SUNSET LEAGUE
Edison: 16-9, 6-4 in 1997-98. Coach: Corey Kelly (third year, 29-21). One player who helped the Chargers make the playoffs returns, but Kelly says that newcomers have enough speed to make the playoffs again. Garrett Golden, a 6-0 senior guard, is the lone returning player. Dave Cornett, a 6-8 senior center, towers over players such as 5-5 guard Chris Pieters and 5-10 guard Kyong Min, both of whom have an opportunity to start. There’s also 6-5 senior Mike Brandeburger.
Esperanza: 10-16, 4-6 in 1997-98. Coach: John Cyrus (third year, 25-29). Despite the transfer of 6-8 senior Ryan Romberg to Canyon, Cyrus says he has 10 players who are even. “The youth of the team is the only question,” he said of a team that has only four seniors. Lloyd Walls, a 6-8 junior, blocked 61 shots last season. There’s 6-5 junior post Jon Steven. Doug Brown, a 6-3 junior (84% of free throws), is back, as are 5-10 senior guards Kenny Ho, Kris Sabb and Nick Vicencia. Patrick Lefler, a 6-3 transfer from Mater Dei, Patrick Nihipali, a 6-6 freshman, Andrew Neubauer, a 6-3 senior and Anthony Vicencia, a 6-foot sophomore, round out the team.
Fountain Valley: 15-12, 6-4 in 1997-98. Coach: Mike Warrington (fourth year, 34-43). Senior all-league guard Ryan Moreau (14 points) is a four-year starter and one of four returners Warrington thinks can challenge Los Alamitos for supremacy. Brad Keenan (three blocks), a 6-8 senior center, 6-4 forward Zach Hardin, and 6-2 forward Nate Rogers also return. Sean Burns, a 5-10 senior guard, joins them. There’s also Brenden Cotter, a 6-1 junior forward, Mike Guernsey, a 6-5 sophomore center, Jeff Greenfield, a 6-4 senior forward and Gary Petrilla, a 6-foot senior guard.
Huntington Beach: 8-17, 3-7 in 1997-98. Coach: Roy Miller (22nd year, 249-253). With no returning starters back from a team that struggled quite a bit last season, Miller could be in for another long year. Nevertheless, “shooting has improved greatly the past five months,” he said. The Oilers expect to apply full-court pressure the entire game. Doug Bartolme, a 6-3 sophomore swingman saw some action last year. Starting roles are wide open for the remaining six seniors, three juniors and a sophomore.
Los Alamitos: 17-9, 8-2 in 1997-98. Coach: Steve Brooks (18th year, 305-137). All-county center Matt Komer, now playing volleyball at UCLA, is gone and Brooks has to find a way to replace his 15.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. A good perimeter shooter is newcomer Andrew Pleick (6-4), a Swede who played on the European age-group traveling team. Jeff Grgas, a 6-8 junior forward and the only returning starter, is also a good scorer who should be a factor on the boards. There’s added height in newcomers Kevin Carter (6-7), a good shooter, and Brian Rakusin (6-6). Also returning are 5-10 junior guard Ryan Keller, 6-3 junior swingman Ron Prettyman, 5-11 senior guard Keenan Howry and 6-2 senior forward Joel Jelinowicz.
Marina: 11-16, 4-6 in 1997-98. Coach: Roger Holmes (fifth year, 40-64). Holmes isn’t bashful when talking about the nine lettermen and four starters who return. “It’s a very good group, good athletes and shooters that play well as a team,” he said. Scot Austin, a 6-5 forward (13.5 points, 13.8 rebounds per game), Beau Brown, a 5-10 guard (4.1 assists), Dustin Kaatz, a 6-3 forward, and Scott Rivera, a 6-2 guard, (11 points) are returning starters. Jeff Hung, fourth in the county last season in three-point shooting, is a 6-1 senior.