The Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley high school boy’s basketball teams are each looking for a winning season. Scotts Valley, which is still looking for the first winning season in school history has hired an experienced coach and SLV has a crop of young talent.
Scotts Valley Falcons
The Falcons have a new coach and a whole new look as the team looks to build upon the dismal season from last year.
New Head Coach Charles Burks brings an energy and focus to the head coaching position after Andrew Snelgrove left after one season at the helm.
Burks has coached at Santa Cruz High School for the last 23 years and has worked with the Amateur Athletic Union team in Santa Cruz for the last 13 years.
“My job is teaching these kids the fundamentals,” Burks said.” The past is past and we are going to be what we are with a new slate and a good group of kids.”
The Falcons finished last season 1-11 in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League in 2010-11 and have room to improve. Senior Jack Pasquini and junior Ari Wargon have been named this year’s captains and hope to lead the Falcons to greener pastures.
“Our goal is to improve every day and to enjoy the game,” Burks said. “The rest will fall into place.”
Other Falcons on the team are Kevin Niemeyer, Henry Blake, Willie Johnston, Andrew Stumbo, Jamie Land, Deonte Balhin, Garrett Johnston, Ricky Seago, Callum Pearcy, and Tyler Marshall.
The team kicks off the season against Soquel High at the 56th annual Dads Club Tournament at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz. The tournament begins Thursday, Dec. 8 after press time.
San Lorenzo Valley Cougars
The Cougars have just one returning senior on this year’s team and Head Coach Marcus Northcutt is genuinely optimistic about the upcoming season.
“We are going to be far better than I expected us to be this year,” Northcutt said. “This team has the best energy of any team I have ever coached. “
The Cougars lost all five starters from last year and Eric Lange is the only returning senior on the team. Lange and junior Billy Mullins have been named captains and will pilot the team.
“Billy brings a whole new attitude and energy to this team,” Northcutt said. “He is really what we needed last year to be successful. We were missing a real point guard and he is it.”
Other players on the team are Alex Kanter, Trevor Patterson, Duncan Mackie, Dylan Bie, Lucas Trader, Silas Mattingly, Aiden Brown, Noah Perez, Sid Chi, Chris Pasternack, Derek Poetzinger, Ryan Olmstead and Jake Gombos.
SLV finished last season with three Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League wins and went 8-17 overall.
Currently the Cougars sit 1-1 after losing to Monte Vista defeating Marina High. The team next plays Salinas High School in the Dad’s Club Tournament at the Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz on Thursday, Dec. 8. The game comes after press time.
