Anticipation builds for Eagles

Barry Faulkner

After one week of practice, Estancia High boys basketball coach

Chris Sorce said his team was still a mystery. So the Eagles shall

remain, if not to their coach, at least to the rest of the prep

basketball public, until Sorce takes them out of seclusion Dec. 9,

when they open the La Quinta Tournament against former Pacific Coast

League rival Laguna Beach.

“I thought this group needed a little more time, because I thought

we’d be behind defensively,” Sorce said of the delayed opening, which

comes one week after teams are allowed to schedule contests.

“While a lot of teams will be playing games that first week, we’ll

be practicing ... and scouting,” Sorce said.

The early scouting report on the Eagles is promising. In addition

to talented returners Joey Lindquist and Carlos Pinto, optimism

abounds over a shift from the PCL to the Golden West League, where,

beyond prohibitive favorite Ocean View, early consensus places the

Eagles with Santa Ana and Orange among those most ready to battle for

second.

Lindquist, a 6-foot-7 senior, was second-team All-PCL last season,

when he averaged 11.6 points and seven rebounds for a team that

finished 13-14. He will be joined on a sizable front line by Pinto, a

6-4 sophomore, as well as 6-5 junior Scott Sankey and 6-4 junior

Costa Mesa transfer Jordan Stroman, who could give the Eagles one of

the league’s most imposing front-court rotations.

“Joey’s a big key to our season,” Sorce said. “From his sophomore

year to his junior year, Lindquist improved immensely and he was

rewarded by being named second-team all-league. The goal this year,

is to be first-team all-league.”

Pinto, who averaged 5.6 points as a part-time starter, could have

a breakthrough season.

“He was our leading scorer over the summer and has the ability to

be our leading scorer this season,” Sorce said. “He accomplished the

rare feat of starting as a freshman on the varsity last year. I don’t

know it that’s ever been done in the history of this school.”

Stroman, athletic and determined, is also one of many three-point

shooters for the Eagles, while Sankey has come out of nowhere to

establish himself as a valued contributor.

“He’s the most improved player in our program over the offseason,”

Sorce said. “He was just a guy on the junior varsity team last year,

but he is really becoming a late bloomer.”

While the frontcourt will carry much of the load, Sorce will rely

heavily on senior Matt Cachola, entering his third year on the

varsity, to solidify things in the backcourt.

“He’s another big key to our season,” Sorce said of the 5-11 point

guard, whose first two varsity campaigns were plagued by nagging

injuries. “If Matt has a good year, we’re going to have a good year.”

Cachola, who averaged 2.7 points last season, could be joined in

the backcourt by senior Zack Novak, an energetic hustler who could

make his biggest impact on the defensive end.

Senior returner Erik Andersen, a 6-0 guard, will also bring

intangibles, as well as a strong physical presence he displayed as a

defensive end and linebacker for the football team.

Tyler Hoffman, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, was the MVP on last year’s

junior varsity. The son of former Western and Marina coach Greg

Hoffman, he brings a high basketball IQ, Sorce said.

“Along with Matt and Carlos, Tyler could be one of our best

outside threats,” Sorce said.

Hugo Escobedo, a 6-0 sophomore guard, was the MVP of the freshman

team last season, while Kelvin Escobedo, an extremely quick 5-5

senior, should also provide depth in the backcourt.

“This is the kind of team that could have 10 or 11 guys start for us, by the time the season is over,” Sorce said.

Juniors Kendall Meissner and Jose Viramontes should supply

additional depth.

In addition to his talent on the floor, Sorce believes a newly

bolstered brain trust could also make a big difference this season.

Foremost among staff additions is Larry Sunderman, who posted a

school-record 149 victories, won at least a share of four league

championships, and led the Eagles to the section 3-A title game in

his seven seasons as head coach from 1977-84.

Sunderman, who went on to coach at the college level, before

concentrating the last several years on his teaching assignment at

Estancia, was lured back to the bench as a consultant by Sorce, who

marvels daily at Sunderman’s basketball knowledge.

“I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in coaching and Larry is a

big reason,” Sorce said.

Scott Tenchka, who has been an assistant and a head coach at a

several Orange County schools, is also a valuable addition to the

staff.

The coaches’ biggest challenge, Sorce believes, will be to foster

defensive improvement.

“We have some height and we have enough shooters, so that we

should be very balanced and productive offensively,” Sorce said. “My

biggest concern is at the defensive end, because we don’t have a lot

of quickness. We should be able to score on anybody, so, if we can

just stop people defensively, we should have a pretty successful

season.”

The Eagles salvaged success last season by ending a one-year

absence from the CIF Playoffs. The proud program has played in the

postseason 14 of the last 15 years.

Anything less than extending that trend would surely mystify

Sorce.