PREP BASKETBALL ‘92-’93 / Orange League : Anaheim

1991-92 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 4-20 1-9

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COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Conrad Byars 51-129

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RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Boun Malapha Sr. 6-0 G Junior Gonzalez Sr. 6-3 F

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TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Frank Castillo Jr. 6-3 F Chanta Iemsisanith So. 5-7 G Robbie Mansell Sr. 6-4 F Boun Saphanthong Sr. 5-7 G

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TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Alonzo Alvarez Jr. 5-10 G Thomas Lopez Jr. 5-11 G

*OUTLOOK

Can the Colonist basketball team turn around its fortunes as the football team has done? Byars believes so. Anaheim showed promise in 1991 with a playoff berth and a 13-12 overall record, its first winning season since 1969-70. Although Anaheim sunk to last place in the league last season, the Colonists were competitive in nearly every league game. “We need to get over the hump by learning to win some close games,” Byars said. “We must improve our free-throw percentage to win some close games.” A third-place finish isn’t out of the question, as long as the Colonists overcome a lack of size in the front court. Anaheim will build around Malapha, who averaged 13.5 points last season and was an All-Orange League selection. Alvarez, a transfer from Riverside Arlington High, should give Anaheim some depth in the backcourt. Mansell has played basketball only two years but “has made fantastic progress; he’s still just a basketball baby,” Byars said. Early victories could set the tone for the league season, Byars said. “If we can improve and get some wins in the nonleague portion of our schedule, we should be right there in the battle for third place,” he said.