BOYS' BASKETBALL: OFFENSIVE-MINDED HUMPHREYS SETS A DEFENSIVE TONE.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Daily News Staff Writer

High school students are not always the most receptive to new ideas, especially when they go against familiar and comfortable beliefs.

So when Dave Humphreys took over the Canyon High boys' basketball program in 1996, instituting his mostly defensive game plan was not easily achieved.

``The players were getting frustrated because everybody wants offense; everybody wants to shoot,'' Canyon forward Jacyn Ezell said of last year's team. ``But as we got results it became easier. People accepted it more. And from last year to this year, our mindset was on defense, everybody knew what to do and that's why we've had better results this year.''

The Cowboys (10-10, 3-2) are off to their best start in Foothill League play in Humphreys' three years. Before out-of-character losses in its last two games, Canyon was allowing an average of 33 points per game. Then they gave up 49 points and 68 in losing to Burroughs and Valencia, respectively.

``(Two teams) scoring 68 points on us, that's the main reason coach was so upset with us,'' point guard Anthony Falasca said of last Friday's 68-65 loss to Valencia. ``(For us) to score 65 points and not win is bad. We're just going to stress more defense and give a lot more effort.''

The way his players talk about defense and want to play better on that end of the court than the offensive end, it would appear that Humphreys has achieved his goal: He has built a high school basketball program that is predicated on defense.

This is no easy task and it is one which Humphreys said has not yet been completed, saying he is in the middle of a five-year plan. But things are going well for Humphreys, 28, who was probably the last high school basketball player one would expect to become a defensive-minded head coach.

Humphreys poured in 3,135 points in four years of varsity basketball at Dade High School in Miami. He averaged nearly 30 points per game on a team that won 27, 27, 25 and 20 games in his four years, reaching the state championship his junior year. Dade, coached by Humphreys' father, Paul, lost by five points in the 1988 title game.

``It's been in my blood. My dad's done it for over 30 years,'' Humphreys said. ``Seeing it in my family, I love it. It's something I want to do for the rest of my life.''

Not surprisingly, judging from his gaudy average as a high school player, Humphreys did not pick up his defensive tendencies from his father. That came while playing at The Master's College under then-coach Mel Hankinson.

Humphreys chose to attend The Master's over University of Maimi, Florida State and University of Florida.

``I wanted to get a coach that would teach me in what I wanted to do,'' he said. ``I wanted to find out what it was in terms of a coach's standpoint to be behind the scenes, getting players ready and making sure the coaching staff is with you as well.''

One could not argue with Humphreys' choice. In some unexplained phenomenon, Canyon made the playoffs last year after finishing 3-7 and in fourth place in the Foothill League, and 12-14 at the end of the regular season.

Someone knew something about the Cowboys last year, as they took advantage of their selection to an at-large berth and went to the Southern Section Division 1A quarterfinals before losing to San Bernardino powerhouse Pacific.