Locals ready for tipoff

Many of area's boys' basketball teams have high hopes for upcoming season.

December 01, 2010|By Mike Sciacca, michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Fountain Valley's Zach Matar attempts to block… (SCOTT SMELTZER,…)

The 2010-11 boys' basketball season gets underway this week for several of the local schools, and it was Fountain Valley that got a head start Monday at the Orange Coast Optimist//Pio-Turion Tournament at Western High in Anaheim.

Below is a capsule look at the six local boys' teams:

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Edison Chargers

Head Coach: Rich Boyce (11th year)

Coaching staff: Chris Gray, Jeff Harrell

League: Sunset

2009-10 record: 24-5 (7-3 league, second-place)

Returning starters: Dylan Garrity (PG, 6-2, Sr.).

Quick take: The Chargers return just one player (Garrity) from last year's team that won a school-record 24 games and reached the quarterfinal round of the CIF playoffs. Garrity earned all-league, all-CIF and all-State honors a year ago. Tyler Fields (F, 6-1, Sr.) and Shane Osaki (F, 6-2, Sr.) are the other two returning players. Former Fountain Valley head coach Chris Gray is new to the coaching staff, "whom we are blessed to have on staff," Boyce said. Edison opens its season at 7 p.m. Friday hosting Valencia.. The Chargers also will compete in the La Quinta, Irvine World News and Palm Desert tournaments in the coming month.

Coach's outlook: "With only three returners, we expect out team to compete with effort and intensity on defense. We are a little undersized but hope to make up for it by outworking our opponents. My team is comprised of great people who make it fun to go to practice everyday. That is what you want as a coach."

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Brethren Christian Warriors

Head Coach: Jon Bahnsen (13th year)

Coaching staff: Dan Healy, Erik Thomas

League: Academy

2009-10 record: 25-5 (league champion)

Returning starters: Daniel Healy (G, 6-2, first-team all-league, Sr.); Riley Thomas (G, 6-0, second-team all-league, Sr.).

Quick take: The Warriors have two starters back from last year's team that went undefeated in Academy League play to win its second-straight league crown and reached the quarterfinal round of the CIF 5A playoffs. Healy averaged nearly seven points and eight rebounds per game and Thomas averaged 11 points. Other returnees include Zach Luce (F, 6-5, Sr.) and Bobby Frisch (Post, 6-3, Sr.). BC, which opens its season this week at the Orangewood Academy Tournament in Garden Grove, will travel to Kona, HI., for the World Youth Basketball Tournament Dec. 27-31 and host the Small School Showcase Jan. 8 at Liberty Christian High in Huntington Beach.

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