BOYS
Coaches’ predicted finish
1. CENTURY: Graduation took away many of the top players, but the Centurions usually finish at or near the top.
2. SAVANNA: Perhaps the league’s most athletic team, the Rebels will challenge for the league championship.
3.SANTA ANA VALLEY: This is a very balanced league, and the Falcons are good enough to contend for the title.
4. MAGNOLIA: Look for the Sentinels to be the most improved team in the league.
5. ANAHEIM: Perhaps a player or two away from being a league championship team, but the Colonists will win their share of league games.
6.WESTERN:The Pioneers will be better and might be even improved enough to contend for a playoff berth.
Important dates
Magnolia in Irvine World News Tournament, various sites, Tuesday-Saturday; Century, Santa Ana Valley in Century Holiday Classic at Century, Dec. 26-30; Savanna, Western in Katella Klassic at Katella, Dec. 26-29; Western at Anaheim, Century at Savanna, Magnolia at Santa Ana Valley, Jan. 10; Santa Ana Valley at Savanna, Jan. 19; Anaheim at Magnolia, Century at Santa Ana Valley, Savanna at Western, Jan. 24; Savanna at Century, Jan. 26; Savanna at Santa Ana Valley, Feb. 6; Santa Ana Valley at Century, Feb. 8
Players to watch
Frank Argueta (Anaheim, 5-9, So., G); Justin Brizuela (Century, 5-6, Sr. G); Saul Cantoran (Santa Ana Valley, 6-0, Sr., F); Juan Castillo (Santa Ana Valley, 5-11, Sr., G); Rap Dantic (Magnolia, 5-6, Jr., G); Isiah Emaguna (Savanna, 5-8, Sr., G); Caleb Fuentes (Anaheim, 5-7, Sr., G); Vince Gomez (Anaheim, 6-4, Jr., F); Dalton Harbaugh (Western, 6-1, So., G); John Lopez (Magnolia, 6-0, So., G); Ricky Lopez (Santa Ana Valley, 6-0, Sr., G); Brandon Morris (Santa Ana Valley, 6-1, Sr., F); David Murillo (Anaheim, 5-9, Jr., G); Bryant Ojeda (Anaheim, 6-0, Sr., G); Jakson Rabadon (Century, 6-0, Sr., F); Quintin Riley (Western, 6-1, Sr., F); Ceasar Rosales (Magnolia, 5-10, Sr., G); Adrian Royal (Savanna, 6-3, Sr., C); Tommy Santistevens (Western, 5-10, Sr., G); Winston Taylor (Magnolia, 6-2, Jr., F); Marc Thomas (Savanna, 6-0, Jr., G); Victor Torres (Anaheim, 5-6, Sr., G); Nguyen Vu (Western, 5-3, Sr., G); Dominique Williams (Savanna, 6-0, G)
Noteworthy
Last season’s standings: 1. Century (20-8 overall, 8-2 league), (tie) Santa Ana Valley (16-5, 8-2), (tie) Savanna (21-5, 8-2); 4. Anaheim (10-17, 2-8); 5. Magnolia (4-24, 2-8); 6. Western (4-24, 1-9). Century and Savanna were the only league teams to win playoff games last season. Orange League teams will compete in Division III-AA in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs this season. Coaches couldn’t pick a clear favorite to take the league championship. “Savanna and Century are probably the favorites,” Western coach Damion Tello said. “But the league, overall, is very even.” Rabadon is Century’s only returning starter. Murillo scored six a game as a reserve. Savanna’s Williams averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last season, when he was all-league first team. Santa Ana Valley’s Lopez is a three-year starter. Morris was a standout on the Falcons’ football team this season. Magnolia has a new coach, Mike Anderson, who is not new at the school. He has been the Sentinels’ girls basketball coach, and will coach both teams this season. Anaheim’s Caleb Fuentes averaged 11 points a game last season.
STEVE FRYER/The Register
