CIF-SS Large Enrollment Division
Preview:
Sunset League 2001-02--(Nov.2, 2001)
| SUNSET LEAGUE Edison Esperanza Fountain Valley Huntington Beach Los Alamitos Marina |
The Sunset League is one of Orange County's strongest and toughest leagues, each year featuring some of the best players in the region. Los Al has been at the top of the league standings for at least the last five years, and this year they will return some excellent players. Players to watch include Eric Yarger and Glenn Jones. For Fountain Valley, look for Kevin Edmunds, a solid prospect as well. Marina doesn't feature a marquee player, but they have some excellent athletes and will contend for a title. Esperanza has played together all summer and fall (as the "Aztecs") and they should return Mark Lovein (a great name for an excellent athlete). Edison will move up a lot of JV guys but also have plenty of experienced players returning. And as for Huntington Beach, the only team in the league which didn't make last season's playoffs, we really have no idea who will be returning. Schedules and partial rosters listed below, in order of league finish from last season (not alphabetically).
Update 11/27/01: The Long Beach Press Telegram's "Prep Sports" section (also a website) featured it's boys' basketball prep previews today and yesterday (11/26 & 11/27), and among the leagues and teams featured was a brief rundown by staff writers James Melroy and Ted Kian on the Sunset League. Here's the excerpt on the Sunset League which can be found as part of the story in the link above:
For the last five seasons, Los Alamitos has won the league title. It appears that No.‚6 could be a possibility. The Griffins return two all-league selections in guard Mark Lotman and forward Borissa Nadazdin. Lotman, a senior, averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds a game, while Nadazdin, a junior, averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds. Los Alamitos will have to contend with strong challenges from Esperanza and Fountain Valley.
| Sunset League Rosters | Sunset League Schedules |
| Los
Alamitos--10-0, 18-6, (1st) "Griffins" Returning players anticipated to include: Update 11/28/01: The OC Register published their Sunset League preview (print version only, not on the web, so we have to type this stuff in). Here's what the paper had to say about Los Al: Coach: Russ May (2nd year 18-11) Returners: Newcomers to watch: Outlook: With last season's league co-MVP's--Brian Rakusin [Claremont Mudd] and Eddie Courtemarche [also at CMC]--having graduated, the Griffins might not go 10-0 in Sunset games like they did last season. But they return several experienced and talented players and will ahve a good chance to successfully defend their league championship.
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Los Alamitos Coach: Russ May N 28 El Toro |
| Fountain Valley -- 7-3,
16-10 (2nd) "Barons" Returning players anticipated to
include: Update 11/28/01: The OC Register published their version of the Sunset League preview, and here's what the paper had to say about Fountain Valley, which the coaches in the league pick to finish 3rd, behind Los Al and Esperanza: Coach: Chris Madigan (2nd year, 17-11) Returners: Newcomers to Watch: Outlook: Not an expecially tall team, but one with quickness and versatility. It was a surprise the Barons won 17 last season, but it won't be a surprise if they win that many or more this season.
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Fountain Valley Coach: Chris Madigan D 01 Los Amigos |
| Marina--5-5, 11-16 (3rd
tie) "Vikings" As of Nov. 2, we anticipate returning players will include: Matt Costello 5'-9" Sr. G Updated 11/22/01: Here's what the LA Times' "Huntington Beach Independent" wrote about teh Marina team in their local prep preview: SCHOOL: Marina Vikings Update 11/28/01: The OC Register published their version of the above, and they listed a couple more players as returners, including Brian Riley 6'-3" Sr. F, a player that we had as a returner, but the Times missed. The Register listed the same players as "Newcomers to watch" as the Times listed as "Key Players." Maybe they should be called "Key Newcomers to Watch." Whatever..... The Register did noted however that the coaches picked Marina to finish 4th in league, behind Los Al, Esperanza and Fountain Valley.
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Marina Coach: Roger Holmes N 26 Laguna Beach |
| Esperanza--5-5,
12-14 (3rd tie) "Aztecs" Returning players anticipated to include: Burke Spencer 5'-9" Sr. G Kyule Aurelio 5'-8" Jr. G Braden Porter 6'-0" Jr. G Mark Davidson 6'-5" Jr. F Mark Lovein 6'-7" Jr. F Mike Davis 6'-1" So. G Jesse Hills 6'-7" Jr. C Art Darien 5'-8" So. G Cory Hayashi 5'-10" Sr. G Updated 11/28/01: This is from the OC Register's preview of the Sunset League (print version only, not on the Register's website): Coach: John Cyrus (6th year, 69-71) Returners: Newcomers to watch: Outlook: Cyrus likes the combination of talent and team spirit on the Aztecs roster. They should compete for the league title [Note, the coaches in the league picked the team to finish second, behind Los Alamitos].
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Esperanza Coach: John Cyrus N 26-30 @ Loara Tourn |
| Edison--4-6, 10-16
(5th) "Chargers" We anticipate the returning players will include: Beau Roquemore 6'-0" Sr. G Edison graduated 6 seniors, and will be moving up a lot of JV guys if our prediction is correct. Update 11/22/01: The LA Times featured it's OC local team preview in their local paper, the Huntington Beach Independent. Here's what the paper had on Edison, which is a bit more current than what we anticipated above when we posted our preview 20 days earlier: SCHOOL: Edison Chargers KEY PLAYERS: OUTLOOK: Boyce begins his second year with a young team looking to make some noise in the Sunset League race. "We are young but we play hard," he said. "We should be a very competitive team by the time league play rolls around." The OC Register's "Outlook" for the team stated: "The Chargers are young and lack returning varsity experience. Boyce said they will need to execute well on offense to win. " The coaches in the league pick them to finish last.
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Edison Coach: Rich Boyce N 26 Santa Ana Valley |
| Huntington
Beach--0-10, 8-18 (6th) As of 11/2/01: No roster information available. Thanks to the LA Times' Huntington Beach Independent (one of the Times' many local papers), here's what we now know: SCHOOL: Huntington Beach Oilers OUTLOOK: "We hope to gain experience through our postseason schedule and be competitive in league play," Alvarez said. The Register's "Outlook" had the following observation: "Alvarez hopes that an improved attitude and a good summer program have set the foundation for an improved season for the Oilers."
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Huntington Beach Coach: Richard Alvarez N 27 @ Newport Harbor |
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