Plenty of new faces seen on men’s team at Coast

Entering his fifth season as the Orange Coast College men’s basketball coach, Steve Spencer has learned there are two things that he must maintain in unlimited supply.

The first is a phone directory, in which to store numbers for respective players, as well as high school and college coaches who can direct him to players, or to whom he can send players to four-year programs.

The second is a drawing board, to which he must return virtually every season to try to create a cohesive, successful team worthy of his primary goal: to consistently compete for the Orange Empire Conference championship.

Spencer utilized both in preparation for this season, which began Thursday with a 83-60 loss to Antelope Valley at the Ventura Tournament.

The Pirates’ 2005-06 campaign was one to remember, as they won nine of their first 10 conference games and went on to finish 22-11, posting the most wins by an OCC squad in 19 seasons.

They were the No. 7 seed in the Southern California regional playoffs, but lost in the first round to No. 10-seeded San Bernardino Valley.

But having lost seven of the top eight scorers from last season’s roster, the inevitable community college makeover is truly in order for the Pirates in 2006-07.

Among the losses were first-team all-conference performers Lance Ortiz and Reggie Brown, both of whom are now at Cal State San Bernardino.

“Last year, most of our top guys were sophomores and they were just starting to figure some things out,” Spencer said.

Steve Cornett, a 6-foot-7 center, is the most prominent returner. He averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in a reserve role as a freshman.

Cameron Wise, a 6-2 sophomore from Riverside who averaged 2.4 points in 32 games, is the only other returner who played significant minutes.

“The rest of the guys are new, so we know there are going to be some bumps in the road,” Spencer said. “But I’d say it’s the hardest-working team I’ve had and it also has the best team chemistry. Those are always good things to have.”

Like last year, Spencer said he will continue to play most of his 16-player roster.

“There’s no one I’m afraid to put in the game,” Spencer said.

By the same token, with eight players no taller than 6-1 and only two (6-5 Tyler Hentzen and Cornett) taller than 6-4, the Pirates’ roster won’t evoke fear from any opponent.

“We’re the smallest we’ve ever been, but we shoot the ball well,” Spencer said.

Cornett, whom Spencer expects to take a prominent role, gives the Pirates a productive weapon in the paint.

“He’s not the biggest, strongest, fastest or the best jumper,” Spencer said. “But he has skill and some good fundamentals. He’s going to have to do more for us and take on more responsibility.”

Spencer said 6-1 Casey Ngo, 6-1 Shaun Engle, 6-0 Miguel Gonzalez and 5-9 Tres Saldivar would round out his starting five, at least early on.

Ngo is out of Ocean View High, while Gonzalez played at Huntington Beach and Engle at Dana Hills.

Saldivar is an import from Juneau, Alaska, where he played at Douglas High, the same school that produced former Duke and current NBA standout Carlos Boozer.

Saldivar was also a heralded football player in high school. He rushed for 351 yards to lead the Crimson Bears to a 49-29 win in the state large schools title game to earn USA Today National Player of the Week recognition.

Saldivar and Ngo earned praise from Spencer for their defensive acumen.

Josh Poitevin, a 5-11 freshman out of Capistrano Valley High, and Brian Gee, a 6-3 freshman from Huntington Beach, have impressed Spencer with their shooting ability.

Spencer said former Fountain Valley High standouts Thomas Lopez, a 6-2 sophomore, and Shaun Campbell, a 6-3 freshman, are the team’s best athletes. But it has been four years since Campbell’s senior prep campaign and Thomas has sat out at least the last two seasons, Spencer said.

“Any time you don’t play organized basketball, there is going to be some rust you’re going to have to work out,” Spencer said.

Diego Delgado, Costa Mesa High product Brian Molina, a four-year starter with the Mustangs who shared Golden West League MVP honors last season, and Mario Caetano are all freshmen who should provide depth in the backcourt, Spencer said.

Caetano helped Del Norte High reach the New Mexico state title game last season.

Spencer said Hentzen, out of Brea Olinda High, is a diamond in the rough inside, while Nicholas Milan, a 6-4 freshman from Hawaii, could be a pleasant surprise once he returns to health after battling a knee injury.

Spencer said Saddleback and Riverside are the leading Orange Empire title contenders.

“On paper, we’re not as good as some other teams,” Spencer said. “But they don’t play the season on paper.”