Outcomes hard to predict for local teams
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Los Altos High School basketball team forward Shawn Girouard shoots free throws during practice Thursday. |
If you think making free throws while blindfolded is tough, try figuring out how the local high school basketball teams will do this season. The safest prediction is that the 2003-04 season will be unpredictable. Several of the area teams have changed coaches and/or divisions and almost all of them have lost star players to graduation. It’s a good bet at least half the 12 teams the Town Crier covers will make the Central Coast Section playoffs (which requires merely a .500 record in league or overall), but any wager on exactly who they will be and how far they will go is like a roll of the dice.
Here’s how the local varsity boys and girls teams shape up for 2003-04:
BOYS
Los Altos High School
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division.
Coach: Josh Waldorph, first year.
Last season: Division champion and 16-9 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: F Shawn Girouard; G Jon Chang.
Top newcomers: PG Axari Aspidilla; SG Chris McGilvery; PF Kevin Riley; C/PF Mark Eva; G Kenny Park.
Outlook: The Eagles barely resemble last year’s team, which won a league title for the first time in 28 years. Popular coach Paul Mansingh is gone and only two players return. Girouard is the lone starter back. Yet Waldorph is confident Los Altos can thrive in a division typically perceived as mediocre. The coach expects a lot from Aspidilla, McGilvery and Riley, athletic juniors who should shoulder the scoring load. Junior Eva and sophomore Park have impressed with their defense, an area Waldorph said the team needs to improve in.
Coach’s quote: “We’re looking forward to big things. We don’t anticipate any drop off and expect to defend our title.”
Next game: Dec. 4 in the James Lick Tournament.
Mountain View High School
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Bob Heckmann, fourth year.
Last season: Tied for third in division and 13-14 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: C Daniel Fischer; PF Dustin Johnson; SF/PF Randell Dela Cruz; PGs Chris Dasalla and Patrick Kagawa-Gee.
Top newcomers: PG Kevin Metsers; SG Terence Willis; C Danny Bishop.
Outlook: The Spartans have lost star player Matt Ronconi and two other starters to graduation, but the big men are back. The 6-foot-6 Fischer and 6-2 Johnson will be counted on inside, with the 6-5 Bishop adding depth up front. Heckmann said he has a traffic jam in the backcourt, with talented sophomores Metsers and Willis pushing returners Dela Cruz, Dasalla and Kagawa-Gee for playing time. The coach isn’t sure how his team stacks up in the division, but expects to at least get back to the playoffs.
Coach’s quote: “We’re going to be deep and more athletic, but I don’t know where we’re going to get the points.”
Next game: 7 p.m., Saturday, hosting Overfelt.
St. Francis High School
League: West Catholic Athletic League.
Coach: Steve Filios, 12th year.
Last season: Last in league and 9-19 overall; lost in CCS Division II quarterfinals.
Key returners: PF Matt Loretz; G Clayton Miller; SG Danny Gordon; SF/OG Billy Anderson.
Top newcomer: SF/SG James Bisordi.
Outlook: Only one starter returns, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering the Lancers are coming off the worst season of Filios’ tenure. St. Francis again lacks a star player, though Loretz’ continued improvement makes the 6-5 senior the closest thing to it. Miller is the top outside threat, while Anderson is a tough defender. Versatile junior Bisordi has impressed Filios with his athleticism, confidence and defense. The coach wouldn’t venture to guess how well his team will do in the formidable WCAL but he expects them to compete hard and not be intimidated.
Coach’s quote: “I think we’re going to win some games we’re not expected to win and probably lose some games we shouldn’t lose.”
Next game: 5 p.m., Dec. 6, hosting Galena.
Pinewood School
League: Private Schools Athletic League.
Coach: Andrew Slayton, second year.
Last season: Third in league and 13-13 overall; lost in CCS Division V quarterfinals.
Key returner: PG Josh Raskoff.
Top newcomers: SGs Tyler Mosher, Edgar Perez, Danny Lynch and Varoon Bose; Fs Nick Fraioli and Tim Wang.
