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NEW HEIGHTS FOR HIGHLAND BEHIND HOLDEN, BULLDOGS COULD BE FACTOR IN GOLDEN LEAGUE.


Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

PALMDALE - Ron Holden is the first to admit that the sight of a 6-foot-1, 170-pound guard taking jump balls against players a half-foot taller - and substantially thicker - is an odd spectacle.

Holden should know.

Out of necessity, he spent his junior year at Highland High last season in such a role.

``I'd walk out there, look up, and I'd be like, 'I've got to guard this guy?' '' he said. ``I could hear people laughing in the stands, saying, 'He's not going to be able to do that.'

``It was true most of the time.''

Remarkably, Holden held his own, helping lead the undersized undersized

see dwarfism, runt.
 Bulldogs to a second-place finish Noun 1. second-place finish - a finish in second place (as in a race)
runner-up finish

finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the
 in the Golden League and a Southern Section Div. I-AA quarterfinal appearance.

``He did really well,'' Highland coach Jeff Smith said. ``He's just a very aggressive player. Defensively, he's in your face, and he doesn't back down to anybody, and that's what makes the world of difference.''

The experience toughened Holden.

``I'm basically used to contact down low - it's nothing now,'' he said. ``I got tossed around every day last year. Every day.''

Highland will count on Holden's moxie (language, music) Moxie - A language for real-time computer music synthesis, written in XPL.

["Moxie: A Language for Computer Music Performance", D. Collinge, Proc Intl Computer Music Conf, Computer Music Assoc 1984, pp.217-220].
 as it looks to separate itself in what figures to be an intensely competitive league race.

The good news for the Bulldogs is the addition of newcomers Dino Anderson, a 6-5 junior, and sophomores Kyisean Reed (6-6) and Buck Stewart (6-4) have brought the team needed size, which will enable Holden to return to his natural shooting-guard position.

Holden - Highland's only returning starter - and senior point guard Donovan Phillips give the team a formidable backcourt back·court  
n.
1. Sports
a. The part of a court between the service line and the base line in tennis and other net games.

b.
 combination it will count on to challenge consensus favorite Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming.

The Antelope Valley
.

Defending league champion Quartz Hill, which last season ended Highland's run of two consecutive co-championships and Lancaster's four-year title run, figures to be in the mix, too.

The Rebels return several important players, including center Troy Ross, a 6-5, 260-pound low-post player who is averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds, and junior guard Alexander Dantzler, who is averaging 13 points.

Lancaster's Javaughn Esspiritt, a 6-4 senior forward/guard; Palmdale's Chris Hicks Chris Hicks is an Australian rugby league player. He currently plays for the Manly Sea Eagles on the wing, in the National Rugby League competition.

His Previous team was the Penrith Panthers. He is also a prominent goal kicker.
, a 6-3 junior guard; and Littlerock senior forward Sean Van Arsdale
  • Harry Van Arsdale, Jr.
  • Lesley Van Arsdall
  • Tom Van Arsdale
  • Dick Van Arsdale
  • Paul Van Arsdale

This page or section lists people with the surname Van Arsdale.
 are among the league's top players.

Knight, led by Highland transfer Steven De La Torre La Torre is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 357 inhabitants. , a 6-2 guard, and point guard Robert Thomas Robert Thomas could refer to:
  • Rob Thomas (musician), singer-songwriter
  • Robert Thomas (counterfeiter), 18th-century British counterfeiter
  • Robert Thomas (director) (1927-1989), French writer, actor and director
 also could be a factor.

Highland, which has excellent team speed but lacks experience and consistent perimeter shooting, is still tinkering with offensive and defensive systems and will continue to do so into league play, Smith said.

The Bulldogs have played exclusively zone and man-to-man defenses Man to man defense is a type of defensive tactic used in basketball and Football (Soccer) in which each player is assigned to defend and follow the movements of a single player on offense. Often, a player guards his counterpart (e.g.  in different games.

Highland expects to have to execute any system it employs nearly flawlessly win the league title.

``If we execute every single game and every single play, and we play hard-nosed defense, I think we can beat anybody,'' Holden said.

Gideon Rubin, (818)713-3607

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

FIVE TO WATCH

Troy Ross, Sr. C, Quartz Hill

Javaughn Esspiritt, Sr. F/G, Lancaster

Chris Hicks, Jr. G, Palmdale

Ron Holden, Sr. G, Highland

Sean Van Arsdale, Sr. F, Littlerock

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Ron Holden helped Highland High finish second in the Golden League last season. With the addition of three post players, the 6-1 senior guard could lead the Bulldogs to a league title.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Box:

FIVE TO WATCH (see text)
COPYRIGHT 2005 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2005, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Dec 24, 2005
Words:561
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