This Might Be Last Season for Lloyd

One old-timer who might be calling it quits, a couple new gyms for growing programs and a bevy of fresh faces are some of the highlights prep basketball fans can look forward to when the regular season begins Monday.

A look around the Orange County’s boys’ basketball scene:

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Brea Olinda Coach Gene Lloyd, the Times Orange County’s coach of the year last season, has been dropping hints that this may be his last go-around.

In 16 seasons at Brea, Lloyd, 62, has guided the Wildcats to a 310-129 record. He has an overall mark of 432-230 that includes several seasons coaching in the Midwest.

Last season, the Wildcats reached the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs, where they lost a nail-biter to Lakewood Artesia, 66-65.

If Lloyd does leave, he is expected to go out a winner. Brea is loaded again and shouldn’t face much opposition in its quest for a third consecutive undefeated Orange League season.

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They’re trying to build a competitive athletic program at tiny Fairmont, a private school in central Anaheim. No one is more excited about the prospects of a new gymnasium than Bob Hubbard, the first-year boys’ basketball coach.

Target date for completion of the $500,000 structure is Jan. 21. The Huskies expect to play their final three home games in the new facility.

“This will be a big boost for this school,” said Hubbard, a former assistant coach at Southern California College and Ocean View High. “We don’t have a place to go to hold meetings or events on campus right now.”

The multipurpose facility will include two side courts and one main basketball court, a weight room, a raised stage for school productions and a classroom.

On the other side of the county, Liberty Christian in Huntington Beach hopes to start construction on a $1.2-million gymnasium about the same time Fairmont opens its facility.

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One of the overlooked players in the county is La Habra’s 6-8 center Josh Fischer, who was an All-Freeway League selection last season for a team that finished 6-19.

Sonora Coach Mike Murphy calls Fischer one of the top 10 players his team will face.

La Habra’s new coach, David Ek, agrees. “If we turn this thing around, it will all be on the back of Josh Fischer.”

Fischer averaged 8.1 rebounds and made 102 of 185 field-goal attempts last season.

Another player to watch this season is Magnolia’s Zamiro Bennem, a 6-3 point guard who has impressed several county coaches. He averaged 13.7 points last season and is considered an outstanding floor leader.

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In this era of specialization it is refreshing to note that Matt Komer of Los Alamitos is a two-sport standout.

Komer recently committed to play volleyball at UCLA.

He’s a 6-7 senior forward who led the county in field-goal percentage last season, making 85 of 112 field goal attempts. He averaged 13.4 points and 8.7 rebounds and was a second-team all-county basketball choice.

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Bolsa Grande’s schedule poster features players arranged around two antique pianos. Their slogan: “The keys to success begin here.”

“We wanted to do something nice for the kids,” second-year Coach Michael Anderson said. “We’re trying to build some pride in the program here. My business is dealing in antique player pianos and that’s how the picture came about.”

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Trabuco Hills gets the unofficial award this season as the transfer capital of county public schools with four newcomers. Sophomore Brennon Martin and junior Brandon Martin are 6-4 post players from Houston. Justin Junge is a 6-5 junior transfer from Pennsylvania, and Brendan Casey, a 6-foot junior, came over from Santa Margarita.

However, Coach Rainer Wulf, who has a 170-109 overall record, picks his team to finish fourth in the South Coast League because he says the competition is so tough and it will take a while to put all the new pieces of the puzzle together.

Another big man has transferred from Mater Dei, but the Monarchs won’t be smarting like they were after Duke’s Chris Burgess left for Woodbridge after his freshman season or when Schea Cotton left after his sophomore season.

Six-foot-seven senior center Nick Reynolds has transferred to Laguna Beach. Reynolds saw limited action with Mater Dei, but just sitting on the bench during all those championship seasons has to rub off on a player.

The biggest plum in the annual college recruiting wars is a transfer: Canyon’s 6-9 Andrew Gaulden, who has committed to New Mexico.

Gaulden transferred from Esperanza. He has the potential to be one of the county’s premier big men, even though he is listed as a guard on the Comanches’ roster. He was an All-Sunset League first-team selection last season.

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El Dorado Coach Tim Tivenan has one of the tallest teams he has had in his five years at the school. The Golden Hawks’ front line averages 6-3, led by forward Mike Gartner, an All-Empire League first-team selection last season.

Tivenan says Gartner, a three-year starter, is an impact player.

“There were times this summer when we won some games that we shouldn’t have won,” Tivenan said. “He just took over and wouldn’t let us lose.”

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Coaching milestones: Los Alamitos Coach Steve Brooks has 288 victories in 16 years at the school.

Laguna Beach Coach Bret Fleming needs seven victories to reach 100 for his career, and Sonora’s Mike Murphy also needs seven to reach 200.

Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer also expects to reach the 100 victory plateau this season. He has 84 victories in three years as coach. And Laguna Hills’ Dave Brown has 88 victories.

Woodbridge’s John Halagan has 95 victories. Pacifica’s Bob Becker has 84 victories and his Mariners are favored to win the Garden Grove League.

Katella’s Tom Danley, a 31-year veteran, is 26 victories shy of No. 600.