Highlanders looking to rebound from tough 2006-07 campaign
Boys' basketball team thrilled to be playing at home again
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers UP AND IN- Royal senior Reggie Harper, right, shoots over the top of a defender during practice. The Highlanders are eager to improve on their 7-19 overall record from a year ago. RHS was 3-11 in league.

This season, the Royal High boys' basketball team once again will have the luxury of a home court on campus. Now the Highlanders are hoping to field a team that can put some fans in the seats as well.

Last year, while the campus' gym floor was being worked on, RHS played its home games at Moorpark College and Cal Lutheran. Highlander practices were also moved around a lot.

"It seemed we were playing in a different gym each day," Royal senior Bryan Spring said. "I thought it affected our home games because we had lousy turnouts every game. It's nice to be able to practice on our home floor again."

Head coach Craig Griffin said traveling less should help the Highlanders this season.

"It makes a tremendous difference," Griffin said. "Playing your home games on the court you practice every day on is a big factor. It seemed that every game was a road game for us last year. It will feel more at home with our fans at our games this season."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers AROUND THE CORNER- RHS junior varsity player Bryan Ruberti, left, uses the baseline to go around varsity player Brendan Clifford while both teams practiced together Monday evening.

The new court comes just in time, as the Royal roster is loaded with seniors. Of the 14 players on the RHS squad, 13 are in their final year wearing the green and gold.

"I like the guys we have on our team this year," Griffin said. "We have a lot of good characters and positive people. We had some personal problems concerning guys becoming men on and off the court, but we solved them now. I don't think you can judge success strictly by wins and losses."

Unfortunately for Royal, the Marmonte League's standings put a premium on wins and losses. While the Highlanders may be on their way to becoming outstanding citizens, RHS has only won three league games the past two years.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TIGHT DEFENSE- Justin Broome, left, is all over senior guard Bradley Zeller as Zeller tries to get to the basket. After spending the entire 2006-07 season on the road, the Highlanders are now back home.

The Highlanders' top two scorers from last season, Nico Svoboda and Derick Haught, are no longer with the team. Svoboda graduated last spring, while last year's leading scorer Haught will not return due to unspecified personal reasons. Still, the Highlanders are confident they can move up in the standings.

"A key thing is we can't get down on ourselves," senior Bradley Zeller said. "Our players have tended to get down when things go wrong. We need to constantly stay positive. We need to come out and play hard every day and outrun our opponents on the floor."

Royal, without much height, may be looking to run a more uptempo offense.

"We're very small, but I believe that creates matchup problems on both sides of the court," Griffin said. "We're not a defensive stopping team yet, but we're also not an offensive juggernaut, either."

According to Griffin, Highlanders Reggie Harper, Chris Stevens, Jake Mittel and Zeller will all contribute on offense. Last season's leading rebounder, Chris Buckley, should be a force on the boards again, the coach said.

Troy Abes and Sahir Santos will share the point guard duties.

"Troy and Sahir will play a vital role in how well we play," Griffin said. "I'm looking for those two to provide a lot of senior leadership on the court. Sahir is a craftier playbytheseatofyour-pants type player that's more of a scoring threat, while Troy is a little more conventional as far as running the offense."

While the team has struggled recently, Griffin is confident the Highlanders are going in the right direction.

"We went from zero wins to three wins last year in league, but as a coach you are always trying to improve from the year before," Griffin said. "If you won 12 games last year, you shouldn't try to win 12 again. You should try to win 13 or go undefeated.

"I'm hoping all 14 guys will be able to help us out. I'm still evaluating players on the team, but the starting lineup is not set yet. If someone is shooting the ball well one game, then he will get a lot of playing minutes the next game. Things will work out here."

The Highlanders' first league game on their home floor in more than a year will take place on Dec. 18 against Moorpark.