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Locals look to continue winning tradition

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The prep football season is just about to enter its most crucial period, but don’t overlook the prep basketball season, which gets underway this week.

Local hoops teams launch their respective seasons Saturday. During the course of the next week, the Independent will take a capsule took at the boys’ and girls’ teams from Edison, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Marina, Ocean View and Brethren Christian. On the dock this week are capsule previews for Huntington Beach, Ocean View and Brethren Christian.

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Huntington Beach Girls’ Team

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League: Sunset

Head coach: Russell McClurg (ninth year)

Staff: Sarah Boggeln; Marshall McClurg

2010-11 record: 24-4

League record/finish: 8-2 (second)

CIF Results: Reached 2A division quarterfinals

Returning players: Kelsey Minato (PG, first-team all-league, first-team all-CIF, Sr.); Maya Kennedy (G, first-team all-league, second-team all-CIF, Sr.); Jill Nakaso (F, Jr.); Paolo Roa (G, Soph.); Danielle Kennedy (G, Soph.); Stephanie Louie (G, Soph.).

The roster: Michelle Goodman (G, Sr.); Morgan Potter (F, Fr.); Malia Viloria (Jr.); Tracey Tran (Sr.); Bethany Treskes (Sr.); Karmyn Tillis (Jr.); Emily Vaught (Jr.).

Outlook: Under Russell McClurg, the Oilers have won more than 20 games a season for the past six years. “We have a nice group of young and old girls who look to run and gun this year,” he said. “We will play an up-tempo style and look to get out and pressure other teams. I am excited about this group and hope they continue the winning tradition at Huntington Beach.”

Season opener: Dec. 5, 6 p.m., vs. La Quinta at Fountain Valley Tournament.

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Huntington Beach Boys’ Team

League: Sunset

Head coach: Fabian Luna (sixth year)

Staff: Robert Deck; Richard Alvarez; Clyde Shitaku

2010-11 record: 20-9

League record/finish: 7-3 (second)

CIF results: beat La Serna, lost to Division 2 State champ Summit in Division 2AA playoffs.

Returning Players: Rory Aldana (PG, returning starter, Sr.); Blake Skorich (G, Sr.); Andrew Tenbrink (G, returning starter, second-team all-league, Jr.).

The roster: Michael Furuya (G, Sr.); David Harris (F, Sr.); Matthew Levinson (F, Sr.); Mason Luna (G, Soph.); Daniel Miranda (G, Jr.); Ryan Morrissey (G, Soph.); Bryan Ortt (F, Sr.); Richard Pham (G, Sr.); Derek Quinn (G, Sr.); Harley Ruder (F, Jr.); Joshua Wright (G, Jr.).

Outlook: Luna, who is approaching the 100-career wins mark at Huntington, must replace two all-league players (Jordan Reise, Dirk Cason) and three veteran lettermen (Vincent Oe, Mackey Clustka, Clint Vis), who graduated in June. The Oilers play in three tournaments, as well as the North-South Challenge during nonleague play and also play in two showcase nonleague games during the league season.

“I’m actually excited to watch our team grow this year and see how far they can ‘rise together,’ Luna said. We lost a ton of talented players with a lot of experience, but return two starters and added some good pieces from our JV team. The challenge will be our strength of schedule in the nonleague portion of our season. If we can get better each game, it will definitely prepare us for league play and give us an opportunity to compete for a league championship in a very balanced league this year. Aldana and Tenbrink will be our foundation and will be looked upon to provide us the leadership we need in order to be successful. I really believe we can be a very good team by the time playoffs roll around.”

Season opener: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., vs. Esperanza at El Modena Hoops-Canyon Kickoff Classic.

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Ocean View Girls’ Team

League: Golden West

Head coach: Kim Morris (fourth year)

Staff: Shane Morris; Rachel Judy; DJ Butler; Steve Harris; Becky Blythe.

2010-11 record: n/a

League record/finish: 7-3 (second place)

CIF results: Lost in first-round of Division 4AA playoffs.

Returning players: Hannah Ferguson (PG, all-league, all-CIF, Sr.); Alexxas Laun (F, Jr.): Mari Shigemasa (G, Jr.): Deja Duke (G, Soph.).

The roster: Vanessa Barrera (Jr.); Stephanie Cardoso (Sr.); Meghan Meyer (Fr.); June Nguyen (Jr.); Arlette Pacheco (Sr.); Vanessa Rivera (Sr.); Jessica Zorich (Jr.).

Outlook: Morris, daughter of Ocean View coaching legend Jim Harris who died last month after a battle with cancer, said in previous seasons always “turned to her dad” for advice. She said a scholarship fund in Harris’ name has been set up through the Ocean View Foundation. As for her team, Morris said she lost two sophomore players to Brea Olinda but said her club is a “better team because of it.” She said she sees the Golden West League race as a “dog fight to the finish” between Segerstrom, Westminster and her Seahawks. Ocean View will host its own Hawk Holiday Classic tournament Dec. 12-17.

