HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEW : CAMINO REAL LEAGUE

Bell-Jeff

COACH: Steve Wahl, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 21-5; 1st in San Fernando League, 10-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Guards are lacking in experience--no starter or bench player who contributed is back. Senior guard Vince Manna (6-foot) and senior swingman Jeritt Waddell (6-2) are the most experienced players, each having averaged a few minutes a game last season. Junior center Joe Garcia (6-4), who transferred from Marshall, is a good rebounder who also can hit the 15-foot jump shot. Junior Wally Moscoso (5-10) will play point guard. Sophomore guard John Pawlik (5-11), a defensive specialist, will either start or be a significant contributor off the bench. A pair of senior forwards--Eric Baklarz (6-1) and Albert Tovar (6-2)--are returning to basketball after not playing last season. Junior forward Alex Martinez (6-1) also will play.

OUTLOOK: The Guards will try to use their quickness to make up for a lack of experience and size. “We’re really going to try to put pressure on the ball,” Wahl said. “We can’t let teams come down and post up on us. . . . We’re in way over our heads in this league.”

St. Genevieve

COACH: Dan Donovan, 2nd season

LAST SEASON: 9-14; 4th in San Fernando League, 4-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior guard Jeremy Iaccino (5-10) heads a list of three returning starters. Iaccino, a good three-point shooter, averaged 14.8 points last season. Donovan said Iaccino rarely will leave the floor. Senior forward-center Ryan McGinnis (6-4) scored 15.9 points and pulled down 13.1 rebounds last season, his first of high school basketball. The third returning starter is senior swingman Tony Bermudez (6-1). Junior center Alex Muller (6-3) is the quarterback for the football team. Junior guard John Arboleda (5-10) and senior forward Mark Leahy (6-3) also are competing for starting jobs. Two players’ younger brothers--sophomore guards Randy Iaccino (6-1) and Joseph Muller (5-10)--should be future contributors.

OUTLOOK: Iaccino, McGinnis and Bermudez provide a solid nucleus, but it is probably not enough to overcome St. Monica and Serra. St. Genevieve should be in the running for third place.