SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Corona del Mar: 6-20, 2-8 in 1997-98. Coach: Paul Orris (13th season, 176-161). Orris says there’s a chance for postseason play. Dennis Alshuler, a 6-5 senior forward (9.5 points), has to accept a lot of defensive responsibility inside. Reserve wings Geoff Hunt, a 6-3 senior, and Seth Richardson, a 6-4 senior, return. Also on the team are Brandon Crosby, a 5-9 guard, Kevin Hansen, a 6-3 guard, Alec Hanson, a 6-foot guard and Justin Shea, a 6-3 post.

El Toro: 19-9, 7-3 in 1997-98. Coach: Todd Dixon (third year, 37-19). It’s a rebuilding season with no returning starters, yet three players saw plenty of action last season. Sophomore Chris Parish, a 6-3 guard, made 48% of his three-pointers. Junior Wes DeCoite, a 6-4 forward, averaged seven points and four rebounds. Senior Pat Marks, a 6-2 forward, averaged four points and four rebounds. Top newcomers include sophomores Ashkan Nazeri and Ken Tanaka, both guards, senior center Dustin Mininni, senior guard Seth Para and senior forward Bobby Pearce.

Irvine: 13-13, 2-8 in 1997-98. Coach: Steve Keith (12th year, 174-125). Four starters and the best sixth man in the league are back. The only question mark is height--the tallest player is 6-4--but Keith believes the team can make up for that with tough fourth-quarter defense. Guard Chris Ferguson, a 6-1 senior who has orally committed to the University of San Diego, is back, as is 5-9 senior point guard Matt Hardeman. At 6-4, senior Tim Rapp has to guard the post area, while 5-11 junior guard Matt Roggero and 6-1 senior wing John Mavros, who came off the bench last year, should round out the staring five.

Newport Harbor: 18-9, 7-3 in 1997-98. Coach: Larry Hirst (fourth year, 38-38). Hirst acknowledges the league is very balanced, but he might have the best Sailor team in some time. Senior Matt Jameson, a 6-1 guard who averaged 14.1 points and 4.8 assists, will start for the fourth consecutive season. Dustin Illingworth, a 6-4 junior forward, who averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, makes his third starting campaign. Other starters returning are Gary Robinson, a 6-1 guard, and Adam Hearlson, a 6-7 center. Part-time starter Alan Limon, a 6-3 guard, and Mark Ward, a 6-2 forward, also return. Newcomers include 6-4 junior Billy Clayton and 6-foot sophomore Aaron Yarnal.

Santa Margarita: 32-2, 9-1 in 1997-98. Coach: Jerry DeBusk (seventh year, 148-30). Despite losing all five starters, the defending Division II state champions should do no less than return to the playoffs. Five seniors returning are Jeff Blackburn, a 6-3 center, Ryan Dwight, a 5-10 guard, Spencer Gloger, a 6-6 guard, Kelly Kramer, a 6-5 forward and Tim Rahall, a 6-2 guard. Seniors Ryan Maconachy, Blake Oldfield, and Jay Woods, junior Ryan Stacey, sophomores Jeff Gloger and R.J. Socci and freshmen Dan Quijano, Brandon Rohe, Travis Smith and Kevin Stacey, compete for playing time.

Woodbridge: 12-14, 3-7 in 1997-98. Coach: John Halagan (seventh year, 107-63). Josh Burgess, the 6-6 brother of high school All-American Chris Burgess, now at Duke, is about all the front line experience the Warriors have. But there’s plenty of support on the perimeter with starting guards Scott Barlow (12.4 points, 54 three-pointers), Shane Harris (3.5 points) and Brent Weiss (4.5 points). Regan Arroyo, a 6-5 transfer from Arizona, could help out on the front line, but he’s competing with five players from the junior varsity and two sophomores from the undefeated freshman team for playing time.