Season just tipoff away for local teams

Practices have been in full swing for Vikings, Oilers, Chargers and Seahawks.The 2005-06 prep basketball season is about to tip off for four local high schools.

Over the course of the next two issues, we’ll take a look at the boys’ and girls’ teams at Edison, Huntington Beach, Marina and Ocean View high schools, beginning with Marina and Huntington Beach.

In girls’ play, Marina has several key returners who will attempt to lead the Lady Vikings to a repeat Sunset League championship.

The Vikings ventured to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs before being eliminated. Huntington Beach also could rise in the ranks of the Sunset standings in its final year in the league, due to a solid returning nucleus.

Last year, the Oilers finished in fourth place, received an at-large bid to the playoffs and pulled a first-round upset of North Torrance.

On the boys’ side, Huntington Beach possesses a team camaraderie that could help the Oilers rebound this year. Marina, coming off a CIF playoff appearance, will put a young team on the court.

A preview look at the girls’ and boys’ teams at Marina and Huntington Beach:

GIRLS

Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Butch Fredlow (7th year)

Coaching staff: Karyn Fierst; Mike Coulson

2004-05 record: 22-7 overall; 9-1 league (champions)

CIF playoff results: 2-1 record, lost in quarterfinal round

Key returners: Rachael Maulit, 5-7, point guard, 9.8 ppg, 122 steals, 99 assists, three-time first-team all-league, first-team All-CIF, Sr.; Allison Budzinski, 6-0, forward, 9.3 ppg, 121 rebounds., 57 steals, 44 assists, two-time first-team all-league, Sr.; Erin Barney, 5-11, forward, 9.5 ppg, 192 rebounds, 38 three-point baskets, first-team all-league, Sr.; Lindsey Schulze, 5-7, guard, 4.7 ppg, Sr.

Key losses: Mo Holloway, 5.6 ppg, 56 assists, 60 steals, 78 rebounds.

Key newcomers: Alyssa Starkey, 5-9, guard, 3.7 ppg, Soph.; Emily Boelsems, 5-9, guard, Soph.; Michelle Lewis, 5-8; Amanda Earl, 6-2, Soph.

Season opener: vs. Beckman at Woodbridge Tournament, 3 p.m., Monday.

Team overview: Marina took the Sunset League title a year ago and has a talented returning cast from that championship run. “Overall our strength would obviously have to be our senior leadership,” Fredlow said. “We have three seniors who are entering their fourth year at the varsity level, another entering her third, and another entering her second. On that same note, we have four sophomores who are going to play a ton of minutes, and hopefully they will be able to mesh with our seniors. We have a serious lack of height and that can hurt us in our league and in the tournaments we are playing in this year.”

Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Russell McClurg (3rd year)

Coaching staff: Marshall McClurg; Ruby Viloria; Michelle Ito.

2004-05 record: 17-12

League finish: Fourth

CIF playoff results: Upset North Torrance first-round; lost second-round game

Key returners: Jasmine Erving, 6-2, center, 14.6 ppg, first-team all-league, Soph.; Karissa Plotnik, 5-7, guard, Sr.

Key losses: Katia Hadj-Hamou, second-team all-league.

Key newcomers: Noe Viloria, 5-8, guard, Fr.; Rita Sitivi, 5-9, guard/forward, Fr.; Laura Moore, 5-4, point guard, Sr.

Season opener: vs. Northwood at Century Tournament, Nov. 30

Team overview: McClurg said he will start freshmen Viloria and Sitivi in a lineup that includes returners Erving and Plotnik. “I expect us to be a lot tougher on defense,” McClurg said of this year’s Oilers. “We will be very deep. Jasmine Erving will create a lot of match-up problems. I expect us to be able to compete and be in every game.”

BOYS

Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Richard Alvarez (5th year)

Coaching staff: Kevin Loftus, Mark Johnson

2004-05 record: 9-17

League finish: Sixth

Key returners: Rory Jones, 6-4, post, Sr.; Trevor Carroll, 5-11, guard, Soph.; Nick Becker, 5-10, guard, Soph.

Key losses: Matt Buckalew, all-league.

Key newcomers: Greg Bartolme, 6-0, guard, Sr.; Brian Gee, 6-3, forward, Sr.; Dylan MacDonald, 5-9, guard, Sr.; Mitch Roemer, 6-3, forward, Sr.; Jeff VanDoornum, 6-2, forward, Sr.

Season opener: vs. El Modena at Buena Park Tournament, 6:30 p.m., Monday.

Team overview: “Our strength definitely is team chemistry,” Alvarez said. “We can play nine or 10 deep and have a different starting five any given night without losing a step. This group of players enjoys sharing the ball. As long as we find the hot hands, we’ll be OK. A weakness will be a lack of size, with no one over 6-4. We’ll have to make up for that with our discipline and team play.”

Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Roger Holmes (12th year)

Coaching staff: Andy Meyer

2004-05 record: 12-15 overall

League finish: Fourth

CIF playoff results: Lost first-round game

Key returners: Bryce Overend, 6-3, forward, Jr.; Troy Lewis, 6-2, forward, Jr.; Mike Kinoshita, 5-10, guard, Jr.; Sean Starkey, 6-5, forward, Sr.

Key losses: Matt Molino, first-team all-league; Jeff deLaunay.

Key newcomers: Garrett James, 5-7, guard, Fr.; David Vo, 6-0, forward, Jr.; Devin Ugland, 5-10, guard, Sr.; Brian Kay, 5-9, guard, Sr.; Rocky Rader, 5-8, guard, Sr.; Matt Goode, 6-10, center, Soph.

Season opener: at Santa Ana, 7 p.m., Monday

Team overview: “This year’s team is fairly young,” Holmes said. “We will start a freshman, three juniors and a senior, and they will need to learn how to compete at the varsity level. Four players saw good minutes last year, so hopefully, that will help. We can shoot and run. We just have to really use the pre-league schedule to get ready for a very tough league season.”

20051124iqdpu8knNo Caption20051124iqdptyknPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Laura Moore, left, drives to the basket against the defense of Karissa Blotnik during the Huntington Beach High girls’ varsity basketball practice Thursday afternoon. Below, coach Russell McClurg gives some directions to his players.