Academy League

Coaches’ predicted order of finish:

1. St. Margaret’s
Comment: Defending champion Tartans look capable of winning it again.

2. Sage Hill
Comment: New coach inherits a senior-heavy, talented team.

3. Brethren Christian
Comment: A younger team with enough size and skill to challenge for a playoff berth.

4. Capistrano Valley Christian
Comment: Eagles hope a good December makes for a good league run.

5. Oxford Academy
Comment: Patriots could win enough games to finish higher than this.

6. Whitney
Comment: Only non-county team in the league might struggle for victories.

Important dates

Sage Hill at Capistrano Valley Christian, Whitney at St. Margaret’s, Oxford Academy at Brethren Christian; St. Margaret’s at Capistrano Valley Christian, Sage Hill at Brethren Christian, Jan. 11; St. Margaret’s at Sage Hill, Jan. 15; Capistrano Valley Christian at Brethren Christian, Jan. 17; Capistrano Valley Christian at Sage Hill, Jan. 19; Brethren Christian at St. Margaret’s, Jan, 25; St. Margaret’s at Sage Hill, Feb. 5; Whitney at Sage Hill, Brethren Christian at Capistrano Valley Christian, St. Margaret’s at Oxford Academy, Feb. 7

Players to watch

Christian Allen (Brethren Christian, 6-6, Jr., F); Matt Coleman (Brethren Christian, 6-0, Sr., G); Ben Hammond (Brethren Christian, 6-1, Sr., F); Jordan Kennon (Capistrano Valley Christian, 5-11, Jr., F); Josh Kihm (Capistrano Valley Christian, 5-11, Sr., G); Ryan Limb (St. Margaret’s, 6-6, Sr., F); Jamie McGee (Brethren Christian, Sr., G); Daniel Morrison (St. Margaret’s, 6-2, Sr., G); Preston Oklejas (Sage Hill, Sr., F); Tyler Stowers (St. Margaret’s, 6-3, Sr., G); Austin Wenger (Brethren Christian, 6-3, So., F); Nick Witte (Sage Hill, Sr., G).

Academy League notebook

Last year’s final standings: 1. St. Margaret’s (21-6 overall, 10-0 league); 2. Brethren Christian (17-12, 7-3); 3. Sage Hill (14-13, 6-4); 4. Oxford Academy (8-17); 5. Whitney (7-18, 2-8). … In the CIF-Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs, Brethren Christian advanced to the semifinals, St. Margaret’s advanced to the quarterfinals, and Sage Hill advanced to the second round. … St. Margaret’s Stowers was All-CIF last season when he scored 14 points a game. Morrison scored 10 a game, and Limb averaged seven rebounds. … Sage Hill has a new coach, Jeff Beeler, who replaced Steve Keith, the school’s first coach who earlier had a long tenure at Irvine. … Brethren lost several key players to graduation, but has a good corps of underclassmen. … Dave King returns to coach Capistrano Valley Christian after a recent bout with cancer. … Oxford has gotten off to a rough start in December, losing 10 of 11 games.

Express League

Coaches’ predicted order of finish:

1. Orangewood Academy
Comment:Move from tougher San Joaquin League and good corps of returnees gives this team a good shot at this league’s championship.

2. Acaciawood Academy
Comment: The Golden Eagles, as usual, will contend for a playoff berth.

3. Bethel Baptist
Comment: Warriors could be most-improved team in the league.

4. Southlands Christian of Walnut
Comment: This team struggled last year, could face the same challenges this year.

5. Pioneer Baptist of Norwalk
Comment: The Patriots finished .500 last year, might have a difficult time reaching that plateau this year.

