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CIF-SS Small Enrollment Division Preview:
Camino Real League 2001-02--(Nov. 3, 2001)

CAMINO REAL LEAGUE
Cantwell Sacred Heart
Don Bosco
Mary Star
St Anthony
St Monica
Verbum Dei                                    

Few small-enrollment leagues are as competitive as the Camino Real League.  Verbum Dei is always loaded, and this year will be no different as they not only return several All-CIF and D-I college prospects, including Richard Chaney who has committed to Utah, but they also return legendary alum David Greenwood, who also led UCLA to national titles under coach John Wooden and also played a long and successful career in the NBA.   St. Anthony is usually tough, but last year suffered a letdown following a 1999-2000 Southern Section V-AA title run, failing to make the playoffs in 2000-01.  This year they pick up a returning transfer Ryan Hynes, a strong, tough young man who will help inside, and they also have David Rhoiney who has committed to Navy.  St. Monica, another strong team for the past few years, graduated all five starters and gets a new coach as well, and both Mary Star and Don Bosco Tech also are looking to make some noise this year.   Cantwell, well they are a mystery to us, a) because we don't have a roster, and b) because they haven't been to the playoffs in quite a while.  At least we have schedules.  We're not making any predictions, but clearly at this point, Verbum Dei is the defending league champ and it's their's to lose. 

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 Camino Real League (which they called the "El Camino Real").  Here's the excerpt on the league which can be found as part of the story in the link above:

Defending champion Verbum Dei should have enough talent to repeat, but St. Anthony could be the interesting story of the league. Returning for the Saints are David Rhoiney, who has committed to Navy, and Ricky Redic, a 6-4 junior swingman who had a solid sophomore season. Mary Star graduated its leading scorer from last season in Jack Kalmeta. The Stars will depend on senior guard Chris Cosgrove and junior forward Chris Navarre for leadership. 

Camino Real League Rosters Camino Real League  Schedules
Verbum Dei--10-0, 20-5 (1st) "Eagles"

Verb returns David Greenwood as coach and this could be big because in his prior two complete seasons at the helm, Verbum Dei won two State Championships.

Returning players should include: 

DeShalan Barber 6'-5" Sr. F/G
Ameer Muhammad 6'-2" Sr. G
DeAngelo BiJore 5'-10" Sr. G
David Guerrero 6'-3" Sr. F
Alex Banks 6'-2" Jr. G
Richard Chaney 6'-4" Sr. G --(Utah)
Kendall Oliver 6'-4" Sr. F
Duran Cooley 6'-0" Jr. G
Michael Bell 6'-3" Jr. G
Martin Starr 6'-8" Sr. C

Verb graduated only 2 seniors, but have lost a few to transfer: Deon Marcus 6'-8" Sr. F (transferred to Lynwood) and James Matthews-Muhammad 6'-8" Sr. C (transferred to LA Fremont).  The big myster is who else will show up or rise from the JV level.

Verbum Dei
Coach: David Greenwood

N 28 @ Muir
D 3-8 @ Los Alamitos Tourn
10-15 @ Ocean View Tourn
26-30 @ Modesto Chr Tourn
J 05 Price
09 *Bosco Tech
11 *St ANthony
16 @ *St Monica
18 @ *Cantwell Scrd Heart
19 @ Lynwood
23 *Mary Star
25 @ *Bosco Tech
30 @ *St Anthony
F 01 *St Monica
04 *Cantwell Scrd Heart
06 @ *Mary Star

St. Monica--8-2, 19-7 (2nd) "Mariners"

St. Monica gets a new coach too, Chris Quinn, but lost all five starters.   The Mariners also have a great new basketball website, with complete rosters, stats, schedules, and other news and notes.  Worth a read...

