CIF-SS Small Enrollment Division
Preview:
Agape League 2001-02--(Nov. 3, 2001)
| AGAPE LEAGUE Antelope Valley Christian Apple Valley Christian Bethel Christian/Lancaster Hesperia Christian Joshua Springs Victor Valley Christian |
The Agape League is usually kind of a mystery. One of the smallest enrollment leagues tucked way up in the Lancaster and high desert region, news of these teams during the season rarely leaks out and with reduced coverage from the LA Times, we're not expecting to hear much from these schools until playoff time. We have only scant roster information on some of the schools and others we have absolutely nothing except a schedule. Antelope Valley Christian has won the league for the last four or five years in a row, and they've also somehow managed each season to make it to the semis or the finals of Division V-A playoffs. Last year they made it to the finals again and were beaten pretty soundly by Price, which just demonstrated how much difference there is between a school like price and the rest of the teams at the lowest enrollment levels. Usually one or two solid players is enough to get a team a league title... With Price, it's been scary to think about 10 or more guys who can all play, some at the Division I college level. Antelope Valley Christian is going to be way down this year in terms of overall talent, but Jeremiah Nurse and Joshua Ledford will provide some depth, otherwise the team is really raw. Apple Valley Christian picked up two key transfers in Kevin and Josh Dillon and should be much improved. And as we said, we know next to nothing about anyone else. But at least we have schedules.
| Agape League Rosters | Agape League Schedules |
| Antelope Valley Christian--10-0,
18-6 (1st) "Eagles" Returning players include: Jeremiah Nurse 5'-10" So. G |
Antelope Valley Christian Coach: David Nurse N 26 Immanuel Christian |
| Joshua Springs--6-4,
12-10 (2nd) "Lightning" Returning players include: Nathan Rynning 6'-0" So. G Chris Rowe 5'-5" Sr. G Ulysses Gamboa 6'-0" Sr. G Isaiah Hagerman 6'-3" Sr. C Justin Peterson 6'-1" Jr. F (lost four seniors to graduation) |
Joshua Springs Coach: Derek Bogue D 04 @ Yucca Valley |
| Apple Valley Christian--6-4, 16-6 (2nd tie) Returning players should include: Ryan Manahl 5'-11" Jr. F Key transfers include: Kevin Dillon 6’1” Jr. G |
Apple Valley Christian Coach: Rick Huff N 27 @ Lucerne Valley |
| Hesperia
Christian--6-4, 14-8 (2nd tie) Coach Bickley has been tied up coaching football at Hesperia Christian, but we heard from someone else affiliated with the school who sent us the following updated information: "Here is a possible list of varsity players for this season. The varsity is only losing two seniors from last year's squad: Chris Rehrer, starting point guard and Chris Allen, starting shooting guard. Returning varsity players: Nate Patterson 6'3" Jr C Junior Varsity with a chance to make varsity: Stephen Pappas 5'10" So. SG Others with a chance to make varsity: Luke Sullivan 6'7" Sr C "Hesperia Christian took second place in the Agape League tied with Joshua Springs and Apple Valley Christian. They lost in the 1st round of CIF play-offs to Desert Christian Bermuda Dunes 50-45. They return three junior starters, Patterson, Glass and McDonald. McDonald and Glass are their designated three point shooters and when they are hot the Patriots don't lose. The question is whether Coach Chad Bickley can get a good performance out of those two stars each night. Patterson is stronger and improvd over last year. At the two guard positions, three guys will fight it out. Trevor Wagstaffe played varsity last year backing up Chris Rehrer. Wagstaffe is a good defender and great passer but still needs some work on improving his dribbling skills and becoming the playmaker the Patriots need. Josh Hamilton will also vie for one of those two spots. Hamilton is a good shooter and dribbler. Junior Aaron Garcia will also contend for a starting position. Senior David Little also could become the number six man. As a team, HCS has to improve its rebounding skills as most of their losses came from failure to get more than one shot on the offensive side of the court." Sounds like a pretty complete preview. . . . |
Hesperia Christian Coach: Chad Bickley N 27 Rio Hondo Prep |
| Victor Valley Christian--2-8, 10-13 (5th) Eric Belton 5'-9" Sr. G Update 12/03/01: Coach Marcus Quarles sent us his roster information: This is Marcus Quarles, Varsity Boys Basketball coach at Victor Valley Christian School. Here's some info on the team. This will be my first full year as a varsity coach. Here's this year's roster: Chavez, Luis Sr.G 5’11” 175 4 potential starters transferred out of the school for this year, one of them an all CIF selection, Aja Ajanwachuku, so we are a little depleted in the area of personnel. With only 2 returning varsity players, Mark Millner and Mike Hofflinger, this year is kind of up in the air. In spite of this there is talent here, but its raw. How much they can learn will determine how far we go. We had a decent but sloppy first outing against a weak opponent in AAE. In winning 79-33 we forced 34 turnovers (but gave up 16), Mark Millner had 35 points (8 3's), and Luis Chavez had 11 steals.
|
Victor Valley Christian Coach: Marcus Quarles D 4-8 @ Hesperia Chr Tourn |
| Bethel Christian/Lancaster--0-10, 2-15 (6th) | Bethel Christian/Lancaster Coach: TBA N 27 @ Boron |
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