Basketball Preview 1990-91 : SOUTH COAST LEAGUE : County’s Best Continues to Get Better

Last year, three members of the South Coast League--Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo and El Toro--finished second, third and fourth behind Mater Dei in the final Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. prep basketball poll.

The league was easily the best in the county. This year, it should be even stronger with Irvine joining the “Big Three” and vastly improved San Clemente challenging.

“The league might be down a little bit on top, but it’s better on the bottom, which should make for the most interesting race in years,” Irvine Coach Steve Keith said.

Irvine (6-0) is one of only two teams in the county with undefeated records, but Keith insists Capistrano Valley is the team to beat.

“They have more firepower than any other team in the league,” he said. “We might be a little thin on depth. El Toro is big and strong and has all those football players who are used to being successful.

“Mission Viejo had a tough loss when (forward Mike) Boucher got hurt, and Dana Hills is basically a new team. This could be the year San Clemente gets off the floor.” CAPISTRANO VALLEY

Coach: Mark Thornton (10th year).

1989-90 record: 18-9, 8-2 in league.

Returning lettermen: Five.

Returning starters: Two.

Top returnees: Tom Airey (G, 6-1, Jr.); Brett McCorkle (C, 6-6, Sr.); Jose Salvatierra (F, 6-2, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Jeremy Garrett (C, 6-7, Jr.); Steve Ransom (F, 6-5, Jr.); Aaron Rhodes (G, 6-2, Jr.); David Sedgwick (G, 6-2, Soph.)

Outlook: The Cougars have three juniors in the starting lineup. “This is the first time in 10 years that I don’t have an all-CIF (Southern Section) or all-league player returning,” Thornton said. But one thing hasn’t changed: Capistrano Valley has the best talent in the league. Airey is one of the county’s top shooters and can be deadly from three-point range if left unguarded. McCorkle has played in the shadow of his older brother, Scott McCorkle (Syracuse), but could develop into one of the county’s top 10 players. The only question mark is at point guard, where sophomore Sedgwick will run the team. DANA HILLS

Coach: Rich Skelton (2nd year).

1989-90 record: 16-10, 4-6 in league.

Returning lettermen: One.

Returning starters: One.

Top returnee: Keith Barnett (G, 6-2, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Kevin Baden (F, 6-4, Jr.); Cam Hulse (G, 6-1, Jr.); Brice Martin (G, 5-9, Sr.); Pete McSweeney (F, 6-3, Sr.); Brett Pollock (C, 6-4, Sr.); Jaime Todd (G, 6-2, Sr.); Derrick Walsh (G, 6-2, Sr.)

Outlook: Skelton returns after a one-year suspension because of undue influence imposed by the Capistrano Unified School District on a recommendation from the Southern Section. Skelton allegedly met with the parent of a transfer from Texas before the student enrolled in school. Last year’s interim coach, Tom Riach, remains as Skelton’s assistant. Barnett was a second-team, all-league player as a junior but is the only returning varsity player. Skelton will rely on eight players elevated from junior varsity, last year’s team manager, Derrick Walsh, and Al White, a transfer from Antioch High. EL TORO

Coach: Tim Travers (11th year).

1989-90 record: 22-6, 7-3 in league.

Returning lettermen: Two.

Returning starters: One.

Top returnees: Rob Johnson (F, 6-5, Sr.); Jeremy Hogue (C, 6-5, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Dave Canfield (F, 6-3, Sr.); Darren Doalson (G, 6-0, Sr.); Ken Koppelman (F, 6-3, Sr.); Jason Senik (F, 6-4, Jr.); Mark Yang (G, 5-8, Sr.)

Outlook: El Toro is coming off its best season, finishing 1989-90 with a 22-6 record and advancing to the 5-A Division semifinals. Johnson averaged 21.3 points as a junior and opened this season with 37 points against Saddleback despite failing to practice one day with the team because of the football team’s playoff success. Hogue will provide rebounding strength inside at 260 pounds. El Toro also has three other football players--Doalson, Koppelman and Canfield--who will play key roles on the court. The Chargers’ only losses have come when Johnson and Hogue were playing football or on college recruiting trips. El Toro will travel to Fayetteville, N.C., for a national tournament Dec. 27-29. IRVINE

Coach: Steve Keith (4th year).

1989-90 record: 11-15, 3-7 in league.

Returning lettermen: Five.

Returning starters: Three.

Top returnees: Brian Boothroyd (G, 6-2, Jr.); Jim Eichsteadt (C, 6-5, Sr.); Brad Gramlach (G, 6-1, Sr); John Molle (F, 6-5, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Dave Carson (G, 5-11, Jr.); Jado Lee (G, 6-2, Jr.); Brian Linsenmayer (G, 5-10, Jr.); Jeff Ryals (F, 6-2, Sr.)

Outlook: Molle is starting his third season and averaging 33.2 points. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior, but his supporting cast was weak. Boothroyd gave Molle plenty of help in the championship game of the Daily Pilot Tipoff Classic against Newport Harbor, adding 20 points. “We’re undefeated, but I don’t think we’ve played a real strong team yet,” Keith said. “I’d like to think we’ll finish in the upper half of the league.” MISSION VIEJO

Coach: Bob Minier (12th year).

1989-90 record: 19-7, 8-2 in league.

Returning lettermen: Three.

Returning starters: Two.

Top returnees: Mike Boucher (F, 6-5, Sr.); Bill Denny (G, 6-2, Sr.); Mark Wright (G, 6-2, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Matt Brummel (G, 5-11, Sr.); Jeff Carr (G, 6-1, Soph.); Vince Petrucci (G, 5-11, Sr.); Greg Reid (C, 6-4, Sr.)

Outlook: Boucher, the Diablos’ top returning player, is lost for the season with torn knee ligaments he sustained in the football playoffs. Mission Viejo struggled without Boucher in the Trabuco Hills tournament and could go from a top contender to pretender without him. Brummel, who never met a jump shot he didn’t like, is the son of Saddleback College Coach Bill Brummel. He was the leading scorer on the junior varsity team last season. Two football players--center Ron Cullinan and Denny--will play key roles. “We’re still trying to fit all the pieces in the puzzle with the loss of Boucher,” Minier said. SAN CLEMENTE

Coach: Dion Kerhoulas (5th year).

1989-90 record: 6-18, 0-10 in league.

Returning lettermen: Four.

Returning starters: Three.

Top returnees: Morgan Bannister (F, 6-3, Jr.); Bill Hagedorn (G, 6-1, Sr.); Melvin Johnson (G, 6-1, Sr.); Eddie Morgan (C, 6-7, Sr.)

Top newcomers: Marcus Guild (F, 6-2, Jr.); Matt Ortiz (G, 5-9, Soph.)

Outlook: The lean years at San Clemente appear to be over. The Tritons have won only one league game in four seasons under Kerhoulas, but four-year letterman Hagedorn and two three-year starters--Morgan and Johnson--should bring home some victories. Morgan averaged 16.2 points and 13 rebounds as a junior. Johnson is the point guard and does a good job orchestrating the offense. The Tritons will be stronger next month when Bannister returns. Bannister sustained a broken jaw in San Clemente’s final football game. “A lack of depth may hurt, but we have a good inside game and overall team speed,” Kerhoulas said.

Wednesday--The Sunset League.