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SoCalHoops High School Previews

San Diego Previews: Citrus West
League Preview--(Dec. 5, 2003)

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What:  

CIF San Diego Section HS
Basketball Previews

When:  

2003-2004 Season

     

This year, as in years past, our San Diego Previews are brought to you courtesy of the San Diego Basketball Coaches' Association.   Much of the material which follows in this and other related articles will have already found its way to various newspapers in San Diego, including the SD Union Tribune.   We haven't checked the papers, and even if they do publish some of this stuff, the info will likely be formatted differently....but that's beside the point.  We want to pass the info along, in a semi-timely fashion, so we're not going to procrastinate any longer. And before you ask, we can't exactly explain who the SDBCA really is, or who had input into putting this stuff together.  Just know this:  We didn't do it, so if you disagree or think this stuff is just too wacky, well, blame them, not us.  And if it happens to be an accurate prediction of how the season turns out, then of course, we're going to take all the credit.

Here's the San Diego Citrus West League Preview, team by team, in the order of predicted finish:.

Citrus West League

1) Lutheran (Division 5, San Diego)

Head Coach: Michael Heidtbrink (5th Year)
Last year’s record: 17 – 9 (12 – 0, 1st)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1st Round.
Key players: Brandon Buckalew (Sr, 6’05"), Andrew Roan (Jr, 6’04"), Seth Heidtbrink (Sr, 5’08"), Rory Blas (Sr, 6’00")
Losses to overcome: Eric Kasaty (graduation)
Summary: The loss of Kasaty will hurt the Knights interior game, but Buckalew can score a bunch of points either inside or outside. The Knights should be a strong contender for the CIF championship.

2) Mountain Empire (Division 4, Pine Valley)

Head Coach: Steve Wilson (1st Year)
Last year’s record: 14 – 8 (8 – 2, 2nd in Citrus East)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1st Round.
Key players: Jonathan Papin (Sr, 6’04"), Jason Tucker (Sr, 6’00"), Tommy Lanier (Sr, 5’10")
Losses to overcome: David Laff (graduation), Mo Hall (graduation)
Summary: The Redhawks suffered some tough losses to graduation, but have an experienced and balanced team returning.
Papin is a solid inside player while Lanier and Tucker form a quality backcourt. Should have enough to challenge Lutheran for the league title.

3) Calvary Christian (Division 5, Vista)

Head Coach: David Piester (3rd Year)
Last year’s record: 15 – 8 (8 – 4, 3rd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: David Lopez (Jr, 5’09"), Alex Captain (Sr, 6’01"), Jake Savicki (Sr, 5’11")
Losses to overcome: None
Summary: The Lions return a scrappy, experienced team that should fight for the league title all year long.

4) San Pasqual Academy (Division 5, Escondido)

Head Coach: Nick Goedhart (2nd Year)
Last year’s record: 8 – 13 (4 – 8, 4th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1st Round.
Key players: Josue Ledesma (So, 6’03"), Diondre Grisby (Jr, 5’09"), Joe Martinez (Jr, 5’10")
Losses to overcome: Tim Kanady (graduation)
Summary: The Dragons should be improved and poised to contend for the league title. Ledesma gives them size up front, while Martinez and Grisby form a solid backcourt.

5) Midway Baptist (Division 5, San Diego)

Head Coach: Chuck Rheam (2nd Year)
Last year’s record: 16 – 8 (9 – 3, 2nd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Semi-finals.
Key players: Anthony Medina (Sr, 6’00"), Isaiah Warner (Sr, 6’00"), Ryan Neff (Sr, 5’08")
Losses to overcome: Zeth Oates (graduation), Matthew Turner (transferred to Horizon)
Summary: Loss of Oates and Turner are significant blows to the Patriots. Medina and Warner form a solid duo but lack of size is a concern.

6) Guajome Park (Division 4, Vista)

Head Coach: Keith Howard (3rd Year)
Last year’s record: 6 – 18 (2 – 10, 7th)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Dominique Singleton (Sr, 5’11"), Bryan Montalvo (Sr, 5’10")
Losses to overcome: None
Summary: The Bulldogs should be improved behind the backcourt of Singleton and Montalvo, but still lack the size to compete for the league crown.

7) San Diego Academy (Division 5, National City)

Head Coach: Chris Morris (1st Year)
Last year’s record: 4 – 16 (3 – 9, tied for 5th)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Nick Coffey (Sr, 6’00"), Jonathan Santos (Sr, 6’02"), Ricky Sarmiento (Jr, 5’11")
Losses to overcome: Jonathan Saravia (graduation)
Summary: Coffey returns for the Cavaliers, but an overall lack of size and experience will make for a challenging season.

8) Escondido Adventist (Division 5, Escondido)

Head Coach: Doug Zimmerman (1st Year)
Last year’s record: 5 – 17 (3 – 9, tied for 5th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1st Round.
Key players: Joe Davis (Jr, 5’09")
Losses to overcome: Gian Caballero (graduation)
Summary: Looking to improve on last year’s showing, but may end up a long year.

Player of the Year:

Brandon Buckalew (Lutheran)

All-Citrus West League:

Brandon Buckalew (Lutheran)
Josue Ledesma (San Pasqual Academy)
David Lopez (Calvary Christian)
Anthony Medina (Midway Baptist)
Jonathan Papin (Mountain Empire)


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