SUNSET LEAGUE
Edison
Coach: Corey Kelly
1998-99 record: 7-19
League record: 1-9
Edison intends to bounce back from a disappointing season and appears to have the tools to do it. Steve Henderson, a 6-5 senior transfer from Mater Dei, should be an immediate hit in the Sunset League, while returning guard starters Kyong Min (8.1 points, three assists) and Kyong-Su Min (five points, five rebounds) provide a solid back court. Reserve junior guard Matt Gonzales and junior forward John Smith (four points, four rebounds) should round out the starting five, though 6-3 junior Christian Prelle averaged double figure scoring for the Chargers during the summer.
Esperanza
Coach: John Cyrus
1998-99 record: 15-13
League record: 6-4
Coach John Cyrus probably has the best team he has had in four seasons, despite the loss of brothers Patrick and Connor Leffler, a pair of swingmen who moved to Northern California this summer, and an underclassman that he would not name who was going to be the starting point guard before he was declared academically ineligible. Nonetheless, the team needs to play consistently well, which the Aztecs weren’t able to do last season. Doug Brown, a 6-4 senior swingman who averaged nine points, Jon Steven, a 6-5 senior swingman who scored 15 points a game, and the emerging 6-9 senior post Lloyd Walls, who averaged seven points and nine rebounds, give the Aztecs a strong front line.
Fountain Valley
Coach: Mike Warrington
1998-99 record: 16-10
League record: 6-4
There’s a decided lack of height among the returners and Coach Mike Warrington is pinning his hopes on four seniors, none of whom started last season. “We’re very aggressive defensively,” he said. Brendan Cotter, a 6-2 forward, Matt Hanson, a 6-3 forward, Alex Morris, a 5-8 guard, and Salman Syed, a 5-8 point guard, all figure to start. Three others figure to see considerable playing time: forward Kevin Edmunds, a 6-6 sophomore; Matt Ball, a 6-4 junior center, and Tucker Fendon, a 6-0 guard.
Huntington Beach
Coach: Roy Miller
1998-99 record: 2-23
League record: 1-9
Coach Roy Miller, with four senior starters and fairly good team height, is confident of putting last season behind him. The 5-11 point guard, Mike Allen, 6-3 center Bart Kubelka, 6-2 forward Chad Maki and 6-6 forward Phil Ventimiglia are joined by 6-2 junior forward Russell Chemberlen, 6-2 senior forward Jeff Duquette and 6-3 senior center Bryan Ball. “We can put a real quick group on the floor,” Miller said. “We love to run.”
Los Alamitos
Coach: Richard Smith
1998-99 record: 20-8
League record: 9-1
It remains to be seen if the Griffins settle down after a tumultuous off-season in which long-time Coach Steve Brooks resigned under fire. He’s being investigated by police after allegations of misuse of funds. Richard Smith, a former Servite coach, is holding the interim position and he has a lot to work with, including three senior starters: 5-10 point guard Ryan Keller (5.2 assists), 6-3 swingman Ron Prettyman and 6-8 post Jeff Grgas (7.6 rebounds).
Marina
Coach: Roger Holmes
1998-99 record: 17-10
League record: 7-3
Dustin Kaatz, a 6-5 senior forward who averaged 17 points and eight rebounds en route to first-team all-league honors, leads the way. Beau Brown, a 5-10 junior guard who averaged 10.5 points, three assists and was third in the county in three-point shooting, will get a late start because he is the quarterback on the football team. Ryan Redman, a 5-10 senior guard, Chris DeLuca, a 6-4 junior forward, and Randy Masada, a 5-9 senior guard, return. Veteran assistant defensive coach Butch Fredlow was appointed Marina girls’ coach in late September.
