January 5, 2007

Rams run over in opener

Willow Glen resolved to return to throne, learning from slump

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Reigning Santa Teresa Division champion Willow Glen was stunned in its boys’ basketball league opener 60-43 Jan. 3 at Sobrato High in Morgan Hill.

Ram senior Brian Chunn protects the ball in Willow lgen's playoff game last season. Chunn is one of Willow Glen's top defenders, accoridng to coach Todd Meeker. Photo by Justin Petersen

But Ram Coach Todd Meeker was assured that his club shall return to early season form, and must do so in a hurry to make another run at the league title, which they shared in 2005-2006 with Prospect High.

“The last three games haven’t been good, but prior to that we were playing pretty well,” said Meeker.

Willow Glen (8-5, 0-1) entered the contest having dropped two straight; however, both were to De Anza Division opponents, Los Gatos and Cupertino. Meeker expected the Rams to shuck the luck that led them there, but he said it went poorly from the tip versus Sobrato.

The Rams trailed by just one point at the end of the first quarter before the deficit swelled to 20 by half.

“We started out shooting the ball well in the first quarter,” said Meeker. “Sobrato is a very good team and played well. I expected it to be a difficult opening game, but we have to shoot the ball a lot better and meet the other team’s intensity.”

Fielding five returning seniors in the starting lineup, Willow Glen opened the year at a torrid pace, winning eight of its first 10 games, including a run to Los Gatos High’s Wildcat Shootout tournament championship, knocking off three A-league opponents along the way.

“The Los Gatos tournament has been our biggest accomplishment so far,” said Meeker. “When we are on, we are a pretty good offensive team, hitting shots both inside and outside, but tonight we started living and dying by the three-pointer.”

Meeker said that he had expected success this season. “With the seniors we have returning, I thought we would be fairly competitive this year,” he said.

Senior point guard Steven Skavdahl will pace the team in setting up the offense and with aggressive defense. “Steven is really competitive,” said Meeker. “He is hard-nosed.”

Leading the team with an average of 11.8 points per game, Skavdahl dropped in nine points at Sobrato.

Fellow senior Anthony Rodriguez proved most productive for the Rams, however, finishing with 18 points, including five three-pointers.

“Our offensive approach typically is to run,” said Meeker. “We want to fast break because of our size. There are some bigger teams than us out there, so if we do run our offense, we want to attack the basket, make two guys guard one and get some guys open.”

Third-year varsity player Kyle Schroeder is also key if the Rams hope to return to Santa Teresa’s upper echelon, according to Meeker.

Schroeder shares the team’s top scorer title with Skavdahl, also averaging 11.8 points per game.

“Kyle has been playing two years on the inside, but this year we moved him out to the three position,” said Meeker. “This year he has been a consistent scorer. He shoots the three, but he also has an inside game. He is versatile.”

Bryan Chun and Billy Hahn are also major components in the mix this year.

Chun is a defensive and rebounding specialist. “He is our lunch pail guy,” said Meeker. “He does all of the tough work for us. I don’t know if he has scored once in double digits during his three years on varsity, but he is in every minute of every game. He is a very smart person and basketball player.”

Hahn, meanwhile, is the squad’s top defender. “He is the defensive stopper for us,” said Meeker. “We need his defensive intensity for us to be successful.”

Meeker said that Willow Glen will still challenge for the league title, despite dropping the opener. “If we are clicking and playing the way we should be playing then the league title is within our reach again,” he said. “We had it going in mid-December, we just need to get it going again now.”

Longhorns enjoy early success in boys’ hoops

Leigh attacking at both ends

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leigh lost its top performer when former Longhorn and current Archbishop Mitty guard Ryan Weber opted out, but his absence has accentuated the team’s camaraderie and ability to win together this year.

The Longhorns have mounted a 9-4 record during preseason, and second year coach Greg Wolf is ecstatic. “If you had asked me beforehand, I would have said hopefully we win more than we lose,” he said.

Junior guard Shawn Sanders leaps to defend a Gunn player's pass at the Fremont Holiday Classic last month. Photo by Justin Petersen

Wolf said seniors Reece Behrens, Aaron Katayama, Justin Hoch and junior Alex Ellinwood have all been instrumental in lofting Leigh’s game above where they left off last year (14-12, 6-6).

Leigh has battled to third place finishes at both the Cupertino and Fremont holiday tournaments, the consolation championship at Los Gatos’ Wildcat Shootout, and narrowly lost to league rival Piedmont Hills in the Milpitas Classic championship game.

According to Wolf, the high point in that run was a tight 44-41 victory versus Cupertino on Dec. 19 at Fremont. Leigh’s win was retribution served for the Pioneers’ 47-31 victory on Dec. 1.

“We were a little intimidated early in the year,” said Wolf. “But we beat them to get into the semifinals at Fremont.”
Leigh kicked off A-league Mount Hamilton Division play with a resounding 72-44 victory against Evergreen Valley on Jan. 3.

Forward Behrens led all scorers in the contest with 33 points, including one three-pointer.

Katayama, meanwhile, dumped in 12 points, with 3 three-pointers.

“Reece has made all-tournament in every tournament that we have played in,” said Wolf. “He can shoot outside, but his strength is going to the basket quick.”

Behrens is the lone returning starter in the Longhorn lineup. “Last year his role was mainly defense,” said Wolf. “Last year he averaged probably six points per game.”

This season Behrens is averaging 16.3 points per game.

While guards Ellinwood and Hoch were held to just three points versus the Cougars, the backcourt’s mission was accomplished by setting others in motion.

“Hoch takes control when he is out there,” said Wolf. “Ellinwood is usually defending the opposing team’s quickest guard. He is our instant offense guy, creating a lot of opportunities off of steals.”

At 6-feet, 7-inches, senior center Ben Taylor was a factor down low as well.

“It is key in league that we get the ball to him,” said Wolf. “Oak Grove has a couple of big guys but other than that we are bigger than many of the teams that we will face.”

Wolf called Taylor smart and hard working. “We need to be smart enough to get the ball to him,” he said.

Leigh will continue to utilize its up-tempo game, pressuring from end line to end line. “It gives us more scoring opportunities and the opportunity to play more players,” said Wolf.

In his second year at Leigh, Wolf said he has grown into that philosophy. “I was conservative earlier in my coaching career, but now I think that the up-tempo game is a lot more exciting and fun for the players.”

Wolf also said that the attacking approach will help Leigh remain competitive throughout tits league campaign.

“The guys have stepped up and done a good job so far,” said Wolf. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to be an average team, or not. But I think we can compete in the upper part of the Mount Hamilton Division.”

Wolf said that everybody’s odds-on favorite to win league is Oak Grove, who returns four of five starters from the 2005-2006 Central Coast Section Division I team.