Head coach: Gerald Moore (third season)

Assistant coaches: Matt Ellenberger and Chet Lipton

1990-1991 record: 9-13

Returnees: Seniors Matt Simm (guard) and Graham Niemi (forward); junior George Epps (guard).

Newcomers: Senior Greg Proctor (guard); junior Richard Abrams (forward); sophomore Jeff Hedrick (guard).

Coach's outlook: "Our goal this year is tomake the playoffs. We have the talent to do it. We just have to see how long it'll take for things to gel. They're looking good so far. There's more unity, and their work ethic is very good. Our defensive play has been impressive, and we're trying to play a lot more up-tempoon offense. In our scrimmages (Oxon Hill and Lake Clifton) we've looked good at times, and then at other times we made lots of mistakes. But through it all we've learned a lot. I think we're pretty even with the rest of the league. We'd like to move up from being near the bottom of the pack up into the middle group."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: If the Wildcats can get the right bounces and rolls, it's possible they could finish at .500. That would not be a small accomplishment, considering they'll have to battle the likes of perennial playoff participants Broadneck, Northeast, Southern, South River and twice each.

GRANITE BAPTIST BRAVES

Head coach: Rick Scarfi (third season)

Assistant coach: Eric Adams

1990-1991 record: 12-8, lost to Independent Baptist Academy in MACS finals.

Returnees: Seniors Jason Baab (forward) and Mike Maggio (guard); juniors Shad Baab (guard/forward), Buddy Grammer (center), Drew Leonovich (guard), Jack Pumphrey (forward) and Anthony Sansone (guard).

Newcomers: Sophomore Eric Nettle (forward); freshman Ben Baab (guard); eighth-grader Phil Nettle (guard).

Coach's outlook: "I felt last year was an excellentseason, but this year, we lost two seniors to graduation, including our top scorer, and three others transferred. And one would have beena starter. So, with losing five off last year's team, my thoughts for this year are we're going after a .500 season and looking to get into postseason play and make it into the finals."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: Few teams can suffer the losses Granite Baptist did and not regress somewhat. And this makes competing with the likes of Independent Baptist Academy and Clinton Christian School all the more difficult. Still, Scarfi's goal of finishing at .500 is realistic andcertainly attainable. And with only two seniors on the roster, barring any further transfers, the immediate future looks promising.

GLEN BURNIE GOPHERS

Head coach: Terry Bogle (25th season)

Assistant coaches: Mike Rudd and Ken Williams

1990-1991 record: 5-17.

Returnees: Seniors Jeff Gross (center), Ted Wolf (forward), Chris Collins (guard) and Chris Weih (forward); juniors Vernon Osborne (forward),Jamal Forbes (center), Dwayne Newton (guard), Jimmy Glode (guard) and Eddie Nally (guard).

Newcomers: Seniors Brian Ware (forward/center) and Mike Mahaney (guard); junior Bill Dykhuis (center).

Coach's outlook: "We definitely have a good nucleus of seniors. We have some height and quickness. I'll be disappointed if we're not better than.500. All they have to do is develop a little confidence. We have togo out and be successful early. Our first two games should be a goodindicator of what we have. We'll get better as the season wears on. I think we should have a pretty good season."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: It's hard to imagine Glen Burnie not improving on last year's win total. Bogle says the Gophers are "a veteran team, but a young team," and that's certainly better than what they were last season, when Bogle admitted his raw talent was "thrown to the wolves." Theresult was predictable. Still a long shot to make the playoffs, but their chances have improved greatly.

SPALDING CAVALIERS

Head coach: Lee Dove (third season)

Assistant coach: Ed Bittner

1990-1991record: 6-20, 5-9 in Maryland Scholastic Association C Conference.

Returnees: Seniors Edgar Wright (guard), Bryan Wade (center), Ray Paquin (center/forward), Dave Justus (forward) and Pat Mohr (guard); juniors Brian Mohr (forward) and Jeff Paxson (guard/forward).

Newcomers: Juniors Rich Reilly (center), Scott Robuck (guard), Matt Shaw (forward) and Jeff Stavely (forward); sophomore Doug Little (forward).

Coach's outlook: "This is definitely the biggest and strongest team Spalding has had in the seven years that I've been involved with the program. I think those two factors together will give a whole new look to Spalding and will allow us to do a lot of things we haven't been able to do the past. One real positive is that we have a solid nucleus to work out of. Last year I thought we would surprise some people, but this is a new look for Spalding, so teams better be ready forus."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: In basketball, there is no substitute for size, and the Cavaliers are loaded with it. Look for Dove to post his big men down low and control the offensive boards. Ifthings go right and Spalding's guards get the ball to the right personnel in the paint, the Cavs could find themselves vying for the MSA C Conference title.

OLD MILL PATRIOTS

Head coach: Paul Bunting (seventh season)

Assistant coaches: Jim Griffith and Bernie Edwards

1990-1991 record: 17-6, lost to Broadneck in triple overtime in Region IV semifinals.

Returnees: Seniors Ravon Austin (guard), Terrell Eldridge (forward), Austin Johnson (forward), Shirome Reed (forward) and Eric Sheppard (guard); juniors Steve Smith (guard) and Izzy Deschaine (forward).

Newcomers: Seniors Kasey Kleinman (forward) and Henry Wilkerson (guard); juniors Troy Green (forward), John Chadwick (guard) and Justin Greshko (forward); sophomores Mike Bussey (forward) and Andrew Lewis (guard).