This year's roster includes:

Ben Agatep 5' 10"  Sr. G
Ricky Butler 6' 3" So. G
Brandon Cruz 6' 2" Jr F
Kyle Guillory 6' 5" Jr. G/F
Brenn Hamaguchi 5' 10" Jr. G
Matt Liederboch 6' 6" Jr. F
Earl Mercadel 6' 0" So. G
Phil Minter 5' 8" Sr. G
Adrian Nevarez 6' 5" Sr. F
Hampton Nunely 6' 3" Sr. G
Jacque Owens 6' 1" Sr. G
Nic Premoli 6' 2" Jr. G
Matt Tanios 5' 10" Sr. G

Hampton Nunley is a special kind of player, not especially tall, and kind of thin, but the coaching staff will ask him to do things above and beyond the call of duty as the most experienced returning player. Hampton was All-CIF 2nd team (IV-A) last season as a sixth man on the team,  so opposing coaches took some notice. Others will have to step up though for St. Monica's to have the same kind of succes.  

St Monica
Coach: Chris Quinn

N-26/D-1 @ Redondo Pac Shores Tourn
D 3-8 @ El Segundo Tourn
14 Murphy
18 @ Crossroads
26-28 @ La Salle Tourn
J 02 Brentwood
09 @ *St Anthony
11 @ *Cantwell Scrd Heart
16 *Verbum Dei
18 @ *Mary Star
23 @ *Bosco Tech
25 *St Anthony
30 *Cantwell Scrd Heart
F 01 @ *Verbum Dei
04 *Mary Star
06 *Bosco Tech

St. Anthony--6-5, 11-15 (3rd)

We're not sure who sent us this information, but the roster for the 2001-02 year was anticipated to have the following players back in October:

Troy Jefferson 5'8'' Fr. PG
Lauren Brown 6'2'' Sr. PG/SG
Fransico Torres 5'10'' Jr. SG/PG
Ryan Hynes 6'-7'' Jr. C
Eugene Gandia 6'-3'' Jr. F
Larry Watkins 6'-5'' Sr. F
Chris Woodley 6'-8'' Jr. F/C
Ricky Redic 6'4'' Jr. SF/SG
David Rhoiney 6'0'' Sr. SG/PG
Maurice Berry 6'3'' So. F
Brandon Coleman 5'10'' Jr. PG
Jarrell Williams 6'5'' Jr. SF/PF
Rommel Castaneto 6'2'' Sr. SG

Since receiving this roster however, we've heard that Lauren Brown is looking to transfer to another school and that Ryan Hynes, who transferred back to St. Anthony's from up north has also since left. We haven't really been able to confirm what's going on at St. Anthony's but rumors are rampant that the team is in some kind of disarray.  In any event, this should be a pretty solid team if everyone shows up.

In addition to Brown and Hynes, Jarrell Williams and  Chris Woodley are two transfer who come from LB Poly, and are reported to be very athletic.  David Rhoiney committed to Navy over the summer, and Ricky Redic is a player looking to have a breakout season.  We'll see who actually shows up for the Saints when the season begins.

 

St Anthony
Coach: Joe Luyben

N-26/D-1 @ Brethren Chr Tourn
D 3-7 @ El Rancho Tourn
14 Chadwick
19 @ St Margaret’s
20 Trinity, Australia
26-29 St Anthony Tourn
J 09 *St Monica
11 @ *Verbum Dei
16 @ *Mary Star
18 *Bosco Tech
23 *Cantwell Scrd Heart
25 @ *St Monica
30 *Verbum Dei
F 01 *Mary Star
04 @ *Bosco Tech
06 @ *Cantwell Scrd Heart

Mary Star--5-6, 8-19 (4th) "Stars"

Mary Star is well-coached, but graduated Jack Kalmeta, their leading scorer last season.  Still they return a lot of experienced players.  We don't anticipate a league title, but they should do better and make the playoffs this year given the relative parity in the league after Verbum Dei.

