Playoff push at CHS

Boys' hoops squad eager to get in


JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TEAM ON THE RISE—Jordan Coleman and the Calabasas High boys' basketball team are pushing Agoura for third place in the Marmonte League with only a week remaining in the regular season.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers TEAM ON THE RISE—Jordan Coleman and the Calabasas High boys’ basketball team are pushing Agoura for third place in the Marmonte League with only a week remaining in the regular season.


The Calabasas High boys’ basketball team has gone through many changes during the past year. Now the Coyotes hope to return to a familiar spot—the playoffs.

Although CHS has a new head coach and has made numerous lineup alterations, the squad is in control of its postseason fate after missing out on a playoff berth last year.

Heading into Wednesday night’s road game at Thousand Oaks, the Coyotes were 10-11 overall and tied with Agoura for third place in the Marmonte League with a 6-4 record.

With a win over fifth-place Newbury Park on Friday, Calabasas would clinch a playoff spot.

“The playoffs are on my mind all the time,” senior Leon Cain said. “I was really embarrassed when we missed them last year because it was the first time in a long while it happened.

“Calabasas is sort of known for two things—our tennis and basketball teams. I want to keep it that way.”

Senior forward Evan Smith agreed.

“It was a tough pill to swallow and a huge letdown last year when we didn’t make the postseason,” Smith said. “With me being a senior this year, there’s a bigger sense of urgency. There’s no ‘next year’ anymore.”

Entering the week, the Coyotes had won four of their last six contests. Smith said one reason for the Coyotes’ turnaround has been the work of first-year head coach Jon Palarz.

Palarz previously coached at University School in Ohio, a program he helped guide to the state championship quarterfinals in 2002. Palarz has also tasted success at Lake Washington High and Campbell Hall.

“Coach Palarz really stresses team effort, and he demands that you play in a manner that earns respect,” Smith said. “He wants us to hustle at all times and be scrappy. I guess you could say he demands excellence.”

Another reason for the improved play of the Coyotes has been their tenacious defense.

In the Marmonte, only Thousand Oaks has allowed fewer points. Although CHS lost to Simi Valley earlier this season, the 51 points Calabasas allowed was the Pioneers’ smallest output in two years.

“We’re definitely a defensiveminded team,” senior Matthew Graditor said. “Our goal is to not allow any team to score 15 points on us in any quarter. We feel if we do that, the wins will come.”

Palarz has been impressed with junior Jordan Coleman, whose defensive play reminds him of Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza.

Other defensive stars for CHS include sophomore Lenard Gorokhov, junior Josh Langer, and seniors Cain and Smith.

Smith said Cain is the team’s unsung hero.

“Leon just works his butt off every day,” Smith said. “He does a lot of our dirty work that doesn’t show up in the stat sheets. But when we watch our game film, he’s all over the place.”

Cain said sitting on the bench made him a more aggressive player.

“We have a lot of guys on the bench that do a good job of preparing the team,” Cain said. “They always push everyone hard in practice.”

Cain recently became the team’s fifth starter after junior Mark Jackson, the son of the former NBA point guard of the same name, decided to leave the team. Jackson was averaging 11.4 points per game when he departed on Jan. 12.

“Jackson made a decision to leave based on the fact that he was not having a positive experience playing here,” Palarz said.

“He had a different philosophy on how he should be coached and utilized. I was disappointed to see him go, but we have to move on.”

Taking Jackson’s place at the pointguard position has been junior Jordan Ungar.

“Ungar has never really played the point, but he’s sort of a jack-of-all-trades player and has fit in nicely,” Palarz said. “He’s learning on the job, but he has shown great leadership while on the floor.”

One thing Ungar attempts to do is get the ball to Smith, the squad’s leading scorer (17.7) and rebounder (8.2) per game. Smith will attend USC in the fall.

“I’d seen (Smith) play in a tournament in Denver before I became the Calabasas coach, so I already knew he was a good player,” Palarz said.

“He’s a threat from inside and outside, and he’s played every position for us except point guard. If he gets a rebound, however, we do feel comfortable with him bringing the ball up the court.”

Smith said he’s looking forward to his college days but would like to end his high school career on a positive note.

“When I was a sophomore, then-senior Shane Foster told me to cherish high school basketball because it’s over before you know it,” Smith said. “I’ve really tried to make this year worthwhile because of what he said.

“We’re doing a good job of playing as a team now. Nobody is selfish, and we’re all working together. Our coach has done a great job with our game plan, and before each game we’re prepared very well. Hopefully we can do the same in the playoffs.”

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