Southern Section Basketball Preview : CHANNEL LEAGUE

Buena

COACH: Glen Hannah, 11th season

LAST SEASON: 14-11; 5th in league, 7-7

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior point guard Lance Fay (6-foot-1), a second-team Southern Section Division I selection who averaged 20.6 points last season, is one of the league’s finest players. Senior guard Nick Houchin (5-10), who averaged 10.3 points, is another returning starter. Returning lettermen include senior forward Doug Wilder (6-3) and senior center Russell Rose (6-4), but Fay and Houchin are the only definite starters. Buena will rely on players from a talented junior varsity that finished 15-5 and won the league title last season. Senior guard Jeremy Bolton (5-10) averaged 17.3 points and was the most valuable player of the junior varsity. Junior center Matt McSorley (6-5), who played in four varsity games last season, averaged 9.1 points and seven rebounds on the junior varsity. Senior Andy Saint (6-5), who missed last season because of a knee injury, is recovering from a broken hip. Senior forward Jeff Dunn (6-2) averaged 16.3 points for the junior varsity. Senior David Guenther (5-10), who averaged 11.5 points for the junior varsity, will back up Fay at point guard.

OUTLOOK: Buena struggled with injuries and illnesses last season and, at one point, only seven players suited up. But the Bulldogs will begin the season with 15 players and, perhaps, none is more important to their success than Fay--who combines with Houchin to form one of the league’s most talented backcourts. Rose, McSorley and Saint should help make Buena a stronger rebounding team than last season’s. Once again, Buena will run and press all over the court. If the players promoted from the junior varsity develop, the Bulldogs will finish among the league’s better teams.

Hueneme

COACH: Howard Davis, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 7-17; 6th in league, 4-10

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Returning starters include junior point guard Tony Smith (6-0), junior off-guard Wendell Nunnery (6-3) and senior centers Israel Fuentes (6-7) and Todd Uffens (6-6). Senior Dwine Knott (6-4), a part-time starter last season, will compete with junior David Andrade (6-3) for the other starting forward position. Smith, who averaged 18 points, five assists, and five steals last season, is one of the league’s top players. Nunnery averaged 15.7 points and a team-leading 8.7 rebounds but has gained 20 pounds and weighs 215. Returning lettermen include junior guards Wayne Revis (5-9) and Ike Coleman (5-9), who will back up Smith. Sophomore guard John Patton (5-7), senior guard Juan Godinez (5-9) and junior forwards Larry Navarro (6-1) and Chris Jenkins (6-3) add depth.

OUTLOOK: Seven lettermen and four starters return for the Vikings, who expect to at least double last year’s win output and compete for their first league title since 1981. Hueneme’s run-and-gun offense will be complemented by the much-improved skills of Fuentes and Uffens underneath the basket. “We’ll try to couple our system with a little bit of a patterned offense, because our guys can post it up,” Davis said. Smith is the key to the Vikings’ success. “When he’s not in there, our efficiency decreases 70%,” Davis said. Nunnery has polished offensive skills but has added 20 pounds.

Oxnard

COACH: Frank Lobo, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 3-21; 8th in league, 1-13

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Returning starters include senior center Corey Upchurch (6-6), who averaged 12 points a game last season, and senior forward Jasper Satterwhite (6-2), who averaged 10 points. Senior starting forward Casey Turner (6-3), a part-time starter last season, provides the Yellowjackets with strong rebounding. Junior point guard Larry Bumpus (6-0) and junior shooting guard Brian Gallardo (5-10) will start in the backcourt. Senior guard David Dickey (5-10) is recovering from knee surgery. Several juniors move up from a junior varsity team that finished 15-4, including guard Avelino Rocha (6-0), center Charles Jones (6-7), and forward Matt Gonzales (6-2). Senior guard Jason Bell (5-8) and junior forward Steve Reed (6-2) add depth.

OUTLOOK: Lobo takes over a program that has struggled of late. But he has some talented athletes on his roster, including several juniors who learned Lobo’s coaching style when he was the junior varsity coach last season. “We like to play with some aggressiveness,” Lobo said. “We have some decent shooting guards and some experience up front. We’ll try to run and extend the court to use some quickness that we do have.” The Yellowjackets have little varsity experience but will improve as the season progresses. “We want to build a solid foundation for things to come,” Lobo said.

Rio Mesa

COACH: Steve Wolf, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 13-14; 4th in league, 8-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Returning starters include junior center Jade Peterson (6-8), senior forward David Halvorsen (6-3), senior point guard Jason MacLean (6-0) and senior guard Swanson Nunnery (5-10). Senior forward John Mitchell (6-4), the most valuable player of the junior varsity last season, will be the other starter. “He gives us real strong defense and is a strong rebounder,” Wolf said. Senior forward Jeff Howatt (6-6) was a part-time starter last season. Senior Nathan Martin (6-1) and junior Tim Nunnery, the most valuable player of the sophomore team, add depth at guard.

OUTLOOK: Rio Mesa’s two leading scorers last season have graduated. “We’ve got to pick up the slack,” Wolf said. The Spartans lack proven rebounders but possess depth. “Everybody is going to continue to improve,” Wolf said. “If our chemistry falls together and everything goes well, we have a shot at . . . the league title. This is the first year we actually can play any of 12 people and not get hurt.”

Ventura

COACH: Dan Larson, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 13-11; 3rd in league, 9-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Returning starters include junior point guard Larry Anter (5-10), junior off-guard Darien Roberts (6-1) and senior forward Randy Martinez (6-4). Martinez, a two-year letterman, was the team’s third-leading scorer at 11.4 points a game last season. The other two starters will be junior small forward Curt Vaughan (6-3), a part-time starter last season, and senior center Martin Nunes (6-5). The first guard off the bench will be junior Chinh Tran (5-10). Sophomore center Anthony McCurtis (6-7) also will come off the bench.

OUTLOOK: Ventura was impressive in summer-league play and is expected to contend with San Marcos, Hueneme, Rio Mesa and Buena for the league title. “I think we’re pretty talented, but we’re awfully unproven,” Larson said. Ventura’s strengths rest with its quick and talented backcourt. Martinez is a consistent force underneath the basket. Larson said McCurtis’ development will be important to the success of the Cougars, who lack established rebounders and leadership.