BOYS: SHARP SHOOTERS SAUGUS SCORES POINTS WITH STRONG PLAY IN BACKCOURT.

Byline: Gerry Gittleson Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Neil Diorio and Shant Bicakci give Saugus High just the kind of backcourt combination any basketball team could want.

Diorio is the outside shooter, who has connected on as many as seven 3- pointers in one game and recently scored 29 points against Glendale. Bicakci is a fiery point guard and floor leader, among the league's most dependable ball handlers and passers - plus he's quite an outside shooter in his own right, giving Saugus two dependable outside scorers to complement dominant power forward B.J. Willkomm.

``Neil's the marksman and Shant's definitely the emotional guy on the floor who gets us going with his passion,'' Willkomm said.

With perhaps its most talented team in at least 10 years, Saugus (11-5) is hoping to win its first Foothill League title - it starts the season tonight at 7 p.m. against visiting Burbank (3-12) - and Diorio and Bicakci must remain effective for the Centurions to succeed because most of the league's top players are guards.

``I think if we play our game, we can play with anyone,'' Bicakci said. ``The only team that can really beat us is ourselves. I don't think we've ever had a team like this here before with this many good shooters, a big man, and all the athletes we have. This is the year we can do it.''

Diorio agreed.

``I think we've improved, plus we have a lot more intensity, and that makes a big difference,'' he said.

Willkomm, who's 6-foot-8 and is averaging about 20 points (including a school-record 42 in one game), said the presence of Diorio and Bicakci means Saugus can press more and force turnovers.

``We're better because of how we can step up and provide more pressure. The whole team has stepped up,'' Willkomm said. ``Shant pushes so hard that he runs around like a chicken without its head, and if teams collapse on me then Neil is right there to throw in 3-pointers. I mean, we're tired of coming in second or third place. This year, we hope to come out strong and finish strong in league. And we've got the guys to do it.''

GIRLS: LILLEY OF THE VALLEY

One of area's best players could help Hart return to state

NEWHALL - Transfer Taylor Lilley's arrival at Hart High is making a big difference for the girls' basketball team.

After a breakout season as a freshman for Saugus last year, Lilley moved into Hart's boundaries and has fit right in with the Indians, teaming with UCLA-bound junior Ashlee Trebilcock to give the team the region's best guard combination.

Lilley, a 5-foot-6 off-guard, is averaging 15.4 points on 55 percent shooting. She's on pace to break Amanda Patton's 2003 school record of 67 3-pointers in one season, connecting on 34 of 67 (51 percent) from 3-point range to help Hart to a 14-1 record entering the Foothill League opener at Canyon (10-6) today at 5:30 p.m.

``I love it here at Hart. It's a lot of fun,'' Lilley said. ``I really like the atmosphere, and I've learned a lot from Ashlee. She's a great player.''

Lilley earned all-league honors at Saugus last season, emerging as the region's dominant freshman. But she said she ``never really felt connected'' with her teammates, and when she and her mom moved to Stevenson Ranch over the summer, she took advantage of the opportunity to transfer to the area's top program.

``At the end of the semester last year, some of the girls got wind of me transferring, and they called me a traitor,'' Lilley said. ``But it never really bothered me. I'm very serious about basketball, and I'm hoping to win the league championship with Hart this year.''

Trebilcock couldn't be happier. She has welcomed Lilley, whose presence gives Hart not just one of the area's best outside shooters but one of its best all-around players, period.

A year after winning the league title and advancing to the Southern Section Div. I-A championship game - along with qualifying for the state tournament - Hart has the same ambitious goals. And Lilley might be just the ingredient the team needs.

``I think we're faster, more athletic and more versatile than we were last year,'' Trebilcock said. ``And if anybody cheats off inside for even a split second, Taylor will hit a 3-pointer. That's crazy to have a shooter like her because she hits them in the clutch.''

Trebilcock said she likes Lilley's personality and team-first demeanor, too.

``Oh, she just fit right in and we get along great. It was like she'd been here the whole time,'' Trebilcock said. ``In fact, the whole team is pretty good friends this year. We all hang out with each other.''

Lilley has blended in well since the season opener because she joined Hart's program in the beginning of the summer, helping the team to a championship at the prestigious 125-team San Diego Classic.

``For a sophomore, Taylor is a very fundamentally sound player,'' coach Dave Munroe said. ``She shoots excellent 3s, she handles the ball well, she's developing a good pull-up jump shot, she plays tenacious defense and she runs the floor well. I couldn't ask for more.''

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson@daily news.com

BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK

HART (13-2) at CANYON (10-6) 7 tonight

Outlook: Both teams have started well, particularly Hart, which is coming off an impressive 60-54 road victory Tuesday at Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta. That victory avenged one of Hart's two defeats - the Indians lost to the Falcons in the championship game of the Crescenta Valley tournament last month.

Canyon, boosted by the return of 6-4 forward Nate Longshore from the football team, has a couple of talented guards in Sean Coen and high-scoring Jess Guidroz. They'll try to control the pace and keep the ball out of the hands of Hart's Adam Rich, who is averaging 22 points per game.

GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK

HART (14-1) at CANYON (10-6) 5:30 p.m.

Outlook: Defending league champion Hart, led by guards Ashlee Trebilcock and Taylor Lilley, has won 10 in a row since a four-point tournament loss to Ventura on Dec. 12.

Canyon, which has a slight height advantage with 6-1 post players Rachel Bates and Alexa Jahne, has had success when slowing the pace and working its motion offense. ``We don't have the depth to be a fast-break team,'' coach Troy Best said. ``Hart's pretty loaded but we're hoping to give them a game.''

Canyon's Jasmine Pandy, a senior who played at Crenshaw in L.A. two years ago, is averaging 13 points.

LOOK BACK

Adam Rich scored 18 points and Ryan Wolfe added 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to carry Hart to a 60-54 boys' victory at Crescenta Valley on Tuesday, avenging one of Hart's two losses this season. ... Santa Clarita Christian's boys' team survived a late comeback to hold off visiting Valley Christian of Santa Maria 55-53 Tuesday. ... Burbank's boys' team held Hoover of Glendale to eight field goals in a 37-31 road victory Tuesday. Eddie Boada led with 13 points. ... Joey Paysinger scored 21 points for the Burroughs boys' team in a 65-60 comeback victory against visiting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Monday. The victory gave Burroughs its ninth victory in 10 games.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 6 boxes

Photo:

(1) Saugus guards Neil Diorio, left, and Shant Bicakci have different styles, but they both manage to get the ball in the basket on a consistent basis.

(2) Sophomore guard Taylor Lilley might be just the addition Hart High needs to win the Foothill League and advance deep into the playoffs again.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) TIME OUT

(2) COMING UP

(3) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK: HART (13-2) at CANYON (10-6) 7 tonight (see text)

(4) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK: HART (14-1) at CANYON (10-6) 5:30 p.m. (see text)

(5) LOOK BACK (see text)

(6) STANDINGS