1995-96 BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE

OCEAN VIEW: 18-11, 7-3 in 1994-95. Coach: Jim Harris (17th year, 305-142). Prospects: Can the Seahawks overcome Tustin for the league title? Guards Mike Seguin, Aaron Mullen and swingman Eric Petersen, all starters a year ago, return. Forwards Matt Kiemle and David Hatch and versatile Jason Martini, who can play either guard or forward, figure to play. Then there is late-blooming senior guard Marvin Marquez, who averaged 12 points in two playoff games last season. “We are a better shooting team than last year,” Harris said. “Depth of defense and rebounding will be a key.”

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SADDLEBACK: 4-20, 1-9 in 1994-95. Coach: Tim Messenhimer (first year). Prospects: This could be another long season for the Roadrunners coming on the heels of last season, which seemed longer and longer as time wore on. No starters return for Messenhimer. He replaces Greg Haskell, who faced a similar situation in his one season. Messenhimer says he will be pleased if the team wins 10 games. The lone player with varsity experience is Hung Doung, a 5-11 junior guard who averaged four points. Tim Bell, a 6-6 junior center, adds some height.

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SANTA ANA: 7-17, 2-8 in 1994-95. Coach: Ken Walker (fourth year, 18-52). Prospects: Four starters return, but can Santa Ana win without much height? The Saints’ tallest returner, forward Raul Martinez, is only 6-3. He averaged 14 points last season. Also back are guards Danny Rivero, who averaged 13.8 points, and Ralph Jordan, who averaged 8.8 points. Center Anthony Garcia, at 6-2, returns but will have to mend from a broken leg suffered during football season. He needs to boost his scoring average from 3.2 points per game.

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SERVITE: 18-9, 7-3 in 1994-95. Coach: Scott Hamilton (fourth year, 41-29). Prospects: Hamilton will accept a .500 start in nonleague games because he feels his team lacks height and is largely inexperienced. A couple of back court starters are back: Sean Rawson, a 6-foot senior, and Peter Martinelli, a 5-9 junior. Backup center Lance Day, a 6-8 senior, returns, as does 5-9 junior guard Dennis Wisco, who figures to see some playing time. There are high hopes for junior guard Chris Killens, up from the junior varsity, where he averaged 12 points per game.

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TUSTIN: 28-3, 10-0 in 1994-95. Coach: Andy Ground (fourth year, 70-19). Prospects: The Tillers aren’t hurting. Doug Gottlieb, Times Orange County player of the year, is at Notre Dame, but the Tillers still have David Lalazarian, the guy coaches say is the best player in the league. Lalazarian, a 6-7 senior swingman, averaged 18 points and nine rebounds on the way to All-Southern Section honors last season. There’s a good supporting crew, too. Robert Griffin, a 6-1 all-league guard, averaged 12 points. Also back is 6-5 forward Matt Kraus, who figures to move into a starting role. Ground plans to use two point guards--juniors Ray Hobbs and Ryan Earl.

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WESTMINSTER: 9-15, 3-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Gary Dickson (third year, 14-27). Prospects: Probably the most improved team in the league, the Lions could challenge Ocean View for that No. 2 spot if they shore up their defense. Senior guard Scott Yoshizaki, an all-league selection last season who averaged 12 points, returns, as does Ly Nguyon, a 5-10 junior. Brandon Fox, a 6-2 junior who averaged eight points, is another returning starter. Geoff Henderson, a 6-9 center, is a sleeper. Twins Joe and John Arnold, 6-foot guards, are expected to add support. To say Westminster will be quick and pesky is an understatement. “We have a good point guard and a little more height this year,” Dickson said.