos Palomino goes, so go the Lobos.

Palomino (6-2) averaged 17 points per game last season but was erratic. Coach Famous Hooks says he thinks Palomino has become more consistent.

But can he carry a team loaded with inexperience?

“Carlos can make the others look really good or they can make him look bad,” said Hooks, whose team finished tied for fourth last season. “But when he’s on, the whole game belongs to him.”

Either Walter Montez (5-11) or Steve Pointer (5-10) will start in the backcourt with Palomino. Both played on the junior varsity team last season.

The front line will include Jevon Hunter (6-3) and Ryan Heacock (6-3). Hunter was on the junior varsity last season and Heacock is a water polo goalie who is playing basketball for the first time.

“Ryan is doing real well,” Hooks said. “And I’ve got him to stop throwing the ball like a goalie.”

PACIFICA--Heckel is cautious, but this could be the best Pacifica team since . . . well, no one is quite sure.

“I’ve been here 3 years and this is the best group I’ve seen,” Heckel said. “I can’t speak for any of the other (previous) coaches. I just know the school hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1971.”

Whether that changes will depend on how quickly juniors Randy Schulze (6-5) and Mike Maher (6-5) can develop. If they can dominate the boards, the Mariners are in business.

Pacifica has three returning starters from a 7-15 team. Guard Dustin Boham (6-2) averaged 12.5 points. Guard Bill Mauer (6-0) averaged 6.1 assists. Forward/guard Jason Brodowski (6-2) averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds and is the team’s best defensive player. All three are seniors.

“Practices are a lot easier with so many veteran kids,” Heckel said. “It gives us something to work with.”

Seniors Dave Herncane (6-3) and Todd Clendenon (6-2) also willget considerable playing time.

RANCHO ALAMITOS--For once, Munson doesn’t have to worry about size. At the forwards he has Green (6-3), a junior, and Pavelec (6-3), a senior. And at center is senior Rodney McCall (6-6).

Never mind that McCall hasn’t played basketball since he was cut from the freshman team. He’s 6-6 and strong (a two-time defending league champion wrestler).

“Athletically speaking, he’s talented,” Munson said. “He has so much to catch up on as far as basketball skills, but he’s the biggest kid I’ve ever had.”

All McCall, who is also the quarterback on the football team, needs to do is rebound. The Vaqueros have enough shooters.

Pavelec averaged 15.4 points last season. Green also scored in double figures. Both are returning starters

Lira (5-9), a senior, is a returning starter and will again play point guard. He will be flanked by Garth Khone (5-10) or Jim Yarnell (6-0), both seniors.

“We have good outside shooting and good ballhandling,” Munson said. “We should be able to run.”

SANTIAGO--The Cavaliers failed to win a league game last season (0-14) and were 1-18 overall. Things can only improve.

Coach Paul Anderson does have some talent.

Seniors Jason Heskett (6-3) and Jardine Diamond (6-0) return. Heskett averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds as a starting forward. Diamond averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds as a starting guard.

“We have a couple starters back, so I think we’ll be competitive,” Anderson said.

He also has some promising newcomers. Senior Charlie Park (6-0) is up from the junior varsity, as is junior guard Sonny Lim (5-5).

Sean Condon (5-10) and Louie Lopez (5-5) will play on the varsity after starting for the sophomore team last season.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE 1987-88 Overall, League Record in Parenthesis

SCHOOL 1988-89 COMMENT Bolsa Grande (15-10, 9-5) Joe Small has graduated, not much offense left. Garden Grove (7-14, 6-8) Only four players taller than 6-foot. Kennedy (23-8, 13-1) Defending 3-A champions return seven lettermen. La Quinta (17-8, 10-4) Scott Campbell is league’s best player. Los Amigos (10-14, 7-7) Carlos Palomino is tough to stop when he’s hot. Pacifica (7-15, 5-9) Three returning starters and good size and depth. Rancho Alamitos (8-13, 7-7) Good shooters and much better size. Santiago (1-18, 0-10) Cavaliers have two starters back.