It’s tip-off time

Mike Sciacca, Independent

The 2001-02 prep basketball season features two coaches on opposite

ends of the spectrum.

At Ocean View High, veteran head coach Jim Harris begins his 24th

season next week. Ocean View has always been known to feature talented,

precision teams during Harris’ tenure, which includes an overall record

of 442-186 and a CIF championship at the end of the 1997-98 season. His

2001-02 Seahawks will be looking to win a fifth consecutive Golden West

League championship and make a fifth straight Final Four appearance.

“We have the talent to do it,” said Harris, whose Seahawks begin the

season next Wednesday in the Martin Luther King Tournament at Glendora

High.

Meanwhile, there is a new head coach at Huntington Beach High, where

Richard Alvarez inherits an Oiler program that went 8-18 last year.

At Marina High, Roger Holmes begins his eighth year and at Edison,

Rich Boyce is back for his second go-round.

A look at how the local teams shape up:

SCHOOL: Ocean View Seahawks

COLORS: Cardinal & Gold

LEAGUE: Golden West

HEAD COACH: Jim Harris (24th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Jimmy Harris, Dan Johnson

2000-2001 RECORD: 22-7

LEAGUE FINISH: First (8-0)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Lost to Mayfair in CIF 2-A semifinals

RETURNING STARTERS: Steve Clarke (F/G, 6-3, Sr.); Casey Ortiz (G, 6-5,

Jr.)

KEY PLAYERS: Jay Barot (G/F, 5-10, Sr.); Jeff Buchanan (G/F, 6-1,

Sr.); Steve Burnett (G, 5-8, Sr.); Ray Gallardo (C, 6-6, Sr.); Alex

Melandovich (F/G, 6-3, Sr.); David Rivera (G, 5-7, Jr.); Justin Roth (F,

6-1, Jr.); Malo Sagiao (F, 6-2, Jr.); Joe Silva (G, 5-8, Jr.); Jeff

Wilson (G, 6-0, Jr.); Matt Hatch (F/C, 6-4, Sr.); Greg Okwudibonye (G/F,

6-3, Soph.); Matt Sargeant (G, 6-3, Soph.); “Bear” Wurts (F, 6-5, Soph.).

OUTLOOK: Harris says this squad is the most improved team that he has

had. Clarke was a second team and Ortiz a third team all-league selection

last year. “This is a very good shooting squad and it runs well and plays

together,” he said. SCHOOL: Edison Chargers

COLORS: Green & Gold

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Rick Boyce (2nd year)

ASSISTANT COACHES: Judd Fryslie, Phil Guite

2000-2001 RECORD: 10-16

LEAGUE FINISH: Fifth

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Did not advance

RETURNING STARTERS: Mike Donegan (G, 5-10, Sr.); Matt Furniss (F/C,

6-3, Sr.); Beau Roquemore (G, 6-1, Sr.); Billy Braun (F, 6-3, Jr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Adam Knutsen (G, 6-0, Sr.); Lee Mabry (G, 6-0, Sr.); Jon

Nehrig (F/C, 6-4, Sr.); Naki Fangupo (G, 5-8, Jr.); Tommy Grady (C, 6-5,

Jr.); David Huff (G, 6-2, Jr.); Eric Prendergast (G/F, 6-2, Jr.).

OUTLOOK: Boyce begins his second year with a young team looking to

make some noise in the Sunset League race. “We are young but we play

hard,” he said. “We should be a very competitive team by the time league

play rolls around.”

SCHOOL: Marina Vikings

COLORS: Navy, Columbia Blue & White

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Roger Holmes (8th year)

ASSISTANT COACH: Andy Meyer

2000-2001 RECORD: 14-13

LEAGUE FINISH: Third (6-5)

PLAYOFF RESULTS:

RETURNING STARTERS: Nick Ciaramitaro (G, 6-0, Sr.); James Lambert

(WING, 6-2, Soph.); Dan Diecidue (6-0, F, Jr.).

KEY PLAYERS: Jon Yokoyama (G, 5-7, Sr.); Stephen Becker (G, 5-11,

Soph.); Matt McNeese (F, 6-2, Jr.); Brett Brown (G, 5-10, Jr.); Richard

Hung (G, 5-9, Jr.); Matt Brennan (F, 6-3, Soph.); Matt Lee (C, 6-5,

Soph.); Jeff Rivera (F, 6-0, Soph.).

OUTLOOK: Holmes will put a young but athletic team on the floor this

season. “I think we will improve as the season goes on and we should be

pretty good by the time league play rolls around,” he said. “I really

like this group and am fired up for the season to get underway. We are

not very big but play extremely hard.”

SCHOOL: Huntington Beach Oilers

COLORS: Orange & Black

LEAGUE: Sunset

HEAD COACH: Richard Alvarez

ASSISTANT COACHES: Kevin Loftus; Donn Fisher

2000-2001 RECORD: 8-18

LEAGUE FINISH: Sixth (0-10)

PLAYOFF RESULTS: Did not advance

RETURNING STARTERS: Bryan Harrison (G/F, 6-3, Sr.)

KEY PLAYERS: Nick Austin (G, 6-0, Sr.); Brandon McLaughlin (F/C, 6-5,

Soph.); Thomas Ngo (F, 6-2, Sr.); Paul Nitollama (G, 5-9. Sr.); C.J.

Pagnanelli (F, 5-11, Sr.); Richard Rizk (G, 5-11, Sr.); Nick Sellberg (F,

6-2, Jr.); Bret VanVoorhis (C, 6-5, Jr.); Ricky Wood (F, 6-2, Jr.); Brent

Yoshida (G, 5-9, Jr.).

OUTLOOK: “We hope to gain experience through our postseason schedule

and be competitive in league play,” Alvarez said.