Outlook: If you thought the Panthers were small last year, check out the current team. The roster is “basically all guards,” Slayton said, with freshman Fraioli (6-0) and sophomore Wang (6-1) the tallest members. Pinewood doesn’t return any starters and will carry just seven players. The coach still believes he has enough to make a run at the league title. Lone returner Raskoff takes over at the point and his duties include setting up freshman Mosher, one of the squad’s best shooters. Slayton considers Perez among the PSAL’s top defenders and expects defense and three-point shooting from Bose.
Coach’s quote: “They have a lot of desire but need experience. The more game experience they get, the better they’ll get.”
Next game: 6:30 p.m., Dec. 4, hosting Liberty Baptist.
Homestead High School
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coach: Marc Cadet, third year.
Last season: Last in division and 0-24 overall.
Key returners: SF Mark McLaughlin; PG David Ostrow; PF William Tsai.
Outlook: Despite not winning a game last year, Cadet was adamant about remaining in the upper division and got his wish. With 11 returning players, including all five starters, perhaps the coach will prove the doubters wrong. McLaughlin and Ostrow were voted the league’s sophomore and freshman of the year, respectively, last season and are expected to lead the team again. Tsai, a 6-5 sophomore, should be much improved. The team is still young, including five sophomores and two freshmen, and will have to grow up in a hurry to make the playoffs as Cadet expects.
Coach’s quote: “This is a solid team. We’re not exceptional in any one area, but we’re strong in every area.”
Next game: 7 p.m., Tuesday, at Evergreen Valley.
Gunn High School
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coach: Jeff Klenow, fifth year.
Last season: Second in division and 15-13 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division II playoffs.
Key returners: G Doug Campbell; SF Chris Mugler; C Tom Blake; SG/SF David Jordan.
Top newcomers: PF Peter Jordan; PG Nicky LaFleur; SG/SF Brannon Blair.
Outlook: Putting up points shouldn’t be a problem for the Titans, according to Klenow, who seems to have plenty of capable scorers on board. Senior David Jordan should be among them, along with his brother Peter, a 6-3 freshman. Mugler is Gunn’s best defender, the coach said, and the 6-3 Blake will be counted on for rebounds. The athletic Blair could also emerge as a key player. Klenow hopes for a top-three finish in the mighty De Anza Division, but with four new starters that may be a lot to ask.
Coach’s quote: “Consistency, rebounding and defense are the big things we’re going to have to do.”
Next game: 5 p.m., Dec. 4, vs. Mills at the Cupertino Tournament.
GIRLS
Los Altos High School
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Vern Hubbard, second year.
Last season: Last in De Anza Division and 3-21 overall.
Key returners: PF/Cs Emily Reid and Alyce Jorgensen; Gs Erin Plank and Leslie Lam.
Top newcomers: Gs Hannah Lippe; F Tara Chafey.
Outlook: Hubbard expected big things from the Eagles last season, including a top-three finish in the De Anza and a CCS berth. This year he is cautiously optimistic. Demoted to the lower division, Los Altos should improve on last year’s dismal record. Seven players return, including three starters. The coach considers Plank, Reid and Lam as his go-to players, with Jorgensen providing much-needed leadership. Sophomores Lippe and Chafey will be in the mix as well. This team is proving to have better chemistry than a season ago, Hubbard said, but he wants to see better mental focus.
Coach’s quote: “They can compete with anybody if they believe they can. It’s all mental.”
Next game: Dec. 3 at the Mt. Pleasant Tournament.
Mountain View High School
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Paul Romig, second year.
Last season: Third in the division and 12-15 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III playoffs.
Key returners: C Alice Walker; G Michelle Peng; SFs Peyton Paulick and Kelsey Quickstad.
Top newcomers: Gs Laura Brigham, Lisa Klatt and Lauren Esteban; PF Kayla Van Til.
Outlook: Romig aspires to build the Spartans into an elite program, and they could take a step in that direction by winning a league title this season. It certainly seems possible; Mountain View returns three starters and appears to have more size and athleticism than it’s had in years. The 6-4 Walker and 6-1 Van Til, both sophomores, should give opposing teams fits in the paint. Paulick provides scoring and leadership, while Romig said Peng “does a little bit of everything.” The young team has plenty of depth, especially among a guard group featuring freshman Brigham and sophomore Klatt.
Coach’s quote: “We have all the pieces to the puzzle, but now it’s a matter of whether they want to work hard and take advantage of that.”
