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

CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
Arrowhead Christian
Calvary Chapel/Murrieta
Linfield
Loma Linda Academy
Ontario Christian
Western Christian
Woodcrest Christian
           

The Christian League enjoyed a lot of success last season, and whether the teams will be as strong this year is open to some debate.  Arrowhead Christian, which finished second in league standings by a hair, graduated their leading scorer, Adam Dohner;  Western Christian, the two-time defending league champions, return quite a few players, but whether they can make up for the absence of their two top senior scorers from last season, Shawn Lokar and Brad Meister, remains to be seen.  Loma Linda has a couple of very talented players, but they are very young and undersized this year. Ontario Christian and Woodcrest are usually competitive, but Woodcrest graduated 9 of 11 players, so will be starrting over.  Our guess is that the league race will be between Arrowhead and Western again, with Ontario Christian leading right behind.  The rest is just too much of an unknown quantity right now. 

Christian League Rosters Christian League  Schedules
Western Christian--11-1, 21-5 (1st) "Lancers"

Based on last season's playoff roster, and some notes sent to us from friends in the SGV, here's who we expect to see on the team this season:

Sean Chin 5'-9" Sr. G
Ethan Chin 5'-9" Sr. G
Brandon Tussy 6'-90" Jr. G
Nestor Rodriguez 5'-11" Sr. G
Thomas Sturgeon 5'-10" Sr. F
Tim Booher 6'-2" Sr. F
Evan Higgins 6'-0" Sr. F
Andrew Allison 6'-2" Jr. F
Blake Allison 6'-6" Sr. F/C

Western Christian graduated 3 seniors, including Brad Meister & Shawn Lokar, both of whom were All-CIF and the team's leading scorers, and they also represented most of the height on the team as well. 

Update 11/27/01:  The San Gabriel Valley Tribune published their preview of some of the teams in the Christian League, among them Western Christian.  Here's what the paper had to say:

Western Christian Lancers
Head coach: Scott Day
Tenure: Third year
Record at school: 38-20

Top returnees:
Ethan Chin (Sr. 5-8 G)
Sean Chin (Sr. 5-8 G)
Blake Allison (Sr. 6-5 C)

Top newcomers:
Brandon Turry (Jr. 6-1 G)
Danny Rainbow (Jr. 6-2 F)

Strengths:
The team is deep and experienced; eight seniors dot the roster. Lancers are also quick and shoot well.

Concerns:
Outside of Allison, the Lancers are undersized, and may lose the rebounding battle some nights. Day also said the Lancers must take better care of the ball.

Bottom line:
Day started his second stint at the school last season with the Lancers' first league title and most prosperous season ever. But the glue of the team, seniors Brad Meister and Shawn Lokar, have graduated, leaving a considerable void in the scoring and rebounding departments. Following up last season's act will be difficult, but the Lancers should again compete for the title.  Next month's Downey Calvary Chapel Tournament should provide Western Christian a good preleague tune-up.

 

Western Christian
Coach: Scott Day

N 26 @ Fullerton
27 @ La Puente
28-30 @ Laguna Blanca Tourn
D 10-14 @ Calvary Chapel/D Tourn
26-29
@ Village Chr Tourn
J 02 *Loma Linda Aca
04 @ *Ontario Christian
10 *Woodcrest Christian
12 *Calvary Chapel/M
15 @ *Arrowhead Christian
18 @ *Linfield
22 @ *Loma Linda Aca
25 *Ontario Christian
31 @ *Woodcrest Christian
F 02 @ *Calvary Chapel/M
05 *Arrowhead Christian
08 *Linfield

Arrowhead Christian Academy--10-2, 19-6 (2nd) "Eagles"


Josh Cloud 5'-9" Jr. G
Adrian Cruz 5'-9" Sr. G
Alan Lewis 6'-0" So. G
Chris Carter 6'-2" Sr. F
Will Britt 6'-1" Sr. G
Kevin Greene 6'-4" Sr. C/F
Josh Breckley 6'-4" Sr. C
Jacob Goltgry 5'-10" Jr. G
(graduated leading scorer Adam Dohner)

Arrowhead Christian
Coach: Scott Blakey

D 06 Aquinas
11-13 @ La Sierra Aca Tourn
19 @ Bishop Diego
26-29 @ Ontario Chr Tourn
J 02 Holy Martyrs
04 *Linfield
08 *Calvary Chapel/M
10 @ *Loma Linda Academy
12 @ *Ontario Christian
15 *Western Christian
18 @ *Woodcrest Christian
22 @ Santa Clara
25 @ *Linfield
29 @ *Calvary Chapel/M
31 *Loma Linda Academy
F 02 *Ontario Christian
05 @ *Western Christian
08 *Woodcrest Christian

Ontario Christian--8-4, 17-7 (3rd) "Knights"

Kevin Travis 5'-6" Sr. G
Teddy Robinson 5'-7" Sr. G
Travis Hoekstra 6'-3" Jr. F
Rob Velasco 6'-0" Sr. F
Chris Garcia 5'-6" Sr. G
Jessie Kleinjan 6'-2" Sr. F
Steve Nanringa 5'-11" Sr. F
Greg Talen 6'-4" Jr. F
(graduated 6 seniors including leading scorer Matt Hoekstra)

Here's an update from the LA Times on 11/21/01 as a part of their capsule of "small schools" in the Inland Valley region:

Coach: Scott Brummel (first year at Ontario Christian, first year overall)

2000-2001 record: 19-8, 8-4

Top returners:
*Chris Garcia (6-0, G, Sr.);
*Travis Hoekstra (6-3, F, Jr.);
Robbie Velasco (6-2, C, Sr.)

