HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Dos Pueblos’ three-year reign as Channel League boys’ champion could end this season. Santa Barbara is favored to win the five-team league that also includes Ventura, Buena and San Marcos.

“Santa Barbara is the clear favorite at this point,” Coach Dan Larson of Ventura said. “With all that height, they should be.”

Coach Jeff Lavender of Santa Barbara, whose team opens league play against San Marcos tonight, agrees.

“I generally don’t like calling us favorites,” he said. “But I think that’s the case.”

Santa Barbara (12-2) is led by juniors Dominic Ingerson and Troy Putnam and senior Brent Williams.

Ingerson, a 6-foot-3 guard, is averaging 21 points.

Putnam, a 6-7 forward who transferred from San Marcos, averages 16 points, and Williams was an all-league second-team choice last year.

Ventura (11-5) could challenge Santa Barbara. The Cougars aren’t real big, but they have a good three-point shooter--junior Tyler Ebell--and they play good defense.

Dos Pueblos (8-7) and San Marcos (6-7) are expected to battle for third place, with Buena (4-12) picked to finish last for the third consecutive year.

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Don’t put too much stock in win-loss records when handicapping the Frontier League boys’ race.

So says Coach Jim Hall of Nordhoff, defending league co-champion with Santa Clara.

While Nordhoff and Santa Clara have 9-4 records heading into a league opener at Nordhoff tonight, Hall cautions that Santa Paula (4-11) shouldn’t be overlooked.

“They’ve got the best coach in the league in Tom Donahue,” Hall said. “And they’ve got four or five guys who can flat-out shoot. . . . They’ve played a tough schedule and that has a lot to do with their record.”

Nordhoff split two games with state Division V champion Santa Clara and two games with Santa Paula last year, but Hall hopes to win the league title outright in his sixth season at the Ojai school.

Malibu (5-5) and Calabasas (1-15) are expected to battle for fourth.

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The Nordhoff girls have dominated current members of the Frontier League for six seasons, but that might not be the case this season.

Nordhoff, defending league champion, is 3-10--including a 70-12 loss to defending state Division IV champion Atherton Sacred Heart--while Santa Paula (10-5) is off to its best start in years and Santa Clara (5-7) has played well.

“I don’t think [Nordhoff is] the big favorite,” Coach Sherri Cvijanovich of Santa Clara said. “Santa Paula is playing well and I think we’ll be competitive.”

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Johnie Williams, the only returning starter for the Hueneme High boys’ team, will undergo another heart examination today.

Williams, a 6-2 senior forward, hasn’t played this season after doctors detected a possible heart problem during a routine physical before the season.