BASKETBALL BEAT BOYS: AND HE CAN GET BETTER.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore, Rich Hammond  Staff Writers

Canoga Park's Cecil Brown is certainly opening eyes, averaging 30 points a game for the improved Hunters. Last week at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic he averaged 35 points in four games, even though Canoga Park coach Ralph Turner felt his star guard wasn't at the top of his game.

``He just wasn't himself,'' Turner said.

So what happens when he is himself?

``The sky's the limit,'' Turner said.

Coming into the year Brown wasn't on many recruiting lists, despite his 6-foot-4 size, excellent outside shooting and the fact he averaged 20 points per game last year. The Naval Academy showed interest this summer, but Brown hopes more schools are taking notice.

Slowly but surely the word's getting out, especially now that Brown's started taking the ball to the basket more rather than settle for jumpers, increasing his free-throw attempts and ability to get others involved.

``He's a big secret in some ways,'' Turner said. ``All I know is he's the best player I've ever coached.''

LUCKY SEVEN

The biggest reason North Hollywood was so successful in the Hart Holiday Classic? The Huskies consistently made free throws down the stretch. Tournament MVP Kenny Hauser made his last 11, including a pair with a 14 seconds left in Saturday's 58-57 championship victory over Crespi.

``We make them in games because we work on free throws so much in practice,'' Hauser said. ``After practice, everyone has to make seven in a row, or they can't leave.''

CLIPPED FALCONS

Crescenta Valley is off to a 12-1 start, which is no surprise considering the talent the Falcons have back from last year's 23-win team. What is a surprise is they haven't fielded a full team in two consecutive games all year.

The latest addition to the walking wounded was standout sophomore guard Jimmy Goffredo, whose back and hip injuries forced him out of the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic two weeks ago.

In fact, the Falcons suited up just eight players during most games in Las Vegas, and in one game used only six players.

``It's frustrating because we haven't been completely healthy for more than two straight games,'' Crescenta Valley coach Jim Smiley said. ``So we're not close to being at our peak. But when we get there we'll be tough.''

Goffredo originally hurt his back against Saugus in early December, but tried playing through it. By favoring the back, he put stress on his hip, resulting in another injury. Goffredo is expected back next week when Pacific League play begins.

``I'll just focus on resting and getting better,'' Goffredo said.

Even without Goffredo, Crescenta Valley is loaded with guard Chris Tarne and forward James Jenkins, who's averaging his usual 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds.

Jenkins, a 6-7 senior forward, has visited Portland State and the University of Albany but will wait until the end of the year to decide his college destination. Coaches from Air Force and Portland State were scouting him in Las Vegas.

``Right now, I want to focus on the season and wait and see what I have to chose from at the end of the year,'' Jenkins said.

PROUD PAPA

Chatsworth lost two of four games while coach Emad Whitney and his wife welcomed son Brandon Jacob Whitney into the world, but since his return the Chancellors are 3-1 and advanced to the American Division final of the Torrey Pines National Prep Classic last week.

There are a few reasons for the recent surge. Shayne Berry continues to average 30 points a game, Scott Johnson has increased his scoring to 15 points and recast himself as a defensive asset after being a liability last year, and Deshone Marshall keeps coming up with subtly huge plays at just the right time.

More important, the Chancellors are learning how to win when Berry isn't at the top of his game. In fact, they beat a school from St. George (Utah) in the Torrey Pines semifinals while playing the final six minutes with Berry on the bench.

Berry wasn't having one of his best games, but in a sign of maturity he asked Whitney to come out so he could gather himself.

``As the fourth quarter went on I thought we were in a good rhythm and I didn't want to disrupt that,'' Whitney said. ``The group that was on the floor was playing well, and we stayed with it.''

LITTLE DESERT TEAM

As usual, Palmdale lacks height, with its tallest player just 6-foot-3. This doesn't surprise 22-year coach Garry Phelps, who's used to fielding undersized teams that rely on scrappiness, speed and outside shooting.

``We just don't get the 6-9 guys out here,'' Phelps said. ``We're lucky to get someone 6-5. It's that way in the whole league. I think the tallest guy who ever had who could play was Jason Grines. He was 6-7.''

FINALLY WHOLE

Newbury Park has a full roster of players this year after playing most of last season with a fragmented team, the result of a handful of suspensions for a drinking incident during a preseason tournament.

Two key players who sat out last season are back and it has made a big difference. Seniors Aaron Bobik, a 6-4 shooting guard, and Adam Carlson, a 6-5 center, both score in double figures for the Panthers (7-2).

``We feel like our group is whole now,'' Newbury Park coach Steve Johnson said. ``This is the senior class that we expected to have. They've both done an excellent job.'

HE KNOWS HIS STUFF

Point guards need to be smart, and that's why North Hollywood has a good one in Nathan Stern, who helped the Huskies the Hart Holiday Classic championship last week.

Stern, who carries a 4.5 GPA, recently scored a 1570 on his SAT. He missed just two questions during the three-hour exam. He plans on continuing his basketball career in college, hopefully at Amherst.

Staff Writer Gerry Gittelson contributed to this report.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

BOYS

1. Notre Dame 12-1

2. Crescenta Valley 12-2

3. Simi Valley 11-2

4. Thousand Oaks 9-3

5. Newbury Park 9-3

6. Taft 11-4

7. La Canada 11-3

8. Chatsworth 9-5

9. Chaminade 8-4

10. North Hollywood 9-4

SEVEN-DAY FORECAST

Game of the week

Calabasas at Agoura, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. at Crespi High: At first glance this may not seem like an intriguing game. After all, Calabasas has won just 4 of 14 games while the Chargers are cruising at 12-2. But from an emotional standpoint, it doesn't get any better then a pair of teams from the same school district meeting, especially after Calabasas stunned previously undefeated Agoura 61-60 in overtime last week at the Chaminade Holiday Classic. The Chargers have revenge on their minds while the Coyotes hope to show they've turned the corner under second-year coach Russell White.

Bound to happen:

Chaminade's Scott Borchart, in his last year with the Eagles, gets them off to a quick start in Mission League play Monday with a typically consistent 20 points and 12 rebounds in a victory over Crespi.

Potential hero

Chatsworth's Shayne Berry shakes off a minislump with another potent offensive explosion as the Chancellors upend North Hollywood on Saturday at the Big City Brawl at College of the Canyons. Game time is 3:45 p.m.

Potential upset

For the last few years Canoga Park's had difficulty blending its individual talent into a team concept. This year might be different. The Hunters get a chance to show why Wednesday against favored Grant in a Sunset Six League opener at 4 p.m. at Canoga Park.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo: Canoga Park's Cecil Brown is averaging 30 points a game.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box: (1) DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (see text)

(2) SEVEN-DAY FORECAST (see text)