Southern Section Basketball Capsules : LIBERTY LEAGUE

Holy Martyrs

COACH: Varant Vartabedian, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 20-2; 1st in league, 12-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Three starters are back from last year’s team that lost just two games, but the Armens lost their tallest player, 6-foot-4 Mampre Popkian to graduation. Vartabedian said the team will have to rely on hustle because of the lack of height. Seniors Apik Minassian (5-9), named the league’s most valuable player after averaging 15 points a game, Armand Dorian (6-0) and Hagop Jibilian (6-0) return. Dorian and Jibilian will start at forward. Senior Arman Agdayan (5-8), a transfer from Grant, will handle the ball at point guard. Shant Bedrossian (6-1) will start at center and junior Robert Momjian (6-2) will play in relief for Bedrossian. Vartabedian expects senior Michael Balian (5-11), a starter on the junior varsity last year, to play at guard.

OUTLOOK: Vartabedian said the team’s 12-0 league record last year is misleading because it won six or seven games in overtime or by less than five points. “Balance will again be our strength,” Vartabedian said. “We don’t have any outstanding players, so it will be a total team effort.”

Oakwood

COACH: Roz Goldenberg, 8th season

LAST SEASON: 9-11; 4th in league, 6-6.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Oakwood will not have a lot of depth, but the Gorillas feature a strong backcourt and a tough inside player in Telly Roberts (6-5). Roberts, a senior who will play center and forward, averaged 12 points and 14 rebounds last year. Senior point guard Joel Goldsmith (6-0) is the three-point threat but can also drive with authority. Goldenberg is hoping that freshman guard Shaphan Roberts (6-1), Telly’s brother, will make an impact with his athleticism and intensity. Goldenberg calls junior guard Matt Williams (5-8) an entertaining player. Junior Chip Canter (6-0) and sophomore Steve Slome (6-0) will alternate at guard.

OUTLOOK: Goldenberg believes that the league is more balanced this year and that success in road games will make the difference. “We are definitely improved from last year,” Goldenberg said. “But the road will be tough for us. How we play away will determine how we do.”

Providence

COACH: Paul Sutton, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 12-10; tied for 2nd in league, 8-4.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sutton is carrying just eight players on the squad, but four of them are returning starters. Leading scorer Tim Edgar (18 points a game) has been lost to graduation, so big scoring is expected from senior center Chris Jones (6-5), whom Sutton said should be one of the most dominating players in the league. Seniors Brett Ferrante (5-9), Daniel McNutt (6-0) and sophomore Hogop Yaglian (5-9) also are returning starters. Ferrante will set up the offense at point guard, McNutt will start at forward and Yaglian at guard. Sophomore Barry Dabbaghian (6-1) is young, but Sutton thinks he is his best all-around player. Junior guard Ernesto Godinez (5-8) and freshman Robert Mena (6-2) also figure into Sutton’s deliberate offense.

OUTLOOK: Sutton is confident that the Pioneers will finish on top or near the top. “I put us right there in the thick of it,” he said. “This is the best team we’ve had in the past four or five years.”