Season opener: Saturday, 1 p.m., vs. La Quinta at Coaches for a Cure event at Ocean View.

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Ocean View Boys’ Team

League: Golden West

Co-head coaches: Tim Walsh, Jimmy Harris (first)

Staff: Chris Melton

2010-11 record: 18-10

League record/finish: 8-2 (three-way tie first place)

CIF results: Lost second round Division 2AA playoffs to eventual champion Ventura.

Returning players: Conor Clifford (C, first-team all-league, Sr.); Josh Mishler (F, second-team all-league, Jr.); Spencer Perzanowski (F/C, Sr.); Cristian Rivera (F, second-team all-league, Sr.); Travis Sparks-Jackson (F, Sr.); Robby Weaver (G, Sr.).

The roster: Robbie Peyton (G, Sr.); Nathan Kosai (G, Jr.); Kendall Small (G, Fr.); DeAndrae Stevens (G, Sr.); Matthew Aldanese (G/F, Sr.); Dillon Reise (G, Soph.); Eric Belgen (G/F, Sr.); Tyler Burch (G, Fr.); Evan Perzanowski (C, Soph.).

Dedication: The Seahawks, along with the Ocean View girls’ team, will wear patches on their uniforms to memorialize late-head coach Jim Harris. The name, Coach Jim Harris, is encircled by the traits, “Love, Courage, Sacrifice, Spirit, Tradition, Loyalty, Unity, Commitment, Character, Integrity,” on the patch.

Outlook: The Seahawks lost all-CIF and Golden West League MVP player Billy Keller to graduation in June but have an experienced roster returning. “This team is deep in talent,” Jimmy Harris said. “It will be their commitment to each other that will tell the tale of this group. Sustained effort, plus focus, plus talent, will dictate their success.”

Season opener: Saturday, 7 p.m., vs. Foothill at Coaches for a Cure event at Ocean View.

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Brethren Christian Girls’ Team

League: Academy

Head coach: Jeff Wallace (fourth year)

Staff: Gary Wallace

2010-11 record: 20-8

League record/finish: 6-4 (second place)

CIF results: Reached quarterfinal round of Division 5A playoffs

Returning players: Abby Luce (G, Jr.); Brooke Hernandez (F, Jr.); Diannia Demaziliere (G, Sr.); Emily Hammond (F, Sr.); Emily Janio (F, Sr.); Jessica Wayland (G, Jr.): Kate Jensen (P, Sr.); Sara Hodges (G, first-team all-league, second-team all-CIF, Jr.).

The roster: Annie Huie (G, Jr.)

Outlook: Jeff Wallace starts his fourth year with all-CIF player Hodges in the lineup but the Warriors must replace graduated all-league and all-CIF players Madison Desler, Kirsten Sakata and Rebekah Rudd. “What we lost in height from last year’s squad, we are gaining in heart from the returners,” he said. “They recognize the voids that the graduating seniors left and have worked hard in the off-season to fill them. I am anticipating an exciting year that will not leave us wanting for effort on the floor.”

Season opener: Monday, 5:30 p.m., vs. Estancia at Corona del Mar tournament.

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Brethren Christian Boys’ Team

League: Academy

Head coach: Jon Bahnsen (14th year)

Staff: Dan Healy; AJ McGregor

2010-11 record: 26-3

League record/finish: 9-1 (first place)

CIF Results: Reached Division 5A quarterfinals

Returning players: Dakota Warren (F, Jr.); Caleb Keller (F, Soph.).

The roster: Luke Anzaldo (F, Sr.); Jesse Walker (P, Sr.); Billy Bryson (G, Sr.); Caleb Wesdell (F, Jr.); Mamadou Ndiaye (P, Jr.); Devonte Barr (G, Soph.); Patrick Poss (G, Soph.); Brandon Bryson (G, Fr.).

Outlook: The three-time defending Academy League champion Warriors must replace all-league and all-CIF players Daniel Healy and Riley Thomas from last year’s team but Bahnsen has a talented roster that includes newcomers Billy Bryson, a transfer from Ocean View, and Ndiaye who, Bahnsen said, is the “tallest player in the state,” and “possibly” the country, at 7-foot-5. “Our team should be the favorite to win the Academy League for the fourth-straight season,” he said. “With the addition of Mamadou Ndiaye and Billy Bryson, we should have size and guard play. Returning starter Dakota Warren should be one of the best players in the Academy League. We hope to improve on our quarterfinal appearance last year with a run to the CIF semis or finals.”

Season opener: Monday at the Godinez Tournament (TBA).

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