Palomar League Preview : Poway Decline May Bring Balance

With its 71-39 loss to powerful Morse High School two weeks ago, Poway’s basketball team signaled that its grip on the Palomar League is finally slipping.

Most people guessed such a fate was inevitable for the Titans, who have won the San Diego Section 3-A title the past three seasons. When players such as Jud Buechler, Dominic Johnson and Andy Byrne graduated, other Palomar League coaches figured balance would be restored this season.

They were right.

League coaches consider Torrey Pines and Mt. Carmel the favorites. Poway is also mentioned, but not with the same respect as the past two seasons when it was 23-1 in league.

“The last two years, yes, Poway has had dominance over the league,” Poway Coach Neville Saner said. “But that’s over with. Poway could win it, but it will be most difficult.”

Saner’s reputation is keeping other coaches from calling this a rebuilding year. In 1984, when Saner began coaching at Poway, he started three sophomores, a freshman and a junior. Gary Anderson is the only remaining member of the team that went 10-2 in league and won the Section title.

“Poway has been an excellent team and will continue to have excellent teams,” Orange Glen Coach Dana Ernest said. “I think it is too early to count Poway out.”

John Marincovich, Mt. Carmel coach, said: “They (Poway) don’t have anybody on the team now who is a potential Division I player. They are back to reality. If you don’t have to go against a player of the caliber of Buechler (now starting for Arizona), it certainly is going to be easier. We didn’t have anybody that compared with him last year.

“I think the team that wins our league could lose three games, maybe four.”

Here’s a closer look at the Palomar League:

FALLBROOK

Last season’s record: 3-9, 6-18.

Finish: Sixth.

Coach: John Gillilan.

Top returnees: Doug Witkop (6-2, 185, Sr.) and Mark Ringkamp (6-4, 170, Sr.).

Top newcomers: Mike West (6-1, 175, Jr.), Jorge Rodriguez (5-10, 160, Soph.) and Robby Crisell (5-9, 160, Soph.).

Outlook: “We probably have the most inexperienced team in the county,” said Gillilan, beginning his first season. Witkop and Ringkamp are the only returning players, and neither started. Fallbrook’s inexperience is reflected in its shooting percentage from the field (35%). “We definitely shoot the ball, we don’t hold it,” Gillilan said. “Our average shot is from 15 feet to 5 feet.” Still, Fallbrook has already matched last season’s six victories. In the past two seasons, Fallbrook has won only 10 games. With a 6-8 record, Gillilan is obviously pleased. “Our goal is to play 13 more games, 12 regular season and at least one playoff,” he said.

MT. CARMEL

Last season’s record: 10-2, 17-8.

Finish: Second.

Coach: John Marincovich.

Top returnees: Tim Coleman (6-8, 210, Sr.); John Krainock (6-2, 195, Sr.); Rich Hooper (6-1, 165, Sr.).

Top newcomers: None.

Outlook: The starters are shooting 53% from the field and 72% from the line. Turnovers and a sluggish fast-break offense have kept the Sundevils from being a dominating team. Still, with a 9-2 record, Mt. Carmel has played better than any other league team so far. “We’re shooting awfully well and playing good defense,” Marincovich said.

ORANGE GLEN

Last season’s record: 6-6, 11-14.

Finish: Third.

Coach: Dana Ernest.

Top returnees: Steve Clinger (6-5, 200, Sr.), Scott Carlovsky (6-1, 190, Sr.), Matt Fiorello (5-9, 175, Sr.), and Dan Early (6-5, 180, Jr.).

Top newcomers: David Monach (6-1, 180, Jr.) and Brian Leander (5-10, 170, Jr.).

Outlook: Orange Glen begins league play with one of the most experienced teams, but you won’t hear Ernest boasting about it. He lists three major problems: rebounding, free-throw shooting and production from guards Fiorello and Wayne Ortega. “We have a good defense until a shot is taken, then our opponent grabs the rebound and gets an easy basket,” Ernest said. Orange Glen is shooting only 50% from the line, compared to 70% this time last season. With all its experience, Ernest has yet to find a leader who can fill the spot vacated by guard Cory Kelly, now redshirting at Humboldt State. He averaged 17 points a game last season. “We’re not getting that production from either one of our guards,” Ernest said. “Sometimes their total is not as high has Kelly’s used to be.”

