HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ‘94-95 : Frontier League

Calabasas

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 9-14 1-7 5th

COACH YEAR AT SCHOOL Bill Bellatty 10th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Ryan Coleman G 6-0 So. Noel Bloom F 6-5 Jr. Billy Hoover G 6-0 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Jeremy Marque G 5-10 Jr. Eric Walker F 6-2 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Coyotes lost most of their height when 6-foot-8 Nick Alexander transferred to Westlake earlier this year. Alexander averaged 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds a game as a sophomore. His departure creates a huge hole at center. Calabasas must get continued improvement from Coleman, who averaged 10 points and 5.5 assists a game as a freshman. Marque and Walker are the best from the junior varsity. They must fill out the roster and provide depth if Calabasas hopes to move out of the league basement.

Moorpark

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 13-13 4-4 2nd

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Tim Bednar 6th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Mike McKenzie F/G 6-1 Sr. Steve Jennings G 6-0 Sr. Brian Fortman G 6-1 Sr. Jesse Ahearn F 6-2 Sr. Florencio Morales F 6-1 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Jeremy Kemp C 6-3 Sr. Patrick Tate G 6-1 Jr. Brian Donahue G 6-0 Jr.

OUTLOOK

Four players who started at least part of the time last season return, plus Ahearn, who would have been a starter but missed the entire season because of a knee injury. Tate, a transfer from Taft, and Donahue will help with depth in the backcourt. “We don’t have any stars or go-to guys,” Bednar said. “But these guys know their roles.” Moorpark has been eliminated in the playoffs by La Canada in two of the past three years.

Nordhoff

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 7-15 3-5 4th

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Jim Hall 1st

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Dallan Rigby G 6-0 Sr. Christian Christiansen G/F 6-1 So.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Craig Ramonette F 6-2 Sr. Matt Cresto G 5-8 So. Brent Duke G 5-10 Jr. Nate Nylander F 5-11 Jr. Reynaldo Rivera G/F 6-0 Sr.

OUTLOOK

Hall coached last year at Antelope Valley High and inherits only one returning starter, but Rigby hasn’t practiced yet because he’s a starting running back on the football team. Christiansen is the only other returnee with experience. Like most league teams, the Rangers will play an up-tempo offense to offset size limitations.

Santa Clara

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 20-9 8-0 1st

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Lou Cvijanovich 37th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Damien Smith G 5-11 Sr. Blair Ferguson G 5-11 Sr. Mike McGill C 6-6 Sr. Kevin Collins F 6-4 Sr. Matt Hanson F 6-4 Sr. Javaughn Baker G 5-7 Sr. Dan Lopez G 5-8 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Matt Weidman F/C 6-4 Sr. Adam Lopez F/G 6-3 Jr. Lukman Dotson G/F 6-3 Jr. Jeff Palmer G/F 6-2 Sr.

OUTLOOK

Not only do the Saints have both starting guards from a team that reached the state semifinals, Cvijanovich has one of his tallest and deepest teams. “Usually I’m lucky to get kids who are 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2,” he said. Santa Clara has 20 players on the roster, including Dotson, a transfer from Louisiana, but the experience of Smith (8.3 ppg., 2.4 steals per game) and Ferguson should lead to another league title.

Santa Paula

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 17-9 4-4 2nd

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Tom Donahue 5th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Manuel Escamilla G 6-1 Sr. Chris Canon F 6-4 Sr. Ben Tryk G 6-1 Sr. Danny Herrera C 6-7 Sr. Teva Johnson F 6-2 Sr. Matt Lingo F 6-2 Sr.

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Josh Jimenez G 5-9 So. Robert Vega F 6-2 Jr. Mike Henderson F 6-2 Jr. Austin Macias C 6-4 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Cardinals’ fortunes will depend on how far Escamilla takes them. One of the league’s tri-players of the year, Escamilla averaged 17.8 points and four rebounds a game. Santa Paula has enough height to play a half-court game, a rarity among league schools.