PREP BASKETBALL ‘91-’92: FREEWAY LEAGUE

Troy

1990-91 RECORDS: OVERALL: 13-14 LEAGUE: 5-5

COACH: T.J. Hardeman RECORD AT SCHOOL: 13-14

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Randy Abbott Sr. 6-1 G Brandon Dickens Sr. 6-2 G Jim Falletta Sr. 6-5 C Tim Lein Sr. 6-5 F

TOP RETURNER YR. HGT. P Scott Nielson Sr. 6-3 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Santiago Allen Sr. 6-0 G Matt Cardillo Jr. 6-6 C Mark Stenner Jr. 6-4 F Tim Pena Sr. 5-8 G

OUTLOOK

Troy hasn’t won a league title since 1986, but this could be a banner year for the Warriors. Hardeman, who starts his second season, has four starters and a fifth player who started half the season, Nielson, returning. Troy gave an early indication of things to come, winning summer leagues at El Dorado and Valencia with a combined record of 19-1. The Warriors opened the season with a big victory over perennial power Servite in the Valencia tournament. Abbott, a first-team, all-league selection as a junior, will make a living at the free-throw line, where he was an 83% shooter last season. Abbott averaged 17.9 points last season. Cardillo and Stenner are the only juniors on a senior-dominated team. Cardillo was the co-most valuable player with Pena on last year’s junior varsity team that finished 16-6 and won the league championship. Abbott and Falletta are starting their third season. Hardeman, on turning around Troy’s program: “Last year, the kids were soft defensively. I had to sell them on playing tough defense. Now, defense has become our trademark. I think a legitimate goal for us is to win the league title.”