valley league preview

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SoCalHoops High School Previews

SD-CIF: North County Conference
Valley 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 Valley League, like the Avocado League and the Palomar League, constitutes the North County Conference, which is mostly Division I teams. There has been some movement of teams in the conference, mostly to make way for the opening of Westview, which meant that Oceanside has moved from the Valley League to the Avocado, while Westview slides in here. Here's what we know about the Valley League teams, as well as some predictions (not ours, again the Coaches' Assn.) pre-season picks for MVP and All-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)     Escondido (Division 2, Escondido)

Head Coach: Paul Baldwin (5^th Year)
Last year’s record: 21 – 8 (9 – 1, 1^st)
Last year’s playoffs:      Lost in CIF championship, lost in state 1^st round.
Key players: Lorenzo Keeler (Jr, 6’01”), Chris Williams (Jr, 5’10”), Randy Boston (Sr, 6’04”)
Losses to overcome:     Julius Keeler (Saddleback College), Justin Bell (Saddleback College), Gerald Keeler (Cuyamaca College), Chris Nelson (Cuyamaca College)
Summary:          The loss of 4 starters from last year’s D-2 runner-up will be difficult to replace. The remaining Keeler is a quality scorer and the Cougars are hoping for major contributions from Williams and Boston.

2) San Pasqual (Division 2, Escondido)

Head Coach:        Irv Leifer (2^nd Year)
Last year’s record: 15 – 13 (5 – 5, 3^rd)
Last year’s playoffs:      Lost in quarterfinals.
Key players:   Kris Petrovic (Sr, 6’04”), Kyle Adams (Jr, 6’00”), Patrick Kara (Sr, 6’07”)
Losses to overcome:     Ryan Fuselier (football at Dartmouth College)
Summary:        Petrovic is the key here. If he can assert himself offensively, then the Golden Eagles should have enough to dethrone Escondido, who has definitely come back to the pack. It should be a dogfight all year.

3) Valley Center (Division 3, Valley Center)

Head Coach: Mike Schanze (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 12 – 18 (4 – 6, 4^th)
Last year’s playoffs:      Lost in semi-finals.
Key players:       A.J. Reilly (Jr, 5’08”), Jordan Armstrong (So, 6’01”), Ryan Ness (Sr, 6’04”)
Losses to overcome:    Curtis Woods (graduation), Daniel Stedman (graduation)
Summary:        Reilly and Ness form a good nucleus, but the loss of Woods will hurt. Last year was disappointing for the Jaguars, and this year, expectations will be lower. Probably not enough on the court to make a run at the title.

4)     Orange Glen (Division 2, Escondido)
Head Coach: Curtis Hofmeister (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 2 – 24 (1 – 9, 6^th)
Last year’s playoffs:        None
Key players: Ian Hutchinson (Sr, 5’08”), Casey Hutchinson (Jr, 5’09”), Ryan Cunning (Jr, 6’01”)
Losses to overcome:      Matt Pound (graduation)
Summary:        Former Christian coach, Hofmeister comes in to revive the Patriots after 2 bleak years. Hofmeister is hoping to duplicate his Christian success, and should move upward in a weakened league.

5) Ramona (Division 2, Ramona)

Head Coach:      Ken Scheib (1^st Year)
Last year’s record: 5 – 20 (3 – 7, 5^th)
Last year’s playoffs:        None
Key players:    Mike Perram (Jr, 6’04”), Nate Proctor (Sr, 6’01”), Mike Dubose (Sr, 6’05”)
Losses to overcome:    None
Summary:        Scheib is the 3^rd coach in 3 years for the Bulldogs, and the same problems exist as last year, an overall lack of depth and guard play. If a quality backcourt can develop, then Perram’s work inside will not be wasted.

6)     Westview (Division 4, Rancho Penasquitos)
Head Coach:          David Delaney (1^st Year)
Last year’s record:     None (1^st year)
Last year’s playoffs:        None
Key players:   Warren Scott (So, 6’02”), Nolan Bauer (So, 6’03”), Jason Dodson (So, 5’09”)
Losses to overcome:    None
Summary:        Longtime and respected North County JV coach, Delaney takes the reins in Westview’s first year of existence. Will be tough going early as the school only houses freshman and sophomores, but could surprise some teams
by the end of the year.

Pre-Season Player of the Year:
Lorenzo Keeler (Escondido)

Pre-Season All-Valley League:
Randy Boston        (Escondido)
Lorenzo Keeler        (Escondido)
Ryan Ness        (Valley Center)
Mike Perram        (Ramona)
Kris Petrovic        (San Pasqual)