HIGH SCHOOLS : BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : PACIFIC LEAGUE : Crescenta Valley Finds Prosperity

John Goffredo does not want to analyze his Crescenta Valley High team too deeply. The coach refuses to dissect and scrutinize the circumstances that have contributed to its fast start.

Besides, why tamper with a formula that has proved so successful?

The Falcons are 8-2 and have won the El Segundo and Crescenta Valley tournaments.

“We have no returning starters and our JV team was OK, not great,” Goffredo said. “We’ve just meshed real well.”

But about 10 miles to the east of La Crescenta lurks a Pasadena High team that plans to crimp the Falcons’ designs on a Pacific League title.

The Bulldogs (6-1) are led by guard Idris Jones, who has signed a letter of intent to play at UC Santa Barbara. Pasadena Coach Bill Duwe says that Jones has made dramatic improvement over a year’s span.

“Last year he could barely get the ball over the rim and this year he catches the ball on missed shots and dunks it,” Duwe said of Jones, who was named most valuable player of the Bishop Amat tournament after scoring 29 points against the host team in the final. Teammates Don Mitchell and Chris Henson also were named all-tournament.

Muir Coach Craig Noyes says that the key to stopping Jones is to pressure him on the dribble and not allow him to pull up unguarded.

“You’ve got to pick him up quick or he’ll knock it down,” Noyes said.

Noyes’ team might take a few knocks before league starts. Muir starts 3 sophomores, including Phillip Turner at point. However, Noyes says, if the Mustangs (2-3) can weather their rocky start, they should season quickly.

“I think we’re a strong team,” he said. “We got off to a slow start but that’s nothing to panic about. The way people picked us early, I think we’ll live up to those expectations down the road.”

Noyes, a first-year coach, hopes to raise the morale of the basketball program as well as improve its image in the community. Last season, the Mustangs had an ineligible player on their roster and were forced to forfeit 23 games.

“We’re trying to put all that behind us and go in a positive direction,” Noyes said.

Arcadia Coach Jerry Dohling says that in order for his team to be competitive with taller squads such as Pasadena and Crescenta Valley, the Apaches (2-4) will need to devise special defensive schemes.

“We won’t be able to play them straight up,” Dohling said. “We’ll have to make some defensive adjustments, which usually only works for a quarter or two. But we’ve found ways of making this league competitive.”

Hoover

COACH: Kirt Kohlmeier, ninth season

LAST SEASON: 13-10 overall; second in league at 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Banking on bloodlines is risky but Kohlmeier wants the ball in the hands of junior John Hillman, whose brother, Joe, was a phenom at Hoover before playing at Indiana. John Hillman has averaged 30.8 points in the first 4 games and scored 43 against St. Francis. He is not shy to shoot from beyond the 3-point stripe but is a bit timid in the paint. Ron Pinkney, too, can shoot, but the 5-10, 140-pound guard does not lend much beef to the lineup. Kohlmeier says that guard Robert Calvo is a defensive gem who has a great ability to anticipate and pick off errant passes. Kohlmeier hopes that Calvo’s attitude will rub off on his teammates. Although the Tornadoes (2-6) can score, they will have their hands full against taller teams. Center Gino Wang, who at 6-3 is the tallest starter, is flanked by John Worden (6-2) and Maher Noueihed (6-1). Still, to ensure that Hillman can be open for his jump shot, the Tornadoes will have to get something going underneath. Although he was hobbled by a knee injury during the football season, 6-2 forward Erik Messal should help in that respect.

OUTLOOK:

Hoover will have a tough time with taller teams. But despite the Tornadoes’ shortcomings, Kohlmeier says they have heart: “All the kids are genuine and very loyal to Hoover.

Crescenta Valley

COACH: John Goffredo, 11th season

LAST SEASON: 16-10 overall; third in league at 6-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Raffie Eskandarian is one of the top players in the league. Although the 5-foot, 8-inch, rail-thin point guard is not physically imposing, his quickness and court savvy baffle defenders. He can drive to the hoop but has no qualms about pulling up for 3. Eskandarian’s backcourt cohort Steve Finch is also a good shooter and spends a lot of his time sprawled on the floor scrambling for loose balls. The Falcons’ big men are center John Gilmore (6-6) and forward Paul Matijasevic (6-7). Goffredo calls forward Brian Cortes the “key to our fast break” but adds that Cortes needs to polish his ballhandling skills. Like Finch, David Bayles is a tenacious defender and will match up on the opposition’s best guard. Forward Bruce Jacobson (6-3) might be the most hard-nosed player the Falcons have, but he more likely will make an impact on the the backboards instead of the scoreboard. Other players off the bench are forward Josh Que, a defensive specialist, and swingman Mike Miller.

OUTLOOK:

The Falcons were 20-6 in summer league and could snare the league title if they can turn the heat up down low. Much will depend on whether Eskandarian and Finch can spark the frontcourt into action.

Glendale

COACH: Bob Davidson, second season

LAST SEASON: 21-5 overall; first in league at 8-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The nucleus of last year’s league championship team has dissolved. Gone are the likes of Justin Lord, Dan Johnson and All-Southern Section point guard Jeff Sofro. Sixth man Chad Blatchley remains and, Davidson says, the 6-4 forward should provide much-needed leadership. Blatchley is joined in the frontcourt by forward Brent Hoxie and center Robert DeTolve, who was the leading scorer on the junior varsity last season. Although the big men might be the most experienced members of the team, Davidson is bothered that the Dynamiters’ may not be physical enough. “I’m concerned about our rebounding,” he said. Off-guard Allen Faalnik is probably Glendale’s most physical player, but his strong suit is his perimeter game. Thuan Tran (5-2), another returnee, will run the point. Sophomore Jason Harper (6-6) should develop into a dominant force.

OUTLOOK:

The Dynamiters’ forte might be perimeter shooting, but Davidson says he would like to see the outside game de-emphasized. “I think we are going to be well-balanced,” he said.