citrus west league preview

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SoCalHoops High School Previews

SD-CIF: Southern Conference
Citrus West League Preview--(Nov. 27, 2002)

The San Diego Coaches Association has been really good to us this year. In the past, getting information out of San Diego has been like pulling teeth, but this year, we've gotten a slew of league and team capsule preview from our friends down south.

The Citrus West League, like the Citrus East of the Southern Conference consists of mostly small schools, many of which would be in V-A if they were located in the Southern Section. One D-IV team, Guajome somehow snuck into the mix, but even with the larger enrollment, they are picked to finish well back in the pack at 6th place in a 7-team league. Of course, this is high school hoops, at the very small school level, and just about anything can--and often does-- happen. Lutheran is picked as the top team in the league by the Coaches' Association, and Brandon Buckalew from that school is picked as the pre-season League MVP. We'll see.... What follows are previews and predictions from the Coaches' Assn. (no, these picks are not ours), for the Citrus East League. Teams are listed in the order of finish; again these are the Coaches' Association's picks, so if you don't like them, blame them, not us.

1) Lutheran (Division 5, San Diego)

Head Coach: Michael Heidtbrink (4^th Year)
Last year’s record: 17 – 8 (5 – 3, tied for 2^nd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in semi-finals.
Key players: Brandon Buckalew (Jr, 6’04"), Eric Kasaty (Sr, 6’03")
Losses to overcome: Jim Hooper (graduation)
Summary: While losing county scoring leader, Hooper, is a tough blow, the Knights return a strong nucleus. Buckalew and Kasaty form a solid frontline that makes Lutheran the league favorite.

2) Calvary Christian (Division 5, Vista)

Head Coach: David Piester (2^nd Year)
Last year’s record: 10 – 12 (2 – 6, 4^th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in 1^st round.
Key players: David Lopez (So, 5’09"), Alex Captain (Jr, 6’01"), Jimmy Lopez (Jr, 5’08")
Losses to overcome: Joe Henschel (graduation)
Summary: Captain and the Lopez brothers lead a scrappy, young team in the second year of their school’s existence. If they can find some quality size, the Lions will give Lutheran a strong contender for the league crown.

3) Escondido Adventist (Division 5, Escondido)

Head Coach: Bill Davis (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 14 – 10 (8 – 0, 1^st)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in quarterfinals.
Key players: Gian Caballero (Sr, 5’05"), Joe Davis (So, 5’08")
Losses to overcome: Michael Knutson (graduation), Shawn Stevens (graduation), Adam Phillips (graduation)
Summary: The 4-time defending league champs will be hard pressed to defend their title, as Caballero is the only holdover from last year’s squad. The Hawks’ strength will be their backcourt, but a lack of height and experience will be difficult to overcome.

4) Midway Baptist (Division 5, San Diego)

Head Coach: Chuck Rheam (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 4 – 14 (0 – 8, 5^th)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Anthony Medina (Jr, 6’00"), Zeth Oates (Sr, 6’04"), Isaiah Warner (Jr, 6’00"), Matthew Turner (So, 5’11")
Losses to overcome: None
Summary: Medina leads a young Patriots’ squad who hope to rebound from last year’s disappointing season. Solid perimeter play and defense gives this squad a chance to upset some teams.

5) San Pasqual Academy (Division 5, Escondido)

Head Coach: Nick Goedhart (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 6 – 10 (Independent)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: John Murphy (Jr, 5’10"), David Montigo (Jr, 6’00"), Tim Kanady (Sr, 5’06")
Losses to overcome: Darnell Franklin (graduation)
Summary: Quick, fairly athletic team makes the jump from independent to the Citrus West League and could surprise some teams. Must find an answer to lack of size to make a run at title contention.

6) Guajome Park (Division 4, Vista)

Head Coach: Keith Howard (2^nd Year)
Last year’s record: 8 – 12 (Independent)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Dominique Singleton (Jr, 5’11"), Bryan Montalvo (Jr, 5’10")
Losses to overcome: Colin Braslin (graduation)
Summary: The Bullfrogs return a young team in their second year of fielding varsity basketball. Singleton is a solid scorer and will lead the Frogs as they make the leap to the Citrus West.

7) San Diego Academy (Division 5, National City)

Head Coach: Greg Bird (3^rd Year)
Last year’s record: 2 – 10 (Independent)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Jonathan Saravia (Sr, 5’10"), Nick Coffey (Sr, 6’00")
Losses to overcome: None
Summary: The Cavaliers return the core of last year’s team led by Saravia and Coffey. Move to Citrus West will be a challenge for a team lacking depth and size.

Pre-Season Player of the Year:
Brandon Buckalew (Lutheran)

Pre-Season All-Citrus West League:
Brandon Buckalew (Lutheran)
Eric Kasaty (Lutheran)
David Lopez (Calvary Christian)
Anthony Medina (Midway Baptist)
Dominique Singleton (Guajome Park)