HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : FOOTHILL LEAGUE : Playoffs Attainable Goal for Valley Teams

After lackluster performances last year, 3 Valley-area schools might have gained a foothold on the top 3 playoff berths in the Foothill League.

Last year, first-year coaches John Downum of Burbank, Ira Sollod of Burroughs and Greg Herrick of Hart found the going rather difficult. Hart (13-9, 5-5 in league play) finished fourth, Burroughs (8-16, 2-8) finished fifth and neither made the playoffs.

Burbank (16-8, 7-3) finished tied for second with Schurr. But the Bulldogs were trounced by Saddleback, 81-61, in the first round of the playoffs.

“When you’re in a new system,” Herrick said, “you just don’t click in the clutch times.”

Herrick would know. Hart lost 2 games to Burbank on last-second shots. “We were three shots away from the playoffs,” he said.

This year, the playoffs might be close at hand for Hart, Burbank and Burroughs, and the coaches of the 3 schools are planning to battle each other for win, place and show.

“Burbank, Hart and Burroughs,” Downum said, “They’ll be in the top three.”

Said Herrick: “It’s going to be interesting. I think us and Burroughs have really improved.”

While one trio might be improved, another might be losing ground. Alhambra, the defending league champion, San Gabriel and Schurr, each seem to have slipped a notch.

At San Gabriel, where Tim Knight begins his second year as coach, the Matadors have lost 3 starters since September because of grades or disciplinary reasons. “And there’s no talent anyway,” Knight said. “So it’s going to be a long year.”

At Schurr, 14th-year Coach Tom Thompson has lost all but 3 players to graduation, including league MVP Paul Chavez, a 4-year varsity starter who averaged 22.8 points a game last year.

But in the Valley area, Burbank, Burroughs and Hart are well-stocked, especially Burroughs.

“Last year,” Sollod said, “it was an all new group, an all new program.” With no returning players, the Indians struggled. This year, 7 players return.

More noticeable, however, is the departure of Eddie Hill, who transferred to Cleveland. Hill averaged 16.9 points a game. But senior forward Dan Murphy, the team’s leading scorer (18 points a game), is back.

“And he’s tough to stop,” Sollod said.

At Burbank, Downum will build around 2 returning seniors, guard Dan Shaw and 6-foot, 7-inch, 187-pound center Steve Van Dam, of whom Downum said: “We’re trying to fill him up.”

At Hart, the Indians are entering the “P. V. era.”

“Post-Valenzuela,” Herrick said. Gone is 3-point sharpshooter Steve Valenzuela, who averaged 17.5 points last season. “I don’t think we’ll attempt as many 3-pointers as a team as he did by himself,” Herrick said.

The heir-apparent to Valenzuela is junior Micah Ohlman. “He’s our best shooter,” Herrick said. “I think he’s going to score a lot of points for us.”

Burbank

COACH: John Downum, second season

LAST SEASON: 16-8 overall; tied for second in league at 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Burbank has 10 seniors, 1 junior and 1 sophomore but only 2 returning players. Downum is excited about the newcomers. “I really like the personnel I have,” he said. Especially sophomore Kayeed Murray (6-4, 175), a transfer from West L. A. who is playing his first season of high school basketball. “God’s really blessed him with a lot of physical ability,” Downum said. “He should be one of the best sophomores in the Valley.” Point guard Dan Shaw (5-10, 170), who averaged 6 points a game while playing nearly every minute of last season, and center Steve Van Dam (6-7, 185), who averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds, are the only returning senior starters. Senior forward Adam Tunison (6-4 1/2, 185) averaged 12 points and was MVP of the junior varsity. Senior guard Edmundo Zepeda (6-1, 180), “an excellent ballhandler,” sat out last season. Senior David Glass (6-3, 170) is a good shooting forward who averaged 10 points a game for the junior varsity. Junior Brad Ainsworth (6-6, 175) is the backup center and senior Brad Young (5-9, 160), who averaged 12 points for the junior varsity, is the team’s best perimeter shooter. “He should put up some threes,” Downum said.

OUTLOOK: “By the time league play comes around, we should be real tough,” Downum said. So will the competition. The Bulldogs must depend heavily on new players, but Downum is optimistic. “I really feel positive about this year,” he said. “We should have some really good role players.”

Burroughs

COACH: Ira Sollod, second season

LAST SEASON: 8-16 overall; fifth in league at 2-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

The Indians struggled with all new players last season. “We kind of took our lumps,” Sollod said. “But we learned a lot from it. I see big progress.” Nearly everyone returns, including senior all-league forward Dan Murphy (6-2, 170), who averaged 18 points to lead the team. He also averaged 7 rebounds. Senior center Tom Clemons (6-5, 230) averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds after moving up from the junior varsity at midseason. Junior guard Marnie Calderon (5-8, 130) is the team’s best outside shooter. Junior S.J. Boldbich (6-3, 175) averaged 18 points and was MVP of the junior varsity. Senior John Yim (6-2, 170, 5 points) is the sixth man. Seniors Wayne Hilton (6-1, 160) and Al Podrasky (6-4, 175) will come off the bench.

OUTLOOK: Optimism has been overflowing at Burroughs since the Indians posted a 14-4 record in summer league. A better-than-fifth-place finish is likely. “Last year, we were real small,” Sollod said. “This year, we’re 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, so we can hold our own. It’s going to be competitive, real tight.”

Hart

COACH: Greg Herrick, second season

LAST SEASON: 13-9 overall; fourth in league at 5-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With the graduation of 3-point shooter Steve Valenzuela, who averaged 17 points last year, and forward Brian Allen, who decided to forgo basketball, the Indians’ offense probably will not be as wide open this year. “We’ll just get it inside this year,” Herrick said. New players will have to carry the scoring load. Senior forward Brett Wilson (6-4, 175) averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds last year. Four other returning seniors should contribute to a solid front line. Rusty Fotheringham (6-3, 175) averaged 7 points and is a strong defensive player. Craig Gorski (6-3, 170) and Rob Curwen (6-3, 170) have improved, Herrick said. Point guard Frank Butterfield (6-0, 160) is the fourth returning senior. “Our depth is our front line,” Herrick said. “We might be a little light at guard.” Joining Butterfield is junior Micah Ohlman (6-2, 160). Junior Chad Fotheringham (6-5, 190) and senior Aaron Tanner (6-4, 185) started on the Indians’ league-champion junior varsity that finished 17-3, 9-1 in league play.

OUTLOOK: “I’m going to take the Tommy Lasorda approach,” Herrick said. “I’m going to say everybody’s better than us and we have no business playing anyone. And when we win it--if we win it--I’ll be the big hero.” Then Harrick got serious. “I think it’s wide open,” he said. “We have as good a chance as anyone, but if we don’t watch our p’s and q’s we’ll be out of it.”