Top newcomers:
Danny Belko (5-10, G, Jr.);
John Fitzhugh (6-0, G, Sr.);
Matt Gabriels (5-10, G, Jr.);
Greg Talen (6-4, C, Jr.)

"Outlook: The Knights may get off to a bit of a slow start because a handful of their players are on the football team that made the playoffs. The basketball team graduated six seniors, but new coach Brummell had all his current players during the past two seasons at junior varsity. Brummel thinks his team will be good defensively, with the offensive strength being shooting. With the 6-3 Hoekstra as the only true post player, rebounding is likely to be the weakness. Hoekstra could average double figures in points and rebounds. Several players from a junior varsity that finished 19-3 will be asked to contribute at the varsity level."

Ontario Christian
Coach: Scott Brummel

N-29/D-1 @ Webb Tourn
D 10 @ Aquinas
11-13 @ La Sierra Tourn
20 Poly/P
26-29 Ontario Chr Tourn
J 02 @ *Linfield
04 *Western
08 @ *Woodcrest Christian
10 @ *Calvary Chapel/M
12 *Arrowhead Christian
15 *Loma Linda Aca
22 *Linfield
25 @ *Western Christian
29 *Woodcrest Christian
31 *Calvary Chapel/M
F 02 @ *Arrowhead Christian
05 @ *Loma Linda Aca

Woodcrest Christian--8-4, 14-9 (3rd tie) "Royals"

Cory Wells 5'-11" Sr. G
James Daniel 6'-3" Jr. F
(graduated 9 seniors from 11 man roster)

Woodcrest Christian
Coach: Don Nichols

N 27-30 @ Norte Vista Tourn
6-8 Woodcrest Chr Tourn
11-13 @ La Sierra Aca Tourn
J 02 @ Calvary Chapel/M
05 *Loma Linda Aca
08 *Ontario Christian
10 @ *Western Christian
12 @ *Linfield
17 Bloomington Chr
18 *Arrowhead Christian
22 *Calvary Chapel/M
24 @ *Loma Linda Aca
29 @ *Ontario Christian
31 *Western Christian
F 02 *Linfield
06 @ Desert Christian
08 @ *Arrowhead Christian

Loma Linda Academy--5-7, 10-10 (5th)
Michael Boone  6'11" So. C
Chris Purdom  5’9” So. G

Update 12/02/01:  We received the following information from Gerald Larson, the new first year coach at Loma Linda:

"Obviously, we have a new coaching staff this year. We will inherit a number of returning players from last year's squad. Last year, LLA lost to LA Baptist in the IV-A wildcard game by 14 pts. Our starting lineup was 1 freshman, 2 sophs, and 2 juniors. This year, we have gotten 2 transfers, Purdom (back from his freshmen year at boarding school) a soph. will be our starting PG., and Nelson (Colton H.S.). We also brought up 6-11 Soph. Michael Boone from the J.V. this year. He is a major project, but at 270 lbs. he is an exciting project to have. With the most ambitious schedule we've had at LLA, this year will be a major test of where we stand next season. This will be a big year for us, and we will have all but 2 of our major contributors back next season as well.

Roster:

Byron Aprecio 5-7 Soph. PG
Ryan Prior 5-10 Jr. PG/SG
Kyle Alexander 5-10 Sr. SG
Jesamy Valdez 5-10 Sr. SG
Brian Nelson 6-1 Sr. SG
Jon Hartnell 6-5 Sr. C
Colyn Newby 6-2 Jr. F
Kiff Rivinius 6-0 Sr. F
Ryan Blackerby 6-2 1/2 Jr. G/F
Chris Purdom 6-1 Soph. PG
Ryan Franke 6-5 Jr. C
Mike Stottlemyer 6-5 Jr. C/F
Michael Boone 6-11 So. C

Loma Linda Academy
Coach: Gerald Larson

D 01 @ Aquinas
04 @ LA Baptist
08 Whittier Christian
10  @ Yucca Valley
18 @ Price
20 Salesian
26-29 @ Ontario Chr Tourn
J 02 @ *Western Christian
05 @ *Woodcrest Christian
08 *Linfield
10 *Arrowhead Christian
15 @ *Ontario Christian
17 *Calvary Chapel/M
22 *Western Christian
24 *Woodcrest Christian
29 @ *Linfield
31 @ *Arrowhead Christian
F 05 *Ontario Christian
07 @ *Calvary Chapel/M

Linfield--2-10, 7-15 (6th)
Zach Wold  6'1" Fr. G
Linfield
Coach: Tim Somerville

N 27 California Lutheran
D 01 Capistrano Valley Chr
04 @ Hamilton
5-8 @ La Jolla Co Tourn
11 Hesperia Christian
18 Baptist Christian
20 Bloomington Chr
J 02 *Ontario Christian
04 @ *Arrowhead Christian
08 @ *Loma Linda Aca
12 *Woodcrest Christian
15 @ *Calvary Chapel/M
18 *Western Christian
22 @ *Ontario Christian
25 *Arrowhead Christian
29 *Loma Linda Aca
F 02 @ *Woodcrest Christian
05 *Calvary Chapel/M
08 @ *Western Christian

Calvary Chapel/M--0-12, 6-17 (7th)
Chris Elder 6'1"  Fr. G
Calvary Chapel/Murrieta
Coach: Rick Evans

N 29 @ Capistrano Valley Chr
D 03 @ Baptist Christian
6-8 @ Woodcrest Chr Tourn
11-13 @ La Sierra Aca Tourn
J 02 *Woodcrest Christian
08 @ *Arrowhead Christian
11 *Ontario Christian
12 @ *Western Christian
15 *Linfield
17 @ *Loma Linda Academy
22 @ *Woodcrest Christian
29 *Arrowhead Christian
31 @ *Ontario Christian
F 02 *Western Christian
05 @ *Linfield
06 *Loma Linda Academy

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