By Pete Borello
Other area teams hoping to improve
Boys Basketball Season Preview
hen it comes to comparing the success of area basketball teams in recent years, St. Francis High stands out like Shaquille O’Neal in a room full of jockeys.
The Lancers have won back-to-back Central Coast Section titles and advanced to the state championship game last March.
The five other local teams saw their seasons end in February. Only three of them reached the CCS playoffs, though it takes just a .500 record in league or overall to qualify. Los Altos and Homestead highs bowed out in the first round, while Pinewood School managed to win one postseason game.
Gunn and Mountain View highs endured disappointing seasons in which they finished at or near the bottom of their respective divisions.
Will this local boys basketball trend continue?
All signs point to “yes.”
St. Francis looks like the only team capable of contending for a CCS crown and may even have what it takes to return to the state final.
As for the others, Homestead and Pinewood seem to be the best bets to make the playoffs and perhaps win a CCS game or two. Los Altos and Gunn could sneak into the postseason as well, with rebuilding Mountain View a long shot.
Here’s how the teams shape up for 2001-02:
Los Altos High
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Paul Mansingh, first year.
Last season: Fifth in division and 13-14 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: C/PFs John Schrader and David Martinez; PGs Steven Wong and Hector Zapien.
Top newcomers: SF/SG Shawn Girouard; SGs Ian Sangster and Jeremy Chou; PF Scott Jaw.
Outlook: Mansingh hopes to resurrect a program that’s floundered in recent years, with the low point coming last January when team members orchestrated the firing of coach Tomas Thompson. Only five players return from that team, two of them starters. The Eagles’ strength appears to be in the post, where Martinez has emerged as “a dominant presence,” said Mansingh, and Jaw and the 6-foot-5 Schrader have benefited from a summer spent at various basketball camps. Wong and Zapien share the point guard duties, with Sangster and Chou providing perimeter shooting. The coach said St. Francis transfer Girouard has shown promise.
Coach’s quote: “Right now, they’re lacking confidence in their playing ability. We need to keep a positive atmosphere - it’s vital to improving the team’s confidence level.”
Next game: 3:30 p.m., today, in Burlingame High Tournament.
Mountain View High
League: El Camino Division.
Coach: Bob Heckman, second year.
Last season: Last in division and 2-22 overall.
Key returners: PG Kevin Hsu; SG Matthew Ronconi; PF Brad Read; SF Sean Manson; C Keith Wieland.
Top newcomers: C Daniel Fischer; SF Shante Jiz de Ortega; PF Matt Dunham.
Outlook: After winning just two games last season, it seems Mountain View has nowhere to go but up. The Spartans return three starters, including slasher Hsu, who Heckman calls “as quick as anyone in the league.” Hsu’s backcourt partner is Ronconi, a solid shooter who started as a sophomore last year. The frontcourt is more of a mystery. Center Wieland is still on the mend from a football injury (hamstring) - leaving 6-5 sophomore Fischer in the middle - and Heckman is counting on forwards Read and Manson to make big strides this season. Football players Dunham and Jiz de Ortega bring toughness and hustle, according to the coach.
Coach’s quote: “I’m cautiously optimistic because we’ve improved our depth in the post, have more speed and better athletes. But talk is cheap after what happened last year.”
Next game: Today in Wilcox High Tournament.
St. Francis High
League: West Catholic Athletic League.
Coach: Steve Filios, 10th year.
Last season: Third in league and 22-10 overall; won CCS Div. II title, NorCal title and lost in state final.
Key returners: C David Chiotti; PG Hakeem Gilliard; F/G Danny Ackman; PG/SG John Montgomery; SG David Velasquez; PF Chris Chisam.
Top newcomers: G Joey Fernandez; F/G Kelley Jiminez.
Outlook: With four returners who played major roles a season ago, St. Francis should again be among the section’s elite teams. There are few centers better than Chiotti, a 6-9, 250-pound senior who just signed with the University of New Mexico. All-leaguer Gilliard will likely miss the first month of the season with a knee injury, but Montgomery is a heady player who should fill in nicely at the point. Ackman is “one of the keys to the team,” Filios said, and has shown great improvement. The coach also expects Velasquez and Chisam to make important contributions, with football players Fernandez and Jiminez providing depth.
Coach’s quote: “We feel there’s a bull’s-eye on our backs, and rightfully so, and we’re proud of the fact that we have a rich tradition in basketball.”
Opening game: 7 p.m., Friday, at Galena High in Reno.
Pinewood School
League: Private Schools Athletic League.
Coach: Gil Brady, first year.
Last season: Seventh in league and 14-12 overall; lost in semifinals of CCS Division V playoffs.
Key returners: PG Kyle Scheppler; C Sam Ashby; G Danny Aviles.
Top newcomers: PF David Jack; SG/SF P.J. Capin; SG Darren Weiss.
Outlook: Brady, Pinewood’s third coach in as many seasons, has retained the system used last year in an attempt to make the transition easier on his team. Only three players return, but all of them started a year ago. The offense revolves around Scheppler, who will handle the ball 60-70 percent of the time, Brady said. The senior plays on the perimeter with Aviles, a slasher and tenacious defender, and Weiss, who the coach calls “the most fundamentally sound player on the team.” The Panthers rely on the 6-5 Ashby in the post, with hopes that hard-working Jack can help out inside. Versatile Capin, a transfer from Gunn, is the first player off the bench.
Coach’s quote: “If they give a consistent effort they can play with anyone in our league. But that’s a big ‘if’ because if they don’t give it, anyone can play with them.”
Next game: 7 p.m., Friday, hosting Palo Alto.
Homestead High
League: El Camino Division.
Coach: Marc Cadet, first year.
Last season: Third in division and 15-13 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division II playoffs.
Key returners: Gs Brad Sasaki and Gus Gauntlett; C Garren Strong; PF Bryan Silverman.
Top newcomer: PF Tim Strombel.
Outlook: The word around the league is that Homestead is the team to beat in the El Camino Division. The Mustangs may have the division’s best guard in Sasaki and Gauntlett has emerged as a long-range specialist. Strong and Strombel, both 6-3 post players, give Homestead a solid inside game.
Coach’s quote: Cadet could not be reached prior to deadline.
Next game: Today in Lynbrook High Tournament.
Gunn High
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coach: Jeff Klenow, third year.
Last season: Sixth in division and 10-16 overall.
Key returners: PG Charlie Parse; C Scott Cowger; G/F Derek Brannon; PG Freddie Flaxman.
Top newcomers: PF Menno Goodman; PG Josh Lin; SG Josh Pu; C Aaron Juratobac.
Outlook: Size is again an issue at Gunn, where Cowger is the team’s tallest player at 6-4. The senior will be counted on to score inside and rebound, with the 6-3 Juratobac providing relief. Klenow hopes Goodman, a 6-3 junior who earned all-league honors on the JV level, becomes a key player in the paint. The coach will try to offset the team’s lack of height by taking advantage of its speed and wealth of perimeter players. The backcourt features all-leaguer Parse and Flaxman, a fleet-footed junior known for his defense. Brannon may be the Titans’ best scorer, while Pu and Lin are among their quickest players.
Coach’s quote: “Our league is tough - there are no weaknesses - but I think we can compete. The kids expectations are even higher and the seniors especially are really determined.”
Next game: Thursday in Lowell High Tournament.
