south bay league preview

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SoCalHoops High School Previews

SD-CIF: Metropolitan Conference
South Bay 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 South Bay League, unlike the Mesa League in the same conference, isn't composed of teams in the same division, but is more of a hodge-podge of teams in widely divergent divisions, a D-I team here, a D-IV, and the rest all D-II. Like the Mesa League though, there are some excellent players, including guys like Lamar Thomas (Southwest) who is picked as the Pre-Season Player of the Year, and the other pre-season all-league picks like DeAndre Dowell (Castle Park), Cedric Frazier (Castle Park), Joel Reynoso (Marian Catholic) and Walta Yemane (Mar Vista). What follows are previews and predictions from the Coaches' Assn. (no, these picks are not ours), for the South Bay League of the Metropolitan Conference, including some pre-season picks for MVP and All-League players. 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) Southwest (Division 1, Imperial Beach)

Head Coach: Steve Selland (18^th Year)
Last year’s record: 14 – 13 (3 – 5, tied for 3^rd in Mesa League)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Lamar Thomas (Jr, 6’05"), Robert Tucker (Sr, 5’08")
Losses to overcome: Dario Ramirez (graduation), Roman Leon (graduation)
Summary: Thomas should be the difference here in a league that lacks size. The Raiders have enough talent in other spots to capture the league title after switching from the formidable Mesa League.

2) Castle Park (Division 2, Chula Vista)

Head Coach: Don Brooks (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 6 – 19 (3 – 5, tied for 3^rd)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Cedric Frazier (Sr, 6’01"), DeAndre Dowell (Sr, 5’10"), Antonio Bratford (Sr, 6’03")
Losses to overcome: None
Summary: As talented a team as there is in the South Bay. Dowell and Frazier both can score, but it remains to be seen if they can put together some wins.

3) Marian Catholic (Division 4, Imperial Beach)

Head Coach: Chris Moeller (3^rd Year)
Last year’s record: 9 – 15 (3 – 5, tied for 3^rd)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Joel Reynoso (Sr, 6’03"), Michael Scott (Sr, 5’10"), Mickey Pimentel (Sr, 6’00")
Losses to overcome: Jacquez Lindsey (transferred to Morse)
Summary: The Crusaders have enough talent and depth to make a run at the South Bay crown. Reynoso is a solid scorer who will be helped by the backcourt of Scott and Pimentel.

4) Hilltop (Division 2, Chula Vista)

Head Coach: Chuck Vallero (12^th Year)
Last year’s record: 15 – 14 (6 – 2, 2^nd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in quarterfinals.
Key players: Darrell Jackson (Sr, 5’06"), Jeremiah Harrington (Jr, 6’06"), Alex Partida (Jr, 6’05")
Losses to overcome: Jeramee Haynie (graduation), Jay Wessell (graduation), Chris Harms (graduation)
Summary: The Lancers do not return one starter from last year, but hope that the big front line of Harrington and Partida can produce big things for them on the court.

5) Mar Vista (Division 2, Imperial Beach)

Head Coach: Howard Suda (6^th Year)
Last year’s record: 10 – 16 (1 – 7, 5^th)
Last year’s playoffs: None
Key players: Walta Yemane (Sr, 6’04"), Brandon Reid (Sr, 6’03"), Noah Stamm (Jr, 6’00")
Losses to overcome: Dean Curry (graduation)
Summary: The Mariners hope that Yemane and Reid are ready to step forward to compete in the South Bay, while also searching for a replacement for departed point guard, Curry.

Pre-Season Player of the Year:
Lamar Thomas (Southwest)

Pre-Season All-South Bay League:
DeAndre Dowell (Castle Park)
Cedric Frazier (Castle Park)
Joel Reynoso (Marian Catholic)
Lamar Thomas (Southwest)
Walta Yemane (Mar Vista)