christian league preview

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

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