The Malibu High School (MHS) boys and girls basketball teams are scheduled to start preparing for the 2015-16 hardwood season the first week of November.
Sharks boys basketball coach Richard Harris said his team is ready to start the season.
“I believe this year’s team can be better than last year’s team, but they have a lot of work to do,” the second year Sharks coach said.
Girls basketball coach Andy Meyer said he is excited about the upcoming season.
“We had one of the most successful seasons of girls basketball in the history of the school,” he said, “and we are looking to forward to building upon that success.”
The boys finished the 2014-15 season with a 13-13 record. The Sharks ran through the Frontier League with an 11-1 record. They were beaten in the first round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. The girls posted a 15-11 overall record and an 8-6 league record before being beaten in round one of the CIF playoffs.
Both squads return a litany of players from last year’s teams, so they are upperclassmen heavy and hoping to improve upon last season’s successes.
Girls basketball
The girls squad returns every player from last season’s roster and has two new members.
Meyer said having a group of players familiar with each other is a plus.
“They have the experience to know where each person will be on the court, and they know the strengths and weaknesses of each player,” he said.
Returning players include a handful of All-Frontier League performers. Center Kendall Jordan and wing player Nina Hungerland were first-team All-League members. Guard Gianna Chaisson was a second-team All-Leaguer, and honorable mention All-League members Alana Baer and Ana Cervantes are also back.
The Sharks played an up-tempo style of basketball during two summer leagues in hopes of making playing fast one strength.
Malibu put the pedal to the metal in a June game against Central City. Malibu players pushed the ball relentlessly up the floor as the Sharks ran off with a 32-5 victory.
Meyer said, since the summer, the Sharks have done preseason conditioning twice a week, but haven’t played much basketball, so he isn’t sure how the team will react to the up-tempo style during the season.
“Hopefully with this conditioning we are doing, they’ll be ready for the faster style of play,” he said. “I believe this up-tempo offense will allow us to get more shots. Our defense is our strength, and I’m hoping to get some more scoring off of steals or fast breaking off of defensive rebounds.”
Chaisson said playing fast makes the game more intense. The senior guard said she sees the benefit of speeding things up on the court and hopes that helps Sharks reach their goals.
“Our main goal — and everyone on the team is in agreement with this — is to win league and get a banner in our gym,” she said. “We have all worked so hard and come so far together.”
Malibu has a three-team scrimmage on Nov. 23 with Santa Clara and Vaughn. The Sharks first regular season game will be on Dec. 1 against Bishop Diego. The squad will host the second annual “Battle by the Beach” tournament, beginning on Dec. 7. Malibu won the event last year.
Boys basketball
Harris, the boys basketball coach, said his team has been practicing one day a week and competing in a fall basketball league.
The Sharks return seven players from last year’s team, and Harris listed how he expects all of them to make strides this season.
For example, the coach wants Dane Marshall, a frontcourt member, and wing player Cordell Newton to build on the strong seasons they had last year. He expects guard and All-League member Cade McMillin and big man David Hudson to be strong defensive players. Harris also wants guard Oleg Burduza to score a bunch of points.
Harris said due to success from last year, Malibu is not lacking confidence.
“They really believe good things are going to happen,” he said. “The team believes they will go far. I don’t think there is anything more I can ask for.”
The senior Marshall said he and his teammates believe they can beat any opponent — a confidence that past Malibu hoops teams didn’t always exude.
“It has never been like this before,” Marshall said of the Sharks’ confidence. “It feels better.”
The boys team has also been doing a lot of conditioning leading up to the season. Marshall said he is already in the best shape of his life.
“I can already tell a difference from last year,” he said. “I could play a whole game and not get tired.”
Harris said this team has played against some tough competition during offseason tournaments and that will continue during the regular season. Malibu will host Santa Clara on Nov. 23, and a few days later play against North Hollywood and Calabasas in a tournament at Calabasas High.
“I am never going to baby a schedule for them,” Harris said of the tough opening-season slate.
Members of both rosters are fans of the opposite Malibu basketball team.
Chaisson said she expects the boys team to have a good season.
“I love going to the boys game and seeing how much they have improved,” she said. “We both see each other conditioning.”
Marshall said the girls squad is good.
“They have some really talented players and are returning their entire team,” he said.