BOYS' BASKETBALL: CAMARILLO CHANCES HEIGHTENED : SCORPIONS BEGIN SEASON WITH BIGGEST TEAM IN RECENT MEMORY.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer Every season brings renewal, but in 1998-99 there is more to the typical beginning for the Camarillo High boys' basketball team. It's fine with the Scorpions, too. Last season, its final one in the Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. , Camarillo finished a disappointing 3-11 in league and 9-14 overall. The main culprit was playing in a league with solid teams throughout, though injuries played a role in the team's demise. In 1998-99, the Scorpions switch to the Oxnard-based Pacific View League and except for perhaps Oxnard High, the Scorpions should be right in the battle of the league race. ``Oxnard has to be the league favorite,'' Camarillo coach Mike Prewitt said. ``They have some excellent players returning. The other four teams appear to be pretty even. It should make for a interesting league finish.'' Camarillo will rely on inside height to carry the team, something that has not been the case in some time. The top returning players are 6-foot-5 senior Kyle Lassiter and 6-foot-6 senior Gary Bryce. Junior Ryan Miyamoto (5-foot-8) will run the offense. The Scorpions have height off the bench as well in 6-foot-7 senior Ray Velji, 6-foot-4 Charlie Bueker and Mike Ek. Bueker is a junior and Ek a senior. Prewitt expects promising 6-foot-4 sophomore Jared Youngworth to be added to the rotation. ``We have size,'' Prewitt said, ``but we lack experience. The people coming up from the junior varsity team For the American rock band, see . In sports, usually at the high school and college levels, members of a team who are not the main players in a competition (such as a football or basketball game) are called junior varsity players. have to step up and contribute immediately. The three returning players (Lassiter, Bryce and Miyamoto) need to have solid years in order for us to be successful.'' Beside the rapid maturation maturation /mat·u·ra·tion/ (mach-u-ra´shun) 1. the process of becoming mature. 2. attainment of emotional and intellectual maturity. 3. of younger players, another key for the Scorpions will be keeping prime players injury-free. ``The last two years we've had key players go down and that's something we need to stay away from,'' Prewitt said. ``Two years ago it was Joe Borchard Joseph Edward Borchard (born November 25, 1978 in Panorama City, California), a 1997 graduate of Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California was the 12th pick of the first round in the 2000 MLB amateur draft out of Stanford University by the Chicago White Sox. who went down, last year it was D.J. Nakaba and Mark Larson. We have some depth, but our big guys need to stay healthy.'' The injury bug might already be waiting. Lassiter has a pinched nerve in his hip and could miss the first few games of the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Tip-Off Classic. ``Lassiter might not be able to go and Gary is just back from football, so it could be interesting early,'' Prewitt said. ``(Lassiter's) injury isn't too serious, but it will effect him early.'' A newcomer to the program Prewitt feels will solidify so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. the back court is 6-foot-1 senior Jay Williamson. Williamson moved to the area from New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and has impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: with his play in practice. ``I feel good about this team,'' Prewitt said. ``We have the potential to compete in our league and have a successful season.'' CAMARILLO BASKETBALL Coach: Mike Prewitt, 10th year 1997-98 record: 9-14 overall, 3-11 in league Leading returning scorers: Kyle Lassiter 8.9, Gary Bryce 3.8, Ryan Miyamoto 2.8. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Camarillo's Kyle Lassiter, a 6-foot-5 senior, is one of three returning players that will be counted on heavily this basketball season. Michael Owen
BOX: CAMARILLO BASKETBALL (See text) |
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