BOYS’ BASKETBALL 1994-1995 / GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE : 1993-94 / IN REVIEW

Standings

League Overall School W L W L Pacifica 14 0 30 2 Bolsa Grande 10 4 14 11 La Quinta 9 5 15 11 Los Amigos 11 15 7 7 Kennedy 6 8 7 17 Santiago 5 9 10 16 Rancho Alamitos 5 17 3 11 Garden Grove 7 17 2 12

Highlights

Pacifica Coach Bob Becker began the season by predicting his team would win the Garden Grove League. Becker, who had been the girls’ basketball coach at Rancho Alamitos, was right and then some. The Mariners’ up-tempo, almost frantic pace and suffocating full-court defense was too much for everyone in the Garden Grove League, the Southern Section and Southern California. The Mariners, led by center Jon Surface’s 23 points, forward Chris Vlasic’s 19 points and a gimmick defense, won the III-A title over San Dimas, 63-49. It was the school’s first section title in boys’ basketball. Pacifica then won the Southern California Regional playoffs by defeating San Diego University High of San Diego, 60-55, behind Surface and Vlasic’s 15 points and Ramon Alliman’s 13 points and three rebounds. “Every coach, every player, has a dream to get to Oakland,” Becker said. “We’re living our dreams now.” Pacifica’s dreams died hard in the finals, though, as the Mariners were not able to wear down Sacramento Foothill, losing 81-61. Vlasic, who averaged 20 points and shot 40% from three-point range, was a first-team Times’ All-County selection,and Surface, who averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds and shot 60% from the field, made the second team. Bolsa Grande, led by seniors Brian Baughman (53% field goal shooting) and Brian Stewart, finished in second place. The Matadors lost to section runner-up Servite in the first round of the Division III-AA playoffs, 54-40. La Quinta, which gave Pacifica its two biggest scares in league, finished third behind the shooting of Greg Greenfield (15.1 points) and Jason Gondringer ( 12.5), the rebounding of senior forward Kevin Doane (10.1 rebounds) and the passing of Todd Snyder (9.3 assists). Los Amigos made the II-A playoffs as a wild-card team and lost to Tustin, 97-56, in the first round. Kennedy, which came into the season with a 33-game league winning streak, only had one returning starter and was never a factor. Garden Grove was led by junior all-league guard Mike Campuzano (15.0 points) and senior Tim Denk (16.8 points).