SoCal High School & Prep Report

High School Preview: O.C. Olympic League
Calvary Chapel --(December 3,1997)

This is both a high school preview of Calvary Chapel and a report on their game in the Brea Tournament First Round play. So here's the score:

Calvary Chapel 74, Esperanza 60

Yesterday's first round matchup featured Olympic League Calvary Chapel and Sunset League's Esperanza, Joe Ortiz (6'-2" Sr. G) poured in a game high 33 points to lead Calvary to the win. Calvary forward Brett Young (6'-4" Jr. G) had 22 points. Other scorers for Calvary included Jake Fabozzi (5'-8" Sr. G) with 7.

Calvary, which is now 1-0 on the season, is the preseason favorite to win the Olympic League and features Ortiz, Young and Fabozzi, as well as Garrid Beeler (6'-2" Sr. F), and Torin Beeler (6'-3" Fr. C). Ortiz was All-CIF last year, and averaged 18 points per game in 96-97. Calvary Chapel is coached by Craig Falconer, who is in his fifth season; he's compiled an 83-28 record going into this season, and just upped the win column to 84 with the victory. Calvary Chapel finished last season with a record of 27-6 overall, and went 10-0 for an undefeated Olympic League Season. They've won their league four years in a row, and are looking to make it a fifth.

Ortiz was also named to the Second-Team All-County as a guard last season, and his performance in the first game yesterday was further proof that Ortiz is an outstanding player. He's committed to play at Westmont College, a small NAIA college in the Montecito Hills of Santa Barbara. Westmont has a fine program, and is the site of the annual Snow Valley Basketball Camp held by Charlie Sands (West Los Angeles College) each year in the last week of July and the first part of August.

"We have three strong players returning," Falconer told a reporter last month. In addition to the starters mentioned above, Calvary Chapel also features forward Pat Dinnie, a 6'-1" senior, who only scored 2 points yesterday, and Tim Baker, a 6'-2" senior forward transfer from Capistrano Valley Christian.

Last season Calvary Chapel lost to Crossroads in the Division IV-A CIF Finals 50-41. Look for them to be there again this year.

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