BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: HART FEEDS ON SPEED.Byline: Nevin Barich Nevin Barich (born August 6, 1979) is a former American sports journalist now working as the Senior Editor of The National Notary, a trade magazine based in Los Angeles with a circulation of more than 300,000 nationwide. Staff Writer There were times last season when the Hart High boys' varsity and junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. would switch roles. More than once, the junior varsity, which went on to have a 21-2 record in the 2000-01 season, would knock off the varsity in a scrimmage. An impressive feat since the varsity, though struggling to a 12-15 record and a fifth-place finish in the Foothill League, had seven seniors. Luckily for the Indians, several of those junior varsity stars have moved up to the varsity level this year, giving Hart the quickness and cohesiveness it needs to make a run at a league title. ``Those younger players are all the difference in the team right now,'' said returning guard Jeff French, one of five seniors on the roster. ``These guys make our team better.'' If nothing else, they should make the Indians quicker. Last season, Hart, with two players 6-foot-8 and 6-6 on the floor, tried to play more of a halfcourt offense, not normally seen in the small-sized Foothill League. But the team, as evidenced by its subpar sub·par adj. 1. Not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production. 2. Below par in a hole, round, or game of golf. record, never seemed to catch on. ``Last year, with the halfcourt offense, we never were able to do much with it,'' French said. ``Now we can run a more fast-break offense.'' And for that reason, Hart's size, or lack of, should help them. No player is taller than 6-5 and three players stand 6-0 or less. Hart coach Tom Kelly People named Tom Kelly include:
``We've got a bunch of what I would call midrange guys,'' said Kelly, in his second year as coach of Hart. ``We've got a bunch of guys A Bunch of Guys (BOGs), or Group of Guys (GOGs) are terms used by counter-terrorism officials to refer to small, self-organizing terrorist cells.[1] BOGs typically have little to no contact with global terrorist groups like al Qaeda, so they independently plan and that are 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. The Foothill League in basketball is never huge anyway. It's wide open every year. Last year, we had two big guys and we tied for fifth.'' Seven players from the junior varsity have moved up this year. One of the standouts is Cody Case, a 6-2 junior forward. One of the team's better rebounders, Case is expected to be Hart's stopper and will be guarding the opponent's best player in nearly every game. Mike Gentry, a 5-11 junior guard, should also be among the top newcomers. Gentry, one of the team's premier shooters and ballhandlers, will be given free rein at times in running the point. The other players moving up from the junior varsity are forwards Paul Gonzales Paul Garza Gonzales (born April 18, 1964 in East Los Angeles, California) was an American boxer, who won the light flyweight gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Amateur Career and Andrew Morris, and guards Mitch Paden, Ryan ZumMallen and David Manley David Manley is a UK-based wargamer and one of the leading members of the naval wargaming hobby, having authored over 50 articles on naval wargaming and general wargaming issues and a wide range of naval rules covering most major periods [1], including: With the exception of Manley and Rich, all are juniors. ``That's the best part about it,'' said Kelly, whose team won more than 30 games this past summer in various leagues and tournaments. ``Most of them are juniors, so they'll all be back next year.'' Actually, the best part might be that most of these newcomers have played with each other for years. With the exception of Manley, all of them have played on the same American Roundball Club teams since the mid-1990s. ``We're a pretty tightly knit Adj. 1. tightly knit - closely and firmly integrated; "a tight-knit organization" tight-knit integrated - formed into a whole or introduced into another entity; "a more closely integrated economic and political system"- Dwight D. group,'' Gentry said. With all the talk about the newcomers, it's easy forget Hart has four seniors returning. Besides French, there's 6-5 center Chris Frome, 6-5 forward Luke Hilmo and 5-7 guard Julian Lewis Julian Murray Lewis (born 26 September 1951, in Swansea, Wales) is a British politician and Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for New Forest East in Hampshire. He was first elected as an M.P. in 1997. . Kelly said French might be the best of the returners. ``Jeff has really improved,'' Kelly said. ``He's a pretty good shooter, he's added some ballhandling to his game and he's also added some creativity.'' Hart has gotten off to a fast start this season. The Indians won four of their first five games and placed fifth at last week's Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. tournament. The team to beat in the Foothill League will probably be Canyon, the defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre . This season, Kelly expects Hart to give the Cowboys a run for their money. ``As we've indicated from playing all last summer, from the kids we've got back and the new kids we've got, we'll be there.'' AT A GLANCE Coach: Tom Kelly, second year 2000-01 record: 12-15, 3-7, fifth in Foothill League Top returners: Jeff French (Sr., Guard), Chris Frome (Sr., Center), Luke Hilmo (Sr., Foward), Julian Lewis (Sr., Guard) Top newcomers: Cody Kase (Jr., Forward), Andrew Morris (Jr., Foward), Mike Gentry (Jr., Guard), Paul Gonzales (Jr., Forward), Adam Rich (So., Forward), Mitch Paden (Jr., Guard), Ryan ZumMallen (Jr., Guard), David Manley (Sr., Guard) Why they'll win: Talent and cohesiveness. Hart has 10 potential starters on its roster and many of its players have played with each other for years. Why they won't: The Indians will rely heavily on their newcomers and it's hard to predict how the players will respond to the jump in competition. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Hart High senior Jeff French shoots against Culver City Culver City, city (1990 pop. 38,793), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1917. It is a center of the U.S. motion-picture industry, whose roots in the city date to c.1915. Its chief manufactures are rubber products and computers. at the Beverly Hills tournament. (2) Mike Gentry should be one of Hart's top contributing newcomers. The junior guard will run the point for the Indians. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion