HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEWS : SEA VIEW LEAGUE : Saddleback Favored but Just Barely : Corona del Mar, Estancia Also Have Lots of Experience

Although the race for the Sea View League basketball title appears a bit more clear-cut this year, league coaches continue to sing the same old song.

“On any given night, anybody can beat anybody,” Corona del Mar Coach Paul Orris said. “Nothing’s changed in this league.”

Not even the favorite. Saddleback, the defending champion, is favored again this year--though only slightly.

The Roadrunners lost Gylan Dottin, a 6-foot 5-inch forward who averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists a game last year. He is now playing at the University of San Diego.

“Gylan helped us do a lot of things,” Saddleback Coach Pat Quinn said. “He made the others look real good, too.”

Fortunately for Saddleback, returning are seniors Tony Agnew, Sean Simon, Craig Marshall and Malru Dottin, Gylan’s brother.

Estancia and Corona del Mar are a wisp behind Saddleback. Both teams, young and inexperienced last year, boast 6 returning lettermen.

Though Estancia might be hurt in the early season because 3 of its projected starters are injured, the Eagles expect big improvement under second-year Coach Tim O’Brien.

“We have good skill players who know how to play,” he said. “It’s another typical Estancia team. Lots of guards, kids who can play and find ways to win.”

Corona del Mar lost its all-purpose guard, Geoff Probst, to graduation, but the Sea Kings return three starters in seniors Matt Cwiertnia, Matt Herrington and Brian Spratt. Corona del Mar also should benefit from improved height and depth.

University lost its coach and athletic director when Steve Scoggin resigned, so the Trojans might have some problems adjusting, especially early in the season, to new Coach Lee Jackson.

Jackson, who coached the Mater Dei sophomore team last year, was an assistant coach at University 2 years ago.

Though league coaches say he is always able to find a way to win, Tustin Coach Tom McCluskey is not too optimistic about his team’s chances. The Tillers lost four starters, including 6-6 center Leo Parker, the 3-A player of the year who is now at Ventura College.

“Our goals are to be competitive and that’s the truth,” McCluskey said. “To make the playoffs is almost unrealistic.”

Coaching might be the only salvation for Newport Harbor this season. The Sailors lost all their starters from last year’s squad, and have only two players with any varsity experience.

“The lack of experience is one of our weaknesses,” Newport Harbor Coach Jerry DeBusk said. “But the young kids are really fired up. This will definitely be a year where the coaches are going to need some patience.”

Here’s a closer look:

CORONA DEL MAR--After starting from scratch last season, the Sea Kings have what they were looking for this season: Experience.

With three returning starters, Orris expects his team has a much better chance of making the playoffs. Last year, the Sea Kings finished in a three-way tie for last place with Newport Harbor and University. The Sea Kings also have height, with two players--Spratt and projected starter Chris Pliha--at 6-5.

Also, four players--Jeff Clark, Jeff Jackson, Weston Johnson and Warren--have yet to finish football, so Orris expects more help by mid-December.

“We’re in the hunt, depending on how we come together,” he said.

ESTANCIA--O’Brien is worried about injuries. Though Mark Hartley (thigh) and Dave Graham (ankle) are expected to recover by the start of league play, another projected starter, Tom Sampson (knee surgery) is expected to miss the entire season.

Still, Estancia has plenty returning from last year. Mike Curtis, an all-league guard, Tim Kjar, Augustin Heredia and Andy Scholes should form the nucleus of a short (Kjar is tallest at 6-2) but talented team.

NEWPORT HARBOR--The Sailors lost last season’s starters to graduation, so hopes for making a major impact on the league are slim. Still, DeBusk is optimistic.

“We have great enthusiasm, a great work ethic and positive expectations,” he said. “We’re a young team and our boys are very coachable.”

Newport Harbor has added Eric Freeman, a 6-11 junior transfer from Torrey Pines, but DeBusk downplayed his immediate impact. “I don’t know how much he’ll be in the picture. He hasn’t been worked with much.”

SADDLEBACK--In his 10th year with the Roadrunners, Quinn is confident his squad can repeat as league champions. “Our goal is to win the league and go to the playoffs,” Quinn said.

The Roadrunners will look inside to 6-7, 220-pound Malru Dottin, who has gained 3 inches and 30 pounds since last year. The team will run as much as possible.

“Our only real weakness is our outside shooting,” Quinn said. “Last year, we hardly used it at all, but if we can consistently shoot from the outside, I think we’ll be hard to beat.”

TUSTIN--When asked about his team’s chances this season, McCluskey groaned. Sure, the loss of Parker will hurt, but the Tillers--the Southern Section 3-A runner-ups last season--have two part-time starters back in Cheavly Ly and Dylon Stieler. Both showed marked improvement in the late part of last season.

At 6-3, Greg Lancaster is the team’s tallest player, so McCluskey will go with a running offense, instead of a patient, half-court attack this season.

Before the beginning of league play, the Tillers will play in the Glendora and Nogales tournaments. Why so far away?

“I don’t want to play in Orange County a whole lot right now,” McCluskey said. “If people want to see us, they can travel.”

UNIVERSITY--The Trojans are still getting used to their new coach. “I think the transition was pretty smooth, actually,” Jackson said. “When it first happened, the kids were hurt and confused by it. But within a week, things really smoothed out.”

The Trojans are, by far, the league’s tallest team, with Pat Ferrell (6-7) and Stefan Mumaw (6-8) at the high and low posts. Erik Glassen, younger brother of former University star Lasse Glassen (6-8), is 6-4 and growing. Should we expect another Lasse?

“There’s no comparison between the two,” Jackson said. “As players, they’re completely different. Lasse was a center, an inside player who was just learning how to play outside. Erik is an outside player, just learning the inside game.”

The Trojans do not have substantial depth. Chris Chase, who would be the first player off the bench, broke his hand on the backboard in a drill and is not expected back until next month.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE 1987-88 overall, league records in parentheses

SCHOOL 1988-89 COMMENT Corona del Mar (12-12, 3-7) Six returning lettermen provide depth. Estancia (15-13, 4-6) Six returning lettermen; improved quickness. Newport Harbor (15-11, 3-7) Very young and inexperienced. Saddleback (24-5, 9-1) Defending champions have size and experience. Tustin (24-7, 8-2) Leo Parker, 3-A player of the year, has graduated. University (8-15, 3-7) Has best size in the league.