Boys’ Basketball Previews

Tipoff for the 2013-14 prep boys’ basketball season is just a few days away, with several local schools starting their respective seasons Saturday at the Coaches for a Cause event at Ocean View High.

The event, which benefits the Jimmy V Foundation For Cancer Research, features eight games (seven boys’ games) starting at 8 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. Included in the field of participating schools are the boys’ teams from Ocean View, Fountain Valley, Marina and Liberty Christian. The Ocean View girls’ team also will play in the event.

Saturday’s schedule: 8 a.m.: Liberty Christian vs. Sage Hill; 9:30 a.m.: Magnolia vs. Capistrano Valley Christian; 11 a.m.: Santa Ana Calvary Chapel vs. St. Margaret’s; 12:30 p.m.: Ocean View girls’ vs. Westminster La Quinta; 2 p.m.: Fountain Valley vs. Troy; 3:30 p.m.: Marina vs. Dominguez; 5 p.m.: Dana Hills vs. Warren; 6:30 p.m.: Villa Park vs. Bishop Montgomery; 8 p.m.: Ocean View vs. Mission Viejo.

Below is a capsule look at the local prep boys’ basketball teams for 2013-14.

Edison Chargers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Rich Boyce (14th year)

Coaching staff: Chris Gray, Jeff Harrell

Last year’s records: 17-12 overall; 6-4 league (second)

2013 CIF results: Reached second-round Division 1A playoffs.

Last league title won: 2011

Returning varsity players: *Brae Ivey, G, Jr. (13.6 ppg., first-team all-league, second-team all-CIF-SS); *AJ Garrity, F, Jr. (8.8 ppg.); *Derek Molina, F, Jr. (10.2 ppg.); *Jake Haar, G, Jr. (8.1 ppg.); Nick Rubio, F, Sr.; Austin Gannon, F, Sr. (*denotes returning starter).

Varsity newcomers: Randall Walker, G., Fr.; Nate Matthews, G, Fr.; Sagar Telang, F, Jr.; Jeremiah Lewis, F, Jr.; Garrett White, F, Soph.; Ryan Clapp, F, Jr.

Coach’s take: “We are not very tall but shoot the ball well,” Boyce said. “Guard play will be our key.”

The schedule: The Chargers play in three tournaments in preseason at Corona del Mar, the Maui Classic in Hawaii, and the Coast Classic at Estancia before the end of the year.

Season opener: Tuesday , 7 p.m., home vs. Palos Verdes.

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Fountain Valley Barons

League: Sunset

Head coach: Roger Holmes (fourth year)

Coaching staff: Brendan Holmes and Aren Baghdassarian

Last year’s records: 20-7 overall; 8-2 league (champion)

2013 CIF results: Lost first-round Division 1AA playoffs to defending CIF champ Inglewood.

Last league title: 2013

Returning varsity players: Jacob Meyer, F, Sr.; Richard Le, G, Sr.; Chris Meyer, F, Soph.

Varsity newcomers: Calvin Le, G, Soph.; James Philhower, F, Soph.; Nathan Hong, F, Soph.; Shea Sueda, G, Soph.; Aria Hossein, G, Soph.; Ryan Fusco, G, Jr.; Luke Jacobson, G, Jr.; Cory Bitzer, G, Sr.; Jordan Venters, F, Sr.; John Volkert, G, Sr.; Nick Dang, G, Sr.; Jordan Dettloff, F, Sr.; Gustavo Gallardo, G, Sr.; Travis Lam, G, Sr.

Coach’s take: “This year’s team will be a work in progress,” said Holmes who begins his 35th year of coaching. “We are extremely young and have no real size. We graduated 97% of our scoring and will be looking for leaders to emerge. This group is very athletic, loves to run and can shoot the ball. We are hoping with the experience we gain in our pre-league schedule, we will be competitive in league.”

The schedule: The Barons will head to Florida in December for the KSA Classic, and also take part in the Sunset League vs. Pacific Coast League game series after the first of the year.

