1988-89 BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : The Top 10 : Capistrano Valley Has All the Ingredients to Unseat Mater Dei as County’s Best Team

Choosing the best basketball team in Orange County has been relatively easy the past 6 years. One had to look no further than Mater Dei High School.

Any dimwit could tag No. 1 on Mater Dei and then watch as the Monarchs methodically worked their way toward another Angelus League title, 30-victory season and Southern Section title.

Rising home prices, increasing traffic and Mater Dei championships have become a fixture in the county.

Coach Gary McKnight’s record speaks for itself. McKnight has won 5 league titles, 5 Southern Section titles and 167 games in 6 seasons. Graduates of the program dot major college programs from Kentucky to Brigham Young; from Syracuse to Pepperdine.

Even when it appeared that Mater Dei was headed for a down year last season, (the Monarchs’ 7 losses were more than in any of the previous 5 seasons and they did not win the league title), McKnight rallied the team to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive 5-A division title.

Yes, it’s difficult to pick anyone but Mater Dei as the top-ranked team in the county with the 1988-89 season about to open on Thursday night. But how does this sound? Capistrano Valley.

Before all the county traditionalists get upset, consider a couple of things. First, Capistrano Valley also has a little winning tradition going for it.

Coach Mark Thornton has won 6 league titles and advanced to the semifinals in 5 of his 7 seasons. He has won 20 or more games 5 times, and in the years he failed to reach the 20-victory level, he won 19.

Capistrano Valley has junior forward Scott McCorkle, generally recognized the county’s best player, returning along with a talented cast. And finally, Capistrano Valley beat Mater Dei twice in the finals of major summer tournaments.

“I think Capistrano Valley earned the top ranking last summer,” said Jim Harris, Ocean View coach. “They won a lot of games (41) and were in the finals of every tournament.”

But Harris also quickly noted, “Mater Dei will be there in the end. They’ve proven it the last 6 years.”

Ranking the top teams in the county, at least the three best teams, is easy. Capistrano Valley, Mater Dei and Ocean View are on a level above all others.

“There’s a significant drop-off after those schools,” said Jim Reames, Foothill coach.

These schools will settle the issue of who’s the best on the court beginning Dec. 12 when Ocean View plays host to the Tournament of Champions. Meanwhile, here’s The Times’ preseason top 10:

1. CAPISTRANO VALLEY

Last year, Capistrano Valley became the first county school to defeat Mater Dei under McKnight. This year, it becomes the first team other than Mater Dei to open as the county’s top-ranked team since the 1981-82 season.

McCorkle, a 6-foot 5-inch forward, became a dominant player in the 4-A division playoffs as a sophomore, averaging 20 points in 5 games and scoring a career-high 35 points against Santa Barbara in the semifinals.

The Cougars added an all-league guard, Bill Mazurie, who transferred from Foothill last summer, but Mazurie has yet to crack the starting lineup.

“He gives them six quality starters,” Harris said.

Thornton plans to use Mazurie as a point guard and off-guard and figures the senior will be among the team’s leading scorers despite coming off the bench.

The big question is center Steve McCaughey, the biggest player on the team at 6-10. Thornton is hoping to get 8 points and 8 rebounds per game from McCaughey, but admits the senior “is not much of an offensive threat.”

“I like our depth and plan to use 8 or 9 players,” Thornton said. “We’re going to press and we’re going to run.”

2. MATER DEI

Mater Dei figures to start slowly with its top player, forward Mike Morris, out at least 2 weeks with a stress fracture in his right leg. McKnight said Morris’ leadership will be missed more than his scoring; 10 of Mater Dei’s top 12 players are underclassmen.

“This is probably the hardest working and most enthusiastic team I’ve had,” he said. “Derek Stone is really improved and Jason Quinn is a solid point guard. Experience is the big drawback.”

Dylan Rigdon, a 6-2 guard with great shooting range, likely will be asked to carry the scoring load until Morris returns. Rigdon has signed with UC Irvine.

“We’re on a 2-year plan with so many young players,” McKnight said. “We started slowly last year with a veteran team, so it’s likely we’ll start slowly again. But come January, we’ll be a good team.”

Mark Moneypenny, a 6-10 center, is not expected to play much this season, but McKnight has plans for the sophomore. He’s trying to schedule a game against Marina in 2 years that will pit Moneypenny against center Cherokee Parks.

3. OCEAN VIEW

Ocean View surprised many by finishing ahead of favored Marina in the Sunset League last year, and guard Mike Frohn and center Todd Norman, the league’s best players, return. But it was the play of guard Greg Evans over the summer that impressed many college coaches who compared him to former Orange Coast and UCLA star John Vallely.

Norman, a 6-6, 240-pound center, might give up some height to opposing centers, but he certainly won’t be intimidated inside. Frohn averaged 15.3 points and shot 56% from 3-point range, but mysteriously wasn’t recruited during the early signing period.

