HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEW : MISSION LEAGUE

Alemany

COACH: Kurt Keller, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 14-12; 4th in league, 7-5

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Indians are led by four returning starters. Senior point guard Chris Bello (5-foot-9) was a second-team all-league selection last season, averaging 11.9 points and 4.8 assists. Senior forward David Winner (6-4), whom Keller said is one of the team’s best defensive players, will be counted on for more offense. “We need him to score a lot more this year,” Keller said. Senior forward Doug Tait (6-5), a third-year varsity player, is a good outside shooter. Senior center Mark Guziel (6-5) is not much of an offensive threat but is a good rebounder, Keller said. The other starting position will go to senior guard Chris Walker (6-0), the team’s sixth man last season. The Indians’ bench is a question, though. As practice began, Keller was not sure who the key substitutes would be. The Indians will run a half-court, ball-control offense. “We look to create an opportunity every possession,” Keller said. “We’re a lot more controlled than when I first got here.”

OUTLOOK: The Indians need to have all of the returning players meet their potential, plus get contributions from the unknown quantities on the bench if they are to challenge Notre Dame and Loyola. “We were one game away from sharing the league title last year and we’ve got four starters back,” Keller said. “We’re going to be competitive.”

Chaminade

COACH: Rob Kurowski, 3rd season

LAST SEASON: 6-21; 7th in league, 0-12

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Trevor Testwuide (6-6) returns at center after averaging eight points and three rebounds last year. “This year we are going to feature him as the focal point of our offense,” Kurowski said. Other returning starters are senior forward Kirk Johnson (6-3) and senior point guard Brent Covely (6-2). Johnson is a slashing player who likes to take the ball to the basket and Covely is a good, quick defender who rarely shoots. The other forward will be junior Joel Orme (6-4), one of the top junior varsity players last season. Junior John Gunn (6-2), who averaged about 13 points for the junior varsity, will play shooting guard. Kurowski is expecting big things from junior forward Ralph Gedon (6-3), a transfer from Reseda. Junior guard Casey Cote (6-0) also should play a significant role off the bench. Kurowski said the Eagles will play an up-tempo style.

OUTLOOK: Kurowski, who sees his team as finishing in the middle of the pack, said the Eagles’ weakness is lack of varsity experience. But that has a positive side as well. “This year we actually have basketball players,” Kurowski said. “Before, we had a bunch of football players.”

Crespi

COACH: Paul Radenberg, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 14-9; 1st in league, 9-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Celts are nearly brand new, from the coach down. Senior point guard Jeff Luderer (6-2), a third-year varsity player, is the only returning starter. Radenberg said Luderer, who averaged about 11 points last season, is a good ballhandler and a leader. Senior Kyle Carden (6-2) will play off-guard. Carden, an aggressive player who should help on the boards, did not play basketball his sophomore or junior years because he wanted to concentrate on baseball, Radenberg said. Senior forwards Scott Eschner (6-2), who has made dramatic improvement in his shooting, and Jason Muir (6-5) will start in the front court. The Celts have no true center, but the third player up front likely will be senior forward Tim Malone (6-3), who missed the first week of basketball practice because he is a tight end on the Crespi football team. Radenberg said he anticipates getting balanced scoring from those five players. The key players off the bench are junior forward Brett Nordyke (6-3), a defensive lineman who is aggressive inside, and senior forward Tony Campanella (6-5).

OUTLOOK: Crespi will have a chance to see how the other half lives, so to speak. After winning the league last season, the Celts lost four starters. Lacking experience, Crespi probably is destined to finish at or near the bottom of the standings.

Harvard-Westlake

COACH: Greg Hilliard, 8th season

LAST SEASON: 17-9; 2nd in San Fernando League, 7-3

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior forward J.W. Hobson (6-1) is the only returning starter. An All-San Fernando League honorable-mention pick last year, Hobson is a good shooter whose range goes beyond the three-point line. “He’s not particularly strong in any one aspect, but he has a nose for the ball,” Hilliard said. Junior forward Scott Garson (6-1) was the Wolverines’ sixth man at the beginning of last season and was elevated to the starting lineup in midseason. The remainder of Harvard’s lineup is a question mark. Senior guard Ben Phister (5-11) is a good shooter. Junior forward Don Donester (6-0), a strong rebounder, was the tailback for the football team. Senior swingman Justin Ehrlich (5-11) was the quarterback. After those five, the Wolverines have several young, untested players.

OUTLOOK: After playing well in the San Fernando League, Harvard has moved into the much tougher Mission League. “I’d hope to get into the middle of pack, but it may not happen,” Hilliard said. “Our goal is to improve to the point that when we go to the playoffs, we’ll be competitive.”

Notre Dame

COACH: Mick Cady, 6th season

LAST SEASON: 10-15; 6th in league, 4-8

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior swingman Monte Marcaccini (6-5) leads the team that is the class of the league and perhaps the entire San Fernando Valley. Four starters return and the fifth will be senior point guard Craig Johnson (6-3), a highly regarded transfer from San Jose. Marcaccini, who already has signed to play for Indiana next season, averaged 21.4 points and 11.5 rebounds in earning all-league honors last season. And he improved dramatically in summer tournaments, Cady said. “I think his ability to handle the basketball and make decisions is what really picked up,” Cady said. “If he goes to the basket, you’d better get out of his way.” Senior center Tom Stillwell (6-8), who signed to play volleyball at UCLA, is a quick defensive player. Senior forward Glen Carson (6-4) and senior guard Ryan Stromsborg (6-3), both of whom have signed to play baseball at USC, are good shooters. Junior guard Andy Waldrip (5-11), senior forward Eddie Michaels (6-4) and junior guard Rich Igou (6-1) all have varsity experience and will be the key players off the bench. There is a slight chance that Eddie Miller (6-6), a freshman forward whose arrival has been much anticipated, could return from a back injury by the end of the season.

OUTLOOK: The Knights should score a lot of points. The only question is if they can stop teams from scoring. Notre Dame’s only challengers for the league title will be Loyola--and perhaps Bishop Montgomery.