SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW : DIVISION V : Brethren Christian Is Tired of ‘Close’

Brethren Christian is no stranger to success in the boys’ Southern Section basketball playoffs, having advanced to the 1991 Division V-AA semifinals and 1990 Division 1-A finals.

What the Warriors lack, however, is a championship. And don’t think they haven’t noticed.

“Getting close looks good on paper, but after a couple of times, you want to be the team celebrating at the end,” Brethren Christian Coach Richard Thomas said.

“We’ve got a few seniors on this team who have experienced what it’s like to go that far and come up short, and now they want to know what a championship feels like.”

It shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Olympic League champions take the next step in this season’s playoffs. Brethren Christian (22-2) is top-seeded in Division V-AA and plays host to the winner of tonight’s qualifying game between Paramount Leffingwell Christian and Los Angeles Windward in Friday’s first round.

The Warriors are led by 6-foot-3 forward Chiron Hart, who averages 17.4 points. Hart is one of three Brethren Christian players averaging in double figures. The others are 6-2 forward Tim Osborn and 7-0 center Chris Fry, who also leads the team in rebounding with a 10.6 average.

Fry is coming off a sprained ankle that caused him to miss several games late in the season. He returned to the lineup last week, but still isn’t completely back in form.

“Chris’ top priority this week is to get back in shape,” Thomas said. “His mobility is good, but he’s got some running to do this week.”

The other seeded teams in the division are No. 2 Canoga Park Faith Baptist (20-5), No. 3 Hesperia Christian (19-3) and No. 4 North Hollywood Campbell Hall (16-7). Faith Baptist, Campbell Hall and defending champion Brentwood (17-6) are from the Delphic League.

Faith Baptist is led by guard Alex Estrada (18-point average) and 6-7 forward Peter Rasmussen (16 points and 10 rebounds). Campbell Hall features guard Austen McKellar (16.7 points). Guard Scott Dobyns (13.4 points) is one of three Hesperia Christian players who averages in double figures.

Academy League champion St. Margaret’s (13-6), led by Damian Raibon and Ravi Mruthyunjaya, could meet Brethren Christian in the second round.

Division V-A--La Canada Ribet Academy might take some ribbing about its nickname, but the Fighting Frogs dish out more--much more--than they take on the court.

Ribet won the State Division V championship last season after cruising through the Southern Section Division V-A playoffs by an average score of 102-42. The Fighting Frogs are led by 6-3 forward Orville Turner, who averages 22 points and 13.1 rebounds, and 6-2 forward Lydell Hill (20.1 points).

“Ribet is still the dominant team,” Liberty Christian Coach Rudy Sass said. “There’s no question it’ll take a major upset to beat them in this division.”

Liberty Christian (15-6), which could face Ribet in the quarterfinals, is one of the teams with the firepower to run and shoot with the Fighting Frogs. Liberty Christian’s Toby Curto led the county in scoring with a 28.1 average.

St. Michael’s (9-11) features the scoring duo of Jocques Wright (26.9) and Jon Grobler (20.9), but must face Rio Hondo Prep (17-6) in Friday’s first round.

Division V-A at a Glance

Defending champion: La Canada Ribet Academy.

Top teams: La Canada Ribet Academy (16-6), Redlands Calvary Chapel (20-1), Santa Maria Valley Christian (18-5), Hemet Baptist Christian (18-4).

Dark horse: Long Beach Gethsemane Baptist (21-2). The Crusaders didn’t play a difficult schedule, but their record is tough to overlook.

Top players: Toby Curto (Liberty Christian), Jon Grobler (St. Michael’s), Lydell Hill (Ribet Academy), Jeff McDaniel (Baptist Christian), Joel McHaffie (Redlands Calvary Chapel), Joel Mason (Santa Maria Valley Christian), Clifford Page (Gethsemane Baptist), Orville Turner (Ribet Academy), Jocques Wright (St. Michael’s).

Best draw: Ribet Academy. The defending State Division V champion got a first-round bye and won’t play a team with a better than .500 record before the quarterfinals.

Worst draw: Immanuel Christian or Cornerstone Christian. The winner of their first-round game must play Ribet in the second round.

Notes: Orange County teams have the players with the most impressive statistics in the division, but Ribet Academy is again the overwhelming favorite. Ribet has won two consecutive Southern Section championships and has the talent to make it three in a row. Liberty Christian’s Curto (28.1-point average) and St. Michael’s Wright (26.9) are the top two scorers in the county, and Southern California Christian’s Scott Williams (24.8) is third.

Division V-AA at a Glance

Defending champion: Brentwood

Top teams: Brethren Christian (22-2), Canoga Park Faith Baptist (20-5), Hesperia Christian (19-3), North Hollywood Campbell Hall (16-7).

Dark horse: Brentwood (17-6).

Top players: Scott Dobyns (Hesperia Christian), Alex Estrada (Faith Baptist), Chiron Hart (Brethren Christian), Austen McKellar (Campbell Hall), Tim Osborn (Brethren Christian), Damian Raibon (St. Margaret’s), Peter Rasmussen (Faith Baptist), Kevin Rille (Brentwood).

Best draw: Faith Baptist. The second-seeded Contenders could benefit from the tough roads Hesperia Christian and Brentwood face.

Worst draw: St. Margaret’s (13-6). Despite winning the Academy League, the Tartans would face No. 1 Brethren Christian in the second round if both teams win their first-round games.

Notes: Aside from Brethren Christian, the division is dominated by Delphic League teams. League champion Faith Baptist is seeded second and runner-up Campbell Hall is seeded fourth. Defending V-AA champion Brentwood finished third in the Delphic League, but is considered a threat to defend its title. The division’s top teams are familiar with each other. Brentwood defeated Campbell Hall in last year’s division finals, and Brethren Christian advanced to the semifinals after defeating Hesperia Christian.