Next game: 3:30 p.m., Dec. 4, vs. Prospect in The King’s Academy Tournament.
St. Francis High School
League: WCAL.
Coach: Ashley Hill, first year.
Last season: Fourth in league and 18-14 overall; lost in CCS Division II final and in first round of NorCal playoffs.
Key returners: SGs Kim Mooney and Mary Beth Curley; SF Christy Austin; PF Diane Copenhagen.
Top newcomers: G Cynthia Curley; SGs Tyler Ready, Kristi Roybal and Sarah Scannell.
Outlook: The Lancers have lost a lot from last season, including all five starters and longtime coach Mike DeCarlo. Hill, coming over from Menlo School, has just four returning players. The 6-3 Copenhagen, the lone experienced post player, is still playing volleyball and may not join the team for another week. St. Francis’ strengths appear to be guard depth (Mooney, Austin and the Curley sisters head a solid group) and defense (featuring stopper Ready). The coach said the brutal WCAL is anybody’s race, but the Lancers will have to jell quickly to stay with the pack.
Coach’s quote: “These kids are really working hard; they’re a great group.”
Next game: Dec. 9 at the Terra Nova Tournament.
Pinewood School
League: PSAL.
Coach: Doc Scheppler, ninth year.
Last season: League champion and 25-5 overall; won CCS Division II title and lost in NorCal final.
Key returners: PG Daniela Roark; F Liz Ashby.
Top newcomers: PF Alissa Flesher; SG Hailey Nowlin; Fs Liz Altmaier and Ashley Nell; G Sami Fields-Polisso.
Outlook: Rumors of the Panthers’ demise are greatly exaggerated, warns Scheppler. Although the Panthers graduated six players now competing at the college level, including star Katy Digovich, there’s plenty of young talent on the eight-player roster. Enough talent to challenge for the state Division V title, the coach believes. Scheppler expects Roark and Ashby, the only holdovers from last season, to play major roles. Pinewood will again rely on the three-point shot, a strength of sophomore Altmaier and freshman Fields-Polisso. The 6-0 Flesher and 5-10 Nell, both sophomores, will be needed inside.
Coach’s quote: “They’re a team in development, but they’re definitely going to be a great team.”
Next game: 6:30 p.m., Dec. 9, hosting Presentation.
Homestead High School
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coach: Ruby Gulapa, first year.
Last season: Co-champion of El Camino Division and 19-7 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division II playoffs.
Key returners: F/G Mandy Wald; PG Jenelle Kitasoe; G Melissa Manuel; PF Shelly Baxter; SG Elham Mirshafiei.
Top newcomers: C Becky Tratter; SF Claudia Lee; PG Christina Fukumoto.
Outlook: This is a season of change at Homestead. The Mustangs are not only back in the upper De Anza Division, but they also have a new coach. Gulapa was promoted when Judy Auclair resigned after a two-year stint. Homestead returns seven players, including starters Wald, Kitasoe and Baxter. Wald, who recently accepted a scholarship to New Mexico State, and Kitasoe were the co-juniors of the year in the El Camino Division last season, while Baxter was a first-team all-league selection. Tratter, Lee and Fukumoto are among several junior-varsity call-ups expected to contribute.
Coach’s quote: Gulapa could not be reached by deadline.
Next game: Homestead did not provide its schedule by deadline.
Gunn High School
League: SCVAL El Camino Division.
Coach: Sebastian Poitier, third year.
Last season: Sixth in De Anza Division.
Key returners: PF Kaja Martin; SG/SF Claire Cruz; PG A.J Stephenson.
Top newcomers: F Amadea Britton; C Maria Neyman.
Outlook: After three straight losing seasons, the Titans have been demoted to the lower division. This move should help bolster the team’s win total and confidence. Poitier said Gunn has sufficient talent and experience (seven returners), but he is concerned that most of his players didn’t work hard enough in the offseason to improve their games. Martin is the team’s best athlete, according to the coach, and Stephenson has the potential to be the division’s top point guard. Cruz, a part-time starter last year, will be asked to score more. Neyman, the tallest player at 5-11, is a work in progress.
Coach’s quote: “I’m trying to do something different at Gunn. I want this program to blossom, but that’s going to take unity, commitment and desire.”
Next game: 7 p.m., Dec. 4, at Burlingame.
