By Jacob Wilson/Garden Grove Journal
With high school basketball starting league games this week it’s time to see how Garden Grove area teams are doing so far and to look at how the rest of the season should shape up. First off is a rundown of the Garden Grove League boys basketball teams, presented in order of projected league finish.
Garden Grove High School’s football team will always be remembered as the team that went 10-0, but the boys basketball team did it first, going 10-0 in league play last year. And the Argonauts have a chance to do it again in 2010.
At 10-4 so far, Garden Grove is the only GGL team this year to post a winning non-league record and should win its third-straight league title easily.
Greg Long averages 14 points per game to lead the Argonauts. Jeff Montenegro adds 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Since joining the team, Sean Young is leading Garden Grove League players with 3.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game while adding 9.2 points.
Rancho Alamitos is 7-7 in non-league play and is poised to get back into the playoffs. If they can play some defense. The Vaqueros give up 64 points per game and score 58.5.
Like their football counterparts, the Vaqueros can score on anybody. With most of the Garden Grove League teams struggling to score this year, the Vaqueros should be able to run to a second place finish.
Joel Lee leads the Vaqueros with 15.4 points per game. Steven Silva adds 12.5 points per game.
Los Amigos was 0-10 in league in 2009 and won only two games all year. This year the Lobos already have five wins and have a shot at going from worst to third, or even second. The Lobos’ improved play is clearly in the numbers.
The team is scoring seven more points per game over last year. More impressively, the Lobos are giving up 13.5 fewer points per contest. In 2009 the Lobos were outscored by almost 19 points per game. This year Los Amigos has scored 20 more points on the year than its opponents.
Senior guard Daniel Olvera led the league in scoring at 19 points per game as a junior last year and is averaging 20.7 points to lead all GGL players. Jared Thomas adds 10 points and three steals per contest. Brian Lagasse chips in almost eight points and eight rebounds per game.
At 4-10 on the year, Santiago is one game off its pace from last year’s overall record of 7-17. But the Cavaliers are actually a better team and have a chance to improve on last year’s 2-8 league record and fifth place finish.
Juan Sanchez leads the Cavaliers with 14 points per game. Last year the senior averaged 10 points and 6.6 rebounds.
After 14 non-league games Bolsa Grande enters league play at just 3-11. Last year the Matadors were 3-13 in non-league games before going 7-3 in league to finish in second place. Of course last year’s team had ten seniors, including three-year starter Abdul Yousef.
This year the Matadors have five seniors, but only one of them was on the team last year. After three years at or near the top of the league, Bolsa will have to grow up fast if it wants to stay there.
Sophomore guard Dreon Barlett scores 14.5 points per game to lead the Matadors. Outside of Barlett the Matadors have trouble generating offense. Bolsa averages 38.5 points per game, 11 points fewer than last year.
La Quinta won its first game of the year. Eight losses later the Aztecs enter league play with a 1-8 record. Last year’s third place team was 7-9 in non-league games before going 6-4 in league and earning a playoff spot. The Aztecs are giving up 58 points per game and scoring 45.
R. Le leads the Aztecs with 10 points per game.