Important dates

Bethel Baptist at Orangewood Academy, Jan. 14; Orangewood Academy at Acaciawood Academy, Jan. 28; Acaciawood Academy at Orangewood Academy, Feb. 4

Players to watch

R.J. Arriola (Orangewood Academy, 5-7, Jr., G); Josue Franco (Acaciawood Academy, 5-10, Sr., G); Tim Higgins (Bethel Baptist, 5-11, Sr., F); Collin Monty (Orangewood Academy, 5-8, So., G); Brett Schultz (Orangewood Academy, 6-2, Jr., C)

Express League notebook

Last year’s final standings: 1. Eastside Christian (20-5 overall, 8-0 league); 2. Acaciawood Academy (11-11, 5-3); 3. Pioneer Baptist (8-9, 4-4); 4. Bethel Baptist (8-15, 2-6); 5. Southlands Christian (3-11, 1-7). … In the CIF-Southern Section Division V-A playoffs, Eastside Christian advanced to the second round, and Acaciawood and Pioneer Baptist were eliminated in the first round. ... Orangewood’s Arriola was all-league in the San Joaquin League last season, when he averaged 17 points a game. As the last-place team in the San Joaquin League last season, Orangewood moves to the Express League, switching places with Eastside, the Express champion last season. These leagues are part of the West Coast Athletic Conference, which makes those league moves annually. … Acaciawood beat Oxford by 39 points in a nonleague game last month.

San Joaquin League

Coaches’ predicted order of finish:

1. Fairmont Prep
Comment: Huskies should be at or near the top again.

2. Liberty Christian
Comment: Minutemen shared 2006-07 championship with Fairmont, and should contend for the top sport this year.

3. Tarbut V’Torah
Comment: The Lions are young, and should improve as the season progresses.

4. Eastside Christian
Comment: Last year’s Express League champion is in this league this year.

5. Saddleback Valley Christian
Comment: All-around athlete Brendan Chambers leads the Warriors.

6. Avalon
Comment: Island-bound team always has a home-court advantage.

Important dates

Fairmont Prep at Saddleback Valley Christian, Jan. 8; Fairmont Prep at Liberty Christian, Jan. 11; Liberty Christian at Tarbut V’Torah, Jan. 15; Liberty Christian at Fairmont Prep, Jan. 22; Saddleback Valley Christian at Liberty Christian, Feb. 4

Players to watch

Brendan Chambers (Saddleback Valley Christian, 5-11, Sr., G); Dave Dillard (Saddleback Valley Christian, 6-1, Sr., F); Chris Gipe (Saddleback Valley Christian, 5-10, Sr., F); Alex Matros (Tarbut V’Torah, 6-2, Jr., F); Gregg Romero (Saddleback Valley Christian, 5-11, Sr., G); Shahriar Younessi (Tarbut V’Torah, 5-10, Jr., G)

San Joaquin League notebook

Last year’s final standings: 1. Fairmont Prep (19-10 overall, 9-1 league) (tie) Liberty Christian (20-7, 9-1); 3. Saddleback Valley Christian (13-13, 5-5); 4. Avalon (13-7, 5-5); 5. Tarbut V’Torah (13-10, 2-8); 6. Orangewood Academy (7-18, 0-10). … In the CIF-Southern Section Division V-AA playoffs, Fairmont Prep and Liberty Christian advanced to the second round. Saddleback Valley Christian, Avalon and Tarbut V’Torah were eliminated in the first round. … As part of the West Coast Athletic Conference, the Express League and the San Joaquin League make a swap of teams each season, with the previous season’s last-place team in the San Joaquin going to the Express and the first-place team in the Express going to the San Joaquin. Last year’s Express League champion, Eastside Christian, makes the move to the San Joaquin, trading places with Orangewood Academy.

Alpha League
(Only one Orange County team is in this league.)

1. Whittier Christian
Comment: The Heralds lost some top players to graduation, but still have enough returning to repeat as league champions.

Important dates

Whittier Christian at Village Christian of Sun Valley, Jan. 11; Valley Christian of Cerritos at Whittier Christian, Jan. 15; Whittier Christian at Valley Christian, Feb. 1

Players to watch

Jake Cokely (Whittier Christian, 5-11, Sr., G); Zach Torres (Whittier Christian, 6-2, Sr., G).

Alpha League notebook

Whittier Christian finished first in the league last season, with a 7-1 league record. In the playoffs, the Heralds advanced to the quarterfinals to finish 24-5 overall.

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com