Oxnard Hopes Final Ride Turns Into Memorable One

It’s one thing to finish second or third in your league when no one expects much of you.

It’s more difficult, however, when you’re regarded as one of the league’s best teams.

So says Oxnard High boys’ basketball Coach Henry Lobo.

With five of its top six players back from last season’s team that finished 12-11 and fifth in the Channel League at 6-8, Oxnard is regarded as one of three teams capable of defeating defending champion Dos Pueblos for the league title.

San Marcos and Santa Barbara are the others.

“I see us as a team that can finish [between first and fourth],” Lobo said. “But we need to step up our intensity a little bit.

“We’re lacking a little leadership right now and that’s something we’re going to need to win the league title.”

The Yellowjackets went 1-6 in the first round of league play last season and it doomed them to a middle-of-the-pack finish, despite a 5-2 record in the second half.

“We want to be consistent,” Lobo said. “We have to win early, middle and late. We have to beat the teams we’re supposed to beat and then see what we can do against the Santa Barbara schools.

“It won’t be easy because people are expecting things from us this year.

“We’re not going to sneak up on anybody like we did two years ago when we were 10-4.”

Senior Jeff Fouchey and juniors Damian Tafoya and Jacob Rogers are returning starters who are expected to play key roles for the Yellowjackets.

Fouchey is a 6-foot-4 swingman who was a second-team all-league selection last season and is averaging 12.2 points a game.

Tafoya is a 5-9 guard who leads the team in scoring at 15.7 and Rogers is averaging 8.7 rebounds.

Ricky Hernandez, a 6-1 sophomore, is at 10.3 points and 6-5 junior Gary Eberhardt gives the Yellowjackets added size.

With Oxnard, Rio Mesa and Hueneme slated to join Camarillo and Channel Islands in a new five-team Oxnard Union High School District league next season, Lobo would like the Yellowjackets to go out on a winning note.

“We all want to win the Channel League,” he said. “This is our last hurrah and our attitude is, ‘Let’s go for it.’ ”

Ventura, Buena, Rio Mesa and Hueneme, the other Ventura County schools in the Channel League, are expected to make up the second division.

Jeff Staniland, a 6-1 junior, is averaging 21.3 points for Ventura, but he is the only returning starter.

Ryan Fay, a 6-1 senior, is averaging 20 points for Buena, but the Bulldogs were hurt by the transfer of 6-7 Ian Boys to Simi Valley.

Rio Mesa finished a game behind Dos Pueblos in the league standings last season, but the Spartans were hit hard by graduation.

Hueneme, 1-13 in league play last season, is vastly improved, but Coach Tom McCollum admits that a lack of size and quickness will make it difficult for the Vikings to win many more games.