A first year coach with a young cast of players would seem to spell growing pains for the Bruins.
Says who?
Coach Adam Barsenas has watched the core of this team since their days playing in the YMCA. He helped groom them last year as the junior varsity coach.
So it only seemed fitting that Barsenas would bring a handful of sophomores up with him this year to retool the Bruins program.
"We're young,'' Barsenas said. "But we have great chemistry on the court. This group works hard. I like the direction we're going.''
Success has followed a lot of his players through the ranks, as evident of a 15-win season last winter on the junior varsity.
"It's actually made for an easy transition,'' Barsenas said. "The system is the same. Of course, we'll add a few more wrinkles. The kids are a year older and bigger.''
Only two players are back from last year's team in Christobal Aldana and 6-foot-2 Arnulfo Acosta. The rest of the team is following Barsenas up the ladder.
"We just want to compete,'' Barsenas said. "We will transition more and use our youth to try and run teams out of the gym.''
Part of that youth includes sophomore guards Oscar Villagomez and Angel Espinzoa, both of which can shoot on the perimeter.
"Oscar came up and played a few games on the varsity as a freshman last year,'' Barsensas said. "The expectations are high for him.''
The same can be said for junior Angel Villagomez, the younger brother of Andrew, the school's all-time leading scorer.
"We have shooters on the perimeter,'' Barsenas said.
Yet, Barsenas wants balance. He wants an inside presence in the paint, where Acosta will spend time when the Bruins set up their offense.
"We want to work the ball inside out,'' Barsenas said. "But we can work outside in. Our bigs can run like guards and handle the ball. We'll get some mismatches. I feel we're there with the elite.''
Says who?
Coach Adam Barsenas has watched the core of this team since their days playing in the YMCA. He helped groom them last year as the junior varsity coach.
So it only seemed fitting that Barsenas would bring a handful of sophomores up with him this year to retool the Bruins program.
"We're young,'' Barsenas said. "But we have great chemistry on the court. This group works hard. I like the direction we're going.''
Success has followed a lot of his players through the ranks, as evident of a 15-win season last winter on the junior varsity.
"It's actually made for an easy transition,'' Barsenas said. "The system is the same. Of course, we'll add a few more wrinkles. The kids are a year older and bigger.''
Only two players are back from last year's team in Christobal Aldana and 6-foot-2 Arnulfo Acosta. The rest of the team is following Barsenas up the ladder.
"We just want to compete,'' Barsenas said. "We will transition more and use our youth to try and run teams out of the gym.''
Part of that youth includes sophomore guards Oscar Villagomez and Angel Espinzoa, both of which can shoot on the perimeter.
"Oscar came up and played a few games on the varsity as a freshman last year,'' Barsensas said. "The expectations are high for him.''
The same can be said for junior Angel Villagomez, the younger brother of Andrew, the school's all-time leading scorer.
"We have shooters on the perimeter,'' Barsenas said.
Yet, Barsenas wants balance. He wants an inside presence in the paint, where Acosta will spend time when the Bruins set up their offense.
"We want to work the ball inside out,'' Barsenas said. "But we can work outside in. Our bigs can run like guards and handle the ball. We'll get some mismatches. I feel we're there with the elite.''
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