PREP BASKETBALL ‘92-’93: PRIVATE SCHOOLS

St. Margaret’s

1991-92 RECORDS OVERALL: 16-8 LEAGUE: 8-0

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL Rick Bauer: 52-21

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Brian Askew Jr. 6-2 F Jay Cecil Sr. 6-3 C Ravi Mruthyungaya Sr. 5-10 G Damian Raibon So. 6-3 F Lupe Rodriguez Jr. 5-9 G

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Ed McKenzie So. 6-4 C Justin Yeh Sr. 6-3 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Gavin Cuneo Jr. 6-2 F

OUTLOOK

Give a guy five talented returning starters and watch him smile all the way to the postseason award ceremonies. That’s how it might be for Bauer this season. St. Margaret’s, the defending Academy League champion, looks like a sure bet to repeat and perhaps challenge for a Southern Section title. “We really have an exciting team this year,” Bauer said. “It’s possibly the best team I’ve had in my four years here.” Part of Bauer’s cheerfulness is caused by Raibon, an all-league selection who averaged 15.6 points last year. Bauer rates him as one of the best players in the county. “He’s improved tremendously over the summer. He dunks the ball quite a lot. He’ll be the centerpiece of our veteran squad,” Bauer said. Mruthyungaya, a four-year starter, and Rodriguez complement Raibon from the backcourt. Mruthyungaya scored 42 three-pointers last season and Rodriguez had 44. Cecil, an excellent defensive player, will be the team’s quasi-center. “If I had to look at a weakness, it’s that we don’t have a bona fide center,” Bauer said. “But I think that with our style of running and pressing we can make up for the lack of height. All five guys have great quickness and speed.”