Locals take to the court

Mike Sciacca

Tipoff on the prep boys’ basketball scene this week launched the

hopes and goals of four local high schools, as they began their

respective journey during the 2002-03 season.

It may be a new season, but it appears to be the same old story at

Ocean View High.

Jim Harris, who this year shares head coaching duties with his

son, former Seahawk star Jimmy, begins his 25th year at the helm with

an experienced, yet youthful squad. Returning are three starters from

last year’s 20-9 team, which won the Golden West League championship

for a fifth consecutive year and earned yet another trip to the CIF

playoffs.

Of the Seahawks’ top nine players, five are underclassmen.

“We’re very skilled, run well and are tough to defend,” the elder

Harris said. “We have a lot of guys who can score and have good size,

overall.

“This team certainly is capable of living up to the standards of

past Ocean View teams,” he said. “What makes this group standout, in

addition to its talent, is that it really possesses a special team

chemistry.”

Casey Ortiz, who begins his fourth year playing varsity, is one

key returning player. The 6-foot-5 senior guard was co-MVP of the

Golden West League last year and averaged 16 points, five steals,

four rebounds and four assists per game.

Another returning player is 6-foot-3 junior guard Matt Sargent,

who averaged 11 points and 5.5 assists per game and earned first-team

all-league honors. Second-team all-league pick Greg Okwudibonye, a

6-foot-3 junior guard, is the third returning starter.

Optimism also is running high at Marina High.

A year ago, the Vikings went 15-12 with a young squad and finished

in fourth place in the Sunset League and advanced to the CIF

playoffs.

Four starters -- all juniors -- return for the new season, as do

four other players with varsity experience.

That should bode well for a Marina team that, last year, lost four

Sunset League games by a combined seven points.

“I really like this group of kids,” coach Roger Holmes said. “We

have a great nucleus. We’ve got a lot of experience, but at the same

time, are still a young bunch. We are a tough, athletic team.”

First-team all-league performer James Lambert is back. A 6-3

junior guard/forward, Lambert averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per

game last season. Last December, he broke Cherokee Park school’s

single-game scoring mark with a 47-point game in the Arroyo Grande

Tournament.

Joining Lambert in the starting lineup are juniors Matt Brennan

(6-2, Jr., forward), Stephen Becker (6-0, Jr. point guard, seven

assists average), and Matt Lee (6-5, Jr., center).

At Huntington Beach High, Richard Alvarez will begin his second

year as head coach, welcoming back five players who split starting

time a year ago.

One of those players is Bret Van Voorhis, a 6-foot-6 senior post

player who averaged 10 points per game and earned second-team

all-league honors.

James Bailey, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, was an Honorable Mention

pick last year.

“Our goal is to be competitive in league,” Alvarez said. “We laid

the groundwork last year and we have raised our expectations this

season.”

The Oilers went 9-17 overall in Alvarez’s first season.

Rich Boyce begins his third year at Edison High with one returning

starter off a 17-11 squad that placed third in the Sunset League and

reached the second round of the playoffs.

That lone returner is 6-foot-4 senior forward Billy Braun.

The Chargers will get some added punch in the middle in 6-foot-6

center Tommy Grady, who joined the team after his stint as Edison’s

quarterback this fall.

Grady averaged five points and five rebounds per game last winter.

“I expect us to be a very competitive team this year,” Boyce said.

“One big key for us is our ability to stay healthy. This team has

plenty of potential.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.