Coach's outlook: "I'm more optimistic than last year, but I'm guarded, too. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than greatly disappointed. There's actually more depth on this year's team than last year. We went 9-10 deep last year, but I wouldn'thesitate to put any of these kids in. There's tremendous balance."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: What Bunting wouldn't give for a 7-footer, or even someone in the 6-6, 6-7 range. Instead, he usually winds up with average-sized kids who go on to surprise everyone, including Bunting, by making a push for a state playoff berth. The same should hold true this year, assuming Ravon Austin's knee heals sufficiently.

BROADNECK BRUINS

Head coach: Ken Kazmarek (eighth season)

Assistant coaches: Pat Kostkowski and John Spinneweber

1990-1991 record: 20-5, lost to Annapolis in Region IV finals.

Returnees: Seniors Maurice Washington (guard), Jeff Vincent (guard), Matt Weimer (forward), Greg Jackson (guard) and Dave Britton (center).

Newcomers: Seniors Brandon Tucker (guard) and John Buzzelli (forward); juniors Tim Langin (forward), Bill Kupina (guard), Eric Silk (guard) and Jason Hall (guard).

Coach's outlook: "We're as quick as we've ever been. That's a great attribute. And we have the potential to put up some points. The negative is we'll have some team size problems. When we get up against the Meades and Severna Parks and Annapolis, our sizecould cause us some problems at times. We'll have to counter with aggressiveness and speed of play. We've been very successful the past few years and I expect to be very competitive again this year."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: The loss of point guard Johnny Williamshurts; he brought more to the team than just points and assists. Butthe five returning seniors form a solid starting unit that should hoist the team back into the playoffs. The Bruins aren't deep, though, and that could cause some headaches.

ANNAPOLIS CHRISTIAN

Head coach: Scott Gilman (first season)

Assistant coach: Scott Skidmore

1990-1991 record: 5-15 in the Christian School Athletic Association.

Returnees: Seniors Brent Moore (center/forward), Brent Wolfe (center/forward), Eric Breen (center/forward) and Jamie Skillen (guard); juniors Rob Covington (center) and Josh Rivers (guard); sophomore Kevin Moldenhauer (guard).

Newcomers: Seniors Eric Hatch (center), Jeremy Mahlaw (center) and Chris Himes (guard); junior Justin Sherlock (guard); sophomores Brian Wolfe (guard) and Tim Jacobs (guard); freshman Jimmy Himes (guard).

Coach's outlook: "I haven't seen other teams in the league, but we haven't been very good in the past. We've got good team speed and I think we can run and press and play good defense, which we will do all game long. Offensively, we don't have any real greatness there, but I'm hoping to score a lot of points off of transition. I'm not setting any win goals, but I think we'll be much improved. I would be disappointed if we don't win half of our games."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: What the Eagles lack in size theymake up for in quickness and determination. Look for AACS to improveon last year's dismal mark, but don't expect any miraculous turnaround.

KEY SCHOOL OBEZAGS

Head coach: Ivan Leshinsky (second season)

Assistant coach: Dave Wilkerson

1990-1991 record: 2-11

Returnees: Seniors Drew Uroskie (forward/center), Adam Haile (forward) andDan Hartman (guard); junior Adam Richman (guard); sophomore Eric Leshinsky (forward).

Newcomers: Junior Damon Kostiuk (forward); freshmen Jeremy Hinchcliff (center), Mike Hill (guard).

Coach's outlook: "We've got five returning starters, and we have almost the same schedule as last year with one tournament. So we're hoping to turn around a few of the close games that we had. Overall, almost everyone on the team has shown improvement -- and the addition of the two freshmen, Hinchcliff and Hill, makes us a better team."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: The Obezags' program has nowhere to go but up. They are building their hopes for improvement around Uroskie, their leading scorer and rebounder a year ago, with help from Eric Leshinsky, the second-leading scorer. The Obezags already have established friendly rivalries with teams like Annapolis Area Christian and Queen Anne's County schools, each of whom took close decisions over the locals last year. Key School also competes against the junior varsity programs ofschools throughout the state.

CHESAPEAKE COUGARS

Head coach: Tom Kraning (seventh season)

Assistant coaches: Bob Snyder and Bob Yates

1990-1991 record: 9-13

Returnees: Seniors Mike Lind (center), Was Van Wambeke (forward), Justin Hall (guard), Jason Jubb (guard) and Mark Hall (guard).

Newcomers: Senior Aaron Douglass (guard); juniors Kenny Findley (swingman), Zach Barbour (guard) and Jerry Scheff (guard); sophomore Joe Jennings (guard).

Coach's outlook: "Thereonce was a time when I would make a substitution in a game and just turn around and close my eyes. I don't have to do that anymore. We have nine guys who will see a lot of action. We finally have a little depth. I think maturity will be the key with this team. You won't see us take too many bad shots, and you won't see us fall apart if a teamgets a run on us. We're gonna play man-to-man in-your-face defense. I'm working on getting them to be more aggressive offensively. I'd love to see them play more of a power game, where they would dare you to stop them from going to the bucket, the way teams like Dunbar (Baltimore) play."

Anne Arundel County Sun outlook: As improved as Chesapeake may be, it will get no letups in the Friendship Division. However, it could be dangerous for anyone to take Kraning's crew for granted.

Preseason preview

TEAM BY TEAM PROFILES