EMPIRE LEAGUE

Century. 16-11, 7-3 in 1996-97. Coach: Greg Coombs (eighth year, 113-61). Three starters who played major roles last year are back, including 6-2 senior forward Terraill Zoller (11.6 rebounds a game). Starters Mike Zepeda, a 6-9 junior center, and 5-10 junior guard Hardy Fatu, who led the team in assists last season, also return, as does sixth man Cesar Ramirez, a 6-1 senior forward. Top newcomers include 6-2 forward Julio Bugarin, 5-8 junior guard Paul Ferretti, 6-0 senior guard Moises Hernandez, a transfer from La Quinta, 5-11 senior guard Robert Lopez and 5-10 junior guard Robert Ramirez.

Cypress. 20-9, 8-2 in 1996-97. Coach: Frank Califano (first year). Six players from last year’s league championship team return for Califano, who replaces Tom Gorrell, now at Encinitas La Costa Canyon. The Centurions figure to repeat as league champion. “We could be very good, but at times we need to play harder,” Califano said. Travis Weaver, a 5-10 senior guard, Chris Heil, a 6-5 junior swingman, and John Radaza, a 5-10 senior guard, started last year. Other returning players include 6-8 junior forward Billy Curry, 6-4 sophomore forward Devin Patrick and 5-10 senior guard Trent Weaver. Alphonso Stovall, a 6-5 junior forward, is a transfer from Garden Grove. Junior Adam Marques is a 5-7 guard up from the junior varsity.

El Dorado. 19-8, 6-4 in 1996-97. Coach: Tim Tivenan (fifth year, 58-48). Six players from last season’s junior varsity league champions join two returning players. All-league starter Mike Gartner, a 6-3 senior forward, averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds. Scott Keen, a 6-0 senior guard who was a reserve last season, also is back. “It’s another typical year in the Empire League,” Tivenan said. “Anybody can and will beat anybody.”

Katella. 20-7, 7-3 in 1996-97. Coach: Tom Danley (31 years, 574-230). Danley shows no signs of tiring on the way to his 600th victory. But it might take another couple of years to get there because he has only one returning starter, 5-10 guard Ryan Luther, who averaged 6.8 points and was a second-team all-league pick. Others returning include 6-6 junior center Don Carey, 6-4 junior forward Brandon Jordan and 6-1 junior guard Matt Tisthammer. Danley believes 6-3 junior guard Robert Abercrombie has a chance to be one of the better guards in the league. Other top newcomers include 6-5 junior forward Casey Cariker, 6-3 senior forward Adam Jacoby, 5-9 senior guard Juan Martinez and 5-10 junior guard Jimmy Troge.

Kennedy. 13-13, 1-9 in 1996-97. Coach: Pat O’Hern (second year, 13-13). The tallest player is 6 feet 4 and that worries O’Hern, although the Fighting Irish should make up for their lack of height with good speed. Starters Andre Banks, a 6-3 senior forward, Tony Jimmerson, a 6-4 junior forward, and Aaron Lewis, a 6-3 senior forward, are back. Jimmerson averaged six points and six rebounds and Banks averaged nine points and four rebounds. Also returning are 6-0 senior guard Cliff Okada and 5-11 senior guard Mike Powers.

Loara. 11-16, 1-9 in 1996-97. Coach: E.J. Prange (eighth year, 67-110). Herb Garcia, a 5-9 junior point guard who averaged five points and two assists, is the only starter returning from last season’s last-place team. Other returning players include 6-4 center Martin Banda, 6-1 senior guard Brian Brennan and 6-3 senior forward Mike Eshelman. Top newcomers include 6-0 senior guard Brian Delehoy, 6-1 senior forward Ian Harris, 5-8 junior guard Sean Moses, 6-3 junior forward Johnny Patton and 6-1 junior forward Ben Wardrop, all from last year’s 6-15 junior varsity team.