After five weeks of practice, Steven Saenz likes what he sees on the SBCC men’s basketball squad.
“We definitely have a new spark,” said the 5-7 sophomore guard from Whittier. “We have a lot more energy than we did last year. … This year looks like it’s going to be a good one.
“We’re going to be a running team. We’re not the biggest team in the world but we can run and compete with anyone.”
The Vaqueros open on Friday at the four-team Glendale Tournament against Compton at 3 p.m.
SBCC went 8-18 last season and finished fifth in the WSC North with a 4-8 mark. They were the top-scoring team in the conference at 78.5 per game.
Saenz and Chris Vines (San Marcos High) return from that squad, along with 6-3 Richard Somdah, who was an all-conference pick two years ago. Somdah shot 62.5 percent from the field and averaged 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.
“Chris was a clutch rebounder and scorer for us in timely situations,” said coach Morris Hodges, who’s starting his 21st season. “Steve is a good perimeter shooter and we need him to be consistent 3-point shooter. Richard is a tenacious rebounder and a real aggressive guy who plays a lot bigger than his size.”
The newcomers are led by point guards Josiah Kauhola of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Eric Braun. Malik Bradley is a good all-around guard who can handle the ball, shoot it and play good defense, according to Hodges. Joshua Guild of San Marcos High is the tallest player at 6-6 and he’ll play in the post, along with 6-4 Tony Hawley of Dos Pueblos.
Scott Burrows is a talented perimeter shooter from Santa Ynez High.
Hodges said the probable starters will be Vines, Somdah, Guild or Hawley at center, Bradley or Saenz at shooting guard and Braun at the point. He’s counting on 6-4 Eric Becker and Charles Silver to provide solid minutes off the bench.
“We’ll play a lot of guys because we want to play up-tempo and pressure the ball,” Hodges stated. “We plan to play 10 or 11 guys in intense, short bursts. We want to get out and run and make it an open-court game. We’re going to extend our defense more than we have in the past.
“I think our strengths will be our depth and team chemistry.”
Hodges said one big key to success will be rebounding.
“Given our lack of size, it will be very important to get a body on people,” he noted. “And we can’t give up second shots. We’re going to have to be a good situational team. I can’t remember how many close games we lost last year but it was a bunch.”
SBCC scored 80 or more 11 times last season but were only 3-10 in games decided by seven points or less.
“This group has the ability because of their chemistry and a little better leadership,” said Hodges. “That can give us those intangibles that we need in close games.”
The Vaqueros will be on the road for nearly a month, competing in four tournaments from San Diego to Monterey. They’ll make their home debut in the 38th annual SBCC Classic on Dec. 9
