Estancia, Newport Harbor Not Expected to Contend

When they have the first jump ball of the Sea View League season in January, they might as well toss up the league championship trophy along with a basketball.

Once the exclusive province of Estancia High School, the trophy was wrested from the Eagles by Newport Harbor last season.

And neither Estancia nor Newport Harbor is the early favorite this season. There isn’t a returning starter between the two schools, although Estancia could surprise if the players up from its 19-3 junior varsity develop as hoped.

Look for the likes of Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Woodbridge, Saddleback and University to challenge for the three playoff spots.

Of course, you’d never get those coaches to admit that. The league’s coaches are well practiced at crying wolf and passing the praise like a hot potato:

--Everybody likes Corona del Mar as the early favorite because of returning forward Jeff Fryer, but the Sea Kings’ Jack Errion won’t hear of it. Errion likes Laguna Beach, Woodbridge and Estancia.

Estancia’s Joe Reid says to watch out for Laguna Beach, Saddleback, Corona del Mar and Woodbridge, all of which he feels will be ranked in the county’s Top 10 sometime this season.

Ed Bowen returns to coaching Laguna Beach after an 18-year absence. Bowen coached the Artists to a Southern Section 1-A title in 1962, long before any of his current players were born. Bowen knows he’s inheriting good talent, led by the county’s leading rebounder, Coby Naess, but he isn’t predicting any titles yet.

Tim Parsel moves from Costa Mesa to Newport Harbor, where he doesn’t have a returning starter. Parsel says he likes Corona del Mar, Woodbridge, Estancia and Saddleback.

Saddleback Coach Pat Quinn has one of the county’s best players in Bryant Walton, but Quinn is singing the praises of Corona del Mar, Woodbridge and Laguna Beach.

Woodbridge Coach Bill Shannon acknowledges that he has seven players with experience returning, but he frets about Corona del Mar and Saddleback.

Several coaches mentioned University as the most improved, but the Trojans’ Steve Scoggin says Corona del Mar, Saddleback and Woodbridge are the top teams.

Craig Falconer moved from Laguna Beach to Costa Mesa, from which little is expected by most of the other coaches. Falconer said that the Mustangs are better than he thought and will surprise a few people this season. Let’s hear it for a straight answer.

When playoff time comes, Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar and Woodbridge may have a step on the others for the playoff spots.

Here’s a closer look at the Sea View League:

COSTA MESA: Returning Starters--Mitch Pelichowski (6-2, G); John Carlson (6-3, C); Paul Rodriguez (6-0, F).

Top Newcomers--Steve Rice (6-2, F); James Nishimuta (5-5, G); Tom Morris (6-0, F); Tommy Nguyen (6-0, G); Mike Ritchie (6-0, F); Erich Vogel (6-3, C).

Outlook--If Pelichowski played on a team with a winning record, he’d probably be hailed as one of the best guards in the county. If the public doesn’t know him, at least the league’s coaches do and respect his abilities. Pelichowski and football players Carlson and Rodriguez will be the heart of the team. Because of a lack of size, Falconer said that it will seem at times like he’s starting five guards.

CORONA DEL MAR: Returning Starters--Jeff Fryer (6-2, F); Doug Green (6-0, G); Sean Turner (6-2, F).

Top Newcomers--Tim Christiansen (6-4, C); Kevin O’Neil (6-5, C); Chris Hook (6-2, F); Marcus Muller-Stach (6-3, F).

Outlook--Jack Errion returns for his 36th season of coaching prep basketball, including the last 9 seasons with the Sea Kings. Errion had heart surgery in April, but returned to school in September and reports no ill effects back on the court. “We’re quick and have good speed,” Errion said, “but size could be a problem.” Fryer and Green give the Sea Kings excellent outside shooting, but it will be up to Christiansen and O’Neil to establish themselves as inside forces. The Sea Kings open what promises to be a bright season at the Laguna Beach Tournament.

ESTANCIA: Returning Starters--None.

Top Newcomers--Craig Covey (6-4, F); Kyle Mooney (6-0, G); Fernie Trejo (6-3, F); Ron Brazell (6-3, C); Brian Tift (6-3, F); Rich Rusick (6-1, G).

