FREEWAY LEAGUE

Buena Park

Coach: Ed Matillo

1998-99 record: 20-8

League record: 7-3

DeAndre Gipson is the big gun back from last season’s team, which set a school record for most victories in a season. That was accomplished with 6-7 center Matt Okoro, who is now at UC Irvine. Coach Ed Matillo calls Gipson, “one of the top players in Orange County.” A 6-2 guard, Gipson averaged 14.6 points and 2.5 assists. Two other starters return: Matt Rodriguez, a 6-2 senior forward and three-year letterman, and Nathan Buzzini, a 5-11 junior guard.

Fullerton

Coach: Bill Czech

1998-99 record: 5-20

League record: 1-9

A first-year coach, Bill Czech believes the Freeway League race is wide open. “Each team poses different problems,” he said. There are three starters back for the Indians: Akachi Azubuike, a 6-0 senior guard; Michael Bridgeford, a 6-3 1/2 senior swingman, and Puhk-Maan Sidju, a 6-4 1/2 senior forward. David Fells, a 6-3 forward, and Juan Rincon, a 5-10 guard, also figure to get plenty of playing time.

La Habra

Coach: Craig Falconer

1998-99 record: 12-12

League record: 5-5

A wily county veteran with a great track record, Coach Craig Falconer enters his second season at La Habra with not much more than a continuation of the rebuilding program he faced last season. Nonetheless, a year ago he led the Highlanders into the playoffs as the school’s fourth coach in four seasons, and this year, he says, his goal is no different. Jason Smallwood, a 6-foot senior guard, and Tristen Goodberry, a 5-11 junior point guard, return. Junior guard Eddie Hernandez, sophomore forward Carver Kennerson and senior post Jeremy Kirbis all figure to start.

Sonora

Coach: Mike Murphy

1998-99 record: 22-6

League record: 9-1

Graduation and the loss of a couple of key players who transferred elsewhere may take their toll. For the first time in seven league seasons, Coach Mike Murphy, who predicts a third-place finish, admits his Raiders “are vulnerable.” Sonora, which has won 66 of its last 70 league games and has won or shared the league title seven consecutive times, will utilize six sophomores and a freshman and has only one returning starter back, guard Robert Abreu. “We can be small and quick or we can go 6-9 and 6-7 with our sophomores,” Murphy said. “We should improve every week.”

Sunny Hills

Coach: Randy Wellen

1998-99 record: 1-9

League record: 5-21

Coach Randy Wellen predicts his Lancers will be able to better their record of last year, though as many as three underclassmen are ticketed to start. Candidates include Tony Gonzales, a 6-4 freshman forward; Michael Kintzle, a 6-5 sophomore center; Gerard Rivera, a 6-foot guard who was on the varsity in 1998-99, and John Shaw, a 6-2 freshman forward. Wellen calls Gonzales and Shaw “two of the best freshman in the county.” Eric Hardeman, a 6-6 senior center, and Kirk Landgraf, a 6-2 senior forward, are projected starters who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds between them.

Troy

Coach: T.J. Hardeman

1998-99 record: 19-11

League record: 7-3

“We should win league,” Coach T.J. Hardeman says of the defending co-champions. Returning starters are Mark Ahlberg, a 6-5 senior center; Sean Christensen, a 6-2 senior guard, and Alex Raco, a 5-7 senior play-making guard. They will be joined by Ray Mike, a 6-3 senior center, and Mike Leslie, a 6-2 senior guard. Also likely to see plenty of playing time are junior guard Gan Chadha, freshman swingman Nate Gilkes and 6-3 senior forward Robert Safaraz. “We have a strong inside game and great guard play,” Hardeman said.