ocean league preview

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SoCalHoops High School Previews

CIF-Southern Section: Ocean
League Preview--(Nov. 27, 2002)

The Ocean League, part of the South Bay Athletic Association (which also governs the Bay League and the new Pioneer League) has been reconstituted this year from the former two-league arrangement into three leagues. Which means that we now have an Ocean League which consists of the following teams only for basketball:

Leuzinger
Morningside
North Torrance
Santa Monica
South Torrance

What follows is a preview of the league which was published in the Daily Breeze on November 27, 2002, written by Breeze sportswriter Bob Holtzman, who regularly covers the teams and leagues in the South Bay, and who knows about as much as anyone does about the teams and players in this league, at least for purposes of doing a preseason overview. Sure, the info below is kind of brief, but then this is merely a preseason profile of some of the league's top players.... But it's certainly better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, and it doesn't hurt nearly as much.... We'll be following it up with more information. In the meantime, the schedules have already been posted, and are available if you're interested in following one team in particular. The original of this preview can be found (at least until it's deleted by the paper) at the following link. We've archived it below for purely historical purposes.

Basketball preview: New Leuzinger coach has the Wright stuff
OCEAN LEAGUE: Morris likes the look of his roster, especially with two Wrights in the frontcourt for the Olympians.
By Bob Holtzman
DAILY BREEZE

Most first-year coaches dream of an athletic, talented and experienced roster. Reggie Morris, Leuzinger’s new boys basketball coach, must be pinching himself. The first-year coach arguably has as much talent as any team in the South Bay with 6-foot-7 senior Dorell Wright and 6-8 senior Donnell Wright leading the way.
Dorell averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as a junior while Donnell averaged 12 points and 14 rebounds. “We are big and extremely athletic,” Morris said. “If the backcourt is able to produce, we should be pretty good.” Besides the Wright duo, 6-3 senior Dametreas Doby and 6-9 Darrell Street are both returning starters. Only Myron Terrell, a 5-9 senior guard, is a new starter. “Terrell is an excellent ball handler and outside shooter,” Morris said. “He’s also a great on-the-ball defender.” Morris, a first-year head coach, graduated from Westchester High in 1996. He played at L.A. Southwest and Howard University as well.

NORTH TORRANCE: The Saxons returned to the playoffs under Coach Gary Duperron and now could make a run at the league title after sliding down from the Bay League. Jarrod Carroll leads the Saxons after averaging 8.9 points and 5.7 assists per game as a sophomore. Senior Chris Yemenidjian is the other returning starter. Duperron said his team is going to lack size, with it tallest players — Derrick Zhang and Michael Johnson — only 6-3. Yemenidjian and Jeremy Bradford are North’s tallest starters at 6-2. Senior forward Carl Clark and senior Sean Carroll are both expected to start.

SOUTH TORRANCE: Coach LaMont Henry expects his team to compete for the league title with three returning starters. Kevin Ritchie , an All-Ocean League first-team selection returns after averaging 14.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. So do Tyler Graham, who averaged 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and three steals per game, and All-Ocean League second teamer Scott Wilson (8.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Henry said Sean Flynn should also be a top returner. Harris Sheikh, a 6-2 senior guard, is one of the top newcomers.

MORNINGSIDE: Morningside coach Carl Franklin returns for his 26th season. With just one returning letterman, senior guard Michael Sanders (6-0, 165), he’ll have his work cut out for him. Senior guard Ramona Tipado (6-3, 175) and junior guard Kevin Hibbert (6-1, 150) lead the Monarchs. Junior forward Earl McCoud (6-5, 180) will need to play well in the paint.

SANTA MONICA: Many expect the Vikings to contend for the league crown. Point guard Khalif Parker and all-league first-team selection Brett DeAngelis provide a strong backcourt. Junior Paul Troupe also returns after earning second-team honors. Charles Stokes , a 6-7 post player, should lead the frontcourt.