COYOTE GUARDS PLAYING IN SYNC.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Bobby Baumann and Ryan Coleman have been playing basketball together so long that they both swear there are times on the court when they know exactly what the other is thinking.

The two players make up the starting backcourt at Calabasas High School. Together they average close to 50 points a game, or half of what the Coyotes score as a team on a nightly basis.

``We're best friends on and off the court and that shows in the way we play,'' said Coleman, a 6-2 shooting guard.

Baumann echoes that feeling.

``He knows what I like to do and I know what he likes to do,'' said the 5-10 point guard.

The best part is that their respective games complement each other perfectly. Coleman is an athlete who likes to drive to the basket by using his quickness and speed to get around his opponent. Baumann, on the other hand, is an outstanding shooter who likes to spot up and release the ball. As a result, when Coleman attracts double teams on drives to the basket, he can kick the ball out to Baumann for open jump shots.

``I know that if his guy slides down to double-team me I can just get the ball to him and he's got an open shot,'' Coleman said.

Baumann agreed.

``His style of play really helps me,'' he said. ``And he knows where I am on the floor and where I like to get the ball.''

Two things that both players do effectively are post up on offense and play defense.

Their post-up skills were developed at local parks and gyms, where both can be found during the off-season or on days off. In pickup games everybody loves to get the ball in the paint and post their man up. Coleman and Baumann got so good at it that Coyotes coach Bill Bellatty designed post-up plays for both of them.

Defensively, the two guards have such great quickness that Bellatty simply turns them loose all over the court. Calabasas loves to press and trap from base line to base line, keyed by the tenacious play of Baumann and Coleman.

``By pressuring other teams it really creates a lot of offense for us,'' said Baumann.

Bellatty considers himself fortunate to have two outstanding guards.

``They can both take over games,'' Bellatty said. ``And the most important thing is that all they care about is winning. They're both such unselfish players.''

Baumann and Coleman first played together in a three-on-three, Hoop It Up tournament at Cal State Northridge before their freshman year. Their team won, presaging the good things to come in the future.

Unfortunately, that success hasn't quite carried over for the Coyotes themselves, although this year Coleman and Baumann feel that Calabasas has a chance to compete for the Frontier League championship.

``I think for the first time since I've been here four teams can play for first place,'' said Coleman, listing Calabasas, Santa Clara, Moorpark and Santa Paula as contending teams.

In years past Santa Clara was considered the clear front-runner. But this year the Saints aren't as talented as they've been, which creates an opportunity for some other clubs to step up.

Bellatty feels that time will tell whether the Coyotes can seriously challenge for the title. He knows that in Coleman and Baumann he's got the type of backcourt that can compete for a title, but the key will be the development of his frontcourt players.

``Right now it's hard to say where we fit in,'' Bellatty said. ``It depends on how some of our guys come along. But we've got talent. And in Bobby and Ryan, I feel like I've got the best backcourt combination I've ever had.''

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Photo

Photo: (Ran in Simi and Conejo Editions) Ryan Coleman, left, and Bobby Baumann form one of the area's best backcourts.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News