Local prep basketball teams enter season with optimism
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Players expected to impact their teams this year include, from left, Pinewood’s Liz Altmaier, Mountain View’s Laura Brigham, St. Francis’ Robert Bow and Los Altos’ Kenny Park. |
Like the start of almost every high school basketball season, the 2005-2006 campaign poses more questions than a curious 6 year old. Among the most compelling queries involving the local teams as the season tips off:
• Can the Pinewood School girls repeat as state champs?
• Are the St. Francis High boys and girls capable of contending in the ultracompetitive West Catholic Athletic League?
• How will the Los Altos High boys respond to their third coach in four years?
• Do the Mountain View High girls have what it takes to win the SCVAL El Camino Division title?
• Can Pinewood’s boys join their girls in the Central Coast Section playoffs after a two-year drought?
• How will the Los Altos girls and Mountain View boys rebound from last-place finishes?
The answers will unfold over the next three months. In the meantime, here’s the Town Crier’s take on each team:
BOYS
Los Altos High School
League: El Camino Division.
Coac James Reilly, first year.
Last season: Third in division and 13-12 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III.
Key returnees: PG Kendrick Park; C Brett Perrotta; F/G Matt Favaro; G Evan Nelson; F Rich Rullo; G Kevin Shah.
Top newcomers: G Ike Wilson; F Alex O’Connor.
Outlook: Reilly is still getting to know his team, having been hired a few weeks after Josh Waldorph resigned Sept. 30 after two seasons on the job. Reilly, who spent the past seven years on the Gunn coaching staff, stresses defense and said the Eagles have room to improve in that area. However, he is pleased with the versatility, smarts and shooting ability the team displays in practice. Park will run the offense, looking to set up Favaro on the wing or the 6-foot-4 Perrotta in the post. Nelson and Rullo, starters last season, recently joined the squad after football season and should become key contributors. Shah and Wilson, MVP of last year’s junior varsity team, add depth in the backcourt. O’Connor can play inside and out, and the coach said the 6-3 sophomore “has a lot of potential.” Although Los Altos lacks size, having eight returners should be enough to land in the upper half of a weak division.
Coach’s quote: “We want to be competitive with everybody we play - and I think that we can - and play hard every night.”
Next game: 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at Santa Teresa.
Mountain View High School
League: SCVAL De Anza Division.
Coac Bob Heckmann, sixth year.
Last season: Seventh in division and 8-18 overall.
Key returnees: SG Terence Willis; PG Kevin Metsers; G Jeremy Hamon; C Mike Hess; PF Matt Warmbrodt.
Top newcomers: C Eric Jenkins; F John Doty; PF Moritz Korth; SG Ricky Appler.
Outlook: The Spartans remain in the upper division, despite finishing at the bottom of it last season, and that’s just fine with Heckmann. The coach said one year isn’t enough to assess whether or not his team can make the adjustments needed to compete with the big boys. He expects Mountain View to play better as a group this year and be more prepared for the likes of Palo Alto and Milpitas. Willis, the team’s top scorer the past two seasons, and fellow senior guard Metsers are the only returning starters. Hamon and Appler will be counted on for perimeter shooting. Hess and Jenkins, a transfer from Seattle, are 6-4 juniors who can score in the low post. Doty and German exchange student Korth, both 6-1, add versatility. Scoring could be a problem for the Spartans, who Heckmann said lack a player capable of putting up 16-18 points per game, so they’ll need to pick up their defense to improve over last season.
Coach’s quote: “Our motto is: ‘It’s not about winning or losing but playing at a high level.’ “
Next game: 6:30 p.m. today at Saratoga.
St. Francis High School
League: WCAL.
Coac Steve Filios, 14th year.
Last season: Tied for sixth in league and 11-16 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division II.
Key returnees: C Wes Libuit; F Adam Budelli; F Richie Scudellari; PF Brian Benedetti; G Steven Flory; PG Matt McKinley.
Top newcomers: G/F Robert Bow; F Patrick Leiva; SG Omar Bourgoub.
Outlook: With as many as seven members still playing football - including athletic big man Libuit (6-5) and sharpshooter Scudellari - don’t expect the Lancers to be at full strength for a few more weeks. Budelli helps set the tone, Filios said, and is a clever player like the long-armed Leiva. Benedetti, a 6-4 water polo star, adds muscle and a nice shooting touch. Filios said junior Bow, who came up from JV at the end of last year, might be St. Francis’ best player. The 6-footer is quick, athletic and versatile. Filios is excited about his roster, which he described as athletic, deep and hardworking. The coach promises his team will be fun to watch, taking advantage of its quickness by pushing the ball. If the Lancers can limit their turnovers and overcome their average height to rebound well on the offensive end, they should improve their standing in the rugged WCAL and move along in the playoffs.
Coach’s quote: “There’s not a weak link on this team. There’s not one guy I wouldn’t put in a game.”
Next game: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Gunn.
Pinewood School
League: PSAL.
Coac Andrew Slayton, fourth year.
Last season: Seventh in league and 8-14 overall.
Key returnees: C Nick Fraioli; F/G Tim Wang; G Varoon Bose; PG/F Greg Enenstein.
Top newcomers: SG Tyler Mosher; F Michel Nofal; PG John Capin; G Scott Jue.
Outlook: The girls get most of the attention at Pinewood, and Slayton said “they’re a great example for us.” The boys may not be ready to win a CCS title - or even a league crown - like the girls seem to do every year, but they should contend for a playoff berth. The Panthers have more size (five of their nine players stand at least 6 feet) and better perimeter shooting than a year ago. Wang and Mosher will be counted on for 3-point shooting, while the 6-2 Fraioli and 6-3 Nofal, both juniors, provide inside scoring. Slayton is confident in Capin’s ability to run the offense and called Jue “a great defender.” Defense and ballhandling will be critical in reaching the coach’s goal of finishing at least .500 in league, which would qualify Pinewood for the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
Coach’s quote: “This group has great character; they’re really a quality group. They’re all dedicated and do whatever I’ve asked of them.”
Next game: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1, hosting Downtown College Prep.
GIRLS
Los Altos High School
League: El Camino Division.
Coac Vern Hubbard, fourth year.
Last season: Seventh in division and 1-23 overall.
Key returnees: G/F Emily Lippe; PG Radhika Bhargav; F Gloria Aycott; F Justine Aycott; G/F Christine Ngo.
Top newcomers: PG Samantha Andres; F Para Chafey; G/F Kristen Bailey; G Trang Duong.
Outlook: There doesn’t seem anywhere for the Eagles to fly but up after last season. Los Altos returns eight players, three of them starters, and Hubbard said they’ve gotten better at playing together and holding each other accountable. Just don’t expect this team to put up a lot of points, as the coach conceded, “We can’t shoot.” Lippe (younger sister of Pinewood starter Hannah) is the team’s most aggressive player, according to the coach, and plays on the wing with fellow sophomore Ngo. The Aycott sisters are back in the post, where Chafey could play major minutes as well. Bhargav is competing with Andres, a fast 5-footer, to play the point. Hubbard expects the Eagles to have a much better record - “.500 at the worst” - though he admitted to being an optimist. If Los Altos can pick up the intensity and shooting, it might just move up a spot or two in a less-than-daunting division.
Coach’s quote: “This team will be a lot more stable, and they did learn from last season. We have leaders this year - players have stepped up - and that’s something we didn’t have last year.”
Next game: 7 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Santa Clara.
Mountain View High School
League: El Camino Division.
Coac Judy Auclair, second year.
Last season: Tied for second in division and 15-11 overall; lost in first round of CCS Division III.
Key returnees: C Kayla Vantil; F Angelica Williams; G Laura Brigham; C Alicia Walker; C Kelsey Quickstad; PG Heather Lynch; C/PF Hillary Saunders; PG Pauline Regala.
Top newcomer: Brittney Lujano.
Outlook: With 10 returnees, including four starters, the Spartans seem to be in good position to capture the division title. Auclair said the desire to do so, especially among the seven seniors, is there. Mountain View has a plethora of post players, led by improving seniors Vantil (6-1) and Walker (6-3). Volleyball players Quickstad (6-0) and Saunders (5-10) will play in the paint as well. Williams, nicknamed “Tractor,” is a strong, 5-9 sophomore who can plow to the hoop. The coach said the Spartans should shoot better from the perimeter this season, with Brigham being its best outside threat. Auclair’s biggest concern is ballhandling, and she’s yet to decide whether Lynch or Regala will start at point guard. The coach is a stickler for fundamentals and believes her team has improved greatly in this area. Expect this team to be more aggressive than a year ago, especially on the defensive end.
Coach’s quote: “We want to win the (division) championship, and we have an opportunity to do that, but we have to be healthy and smart, and sometimes we’re neither.”
Next game: Dec. 1 in The King’s Academy Tournament.
St. Francis High School
League: WCAL.
Coac Ashley Hill, third year.
Last season: Fourth in league and 18-10 overall; lost in semifinals of CCS Division II.
Key returnees: C Rebecca Tratter; F Sela Paini; PG Cynthia Curley; F Katie Busmire; SF Kelsey Houlihan.
Top newcomers: G Rachel Gate; F Kimberley Benedetti; PF Kristin Montanari; SG Jackie Jenna.
Outlook: The Lancers return nine players from last season when they upset Westmoor in the CCS quarterfinals. All-leaguer Tratter, who recently committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, has made “tons of improvement” since last season, Hill said. Floor leader Curley and the athletic Paini, both seniors, are third-year starters. The hardworking Busmire and outside shooter Houlihan are new to the starting lineup. St. Francis will carry just 11 players, so Hill said staying healthy is vital to the team’s success. The Lancers also lack height - Tratter is their tallest player at 5-10 - which could pose problems in a league full of 6-footers. The coach said St. Francis’ biggest strength is that the girls play as a team and share the ball. The Lancers should be back in CCS, but it won’t be easy to improve on last year’s league standing with Mitty, Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Ignatius in the way.
Coach’s quote: “These kids have great attitudes and it’s fun to watch them play. I’m spoiled rotten this year with good kids.”
Next game: Nov. 30 in the Amador Valley Classic.
Pinewood School
League: PSAL.
Coac Doc Scheppler, 11th year.
Last season: League champ and 26-5 overall; won CCS, NorCal and state Division V titles.
Key returnees: F Liz Altmaier; G Sami Field-Polisso; C Aly Geppert; F Hannah Lippe; G Grace Beck; F Sami Andreacchi; PG Tika Koshiyama-Diaz.
Top newcomers: F Lindsay Nickel; G Katie Cosner.
Outlook: The Panthers’ goal of repeating as state champs became more difficult over the summer when two players suffered serious knee injuries. Koshiyama-Diaz, projected to succeed standout Daniela Roark at point guard, could be back near the end of the season, but promising freshman Cosner probably won’t. Field-Polisso moves from shooting guard to the point, and Scheppler said the junior “is very capable of handling the job.” Beck, one of the team’s top shooters, is at the other guard spot and will also play point. Altmaier is back on the wing and expected to lead the team in scoring again. Pinewood will get its inside scoring and rebounding from 6-2 Geppert and 5-9 Lippe, both returning starters. Scheppler considers the 5-10 Nickel among the best freshmen he’s coached. Pinewood may not be deep, but the talent is there to go deep in the playoffs.
Coach’s quote: “I think we can be better than last year. These girls haven’t been sitting around having coffee and doughnuts - they’ve been working hard to get better.”
Next game: 8 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Notre Dame Tournament.
