Chargers healing in boys’ hoops

By Stephen Dorman Special to The Acorn

With one starter nursing an ankle injury and the flu limiting several other key players, the holiday break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Agoura High School boys’ basketball team.

Yet despite its recent string of physical setbacks, the Chargers

(3-6, 0-1) were able to win their final two games—against Hueneme and Moorpark at the Oak Park Varsity Tournament last week—prior to heading into a three-week rest period. Agoura won’t play another game until Jan. 5 at home against Thousand Oaks.

"We are down in our starting unit," said head coach Joe Riccio. "Basically to this point we’ve been going with guys from the bench trying to fill in where higher skill players normally are."

If there’s been a silver lining to the beginning of an otherwise unimpressive start to the season, it’s that Riccio and his staff are getting a long look at several reserves who will be expected to contribute significant minutes as the season progresses.

"When the kids are all healthy, we play 12 guys," said Riccio. "We play 12 all of the time, that’s our style. Many schools only use only six or seven players but we go much deeper than that," he said. "It’s something I’m really proud of. So when league starts we’ll have a lot of guys that can go."

Senior center Kyle Faught is one of the walking wounded who’s expected to contribute as a starter once he has fully recovered from an ankle injury. Faught, a team captain, anticipates he’ll be ready to return to the court sometime after the first of the year.

"It’s tough having to watch because when we are able to rotate with our subs we can play defense a lot better," said Faught. "But right now I’m just trying to get healthy and encourage the guys."

Junior power forward Brian Kelly has also missed some playing time because of bronchitis, but should be at full strength once the season resumes. Kelly (6-6) is scheduled to start in the paint when healthy.

"Those two guys will give us double digits in points plus rebounding," said Riccio, who’s in his fifth year with the program. "They are solid fundamentally."

Zack Cantor and Brandon Jones, a pair of 6-2 senior forwards, will also receive significant playing time at both positions, especially with Faught sidelined.

"I’m a clean-up guy, a shot blocker," Jones said. "Whatever it takes to get a win."

Starting at point guard will be junior Conner Faught. Seniors Tyler Acevedo and Alex Wolf are expected to split time at shooting guard.

Coach Riccio said Acevedo is a player who "always gives 100 percent" and garners respect from his teammates as well as opponents for his tenacity on the court.

"Tyler can score like there’s no tomorrow," said junior forward Justin Nouri. "Anytime he gets the ball, it’s pretty much money. Everything kind of runs through him. Once he starts hitting his shots, the game really opens up for the other players on the floor."

Also filling in as a top reserve off the bench will be Isaac Gordon, a 6-3 junior guard who can play the point as well as off-guard position.

Heading into Marmonte League play, the Chargers’ coaching staff expects significant challenges from several teams, most notably Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Calabasas. Riccio also pointed out that the Royal Highlanders are a potential dark-horse team for the league championship.

But before teh Chagers can worry about any of their competitors, they must focus first on getting healthy bodies back into the gym and rebuilding the chemistry that will be essential to any title run, the coach said.

"If we’re healthy," said Riccio, "there’s no doubt we can play with any team."