“Norman is a man among boys, and Frohn is one of the most consistent players I’ve ever been around,” McKnight said. “They’re a solid team.”

Harris acknowledged that Capistrano Valley and Mater Dei are the county’s best teams, and added, “Our job is to squeeze in there somewhere.” Harris will get his chance in the Tournament of Champions and later when the Seahawks play host to Mater Dei in a nonleague game Jan. 14.

4. SADDLEBACK

The time has come for Malru Dottin to emerge from the shadow of his older brother, Gylan, and step into the spotlight.

Gylan has graduated and is the starting point guard for the University of San Diego. Malru has grown 2 inches and gained 30 pounds during the off-season and should be among the top players in the county. He averaged 12.4 points as a junior.

The brothers teamed to lead Saddleback to its first league championship in the school’s 20-year history and the top seeding in the 3-A division playoffs. Gylan has graduated, but another title is a possibility.

Returning guard Craig Marshall was among the top defenders in Southern California and averaged 13.7 points. Saddleback won 27 games last summer, but outside shooting might determine if Saddleback can duplicate its 24-victory season of a year ago.

5. EL TORO

There isn’t a more athletic player in the county than 6-6 forward Khari Johnson, or a better shooter than 6-4 sophomore forward Rob Johnson.

Khari Johnson averaged 14.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and shot 63% from field as a junior. Rob Johnson was listed by the Long Beach Press-Telegram among the top sophomores in the state.

But El Toro has been slowed somewhat. Point guard Tim Casarez had arthroscopic surgery on his knee 3 weeks ago.

Off-guard Greg Reynolds, the leading scorer on last year’s junior varsity with a 23-point average, rivals Rob Johnson for shooting accuracy. Forward Matt Thompson will play a key role on the team.

“El Toro won’t be intimidated by Capistrano Valley with its style of basketball,” said Bob Minier, Mission Viejo coach. “Capo’s press won’t be a factor when they play each other.”

6. CORONA DEL MAR

Corona del Mar missed the playoffs last year for only the second time in 13 years but has 3 returning starters. Center Brian Spratt, forward Matt Herrington and guard Matt Cwiertnia are experienced players who should get a big lift when guards Warren and Weston Johnson finish their football seasons.

Cwiertnia, the team’s best shooter, averaged 12.8 points as a junior. Spratt, a tough defender in the post, averaged 10.9 points and Herrington averaged 11.3.

Corona del Mar’s trademark has been its man-to-man defense, which has helped the Sea Kings advance to the 3-A championship game 4 times since 1977.

7. SUNNY HILLS

Sunny Hills won 22 games, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 3-A playoffs last season and figures to be the best team in north county again. Unfortunately, the Lancers play in only one quality tournament and didn’t schedule a team west of the Garden Grove Freeway in its other games.

Few can question Sunny Hills’ talent. Backcourt duo Jeff White and Jon Beuerlein are solid veterans. Forwards Marcus Hopkins and Walter Mitter can play with anybody, if only given the opportunity.

8. BREA-OLINDA

One has to figure Brea will have a good team based on its schedule. Coach Rick Jones has the Wildcats playing in the Laguna Beach and Irvine World News tournaments before beginning play in the Orange League.

Center Matt Chamberlin and forward Kevin Walker each averaged 17 points last season and rank among the county’s top 15 players. Point guard Rodney Stewart should also benefit from a year’s experience.

Brea has won the league title 7 of the past 9 seasons. The Wildcats’ height, experience and shooting ability rate them among the best in the 3-A division.

9. FOOTHILL

Granted, Foothill doesn’t have a returning letterman and all-league guard Bill Mazurie transferred to Capistrano Valley. But Coach Jim Reames has an imposing transfer of his own, 6-7 forward Jamal Duff from Antelope Valley.

Duff, a junior, has received recruiting letters from colleges such as Stanford, USC, UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount. He’s the only player on the team with varsity experience.

Youth was served over the summer, however, with the Knights winning 28 games. Guard Todd Henrotin, an excellent outside shooter, averaged 25 points on a junior varsity that won 21 games.

10. FOUNTAIN VALLEY

If members of last year’s sophomore and junior varsity teams can continue their success on the varsity level, Coach Dave Brown should enjoy his 20th season at Fountain Valley.

Fountain Valley’s lower level teams were each 23-1 last season and should help returning starters Tom Weaver and Lewis Murdent. Weaver is a 2-year starter and among the top point guards in the county.

The team’s tallest player, 6-6 forward Mike Cook, is a starter on the Barons’ football team and will join the team later.

Other teams to Watch: El Dorado, Estancia, Irvine, Kennedy, Los Alamitos, Laguna Hills, Marina, Savanna, Trabuco Hills and Woodbridge.