Season opener: Saturday , 2 p.m., vs. Troy (Coaches for a Cause, Ocean View High).

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Huntington Beach Oilers

League: Sunset

Head coach: Fabian Luna (eighth year)

Coaching staff: Robert Deck; Brian Gee; Roy Miller.

Last year’s records: 17-11 overall; 5-5 league (fourth)

2013 CIF results: Reached second round Division 1A playoffs.

Last league title won: 2009

Returning varsity players: Malik Charles, G, Jr.; Ryan Chocek, F, Sr.; *Mason Luna, G, Sr. (5 ppg/3 rebs); *Ryan Morrissey, G, Sr.(9 ppg./4 rebs.); *Grant Vis, F, Jr. (6 ppg./6 rebs.); Nolan Thompson, F, Jr.; (*denotes returning starter).

Varsity newcomers: Teddy Bowers, G, Jr.; Aikeem Bright, G, Jr.; Kyle Coburn, G, Jr.; Taylor Cochran, G., Sr.; Joshua DiSandro, G, Sr.; James Foster, F, Jr.; Zackery Pannell, G, Jr.; Tanner Roche, G, Jr.

Coach’s take: “We lost two huge pieces (from) last year, but this year, we have plenty of experience and talent,” Luna said. “Overall, best team chemistry we have had in a few years and I think we will have a strong year.”

The schedule: The Oilers will play in three tournaments (El Modena/Canyon Kick-Off Classic, Charlie Wilkins Classic, Las Vegas Prep Championships), and play key nonleague games against Mission Viejo, Capistrano Valley (North/South Challenge), Corona del Mar (Sunset League/Pacific Coast League Challenge), and against Ocean View (MLK Day).

Season opener: Monday , 5 p.m., vs. Troy (El Modena-Canyon Kickoff Classic).

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Marina Vikings

League: Sunset

Head coach: Nick Racklin (third year)

Coaching staff: Nick Galloway; Jim Morris; Matt Brennan; Jamaal Lee.

Last year’s records: 7-19 overall; 1-9 league (sixth).

2013 CIF results: Did not qualify

Returning varsity players: *Derek Mallard, PG, Sr. (5.2 ppg.); Ryan Funai, F, Sr.; Mitchell Barnes, F, Jr.; *Greg Fronek Jr., G, Jr. (5.9 ppg.); Gabe Copper, G, Jr. (6.6 ppg.); Troy Ishino, G, Jr. (*denotes returning starter).

Varsity newcomers: Braden Meyers, G, Soph.; Jeffery Feit, G, Jr.; Daylan Harmeyer, G, Sr.; Daniel Neff, G, Jr.; Remi Degrat, W, Jr.; Brennon Foster, F, Jr.; Ethan Young, G, Soph.; Matt Dispenza, F, Sr.; Diego Segundo, G, Jr.; Buzz Stafford, W, Soph.; Enzo Boggio, G, Soph.

Coach’s take: “We are a deep team with great team chemistry, a little undersized, but have the ability to keep up with anyone,” Racklin said.

The schedule: The Vikings play four nonleague games including a home game against Aliso Niguel, and return to Racklin’s alma mater to play in the La Canada Holiday Classic Dec. 16-21.

Season opener: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., vs. Dominguez (Coaches for a Cause, Ocean View High).

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Ocean View Seahawks

League: Golden West

Head coach: Tim Walsh (third year)

Coaching staff: Joel Simonds, Brett Lusk, Jimmy Harris, Dan Johnson.

Last year’s records: 23-8 overall; 10-0 league (champion 15 last 16 years).

2013 CIF results: Reached semifinals Division 3A, lost (89-87) to eventual champion St. John Bosco; reached first-round State playoffs, lost to Tustin.

Returning varsity players: *Zarek Osborne, G/F, Jr.; Evan Bunin, G, Sr.; Alex Merdjanian, G, Sr.; Khemet Osborne, C, Sr. (*denotes returning starter).

