SoCalHoops High School News

High School Team Preview:
Cypress High School--(Nov. 27, 1999)

Cypress High School is located at 9801 Valley View Street, in the city of Cypress.  The school has an enrollment of 1975 student, which places the Centurions in Division IA of the Southern Section for purposes of playoffs (the cutoff last year was 1500 for Division I status, and the CIF has said they will use last year's enrollment figures for playoffs this year, at least that's what we've been told). The school plays in the Empire League, a six team league where Cypress competes against El Dorado, Loara, Katella, Kennedy and Century.  Last season, the Centurions finished 9-17 overall, and 4-6 in league, good enough to just take fourth place, behind Loara (1st), Katella (2nd) and El Dorado.  But that fourth place finish was enough to knock them out of the playoffs.  This year, second year coach Jeff Russell (9-17 overall record) is hoping for better, and it seems the Orange County Register at least agrees with him, since Cypress has been picked by Richard Manfredi of the OC Register to finish third this year, behind El Dorado and Loara in that order, but ahead of Katella, Kennedy and Century, also in that order.

Cypress, like the rest of the schools in Orange County about whom we've been writing today (11/26/99), is another of those schools whose coach we haven't spoken with this year, and as a result, we're going to simply use the information we've found in the LA Times' Orange County Edition preview and the Orange County Register's article.  We don't have a complete roster, but here's what we know about the guys on the team:

The Times' take on the team:  'The Centurions have average height and Coach Jeff Russell believes returning guards Jon Uylean, a 6-0 junior, and Justin Yun, a 6-3 senior, "will need to score," for the team to be a factor in the league race. Devin Patrick, a 6-4 senior forward, played on the varsity as a freshman, but he sat out the last two seasons because of eligibility problems. Josh Smith, a 6-3 junior forward, is another returning letterman. Junior guard Mohammad Azie and three sophomores--forwards Travis Bartesh and Jalani Gamba and guard Matt Reid--are battling for starting roles."

The Orange County Register seems to agree: "The Centurions lack height, but should be quick and explosive with guards Yun (11 points) and Uylean (7 ppg). 

Beyond those little blurbs, we don't know much else.   We have not seen any of these guys playing this summer, at least if we have, we just don't recall it.  That, of course, doesn't mean a thing, and as a team, Cypress could do just fine without any high profile guys on the roster, and of course you never know when that next great shooter or scorer will emerge who wasn't known before the season.  Just ask Robert Turner at Western. . .

Cypress will play in a couple of preseason tournaments, including the Orange Lutheran Tourney, the Troy Tournament and the Century Tournament, all local fare where they'll be competing against other Orange County teams for the most part. It won't be too taxing, but they'll see some solid competition which should get them ready for the season. Here's the schedule for 1999-2000, at least according the the CIF Master Schedule and Media Guide.  However, we have to caution you:  If you are going to a game, don't rely on this schedule. Games get moved or changed, so if there's not game or this schedule is wrong, don't blame us.  Call the school or check your local paper for a current schedule.  

Again, if you're going to a game, call the school.   Here's a map for the home games.

Cypress High School 9801 Valley View Street, Cypress, CA (714) 220-4170

 
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