BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Rich Boyce (ninth year; 129-88)

Last year’s record: 15-13

League finish: Third

CIF results: Beat West Torrance in Division IA wild-card game; lost in first round to El Toro.

Last season’s highlights: Kyle Boswell broke Brandon Jessie’s single-season scoring record.

Returning starters: Kyle Boswell, G, Jr. first-team all-league and all-state.

The roster: Matt Viles, F, Jr.; Jordan Zumwalt, C, Jr.; Jeff Trojan, F, Jr.; Ryan Walker, C, Jr.; Ryan Smith, F/C, Jr.; Dylan Garrity, G, Soph..; Dyan Leener, F, Jr.; Max Prendergast, G, Jr.; Mike Rivera, G, Jr.; Cole Farmer, G, Sr.; Tyler Troya, G, Jr.

Key losses: Eric Ferraro (career assist leader); Carl Eberts (leading rebounder).

Team tidbits: A youthful Edison team will don new uniforms and play in a refurbished gymnasium this year. Two school records could be set in 2008-09 by Kyle Boswell (career scoring record) and Dylan Garrity (single-season assists).

Coach’s outlook: “We carry only one senior so we are very young and inexperienced,” Rich Boyce said. “However, I believe we are very talented and hard working so I like the upside of our team. When we get the football players up to speed and get over the injury bug, we should be very competitive.”

  Fountain Valley Barons

League: Sunset

Head coach: Chris Gray (sixth year)

Last year’s record: 11-15

League finish: Fifth

Last season’s highlights: Took second-place at Buena Vista Tournament

Returning starters: Artie O’Keefe, G, captain, Sr.

The roster: Chris Lee, G, Sr.; Niles Marquez, F., Sr.; Nyko Gonzalez, F, Sr.; Nam Pham, G, Jr.; Robbie Daquilla, G, Jr..

Key losses: Johnny Camarena; Rory Rodriguez.

Team tidbits: Successful fundraising events held during the summer has allowed the Barons a trip to Maui for holiday tournament play later this month.

Coach’s outlook: “We will be an aggressive hardworking team that will emphasize defense and teamwork,” Chris Gray said.

  Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sea View

Head coach: Fabian Luna (third year; 37-18)

Last year’s record: 23-5

League finish: Second

CIF results: reached second-round of Division IA playoffs.

Last season’s highlights: Reached No. 7 ranking in Division IA poll; won Spaulding Invitational tournament in Kona, Hawaii.

Returning starters: Zach Kimber, G., Sr. first-team all-league: Nick Neser, G., Sr., second-team all-league; Neil Negrette, C, Sr.

The roster: Vincent Oe, G., Soph.; David Swarz, F, Sr.; Robert Clark, G, Sr.; Jordan Castaneda, G, Soph.; Dirk Cason, G, Soph.; Jordan Reise, G, Soph.; Mackey Clustka, F, Soph.; Michael Goodall, G, Jr.; Nicholas Head, F, Jr.; Drew Valles, G, Sr.; Clint Vis, C, Soph.

Key losses: Nick Becker (school career scoring leader, first-team all-league); Trevor Carroll (first-team all-league).

Team tidbits: The Oilers moved to Division IIA beginning this year and have new players on the roster in David Swartz (Fountain Valley), Robert Clark (Liberty Christian), Jordan Castaneda (Cypress) and Dirk Cason (JSerra). Last year, Swarz was first-team all-league, Clark league MVP and all-CIF and Castaneda honorable mention all-league.

Coach’s outlook: “This could be one of the most balanced and talented teams Huntington Beach has ever had,” Fabian Luna said. “The team has some very young athletic and talented players that will give some quality minutes off the bench. This team has great guard play and can shoot and defend. The post play is also expected to be very strong and makes us a very tough match up for other teams.”

  Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Roger Holmes (15th year)

Last year’s record: 14-14

League finish: Fourth

CIF results: Lost to Tustin in first-round of playoffs

Last season’s highlights: Led the country in three-point baskets made; finished with second-most all-time three-point baskets made by a team (388), second only to Marina’s all-time record of 437.

Returning starters (3): Brendan Holmes, G, Jr., first-team all-league; Garrett James, G, Sr., first-team all-league; Tyler James, G, Jr.

The roster: Steven Murray, F, Sr.; Ryan Lehane, F, Sr.; Jacob Tricarico, C, Sr.; J.P. Lichtenberger, G, Sr.; Dana Gomez, C, Jr.; J.J. James, G, Fr.; Gedas Vegys, G, Soph.; Hunter Stevens, F, Soph.; Tommy Diecidue, G, Jr.; Nathan Hoffman, F, Jr.; Delano Douglas, G, Jr.; Kyle Oda, G, Sr.

Team tidbits: Marina used an offensive game plan called, “The System,” last year and never let up, running from end line to end line. Brendan Holmes, son of Head Coach Roger Holmes, led the nation in three-point baskets made and finished second on the State’s all-time list for three-pointers made in a season; Garrett James is a two-time first-team all-league player; Tyler James dished out 138 assists last year as a sophomore.

Coach’s outlook: “We are pretty skilled and athletic,” Roger Holmes said. “We have some seasoned players who should help us through tough games and provide the kind of leadership that we will need to be successful. The Sunset League is tough and balanced as usual, and we will have to be playing as a solid unit by the time January rolls around. Believe it or not, we will be playing at a faster pace than we have the last couple of years. We are in a modified version of ‘The System’ that emphasizes even more speed and playing fast.”

  Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Co-coaches: Jim Harris (31st year; 591-242; Jimmy Harris (12th year, 252-77)

Last year’s record: 23-7

League finish: Champions (10-0)

CIF results: Reached round of elite eight in Division IIA.

Last season’s highlights: Won San Luis Obispo Tournament; fourth-place at own Tournament of Champions; team trip to Hawaii and fifth-place tournament finish; won league title; second-round playoff road win at Paso Robles.

Returning starters: Avery Johnson, G, Jr., 2009 league MVP

The roster: Anthony Brown, G., Jr., honorable mention all-league; Ryan Okwudibonye, C, Jr.; Billy Keller, G, Soph., honorable mention all-league; Steven Yoon, G, Jr.; Mason Jones, G/F, Sr.; Aaron Delgado, G, Jr.; Chris Martinez, F, Jr.; Trey Gourdine, F/C, Soph.; Jake Demers. F/C, Jr.; Christian Rivera, G, Fr.; Andrew Shigemasa, G/F, Jr.; Kevin Wilson, F, Sr.; Keith DeLawder, F., Sr.

Key Losses: Brandon Ishimoto, league MVP, All-CIF; Takeshi Clifford, league MVP; Steve Smith, second-team all-league; Anthony Pancoast, second-team all-league; Cameron Holz.

Team tidbits: Ocean View is just nine wins shy of reaching the 600 victory plateau in the program’s rich history.

Coach’s outlook: “The 2008-09 team is one of great promise,” Jim Harris said. “Very athletic, young and eager. Transition game will be very good. Very versatile and quick. This team could progress to be exceptional.”