San Fernando Survives Exodus

Oscar Mesta hadn’t coached basketball in 14 years when he became coach at San Fernando High last summer.

Mick Cady had resigned and top assistant Darryl McDonald had gone to Alemany, taking three varsity starters with him. The San Fernando program was in disarray.

The season began with San Fernando on everyone’s list to be among the region’s worst teams.

So how in the name of common sense can the Tigers be on the verge of clinching the North Valley League championship with a victory over Granada Hills today?

“It’s been a battle,” Mesta said.

San Fernando (8-15, 5-3 in league play) started 3-10. Only six players showed up for a holiday tournament game. Players have come and gone. One quit the team last week. But those who stayed could soon be celebrating an improbable league championship.

There are nine players left.

Mesta, who last coached at Hollywood High in 1984, combed the campus for basketball players.

He discovered Jose Montes shooting three-pointers on outdoor courts during a baseball physical education class. Montes was asked to try out, and is averaging 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds.

Point guard Roger Martinez didn’t play last season because of a broken arm. He’s averaging 14.5 points. Mike Hernandez, a junior, was a varsity reserve last season. He’s averaging 15.5 points. Jason Tubbs played with Alemany during the summer, then returned. He’s averaging 12.5 points.

“They’ve blossomed into some pretty decent players,” Mesta said.

A year ago, San Fernando was one of the Valley’s most talented teams with Bryson and Sean Atkins, Reggie Kinlaw, Devin Montgomery, Tyrone Purnell and Mike Page. The Tigers went 24-3.

No one is about to compare this team with that group, but the fact both could end up North Valley champions indicates what Mesta and his players have accomplished in a short time.

*

Alemany, 0-12 in the Mission League last season, plays for a shot at the league title tonight at Chaminade.

A year after one of the worst seasons in school history, the Indians (16-6, 9-2) can move into a first-place tie with Chaminade (21-3, 10-1).

The obvious difference is the new faces--Montgomery, Bryson Atkins and Kinlaw transferred from San Fernando--though McDonald credits several players who were in the program last year.

Junior Reny Maynard, who played on the junior varsity last year, ranks second on the team with a 12.5 scoring average. His outside shooting has been the difference in several games.

Junior Casey Clausen, who played on the varsity as a sophomore, is the second-leading rebounder with a 6.9 average.

Alemany lost to Chaminade, 64-57, on Jan. 23.

*

Simi Valley and Newbury Park have been the dominant boys’ teams in the Marmonte League for several seasons.

This season is the same, with Simi Valley in first, Newbury Park in second and--who’s this?--Agoura hanging around in third.

Picked by some coaches to finish last, Agoura (13-11, 7-3) has stayed among the leaders pack by staying late for practice.

With few above-the-rim players, Agoura relies on hard work. The Chargers’ leader is senior guard Garrett Lepisto, a Times’ All-Ventura County wide receiver.

Lepisto scored 10 of his 24 points in overtime to help the Chargers defeat Moorpark on Monday.

“He’s our backbone,” Coach Bill Sanchez said. “He plays 31 or 32 minutes every single game. He’ll put his head through a wall and keep going.”

Agoura, which has finished 7-7 in league play in each of the last two seasons, hosts Newbury Park today. A victory would lift the Chargers into a second-place tie with the Panthers.

“We’re the Rodney Dangerfields of the Marmonte League,” Sanchez said.

*

Staff writers Eric Sondheimer and John Ortega and correspondent Mike Bresnahan contributed to this notebook.