Valley Pac-8 Conference : EAST VALLEY LEAGUE

Birmingham COACH: Alan Bennett, 3rd season LAST SEASON: 6-13; 4th in league, 4-8 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Just two players are returning, and neither was a starter. Seniors Booker Montgomery (6-foot-2) and Anthony Sarkissian will start this season, however, at forward and point guard. The junior varsity finished one game out of first place in league play last year, so Bennett is hoping that those players will bring a winning attitude with them. Carlos Avelar (5-9), a senior guard, is “one of the better shooters on the team.” Peter Bernardo (5-9) is a senior guard and Ramin Rabbani (5-10) will start at forward. Junior Raffie Kassabian (6-0) might be small for a center, but, according to Bennett, “he’s a big, strong kid who really looks like he’s gonna do a great job for us.” Greg Whiteside (6-0) will play small forward. OUTLOOK: “We don’t have any height. We’re tiny,” Bennett said. “Guys have moved, transferred, or they’re ineligible, but I think this is going to be my very best year.

Grant COACH: Howie Levine, 6th season LAST SEASON: 19-3; 1st in league, 12-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Levine has no returning starters, but that doesn’t mean the Lancers will not be competitive. A year ago, Levine lost four of his top six players to graduation but the team still managed to win 19 of 22 games. Levine is hoping to extend the Lancers’ 31-game win streak in league play. He is expecting a lot from senior forwards Wayne Carlyle (6-6) and Mark Small (6-2), both of whom are returning lettermen. The three remaining positions will be filled by last season’s junior varsity starters. Senior center Jason Richter (6-5) has been rapidly improving, and Levine expects “a lot of hustle” out of him. Darwin Alfelor (5-7), a junior off-guard, and point guard Chris Fields (6-3) will start in the backcourt. Off the bench are juniors Justin Salazar (6-1), Rod Robinson (6-1), and Jason Knight (6-4) at forward. OUTLOOK: This is first time in five years at Grant that Levine has not had a returning starter. But based on recent performance, Grant still must enter the season as league favorite. “I think teams better not overlook us,” Levine said. “Last year’s team has nothing to do with this year’s team, but we do have a winning tradition to maintain.”

Poly COACH: Jay Werner, 4th season LAST SEASON: 8-12; 2nd in league, 7-5 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Seven of Poly’s eight victories last season were against Valley Pac-8 Conference opponents, which is quite an improvement from the 1989-90 season when the Parrots won just one conference game and two games overall. But Werner has just one returning starter--Juan Deluna (6-1), a senior small forward. Junior Mike Chairuttanativech (5-9) was an off-guard last year at the junior varsity level, but he will switch to point guard. Junior Rudy Arriaza (6-2) will start at center and junior Steve Flores (6-6), a transfer from Burroughs, will be his backup. Junior Marcillino Richarte (6-1) will start at forward, and vying for the fifth position are senior guards Eddie Cardenas (6-0) and Henry Lopez (5-7), both of whom are good shooters. OUTLOOK: With six players taller than 6 feet, Werner feels like he has hit the lottery. “This is the first time in a long time for me where I’m actually looking up at some guys,” Werner said.

Sherman Oaks CES COACH: Mac Becker, 8th season LAST SEASON: 10-13; 3rd in league, 6-6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: The team could have had five returning starters, but Raleigh Henderson transferred to Fremont and Chris Batiste went to Cleveland. Sherman Oaks CES is still left with more returning starters than any team in the league, however. Junior John Cannon (6-3) and seniors Khalif Muhammad (6-3), Mitch Shenkin (5-8), and Kyle Augustus (5-8) all started at one point last season. Cannon, a three-year starter, has improved and will play center. Shenkin, a three-point shooter, led the team with a 14-point average last season. Muhammad averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds at forward. Augustus will start at point guard and sophomore Barry McWright (6-3) will play power forward. Jason Hunter (6-3) is a senior forward and Keith Whitner (6-2) will back up Shenkin at guard. OUTLOOK: “This is the most experience I’ve had,” Becker said. “Everyone can score. The kids are very enthusiastic.”

Sylmar COACH: Alan Shaw, 1st season LAST SEASON: 1-21; 5th in league, 0-12 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Larry Link resigned as coach in May and was replaced by Shaw, a 6-foot-11 social studies teacher who played for Duke in the early 1970s. Shaw has not coached a high school boys’ team, but he said he is ready for the challenge. No starters return. Forward/off-guard Deon Price (6-3), a junior transfer from Antelope Valley High, could be the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. “He has some nice moves and good basketball savvy,” Shaw said. Senior Rodney Smith (6-5) will start at center and junior Jose Ruelas (5-11) is a small forward. Senior guard Ray Ibon (5-7) will be helped in the backcourt by juniors Alex Perez (5-7) and Michael Gabbert (5-11). OUTLOOK: Shaw has taught at Sylmar for the past two years, so he is well aware of the recent history of the downtrodden program. “My goal is to have a winning season,” Shaw said. “It may take some time for them to learn the Shaw system of doing things, but I think we’ll do OK.”