SOUTHERN SECTION HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : Delphic League

Faith Baptist

COACH: Stuart Mason, 2nd season

LAST SEASON: 19-6; tied for 1st in league, 9-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Contenders finished in a three-way tie for first with Bel-Air Prep and Brentwood but have lost seven seniors. Faith Baptist’s cabinet is not bare, however. Fernando Garcia, a 6-3 junior who played last season, is a catalyst at forward. “He’s a good leaper and we expect a lot from him,” Mason said. Bob Reed, a 6-4 center-forward, also returns. A couple of late-season additions to last year’s varsity should help: Peter Rasmussen (6-5) and Darren Wyre (5-11) both played as freshmen. Laurence Kennedy, a 6-0 junior, will play swingman. James De Carriere, a 5-9 freshman guard, is “too good to play for the JVs,” Mason said, and should improve as the season progresses.

OUTLOOK: Mason sees the league as a possible three-way dogfight among Brentwood, Crossroads and Faith Baptist. Experience may be a problem for Faith Baptist, however. “We’re young, but we’re very quick,” he said. Consequently, the team will try to run as often as possible. “We don’t really have what it takes to hammer it inside,” he said.

Campbell Hall

COACH: Joe Jackson, 2nd season

LAST SEASON: 6-15; tied for 5th in league, 3-9

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Vikings have three returning starters who could make the team a dark-horse playoff candidate. Senior center Philip Bruno, whose father, John, was an offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, is the team’s anchor in the middle. Bruno, who stands 6-6, averaged 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. “He’s much improved from last season,” Jackson said. “He will give us more offense this year.” Flip Sides, a senior point guard, moves over from shooting guard. Richard Strayer, a 6-2 forward who is also a returning starter, averaged eight points and eight rebounds. “We’ll need more points from him,” Jackson said. Matt Fleming, a 6-4 junior, will start at swingman. Lee Sprague, a 6-2 sophomore, will be expected to supply the perimeter points, and Cole Leatherman, a 6-0 senior forward, will provide muscle inside. Scott Glass, a 6-5 freshman, needs to develop but could be helpful as the season progresses. Jay Erickson, MVP of the football team, will play power forward.

OUTLOOK: The big question for Jackson isn’t how his returning players will perform, but whether his untested players will come through. “We have to rely on an unknown quality of talent,” Jackson said. “We have to rely on the development of these guys. It’ll come down to discipline and fundamentals.”

Buckley

COACH: Byrd Milic, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 6-13; tied for 5th in league, 3-9

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Milic, a native of New York City, says basketball isn’t quite the same out West. “They take it a lot more seriously in New York,” he said. “I don’t see the same interest here.” Milic may have his hands full trying to turn around the Buckley program. In fact, his three best players did not play for the team last season. Point guard Rod Sailes (6-1), who attended Buckley as a sophomore but transferred to University last season, is back for his senior year. “He’s our best player,” Milic said. “He’ll run the show.” Robert Burdette and Brett Wallette were ineligible. Burdette (6-3) will play center-forward and Wallette will play forward. Chris Okum, a 5-10 senior, is the lone returning letterman and will start at off-guard.

OUTLOOK: Liberal doses of East Coast perspective from Milic can’t hurt. And neither can the addition of Sailes, who picked up experience orchestrating the running game at University. An inexperienced bench may be too much to overcome.