Chris Cosgrove  6'-1" Sr. G
Jesse Urias  5'-8" Sr. G
Chris Navarre  6'-2" Jr. F
Sam Mannino  6'-0" Sr. G
Jonathan Phillips  6'-0" So. G
Duje Tomic  6'-2" Sr. F
Vince Wrtaza  5'-8" Jr. G
Bryan Stahl  6'-0" Jr. F
Jeff Fiamengo  5'-8" So. G
Andrew Vidovich  6'-1" Sr. G/F

Mary Star
Coach: Andrew Furuto

N 30 Flintridge Prep
D 3-8 @ Valley Chr/C Tourn
11 @ Pacifica
14 @ St Bernard
17-22 @ Garden Grove Tourn
26-29
@ Village Chr Tourn
J 04 @ Malibu
09 *Cantwell Scrd Heart
11 @ *Don Bosco
16 *St Anthony
18 *St Monica
23 @ *Verbum Dei
25 @ *Cantwell Scrd Heart
30 *Bosco Tech
F 01 @ *St Anthony
04 @ *St Monica
06 *Verbum Dei

Don Bosco Tech--1-9, 4-18 (5th)

Jake Martinez 6’0" Sr. G
Cesar Gerardo 5’10" So. G
Joaquin Espana 6’1" Sr. G
Jameson Balinget 5’11" Sr. F
Brian Womack 6’9" Sr. C
Jack Bautista 5’11" So. F
Damien Reyes 5’10" Jr. G
Zack Alvarez 5’10" Jr. G
Alex Valdez 6’1" So. F

Don Bosco Tech Tigers are coached by David Martinez who begins his second year at the helm of the varsity program. Coach Martinez is looking to improve on last year’s 5th place finish, and all five starters return to help. The team features a core of experienced seniors supported by some talented sophomores. Two time all-league Joaquin Espana (9 ppg) returns, as do starters Jake Martinez,  Jameson Balinget, Brian Womack, Cesar Gerardo, and Jack Bautista. They might have a chance this year to make a run.

Don Bosco Tech
Coach: Dave Martinez

N 29 South El Monte
30 @ Duarte
D 10 Murphy
12 Don Bosco Tourn
15 @ Shurr
17 Gabrielino
J 02 @ Rosemead
09 @ *Verbum Dei
11 *Mary Star
16 *Cantwell Scrd *Heart
18 @ St Anthony
23 *St Monica
25 *Verbum Dei
30 @ *Mary Star
F 01 @ *Cantwell Scrd Heart
04 *St Anthony
06 @ *St Monica

Cantwell-Sacred Heart--1-9, 5-18 (6th)
No roster information available.  Didn't make the playoffs, so they are kind of a mystery.

Update 11/27/01:  The Whittier Daily News  and their  "Prep Sports" website featured a preview of the Del Rio League today written by Roger Murray, (the original article can be found at this link).  What follows is the portion pertaining to Cantwell Sacred Heart:

Last season: 5-18, 1-9, sixth.
Returning starters:
Guard/forward Barry Cox (Sr., 6-0, 160)
Point guard Jason Ngo (Sr., 5-10, 140)
Forward Richard Chavez (Sr., 5-10, 160)

Other key returner:
Forward/center Joshua Chavez (Sr., 6-1, 170).

Key newcomer:
Guard/forward John De La Garza (Fr. 5-10, 145).

"First-year coach Deon Evans, a late hire to replace Alex Arredondo, had only 10 days to work with his team and was hesitant to evaluate players. 'Having just one game (in league), and having no film with which to see last year's team, we're really starting from scratch,' Evans said. 'We'll concentrate on shooting and working a whole lot on defense. We want to learn to play at our tempo, whatever that becomes, and try to realize our potential, whatever that might be.' "

Cantwell Sacred Heart
Coach: Alex Arredondo

N 28 @ Orange
30 Whitney
D 03 @ Valley Christ/C Tourn
14 @ Schurr
18 @ Brentwood
21 Montebello
26 Cantwell Scrd Hrt Tourn
J 09 @ *Mary Star
11 *St Monica
16 @ *Don Bosco
18 *Verbum Dei
23 @ *St Anthony
25 *Mary Star
30 *St Monica
F 01 *Don Bosco
04 @ *Verbum Dei
06 *St Anthony

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