Varsity newcomers: Miguel Cardoso, G, Sr.; Alex Chavez, F/C, Sr.; Angel Nieves, G, Sr.; Brenden Peach, C, Sr.; Tristan Wenschlag, F, Sr.; Jacob Womack, G, Sr.; Daniel Franklin, G, Sr.; Andrew Reynolds, G/F, Soph.; Carter Wolf, G, Jr.; Sasha Kaboli, F, Jr.

Coach’s take: “Obviously, we are going to be a lot different than we were a year ago,” said Walsh whose team in the off-season, lost 2012-13 starters Kendall Small (Mayfair), Dillon Reise (Mayfair), Tyler Burch (Westminster), and Jelani Jackson (Westminster), to transfer.

“We lost a lot of players who were key contributors and, as a result, the majority of our players lack varsity experience. However, our group of kids is one of the hardest working groups I have ever been around. They come to practice every day focused on getting better, and they have improved significantly over the past few months. Their overall character and work ethic has been incredible, and I am having the most fun I’ve had in a long time. We have a tough schedule early, and we are hoping that the challenges we face in December will give us the experience we need to be successful in league play.”

The schedule: The Seahawks’ formidable schedule has them playing Mission Viejo in the Coaches for a Cause event at Ocean View, hosting their own Jim Harris Memorial Tournament of Champions, go to Torrey Pines for holiday tourney play, take on El Toro in the North/South Challenge, play at Huntington Beach on MLK Day, and face Servite at the Nike Extravaganza.

Season opener: Saturday, 8 p.m., vs. Mission Viejo (Coaches for a Cause, Ocean View High).

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Brethren Christian Warriors

League: Academy

Head coach: Jon Bahnsen (15th year)

Coaching staff: Jamal Sampson, Chris Childress, A.J. McGregor.

Last year’s records: 24-4 overall; 10-0 league (champion)

2013 CIF results: Reached Division 5AA quarterfinals, lost to eventual champion Buckley.

Last league title: 2013 (won five-straight titles).

Returning varsity players: *Caleb Keller, G, Sr. (11.1 ppg., first-team all-league); *Brandon Bryson, G, Jr. (led state with 9.9 assists per game, 4.7 steals per game, first-team all-league); *Cameron Griffin, F, Soph (second-team all-league).; *Patrick Poss, G, Sr.; Guy Demazeliere, F, Jr.; Nate Dang, G, Jr.; Andrew Hall, G, Jr. (*denotes returning starter).

Varsity newcomers: Brandon Lee, F, Jr.; Josh Duren, F, Jr.; Andrew Glavinic, F, Jr.; Allen Ye, G, Sr.; Jack McInally, F, Sr.

Center void: The Warriors need to fill a very big absence in the middle due to the graduation last June of 7-foot-6 center Mamadou Ndiaye who is now playing at UC Irvine where he set a school and Big West Conference single-game record for blocked shots with nine (to go with 18 points and eight rebounds) in the Anteaters’ 86-72 nonconference win Nov. 14 at Washington. Ndiaye averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game last year. He was named MVP of the Academy League, was the CIF Southern Section Division 5AA Player of the Year, CIF State Division 5 Player of the Year, and John Wooden Award winner for Division 5.

Coach’s take: “We will rely on a much more up-tempo offense and pressure defense based on the personnel we have this year,” Bahnsen said. “We are excited to defend our Academy league title and play a different brand of basketball than the previous two years. “We had a very good summer, beating some very good teams. We have some very quick, athletic, and skilled players who give us to a good chance to win league for the sixth-straight year.”

The schedule: The Warriors will defend their title when they play at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in late-December, face Laguna Beach in the North/South Challenge after the New Year, and play two key league games against St. Margaret’s.

Season opener: Dec. 9, 8 p.m., vs. Hesperia Christian (La Verne Calvary Baptist Tournament).