SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PREVIEW : GOLDEN LEAGUE : Antelope Valley

COACH: Jim Hall, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 11-15; tied for 3rd in league, 5-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Only one player with experience as a starter returns for the Antelopes, leaving Hall with plenty of question marks in his first year. That player is senior Kevin Kirkland, a 6-foot-1 small forward. The only other returnee is Zach Curtis (6-1), who saw minimal time off the bench last year. After that, Hall, the former junior varsity coach, will work with his former players. Matt Carrier (6-4) is a sophomore guard who can play inside and hit the three-point shot. The point guard is junior Troy Coutee (5-10), and senior Robert Wynn (6-1) is an off-guard who will be counted on to score. Both played last season for Hall. The Antelopes will get help inside from Tony Livingston (6-3), a transfer from Oregon.

OUTLOOK: With its bare cupboard, Antelope Valley is in an unfamiliar position, especially for a team that won a league title just two years ago. In the upcoming Saugus Shootout tournament, which features four Golden League teams, the Antelopes are the lowest-seeded team, according to Hall. “It’s different being in this position,” Hall said. “But still, I think teams are going to be up to play us. And I think we’re going to surprise some people.”

Canyon

COACH: Greg Hayes, 10th season

LAST SEASON: 12-13; 5th in league, 4-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Canyon must rebound after a disappointing season a year ago and will rely primarily on senior forward Joe Ferguson (6-4). Ferguson was the team’s leading rebounder last year and runs the floor well, according to Hayes. Joining Ferguson in the frontcourt is junior center Mike Beach (6-6). Beach was cut last year but is back “with a new attitude and new determination,” Hayes said. Point guard Lance Moore graduated, leaving senior Tom Estrada (5-9) to fill his shoes. Estrada was the point guard on last year’s league-champion junior varsity. Firepower will come from senior Jason Wolter (5-9), a key sixth man last year who set the school record for three-point field goal percentage, and from senior off-guard/small forward Brent Stout (6-0), who led the junior varsity in scoring. From the track team, Canyon receives the talents of junior Charles Mansfield (6-0), who Hayes says is “the fastest player we’ve ever had.” Helping out on rebounding will be power forward Adam Crane (6-2, 175) and sophomore small forward Chad Phillips (6-1). Off the bench, Canyon will look for a lift from senior guards Russ Rafkind (5-10) and Rusty Zellner (5-9).

OUTLOOK: Canyon will go to the fast break this year and Hayes hopes that the running game will put the Cowboys in the fight for first place with Saugus. “There’s no way we can be termed a favorite,” Hayes said. “But we’ll make up for our lack of size with hustle. I like this team.”

Palmdale

COACH: Garry Phelps, 12th season

LAST SEASON: 16-10; 2nd in league, 6-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: With 6-4 junior Ty Gaines academically ineligible for at least the first half of the season, the 5-10 Phelps jokes that sometimes he will be the tallest one on the floor for Palmdale. The Falcons lost twin towers Chris DeGlopper and Jason Grimes, and the only returning letterman is junior off-guard Stewart Gates (5-6). Senior Miguel Buelna (5-9), the most valuable player of last year’s junior varsity, will start at point guard. After that, Phelps said, things are up in the air. Erick Stone (6-0), a senior transfer from Hollywood High, is a “guard-type” who can handle the ball. The Falcons feature junior forward Joe Foreman (6-4). Another transfer is Zurrick Sellars (6-2), a senior from Bethel Christian who “jumps real well,” according to Phelps. That does it for Palmdale’s size. “It’s by far the shortest group I’ve ever had,” Phelps said. Sophomore Juan Fernandez (6-2) will play on the wing and senior Nestor Hernandez (5-10) is a good shooter, according to Phelps.

OUTLOOK: “With what I’m telling you,” Phelps said. “You’d figure we’ll struggle.” Phelps, like all the league coaches, says that this year is a down year for the league but tabs Saugus as the favorite. “You’d hope we can be respectable and give teams a struggle,” he said.

Quartz Hill

COACH: Steve Hurst, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 21-5; 1st in league, 9-1

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Rebels are coming off their finest season, but only one starter returns from that team. Senior point guard Danny Prince (6-0), however, might be the best player in the league. Prince averaged 12.7 points last year and will be the featured player for the Rebels. “He’s capable of doubling everything he did last year,” Hurst said. “He creates things offensively and he’s impressive on defense.” After Prince, Hurst said, “it’s an absolute toss-up.” One starting position will be won by senior forward Brandon Higa (6-2), who might be the team’s best defender. Senior Doug Link (6-3) will help underneath, as will senior forward Ralph Gutierrez (6-4), one of the region’s finest defensive ends in football and “a real dominant rebounder,” according to Hurst. Senior guard Aaron Ward (5-11) was the junior varsity most valuable player last year and the backcourt will get help from senior Art Mack (5-9), who is playing his first year of varsity basketball.

OUTLOOK: Because of Prince, Quartz Hill has to be considered one of the better teams in a league short on standouts. Hurst acknowledged that Saugus might be a “hair above anyone else” but said, “a few breaks either way could turn out to be a winning or losing season for any of the other teams.” Quartz Hill should wind up on the winning side.

Saugus

COACH: John Clark, 9th season

LAST SEASON: 20-10; tied for 3rd in league, 5-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Big man Greg Yumbar might be gone, but Saugus still has some key components of the team that advanced to the Division I-A semifinals last year. Senior forward Chris Hernandez (6-2) grabbed six rebounds a game last year and comes back even stronger. “He’s a good athlete and a good jumper,” Clark said. Last year’s sixth man-part-time starter, senior swingman Josh Hinrichs (6-0), is back and Clark says that he is the team’s best all-around player. “He’s just so much smarter than most of the people he plays against,” Clark said. Also back from last year is senior off-guard Steve Tampus (5-10), a strong shooter. Up from the junior varsity is junior Chris Hickman (6-5), a true center who will try to fill Yumbar’s shoes. Another newcomer is sophomore Mike Williams (6-1), a good athlete who will come off the bench. Clark said senior Brad Collar (5-10) likely will start at point guard.

OUTLOOK: Clark, who announced that this season will be his last at Saugus, acknowledges that this might be an emotional campaign. And while he acknowledges that the Centurions might have the best team in the league, “we’re not nearly as good as we were last year.” Still, emotion and talent should mean a championship. “We’ll fight it out for first,” Clark said.