HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ‘93-’94 : TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Fillmore

‘92-93 RECORD

OVERALL: 4-18

LEAGUE: 2-6

COACH: John Wilber

YEAR: 4th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS HT Justin Burnett Sr. F/G 5-10 Pete Frias Sr. F/C 6-1 Caesar Orozco Sr. F 5-11 Andrew Torres Sr. G 5-11 Tom Smithwick Sr. G 5-11

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS HT Mike Vaiz Sr. C/F 6-3 Jose Becerra So. G/F 5-11 James Cummings So. G 5-9 Gabriel Ocequeda Jr. F 6-0

OUTLOOK

Last year was dismal, but Wilber can point to a few positives. First, three of the Flashes’ four victories came in the last five games. Second, four starters return, making Fillmore the most experienced team in the league. But that doesn’t necessarily translate to instant success. The average height of the team is only about 6-feet and Wilber says the Flashes will have to gang-rebound, handle the ball in up-tempo fashion and play tough defense to win. The team clicked when Orozco returned from Mexico after a month vacation late last season. Burnett (seven points, four rebounds), Torres (11 points) and Smithwick (eight points) have been productive. Unselfish play within a team concept is a must.

Oak Park

‘92-93 RECORD

OVERALL: 14-10

LEAGUE: 5-3

COACH: Rob Hall

YEAR: 3rd

TOP RETURNEES YR POS HT Nick Rattray Sr. G 6-0 Ryan Garth Sr. F 6-2 Brandon Creason Jr. G 6-0 Shawn Williams Jr. G/F 6-3 Matt Tweed Sr. G 6-0 Brian McMullen Jr. G 5-10 Ron Allen Jr. G 5-10 Darren Aherne Jr. F 6-3

TOP NEWCOMERS: None

OUTLOOK

The Eagles plan to run, run, run and score, score, score. On defense, this team without a center will play three guards and two forwards and plans to press, press, press. Hall describes his run-and-shoot offense as “a little bit like Loyola Marymount, but not too crazy. I think my five starters could average in double figures or real close to it. And that’ll make us real tough to guard. You won’t be able to focus on any one player.” Hall believes Rattray (a returning all-leaguer who averaged 14 points), Creason (nine points, four assists) and Williams (nine points, seven rebounds) are three of the top five players in the league.

St. Bonaventure

‘92-93 RECORD

OVERALL: 8-13

LEAGUE: 2-6

COACH: Marc Groff

YEAR: 11th

TOP RETURNEES YR POS HT Rod Tepesano Sr. F 6-3 Scott Dunst Sr. G 6-0 Brad Burnett Sr. F/C 6-3 Marcello Isaac Sr. G 5-10

TOP NEWCOMERS YR POS HT Pat Rifley Sr. F 6-3 David Kelley Sr. C 6-2 Sean Carr Jr. C 6-6

OUTLOOK

With three players in the lineup who can dunk with authority--Burnett, Rifley and Carr--the Seraphs could be fun to watch. Tepesano averaged 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds and was named first-team all-league as a junior. Point guard Dunst (5.5 points, 4.5 assists) is the other returning starter. Rifley hasn’t played basketball since his freshman year but decided to forgo football his senior year to focus on basketball. He likely would have started at either quarterback or wide receiver. Rifley has cleared 6 feet 5 inches in the high jump and runs a leg on the league champion 400-meter relay team. “We’ve got depth, size and definitely speed,” Groff said. “And we’ve got the nonleague season to get experience.”