Outlook--Gone are longtime standouts Adam Lockwood and Scott Clements, two players the Eagles relied on heavily for ball control and rebounding. Estancia Coach Joe Reid will be counting on players from a good junior varsity, but as Reid noted, nothing replaces players with varsity game experience, something the Eagles lack. Estancia may take some early lumps, but between Mooney and Rusick at guards, their floor game might develop into the best in the league. “We always seem to be blessed with good guards,” Reid said. “Typical Estancia.”

LAGUNA BEACH: Returning Starters--Coby Naess (6-6, C); Todd Fortune (6-6, F); Billy Elfsten (6-0, G); Scott Herdman (6-4, G).

Top Newcomers--Todd Spath (6-3, G); Brian House (5-11, G); Courtney Kwatak (6-9, C).

Outlook--If the varsity’s good showing in a recent alumni game is any indication, big things could be happening. Ed Bowen had more than 20 players from his days of coaching in the 1960s show up, including Bob Henderson of Sacramento and John Pitts from Tempe, Ariz. The Artists will be moving to a new league next season, so there is reason to believe that they could quickly return to being the power they were. Naess, Fortune, and Herdman figure to be as good as any front line in the Sea View League.

NEWPORT HARBOR: Returning Starters--None.

Top Newcomers--Mark Craig (6-6, C); John Alstrom (6-4, F); John Richards (5-10, G); Jeff Young (5-9, G); Maurice Lee (5-10, G); West Torrell (6-3, F).

Outlook--The defending champion Sailors are the big question mark in the league--they might finish anywhere from second to sixth. “We’re looking for the improvement of Tovell and Lee to help us maintain a winning attitude,” Parsel said. “Also, our JV team was 12-2, giving us a nucleus of players who have experienced success. Lack of varsity experience and how fast our football players round into shape will determine how much success we have in the pre-league.”

SADDLEBACK: Returning Starters--Bryant Walton (6-4, G); Joe Deal (6-4, C); Myron Butler (5-10, G).

Top Newcomers--Gylan Dottin (6-3, F); Danny Ontiveros (5-11, G).

Outlook--The Roadrunners have Walton but the trick for Coach Pat Quinn will be to surround him with rebounding and ballhandling talent, allowing Walton to concentrate on what he does best--scoring. “The young kids will make our season,” Quinn said, “they play the key role this year.” The Roadrunners will be counting heavily on Dottin, a sophomore, and football player Deal for board strength. Saddleback finished fourth last season but should be in the running for a playoff berth this time around.

UNIVERSITY: Returning Starters--Steve Stolzoff (6-3, G/F); Lasse Glassen (6-5, F); Brett Winslow (6-5, C); Tim Warren (5-10, G); Will Ferrell (6-3, F).

Top Newcomers--Eric Olin (6-1, G); Craig Allton (6-3, F); Jamie Kiskis (6-0, G); Matt Gorzkowski (6-3, F).

Outlook--Steve Scoggin returns for his second season at the helm of the Trojans and although they finished eighth last season (1-13), there is much promise for the future. “We should shoot the ball well and be a decent rebounding team,” Scoggin said. “We should be much improved over last season.” Stolzoff, a sophomore, should emerge as one of the better young players in the league. Glassen and Winslow figure to give the Trojans strength under the boards.

WOODBRIDGE: Returning Starters--Adam Keefe (6-7, C); Mike Murphy (6-3, F); David Townsend (6-0, G); Vince Bryan (6-6, F); Mike Sullivan (5-11, G).

Top Newcomers--Ryan Bettencourt (5-11, G); Mike Verdugo (5-11, G).

Outlook--The Warriors return the most talent of any team in the league, including such players as Keefe, a sophomore center, and Murphy, a senior second-team all-league forward. Warrior coach Bill Shannon committed to developing his younger players last season and took a few lumps along the way, but that could pay off this season. “We have good size, shoot well and play together well,” Shannon said. “This is by far the most talented group we’ve had in our brief (five-year) history. We feel that Keefe is one of the two superior sophomores in the county.”