Area Teams Primed for First Shots

With apologies to Hank Williams Jr., are you ready for some basketball, the junior college brand?

Because ready or not, the season gets underway today with area teams playing in several tournaments.

Here’s a look at the area men’s teams:

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: Newton Chelette, eighth season

LAST SEASON: 26-7; first in Foothill Conference North Division at 8-0

Point guard Michael Hamelin and forward Jonathan George are the most experienced of the eight sophomores on the squad, which includes three transfers. Hamelin averaged 7.1 points and was third in the conference in assists with 165. George averaged 6.0 points overall but 11.0 points in division play and was named to the All-Foothill team. Guard John Burrell, who averaged 29.9 points at Highland High last season, is one of the top newcomers. The Marauders advanced to the final round of the Southern California regional last year.

CANYONS

COACH: Lee Smelser, 28th season

LAST SEASON: 9-22; fourth in Western State Conference South Division at 3-7

Only starting point guard Mike Posey and reserve guard Armando Perez are back for the Cougars. Posey had 130 assists last season, seventh best in the WSC. The newcomers include guard Todd Suenaka, who averaged 9.7 points at Canyon High last year. The Cougars have finished in the bottom half of the South Division the past two years after winning the championship in 1993-94, their third title in the 1990s.

GLENDALE

COACH: Brian Beauchemin, 18th season

LAST SEASON: 6-22; tied for fifth in WSC South Division at 2-8

The Vaqueros had not failed to win at least 15 games in a season since finishing 11-19 in 1990-91. They will count on sophomores Carl Biel and Ryan Sylva for improvement. Biel, a 5-foot-11 guard from Highland High, averaged 11.4 points and 3.6 assists last season and was selected to the All-WSC South Division first team. Sylva, a 6-5 forward from Canoga Park High, led Glendale in scoring with a 15.7-point average.

MOORPARK

COACH: Del Parker, second season

LAST SEASON: 15-17; third in WSC North Division at 6-4

Like the other teams in the conference, the Raiders are young and inexperienced. Three sophomores return but only 6-3 swingman Shawn Williams, who averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds, played regularly. Akua Floyd, a 6-7 freshman from Cleveland High, and 6-7 Anthony McCurtis, a freshman from Ventura High, give the Raiders size. Freshman Marques Pena from Royal High is the point guard.

OXNARD

COACH: Ron McClurkin, fourth season

LAST SEASON: 2-25; sixth in WSC North Division at 0-10

Freshmen abound on the team’s 13-man roster. Swingman Chris Jackson, who averaged 13.2 points and shot 40% (62 of 155) from three-point range, is the most experienced of the four sophomores. Forward Jess Pena and point guard Scott Clark were backups last season but will be counted on for leadership and production this year. The Condors are coming off their worst season since finishing 5-24 in 1984.

VALLEY

COACH: Doug Michelson, fourth season

LAST SEASON: 24-10; tied for second in WSC South Division at 7-3

Point guard Benny Hoang (5.2 assists per game) is the only starter and one of three sophomores returning. The newcomers include 6-4 wing Onaje Longmire, who last season led Van Nuys High to the City Section 3-A Division title. Wing Gianandrea Marcaccini did not play last season after averaging 21.4 points for Crespi High in 1994-95. The Monarchs last season reached the second round of the Southern California regional.

VENTURA

COACH: Virgil Watson, second season

LAST SEASON: 34-2; first in WSC North Division at 10-0

The two-time defending state champions feature an almost entirely new cast. Only 6-6 forward George Crawford and 6-2 guard Damon Booker return. Sam Turks, a transfer from Utah State, is the point guard. Eddie Miller, a 6-8 forward who averaged 25.3 points last year at Chatsworth High, gives the Pirates size in the frontline along with Ceneka Shaw, a 6-6 swingman who averaged 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds.