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Departures complicate prospects for fourth region hoop title

By Brian Gomez

Corona del Sol High School boys varsity basketball head coach Joe Maisel knows he will be hard-pressed to find success this season after losing a wealth of talent from last year’s team.

But the gritty mastermind who enters his fifth-year at the helm is not panicking while faced with the same situation he’s seen plenty of times before.

This season will not be tabbed as a "rebuilding year" even though the Aztecs lost all five starters and their top man off the bench to graduation last spring. Many critics thought Corona would nose-dive into the basement of the Central Region when Donnell Knight left three years ago for Arizona State. However, the Aztecs simply reloaded and found a way to win.

Some people had their doubts about last year’s team, but all was forgotten when the Aztecs proved they really were one of the top teams in the state.

Corona could still make some noise this season despite not having nearly as much depth on its roster.
"In the past, we’ve always looked good on paper," Maisel said. "We’re going to surprise some people. We’re going to catch some teams off guard."

Corona boasted a 21-6 overall record last year in a season that was highlighted by the school’s third consecutive region title. After getting stuck with one of the toughest draws in the tournament, the Aztecs advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals, where they suffered a 93-76 loss to eventual state champion Phoenix St. Mary’s.

Corona will be forced to restock this season after losing almost all its offensive firepower from last year’s team.

The Aztecs are without the key components of their frontcourt with center Mike Phillips and forward Ryan Murdock both gone. Corona also said goodbye to virtually its entire backcourt, as guards Anthony Hollins, Aaron Irving, Jon Otis and Quadrell Bogan all left.

Senior center Tim Stoimenoff and senior guard Chris Engelsman will definitely see increased minutes this season. Maisel will rely heavily on senior forward Rayshaun Ames and senior guard Larry Minnefee to provide much of the team’s scoring this year.

"(Larry) is very athletic and really worked his butt off in the off-season," Maisel said. "He’ll be one of the players carrying us if we can get the ball into his hands and get it going."

A pair of newcomers--juniors Steve Koehnemann and Josh Kinnaman--are expected to jump right into the swing of things. Koehnemann joined the team at the end of last season, but played scarcely. Kinnaman is a highly-touted player from last year’s junior varsity team that could get the nod at the starting point guard position.

"We’ve got a nucleus. At the beginning, we might be finding each other a little bit, but the kids that are there can play," Maisel said.

Corona hopes to begin the season on the same page following a first-place finish in a 24-team Mesa public league this past summer. The Aztecs won the championship after playing five games in the final four days of the season.

Corona’s roster will be whittled down to about a dozen players after the first week of fall practice culminates Friday. Maisel anticipated that 25 players would tryout, with as many as 14 slated to make final cuts.

The Aztecs will kick off their season Nov. 19-21 at the Arrowhead Desert Classic in Peoria before playing host to Phoenix North on Nov. 26. Corona will have yet another brutal non-conference schedule with games against Phoenix Brophy, St. Mary’s, Mesa Mountain View, Mesa Dobson, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, Phoenix South Mountain, Avondale Westview, Tucson Amphitheater and Gilbert Mesquite.

"It’s a good opportunity for us to see our strengths and weaknesses," Maisel said. "I don’t anticipate any problems with injuries, but you never know. We’ve been blessed the last couple of years."

The road could get quite bumpy for the Aztecs when region play begins after winter break. Mountain Pointe is the favorite to win the division, but Desert Vista and Marcos de Niza will also contend for the conference crown.

Paying tribute to a legend
Corona’s large gymnasium will be named in honor of former coach Sammy Duane on Dec. 15 against Mesquite. Duane recorded four state championships and seven runner-up finishes with the Aztecs. He compiled a 569-187 record in 28 years as a coach at Tempe High and Corona.

New faces on the bench Darren Ridge replaces assistant Kyle Cummins, who left Corona this past year to accept a coaching position in San Antonio. Andy Acedo departed for Phoenix Moon Valley High School, as well. Steve Garrison and Andy Strom remain on staff.
Reach Brian Gomez at brian.gomez@wranglernews.com.

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