Southen Section Basketball Capsules : GOLDEN LEAGUE

Antelope Valley

COACH: Skip Adams, 5th season

LAST SEASON: 21-6; 1st in league, 8-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Antelope Valley lost four starters on last season’s league-champion team but point guard Brock Chase (6-foot-2) returns. Adams said the all-league senior could be the premier player in the league this year. Newcomers will fill the front line, including 6-foot-6 senior Willie Montgomery, a post player with “a tremendous amount of athletic ability,” according to Adams. Also helping out at forward will be junior Raynell Dunbar (6-2), a transfer from Dominguez. Those three players form the foundation for this season’s team. Depth is not a strong point, but filling out the three-guard starting lineup are Rodney Flakes (5-10) and Kaseem Jaker (5-10). The remainder of the team has no varsity experience, and Adams said that the rotation will solidify with time.

OUTLOOK: In an extremely balanced league, the Antelopes are one of five teams with a legitimate shot at the title. “Our team strength is our athletic ability,” Adams said. “We really have only one experienced player, though.” Don’t expect this season’s team to win 20 games, especially with the loss of standout Chris Walters to graduation. But a league championship is a realistic goal. “I think we could start slow,” Adams said. “But we should get better. Then we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Canyon

COACH: Greg Hayes, 9th season

LAST SEASON: 20-7; 2nd in league, 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Two backcourt standouts return on a team that might be one of the most balanced in the league. Senior point guard Lance Moore (5-11) is “as good a point guard as you’ll find in the area,” according to Hayes. Moore loves to play defense and his all-around game might be the best on the team. Maybe just as good, though, is senior swingman Jermaine Nixon (6-3), a Times All-Valley second-team selection last season as a junior. Nixon led the team in scoring (13.5) and is the team’s leading returning rebounder (7.9). Swingman Reggie Haggans (6-3) also returns and Hayes said he brings a balance of shooting and rebounding to the court. Another returning starter is guard Tom Boobar (5-10), a quick player with a nice touch. Canyon does not completely lack for size--the front line is 6-4 across. Up from the junior varsity is junior Joe Ferguson, a “real tough rebounder,” according to Hayes. Joining him on the line are seniors Rob Garner and Craig Bivens, both 6-4 and strong rebounders.

OUTLOOK: Canyon won 20 games last season and four of its top six players return. “We’re much quicker and better defensively,” Hayes said. “Last year, we were a great rebounding team.” But Hayes thinks that last season’s success will carry over in his top players. “The best thing is that we won last year,” Hayes said. “So we’ve tasted some success.” More success likely awaits.

Palmdale

COACH: Garry Phelps, 11th season

LAST SEASON: 15-11; 2nd in league, 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: In a league filled with returning players, Palmdale has the biggest. Heading the way is all-league center Jason Grimes (6-7), a senior who scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds a game last season. With a high grade-point average, Grimes is considering Ivy League schools after graduation. Another returning all-league choice is 6-5 Chris DeGlopper, a swingman who can shoot from the perimeter. He scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds a game. DeGlopper and Grimes give Phelps “as good size as we’ve ever had here. We’re as big or bigger than anybody in the league.” Point guard Jason Rose (5-9) returns and three-point specialist Chris Tampoya (5-8) is a solid off-guard. Six lettermen return, including 6-foot Ty Payton, a swingman who likes to run the perimeter, and football star Kalonji Watts (6-3), one of the team’s better rebounders. Joining the rotation will be Zeke Bell, a 6-foot senior and MVP of the junior varsity last season.

OUTLOOK: Certainly, Palmdale has as good a chance as any to win the league title. “We have good strength on the interior,” Phelps said. “We just have to make sure the guards can handle pressure and get a little scoring threat out of them.” Phelps knows that this season, like last, might come down to some buzzer-beaters. “It’s gonna be exciting,” he said. “Maybe not as exciting for us coaches.”

Quartz Hill

COACH: Don Moore, 23rd season

LAST SEASON: 14-12; 4th in league, 5-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Running with the Rebels might not be an easy task this season because of the quick and talented guards who return. All-league guard Chris Young (6-0) is a “great leaper,” according to Moore, and scored 18 points a game. Backcourt mate Danny Prince (6-0) is a junior who scored 11 points a game. Post player Cyril Franklin (6-3) also returns. “All three of those kids aren’t that big,” Moore said. “But they’re really fast.” Senior letterman Danny Klein (6-4) will play down low, but the Rebels’ strength remains at guard: 5-foot-11 Gerry Gaines and 5-foot-9 Lee Allen will play in what Moore not-so-jokingly calls “my four-guard offense.”

OUTLOOK: While most coaches are preaching parity, Moore gives the edge to Palmdale. But nobody can count out the Rebels. “I’ll tell you,” he said, “it’s gonna take an awful good team to beat us. We ain’t gonna be down at the bottom.”

Saugus

COACH: John Clark, 8th season

LAST SEASON: 6-16; 5th in league, 2-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Saugus welcomes back a wealth of talent and will throw its hat into the championship derby. Leading the returnees is 6-5 Greg Yumbar, an all-league center-forward who scored 15 points a game last season. Also returning is point guard Jason Riggio, a senior who scored eight points and had four assists last season. Pesky Geoff Dains (5-11) is an off-guard who can and will shoot the three-point shot. “He’s not shy at all,” Clark said. “He’ll look at me like I’m crazy and keep shooting it.” A senior who is coming on, according to Clark, is 6-2 Jeromy Smith, who started occasionally last season. Olando Williams (6-1) weighs more than 200 pounds and is a strong rebounder. “He’s real willing to thump on people,” Clark said. Clark likes some of his prospects from the junior varsity too: Josh Hinrichs (6-0) is a “scorer and he’s a winner. He’s just a gamer.” Chris Hernandez (6-1) is a jumper and Steve Tampus (5-11) is a shooter in the mold of Dains but, according to Clark, is “potentially better.”

OUTLOOK: Saugus is ready for a big year, according to Clark. “We’re small, obviously,” he said. “But my goal is to play great defense and run. I’m gonna let ‘em press and run whenever they can.” In a tough league, Saugus hopes not to be forgotten. “We’ll start to wear on people who are not in good shape,” Clark said. “We’ll give it a run for the league championship.”