Year of transition

Barry Faulkner

Costa Mesa High boys basketball coach Bob Serven isn’t as

concerned as one might think by the fact that half of his 10-player

roster isn’t old enough to drive.

For as long as his three freshmen and two sophomores can defend

and sink perimeter jumpers, as he believes they can, the Mustangs may

successfully negotiate the Golden West League traffic to earn the

school’s unprecedented fourth straight trip to the CIF Southern

Section Playoffs.

“We’re very young (only four seniors and two players with

returning varsity experience),” said Serven, who since arriving

before the 1999-2000 season, has transformed the program from

perennial doormat to perennial postseason participant. “I’m still

going to have high expectations and I’m still going to be demanding.

But, at the same time, I have to be demanding with some understanding

of their youth. Our one goal right now is to make the playoffs, which

means we have to finish in the top four (in the seven-team Golden

West League).”

Brian Molina, a 5-8 freshman point guard, will join returners

Danny Krikorian and Marko Stankovic in the starting lineup, while the

remaining two spots are still up for grabs as the Mustangs prepare

for their Dec. 5 opener against visiting John Glenn.

The 6-foot Krikorian, entering his fourth varsity season, is

probably familiar with Molina’s game, since Molina and 6-0 guard

Scott Knox have grown up playing with fellow freshman Tony Krikorian,

Danny’s little brother and another member of this year’s kiddie

corps.

Danny Krikorian is the lone returning starter from last year’s

18-10 squad, which tied the school single-season record for victories

en route to a third-place finish in the Pacific Coast League. He

averaged 8.7 points and earned second-team all-league laurels as a

complimentary player to PCL Co-MVP David Conte (redshirting at Cal

State Los Angeles) and first-team all-leaguer Chad Vakili (playing at

Orange Coast College). Serven said much more is expected from this

year’s team captain.

“This will be his third year as a starter and his role has changed

every year,” Serven said. “This year, he is our go-to guy. He has

learned over the summer how to be a scorer, after having fed off Chad

and David. (Krikorian) is truly our leader.”

Serven also expects big things from Stankovic, a 6-6 junior who

scored six points in five games after joining the varsity late last

season.

“He’s our one player with size, so its going to be very important

for him to have a good season,” Serven said. “But we’ll have to wait

and see. He has gained about 20 pounds and is now up to about 225 and

he has worked very hard to improve.”

Molina, whom Serven calls a true point guard (i.e. he thinks pass

first), has shown the ability to push the ball up the floor and make

timely passes.

“He gets the ball to the open guy and he delivers it when it

should be delivered,” Serven said.

Like Molina, Knox, a 6-0 guard, started throughout the summer,

helping the Mustangs win an estimated 75% of about 30 games, Serven

said.

“He’s a smart player with a knack for always being around the

ball,” said Serven, who termed Knox a projected starter, though

stopping short of anointing him one of the two remaining spots.

Tony Krikorian, a 5-8 guard, plays, Serven believes, beyond his

years in terms of basketball IQ.

“He has good court smarts and good instincts,” Serven noted. “But,

like all three freshmen, there are times when they will be

outmanned.”

Jeff Waldron, a 6-2 sophomore still competing in the football

playoffs, is expected to help out on the front line after making the

transition from the gridiron.

Seniors Ziad Pepic, a 5-10 potential starter at guard, Curtis

Millward and Sharif Abedrabo are up from the junior varsity to

provide depth, while sophomore Brandon Aleson is also expected to

contribute, even possibly start.

“I think we’re OK with only 10 guys, because all of them can

play,” Serven said.

With little size, Serven said perimeter shooting, which has become

as much a Mesa trademark as the matchup zone defense under Serven,

will, once again, be at the forefront of the offensive arsenal.

“We have a lot of guys who can shoot,” he said.

What his players lack in experience, they make up for with

commitment and worth ethic, Serven said.

“I’ve got good guys who are great to be around. They work as hard

as any of the teams I’ve had here, maybe harder.”

COSTA MESA

3 Brian Molina 5-8 Fr.

5 Scott Knox 6-0 Fr.

10 Danny Krikorian 6-0 Sr.

12 Sharif Abedrabo 5-10 Sr.

23 Ziad Pepic 5-10 Sr.

24 Tony Krikorian 5-8 Fr.

31 Brandon Aleson 6-0 So.

32 Curtis Millward 6-2 Sr.

44 Jeff Waldron 6-2 So.

45 Marko Stankovic 6-6 Jr.

Coach: Bob Serven (fourth year)