Southern Section Basketball Preview : TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Moorpark

COACH: Tim Bednar, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 6-15; 3rd in league, 7-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Musketeers’ top four players also were key players on the school’s football team. The combination of quarterback Ryan Huisenga (5-foot-11) and wide receiver Rob Salone (6-2) might translate into a good point guard-power forward connection. Both averaged 11 points last season to lead the team. Junior Richard Hernandez (5-11), point guard and team leader for the junior varsity last season, and senior forward Chris Peltonen (6-2), a returning starter, also traded shoulder pads for shorts. Sophomore forward-center Jeff Barry (6-5) is the likely fifth starter. “He’s really jumped to another level during the summer,” Bednar said. Junior guard Marcus James (5-8), a part-time starter last year, is the team’s quickest player and a good outside shooter. Sophomore guard Micah Hanson (6-1) is another good shooter. Toby Tucker (6-4), a junior forward, and Keith Linton (6-1), a sophomore guard, are reserves.

OUTLOOK: Moorpark might be the deepest and most athletic team in the league. Whether that translates into victories remains to be seen. “It’s really competitive at practice,” Bednar said. “Almost too competitive. They want to kill each other.”

Oak Park

COACH: Rob Hall, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 0-19; 5th in league, 0-12

PLAYERS TO WATCH: There is one silver lining to last season’s forgettable showing: Many key players return with renewed determination. “Everybody got beat up a lot, so they don’t want to go through it again,” Hall said. “It was ugly.” Junior Damian Delfino (6-2) might be the best point guard in the league, Hall said. Delfino, still healing from a broken clavicle suffered during football season, should be ready a couple of weeks into the season. Junior Tarik Smith (6-1), who rushed for 1,776 yards as a tailback this football season, will shock opponents with his leaping ability, Hall said. Delfino and Smith are returning starters. Senior guard Eric Pryor (6-0) is the team’s best long-distance shooter. Juniors Mike Darrido (6-2) and Kurt Heckman (6-6), both reserves last season, and senior David Shaw (6-2) round out the top six and provide size in the frontcourt. Four players move up from the junior varsity to assume reserve roles, including junior guards Andy McMullen (5-11) and Rich Billingsley (6-0), a transfer from Agoura, and senior forwards Brian Cruse (6-0) and T.J. Stephens (6-2).

OUTLOOK: The Eagles have nowhere to go but up. “We’ll be a lot better this year,” Hall said. “The core group played together all last season, so we have a little bit of experience.” Everything will spin off Delfino in the Eagles’ running offense.

St. Bonaventure

COACH: Marc Groff, 9th season

LAST SEASON: 7-16; 4th in league, 4-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH: After a rebuilding season, the Seraphs have nine returning players. Leading a three-guard attack will be seniors Chris Cattanach (5-9), Grey Hubbard (6-0) and Jeff Wright (6-1). Cattanach, a track runner, will play point guard. Hubbard, who averaged 5.0 points last season, and Wright, who averaged 9.0, are three-year lettermen and good shooters. Sophomore forward Rod Tepesano (6-3, 175), who averaged four points as a reserve, gained 15 pounds and is a probable starter. Junior forward John McNamara (6-3), another reserve last season, averaged seven points and nine rebounds. Senior Geoff Pableo (5-10), a linebacker on the football team, will play guard and forward--and both physically, Groff said. Senior forward Pete Houston (6-1), the school’s quarterback, will share sixth-man duties with Pableo. Senior Marc Romero (5-11) will play backup forward.

OUTLOOK: St. Bonaventure traditionally has been a ball-control team. Not this season. “With Cattanach, we’re going to run,” Groff said. “When we can’t run, we’ll set it up and get it into one of our 6-3 guys.” Groff figures St. Bonaventure stands a good chance of fighting for second place. A league title might be too lofty a goal.