Boys Hoops: Titans, Broncos dealing with changes

After being just one victory away from reaching San Diego Section title games, the Rancho Bernardo High and Poway boys basketball teams will have to deal with changes.

The Titans will be dealing with a new look after the graduation of top scorers Dalton Soffer and Matt Beeler. The Broncos will be dealing with a change in divisions, going from Division III to Division II this season.

Meanwhile, Del Norte is still young and trying to find its identity. And Maranatha Christian will try to deal with losing its top three scorers from a season ago.

Here is a closer look at the local teams:

Poway

Coach: Scott Fisher, 3rd year

Last season: 18-13, lost in semifinals of Division I playoffs.

Division: I

Key players: G, Derek Sit, Jr.; Sr. Eli Hamson, Sr.; F, Jordan Cooke-Harper, So.; G, Zach Reiter, So.

Outlook: Dalton Soffer and Matt Beeler helped carry the Titans to the semifinals last season, but with both gone to graduation Poway will need everyone to chip in to have success this year.

“There is so much talent in San Diego that I don’t think we have a single guy who is going to be the best player on the court,” explained Fisher. “We are taking our cue from recent college and pro teams who have had tremendous success without having the best player by being unselfish and the better team. That is who we need to be this year. We might not have the best player on the court, but I think if we play hard and unselfish we can have the best team.”

Returners Sit, Hamson and Reiter along with sophomore forward Cooke-Harper figure to be the main threats for Poway. Cooke-Harper, who was called up from the junior varsity for the playoffs last season, is the tallest on the roster at 6-foot-6. He will be the rim protector on the defensive end of the floor and should be involved in the pick-and-pop game Poway likes to run with its handful of talented shooters.

The Titans are hoping to play more of an up-tempo style this year to take advantage of its depth. Fisher said his starting lineup is unclear right now. He is looking for one of his seven seniors to step up and be a leader.

“We are looking for leadership,” he said. “We are looking for everybody to step up and be a leader in their own way.”

The Palomar League should be challenging again with Rancho Bernardo and Torrey Pines filled with talent. But the Titans should be able to compete.

“Our goals are very high,” Fisher said. “We expect to be good by the end of the season and we expect to get better throughout the season.”

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Rancho Bernardo

Coach: Marc Basehore, 2nd year

Last season: 16-13, lost in semifinals of Division III playoffs.

Division: II

Key players: G, JJ Overton, Jr.; G, Beni Mikili, Sr.; G, LJ Crouch, Sr.; F, Michael Langford, Sr.; G, Jeff Molino, Sr.

Outlook: The Broncos feature another talented roster, led by sharp-shooting, do-it-all guard Overton. The 6-foot-4 junior has one of the best jumpers in the area and can put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim. He can also rebound, pass and defend at an elite level. Overton will lead a Rancho Bernardo squad that lost seven seniors to graduation, including starters Devin Goodloe, Andrew Murray and James Fuller. But the Broncos also have a lot of returners with experience.

“We have a great group of guys back,” Basehore said. “We have a lot of guys with at least two and some with three years of experience. We are very athletic, but super small. That is probably our biggest weakness.”

Rancho Bernardo excelled in Basehore’s first season, just missing out on reaching the Division III title game. The Broncos have been bumped to Division II, but should be able to compete at that level given the talent they return to the floor. Outside of Overton, Rancho Bernardo should get plenty of contribution from Crouch, Mikili and Molino at the guard position. Baseshore loves to utilize his entire bench, which should bode well with the depth and athleticism the Broncos have once again.

“I think our athleticism will give some teams some trouble,” Basehore said. “Sometimes, though, we can get out and run too fast for our own good at times. We need to make sure we stay under control.”

Rancho Bernardo went 4-6 in the Palomar League last season. The league should be tough again with defending champion Torrey Pines leading the way.

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Del Norte

Coach: Bob Spahn, 6th year

Last season: 7-20, missed playoffs.

Division: III

Key players: F, Conner Nelson, Sr.; F/C, Chase Howard, Jr.; C, Jacob Smith, Sr.

Outlook: The Nighthawks are in the middle of a rebuild, but should take a step forward after a seven-win season last year. Del Norte did lose its leading scorer in Montrice Johns to graduation, but Nelson is expected to pick up the slack. He averaged eight points per game last season and will be joined by sharp shooters Caden Tollestrup and Scotty McKirdy as the main 3-point threats.

“We are returning a lot of guys,” Spahn said. “We only lost three seniors and we have 11 juniors this year. Most of them will be big contributors for us.”

Spahn is integrating more defenses in hopes of throwing many different looks at the opposition. He also will be looking for his offense to take the open trey more often than it did last year.

“Last year our biggest problem was putting the ball in the bucket,” he said. “I think this year we are not going to have that problem. We are going to give the players the green light. If they are open, we are going to let them shoot it. We do want them to be patient and look for a great shot, but at the same time we are going to give them the freedom to be basketball players.”

Del Norte has the challenge of playing in the Avocado East with Escondido and San Marcos. The Nighthawks went 4-6 last year and are hoping to finish around the .500 mark this season.

“I think our league is a two-horse race between Escondido and San Marcos,” Spahn said. “Then, of course, Mission Hills is always good. But I think if we bring our ‘A’ game and shoot lights out we can steal a game from one of those top three teams.”

The Nighthawks are in Division III and should have a chance at a decent playoff run.

“Our overall record might not look pretty, but I think we can go deep in Division III,” Spahn said. “This is still a growing year for us, but I expect it to be a great season.”

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Maranatha Christian

Coach: Brooks Barnhard, 5th year

Last season: 14-15, lost in first round of Division IV playoffs.

Division: IV

Key players: G, James Rohde, Sr.; G, Matt Dewildt, Sr.; F, John Bothe, Sr.

Outlook: The Eagles lost their top three scorers from last season and will be looking for returners Rohde, Dewildt and Bothe to fill the rim. The 6-foot-4 Rohde averaged just over six points per game and was second on the team with 29 3-pointers made.

Maranatha struggled down the stretch, losing its final six games of the year. The Eagles finished 3-5 in the Pacific League and hope to have a better finish this time around. Defending champion Calvin Christian lost five players to graduation, which should open the door for other teams in the league to compete for the crown.