BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: PALMDALE MUST RELY ON HUSTLE, DESIRE THIS YEAR.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

PALMDALE - The Palmdale High boys' basketball team doesn't have the raw talent or experience of some of its Golden League counterparts. However, the Falcons are looking to make up for those deficiencies with hustle and determination.

Palmdale returns just four players with significant varsity experience.

Derek Hagan, a 6-foot-2 small forward, is the team's only returning starter. Hagan, although athletic and physical, hasn't yet begun practicing. He was the standout wide receiver on the football team, which reached the Southern Section Division III quarterfinals.

Seniors Ian Salinas and Cory McElroy and junior Ryan Frazer are Palmdale's only other returnees. Salinas, a 6-foot point guard, is the team's best perimeter shooter. McElroy, a 6-1 guard/forward, has excellent leaping and penetrating abilities, but he was also on the football team and has yet to practice.

At 6-5, Frazer is the team's tallest player. He bulked up during the offseason and has made significant progress as a low-post scorer and defender, Palmdale coach Garry Phelps said.

Senior guards Alondo Faldana and Greg Slade and junior center Scott Anderson (6-4) lack experience but have shown promise in practices. Faldana and Slade are among the team's best outside shooters and Anderson has developed some low-most moves.

Key role players for Palmdale include senior forwards Roderick Gillins (6-1) and Larry Baldwin (6-0). Gillins is among the team's hardest workers in practices and Baldwin possesses excellent quickness and leaping ability.

Senior guards Cory Norris and Josh Konrad could also be factors off the bench for Palmdale. Konrad, among the team's best defenders, is nicknamed the ``vacuum cleaner'' because of his propensity for diving for loose balls in practices.

Senior center/forward Dwayne Jones (6-1) and small forward Antonio Bowie (6-1) will also be counted on to contribute. Jones should help Palmdale score and rebound in the low post. Bowie, the junior varsity team's MVP last season, is recovering from a separated shoulder he suffered during football season. He should help the team in rebounding with his leaping ability and instincts for the ball.

Palmdale's greatest strength is its quickness, and Phelps loves to implement full-court pressure and run in the open floor.

The Falcons lack size and outside shooting, but their quickness helped them earn a playoff berth last season despite similar shortcomings. They could have contended for a league title, but turnovers proved critical in several close games.

Cutting down on turnovers again will be crucial for Palmdale if it hopes to contend for a playoff spot, a challenge for any inexperienced team, Phelps said.

``Anytime you bring up a lot of kids from the junior varsity of freshman teams, it's always a lot bigger jump (to varsity) than any of them expect,'' Phelps said. ``That dictates that we have to work harder in practices at taking care of the ball and recognizing the passing lanes so we don't turn the ball over so much.''

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Palmdale High basketball player Ian Salinas is one of only four returning players with varsity experience this season.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer