chapparal preview--mini

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SoCalHoops High School News

Chapparal HS Mini-Preview
From The Press-Enterprise (Dec. 14, 1999)

We've been busy the last few days working on the program notes for several tournaments (in addition to doing some "real" work. . . what a pain, but hey, it's gotta be done), and we'll be posting a whole slew of new profiles up shortly for quite a few more teams. Unfortunately, one of the teams which is not among the most recent group of teams we've written profiles for is Chapparal, located in Temecula, which recently played in the Championship game of the Desert Cities Classic tournament at Cathedral City. The Pumas feature some pretty good talent including Lemar Ruffin (6'-7" Sr. F) who has committed to Coppin State for next year. Even though we haven't been able to get to them yet, others have, and today the Riverside Press-Enterprise printed their weekly digest and it included a small feature on the team. So rather than reinvent the wheel, here's their mini-preview of Chapparal:

Pumas play like well-Coyled unit

By Tiffany Guthrie
The Press-Enterprise

Three years ago Ed Coyle took on the coaching responsibilities of the fledgling Temecula Chaparral boys' basketball team. Now, in their second year of varsity play, the Pumas are savoring the fruits of Coyle's labors. "(Three years ago) I saw a bunch of young men who needed to learn to play the game of basketball," Coyle said. He also taught them about working hard and what it took to be a member of a team. Those lessons paid off, and the Pumas are 5-1, their only loss to Carlsbad 60-57 in the championship of the Desert-City Classic.

Chaparral's two goals are the same as almost any other team: win league and win CIF. The goals have been the same since the Pumas started as a junior varsity team. There has been only one change to the team since its inception, and that's the addition of 6-foot-7 Lemar Ruffin. Ruffin, a senior, transferred to Chaparral from Murrieta Valley. His height has helped the team, but Coyle is also quick to point out the rest of the team's improvement. Joe Buller is averaging 18 points a game and is "playing outstanding basketball." Ryan Cooke had been "a real strong force for us inside" and averages eight rebounds a game. Guards David Hopkins and Dan Larsen have consistently been "giving us strong defense and offense." Coyle calls Jason Brenier "a real plus in our program," for his work ethic. But when he talks about Justin Kurtz, a 5-11 guard and part-time starter, Coyle doesn't just talk about basketball.

"He has the perfect attitude and approach to the game of basketball," Coyle said. "He's always focused, every day. He's very mature. He's cerebral as well as a good athlete." By working together for over two years, the team has melded, and Coyle can play nine or 10 deep without losing a step on the court. The chemistry, depth, height and talent only can help them against Temecula Valley tonight, in the first round of the Nighthawk Classic at Murrieta Valley, for the first time as a varsity team. "They're friends of a lot of the kids (on the Temecula Valley team)," Coyle said. "But it's going to be a very competitive friendship come Tuesday night at 7:30."