It Appears to Be a Rebuilding Year for Dana Hills Boys Basketball

The Dana Hills boys basketball team features 10 seniors; however, only two are returning varsity players – forward Jeremy Bass and guard Dylan Schumacher – so it figures to be a rebuilding season for the Dolphins, who finished 20-8 overall and 7-3 in the South Coast League last season 

"We are trying to find, right now, kind of an identity for our team," coach Tom Desiano said. "We lost 16 seniors last year, we only have two kids coming back and everyone else is new. We're trying to figure it out as we go along."

So far, Dana Hills (5-7) has had an up-and-down nonleague portion of their 2010-11 schedule, suffering through two three-game losing streaks before going on a three-game winning streak., which included a 68-57 thumping of San Clemente.

Though many of their tournament games have been close, the Dolphins can't seem to end the game with a victory. Dana Hills fell to Colony 57-56, and fought Corona Santiago into double overtime in the Diablo Inferno Tournament at Mission Viejo before losing, 62-55.

"It's always tough in the South Coast league and one of things that we try to is to play tough teams like Tustin in some of the tournaments that we're in," Desiano said. "We've played a pretty rigorous schedule, so hopefully that will get us ready for the South Coast League."

To say the South Coast League is tough is an understatement this season. In the CIF Southern Section Division 1-A preseason rankings, Aliso Niguel was No. 2, Capistrano Valley was No. 3, Tesoro was No. 5 and the league's newest member, El Toro, was No. 7, followed by Dana Hills at No. 13. Mission Viejo, the defending league champion, was ranked No. 2 in Division 2-AA.

The Dolphins finished second in league last season and defeated Redlands East Valley, 70-59, in the first round of the Division 1-A playoffs before losing to Santa Monica, 63-39 in the second round. Capistrano Valley also reached the second round, while Mission Viejo and Tesoro advanced to the quarterfinals.

Dana Hills lost all of its statistical leaders to graduation. Bass was fourth on the team in scoring last season at 7.0 points per game and was second in three-pointers made, connecting on 25 of 61 beyond the arc. He also averaged 2.3 rebounds per game. Schumacher, however, saw very little playing time.

This season, Dana Hills is blessed with pretty good height, but can't rely on their people up front to do all the scoring. Senior forward Jared Moore (6 feet 5) is averaging 17 points and Bass (6-4) is averaging 11.

"Defensively we're doing pretty well, but we're having a little trouble scoring and we're having a lot of trouble making free throws," Desiano said. "So that's hurt us in a couple of games but we're hoping to progress and get better as the season goes on."

Junior guard Landon Widerburg possesses excellent ball-handling skills and an ability to keep the ball moving on offense. He is also averaging 2.6 steals.

 "The kids are coming and they're playing better each game," Desiano said. "But we still have a ways to go."

The Dolphins next play in the Desert Heat Classic, Dec. 27-30, in which they will look to defend their title in the California Division. Opening game is against Viewpoint at Xavier Prep High School on Monday at 2:30 p.m.