CHS boys qualify for basketball playoffs

The Calabasas boys’ basketball team coached by Russell White will play their first CIF postseason game in White’s three-year tenure as coach, after finishing third (5-3) in the Frontier League.

The Coyotes (15-10 overall) had wanted to and did contend for a league championship, even if they came up a little short, behind Santa Clara and Santa Paula.

"It’s certainly a building point for next year," White said. "We didn’t achieve our goal that we wanted, which was a league title, as we left the Frontier League, but we did have our opportunities. We had two chances to win a game to clinch a tie, but we missed out on both opportunities."

Calabasas moves to the Marmonte League next year and had wanted to leave its mark on the Frontier League. However chances to grab a piece of the league title—which came in games against both Santa Clara and Santa Paula—were not seized upon.

"In both situations we just shot the ball really poorly," White said. "We just didn’t play well enough to win, so we’re a third-place team. But we are in the playoffs for the first time, which is very exciting, and we have something to build on for next year."

White said his players welcome the move to the tougher Marmonte League next year.

"There’s certainly no fear-factor involved," he said. "We play against a lot of those guys in the summer. We played against three of those teams and went 3-0 against the Marmonte League this year. It’s just one step at a time and we’re going to be ready to play them next year."

The Coyotes beat Newbury Park, Agoura and Royal this season.

White assessed his team for this year.

"Adam (Malatesta) is the key senior on the team, and the talent-level has gotten a little bit better, the skill-level has gotten a little bit better. We’re fairly deep. We’re just a little better than we were last year.

"Obviously Adam has done a great job and is excited about playing in the playoffs for the first time in his senior year," White added. "Probably the biggest factor is the hard work has paid off."

Joining Malatesta in the starting lineup for the Coyotes are juniors Jason Saunders, Mike Verrillo and Jonny Wilson and sophomore Steve Saunders.

Drew Housman, a freshman, has played in every game this season, and is joined on the roster by seniors Shawn Saee, Sharef Shirali, Michael Justman, Spencer Foster and Amir Ahmadian, and juniors David Hoffman, Kevin Cohn and Sean McDermott. White is assisted by Ryan Moore and Dan Deri. The Coyotes were to travel to Atascadero yesterday, which like Calabasas, was a third-place finisher in their league. A win would set up a second-round game tomorrow, which would likely be a home game vs. Lompoc.

For a story on the Calabasas boys’ soccer coach, see story above.

—Wayne Harrison