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Published on 01/18/1999 All articles from this issue

Alta Vista starts basketball league, now hopes to win it

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By Pete Borello / Town Crier Staff Writer

When its bid to join the Central Coast Section failed, the Alta Vista High boys basketball team did the next best thing.

The Aztecs formed a league of their own.

John Figueroa, basketball coach and athletic director at the Mountain View school, got the ball rolling in the fall by contacting other continuation schools in the area.

Three of the schools agreed to join the league - El Rancho, Robertson and Cal Hills - leading to the birth of the South Bay Big Four.

Alta Vista's pursuit of the league's first championship starts at 11 a.m. today when the Aztecs host El Rancho at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto.

Figueroa, who coaches alongside Los Altos resident Bob Adams, seems to like Alta Vista's title chances. He said this year's squad is better than the 1998 version, which went 12-1.

"We have three starters back and a couple of new additions that can really play," Figueroa said. "We also have some experience now."

Returning starters include guards Dajuan Brown and David Due, plus center Dan Keady. Brown is a team leader, Figueroa said, while Due is a strong all-around player. The 6-foot-5 Keady has been especially impressive, according to the coach.

"The kid's a player," Figueroa said. "He's a real athlete with great agility."

Promising newcomers on the 17-member team include forwards Daniel Schneider, Raymond Moppin and Domonique Simms. Figueroa said all three should see plenty of court time.

Alta Vista has been practicing since Dec. 14 and already has a non-league game under its belt. The Aztecs pounded Peninsula 56-35 Dec. 17 in San Bruno.

"We needed overtime to beat Peninsula last year, which shows how much we've improved," Figueroa said. "The kids are working hard and getting better and better."

Figueroa would have liked to see how his team measured up against CCS teams, but the school couldn't meet the membership requirements.

Figueroa said the CCS wanted Alta Vista to compete in football, softball and volleyball as well, something the school is not ready to do.

The new league at least takes some of the sting out of not making the CCS, according to Figueroa.

"It's structured and that's what I like about it," he said. "If it works out, we hope to add two more teams next year."

Also on the positive side for the Aztecs is the fact they'll be donning new uniforms this season.

Adams helped convince the Los Altos Rotary club to donate $2,000 to the basketball program, which has helped pay for regulation uniforms, new basketballs, gym space and transportation.