SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PREVIEW : LIBERTY LEAGUE : Holy Martyrs

COACH: Varant Vartabedian, 8th season

LAST SEASON: 14-8; 1st in league, 9-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Rarely does Vartabedian have more than eight players and this year is no exception. Junior point guard Michael Valian (6-foot), who averaged 8.5 points last season, is the only returning starter and will control the offense. Senior Robert Momjian (6-3), the only other returning player, moves from sixth man to starting center. Six-foot junior forward Sako Valian (no relation to Michael) averaged a team-high 18 points for the junior varsity. “He had some games where he scored 25-30 points,” Vartabedian said. Junior guard Hratch Eardakjian (5-10) and senior forward Yeghik Kizirian (6-0) move up from the junior varsity into probable starting roles. Junior Shahan Katrielian (6-0) will be the sixth man.

OUTLOOK: With four starters gone, it is virtually a new team. Most of the newcomers played a lot on the junior varsity, however. “We won’t shoot the ball too quickly,” Vartabedian said. “It’s a passing game, a lot of motion. We like to take our time.”

Oakwood

COACH: Angel Hardy, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 9-11; 3rd in league, 6-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Youth and lack of height pervade, as only two seniors and one player over six feet are on the roster. Four-year varsity members Matt Williams (5-8), a three-point-shooting guard, and forward Chip Canter (5-9) are returning starters and co-captains. Junior point guard Brandon DiMassa (6-1) is the team’s tallest player but he will remain in the backcourt because of his ballhandling skills. “He’s gonna be our go-to guy on offense,” Hardy said. Junior forwards Josh Netburn (5-9), a varsity reserve last season, and Steve Slome (5-9), the team’s best rebounder, round out the probable starting five. Junior guard Joel Astman (5-8), the junior varsity’s best player last year, might start or be the sixth man. Junior guard Roee Rubin (5-8), a good outside shooter for last season’s junior varsity, and sophomore forward Dan Penhale (5-8) are reserves.

OUTLOOK: Hardy, an assistant to former Coach Roz Goldenberg the past few years, has spent the summer getting acquainted with the players. Consequently, positional changes might still be made. “Right now, we’re still mixing things up a little,” he said. Without much height, the Gorillas will have trouble mixing it up under the basket.

Providence

COACH: Paul Sutton, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 16-12; 2nd in league, 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The team’s tallest player is junior forward Barry Dabbaghian (6-3), who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last season. He should be one of the league’s better players. “He’ll have the ball a lot in our offense,” Sutton said. Senior point guard Ernesto Godinez (5-10), who averaged four points as sixth man last year, dribbles well with either hand and will quarterback the attack. He will be joined in the backcourt by junior Hagop Yaglian (5-11), a three-point threat entering his third varsity season. Junior forward Robert Mena (6-2), an All-Southern Section pitcher, is a returning starter and the team’s best athlete. Junior Alex Resnevics (6-0), a reserve last season and the team’s best defensive player, and sophomore Joe Ungos (5-9) are battling for the fifth starting position. Reserves include juniors Derek Waarich (5-10) and Chris Gill (5-9) and sophomore Paolo Velasco (6-1).

OUTLOOK: The offense will revolve around Dabbaghian, who will play closer to the basket this season. “I’m not worried about our size defensively as much as I am offensively because we don’t have that go-to guy in the middle,” Sutton said. “But we have six guys who can put the ball in the basket.” Another strength is the Pioneers’ gym. Providence was 8-2 at home last season.