Antelope Valley So Scary Even Mahan Is Worried

Coach Tom Mahan has the best job in the Golden League, but he spends a lot of time worrying about it.

His Antelope Valley High boys’ basketball team blows away the competition in talent, experience and depth.

So what is Mahan worried about? Everything, it seems.

“Every team scares me,� said Mahan. This includes Highland (4-11), Littlerock (2-13) and Quartz Hill (6-8).

Yet Antelope Valley (12-5) looks mighty scary to everyone else with four returning starters--center Le’Tre Kelly, forwards Marc Bucker and Ziaire Williams and guard Tony Walker.

These are four reasons for Mahan to be very happy and confident heading into his league opener Tuesday at Littlerock.

They are also the cause of his wariness.

Last year, the Antelopes sprinted into the stretch undefeated in league, then lost two of their final three games and saw Highland take the championship. Then they were ousted in the first round of the playoffs.

Mahan blamed the collapse, in part, on a lack of experience.

“I don’t think they realized they had to play hard every night to win,� he said. “We’re not young this year. Ten of our 12 players are seniors.

“Right now we should be playing better, actually. I’ve got to keep them focused, motivated and playing hard. If [my players] looked at the league like I did, I know they’d play harder.�

Although Palmdale (9-7) is the only other team in the league with a winning record, every team gets better when it plays Antelope Valley.

“Everybody will play their best game against us,� he said. “The kids around here all know each other. When they get on the court, things balance out a little.

“There will be one league game where somebody will put it all together. I hope it isn’t against us.�

Palmdale has two returning starters, the only other team with any, but even the Falcons will have trouble matching the Antelopes’ size and quickness.

“It’s not that AV can’t be beat,� Palmdale Coach Gary Phelps said. “But everybody’s got to play above their heads to do so.�

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AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Antelope Valley senior center Le’Tre Kelly, who averages 17.3 points and 13.3 rebounds, is the league’s most dominant player. Antelope senior guard Tony Walker is brilliant when he’s healthy. Palmdale senior guard Markus Carr is back after averaging more than 15 points and five assists last year, and has signed a letter of intent to Cal State Northridge.

* THE PROMISING: Antelope Valley forward Ziaire Williams and guard Marc Buckner. Williams averages 17.1 points and has improved dramatically. Bucker will have big nights scoring and rebounding. Palmdale junior forward Kerry Yates has averaged 18 points over his last six games. Others: Highland senior forward Norman Floyd, Quartz Hill junior forward Chris Hebert, and Littlerock twin senior guards Isaiah and Josh Raheem.

* FAST FACT: Antelope Valley’s 18-8 record in 1996 was the school’s second-best record in the past 27 years.