POWAY

Last season’s record: 12-0, 25-4.

Finish: First.

Coach: Neville Saner.

Top returnees: Gary Anderson (5-10, 165, Sr.), Ty Nichols (6-0, 170, Jr.), Harlan Carroll (6-1, 180, Sr.), and Danny Millard (6-5, 195, Sr.).

Top newcomer: Dave Delaney (6-1, 165, Jr.).

Outlook: Each season Saner has coached at Poway he has guided the Titans to the Section 3-A championship, including 1984, when Poway finished second to Mt. Carmel. The loss of Buechler and Johnson are not easy to deal with, but Saner, in his fourth season at Poway, has built good teams with what seemed to be very little. A 20-3 junior varsity team will try to fill the gaps left by graduation. Delaney began last season with the varsity squad but was sent to the junior varsity early in the season to gain more experience. Anderson his started since his freshman season and Saner is relying on the senior guard to emerge as a team leader. “We’re not what we used to be,” Saner said. “But we are far from being a bad club. We are capable of getting to the playoffs, but it will take a big effort.”

SAN DIEGUITO

Last season’s record: 2-10, 8-17.

Finish: Seventh.

Coach: Brian Daly.

Top returnees: Paul Chan (5-10, 160, Sr.) and Pete LaFrance (6-2, 180, Sr.).

Top newcomers: Jack Minger (6-2, 170, Jr.), Jeff Zevely (6-1, 160, Jr.), and Chris Bahr (6-4, 180, Sr.).

Outlook: San Dieguito lost all of its starters to graduation and only one player returns from last season. What remains is the shortest team in the league. Bahr is the tallest player. To offset San Dieguito’s lack of height and experience, Daly has instituted a variety of defenses. The most effective defense has been the zone to seal off inside play by taller teams. With all its problems, San Dieguito managed to open the season with a 4-1 record, but lost its next four games.

TORREY PINES

Last season’s record: 4-8, 10-15.

Finish: Tied for fourth.

Coach: John Farrell.

Top returnees: Scot Thompson (6-6, 190, Sr.); Mike Radcliffe (6-5, 180, Sr.); Steve Crawford (6-2, 170, Sr.); and Todd Kelly (6-2, 180, Sr.).

Top newcomers: Kevin Flanagan (6-8, 220, Soph.); Cordi Miller (6-6, 190, Soph.).

Outlook: It’s hard to feel sorry for Farrell when he complains about his team’s youth. Five of his top eight players are 6-5 or taller. His starting five, which includes 5-9 junior Tom Underwood, all have scoring averages in double figures. Torrey Pines (10-3) has already matched its wins of last season. The Falcons are brutal under the basket and their defense is unmatched in the league. The only weaknesses, aside from youth, is an inconsistent fast break, says Farrell. “We’re working on getting the fast break going, and if we do, we will be one of the teams to beat,” he said. “We are a team for the future. . . . Hopefully, the future is here now.”

VISTA

Last season’s record: 4-8, 6-16.

Finish: Tied for fourth.

Coach: Randy Wiens.

Top returnees: Mike Fleming (6-4, 185, Sr.), Buddy Webb (6-2, 175, Sr.), Mike Simmons (6-3, 190, Sr.), and Billy Clark (6-0, 160, Sr.).

Top newcomer: Jereny Scott (6-5, 195, Jr.).

Outlook: Vista started the season with four victories in five games, then lost five of six. Vista was a junior-dominated team last season, but Fleming is the only starter to return. Scott, a transfer from Texas, could emerge as a team leader late in the season, Wiens said. Vista will rely on the play of Fleming, Simmons and Webb. “If all three of them are hot, we can beat anybody,” Wiens said. “If only two of them are hot, I think we can still play a good game.”