Double duty

Mike Sciacca

If ever you need to find Jim Harris, look no further than the

gymnasium at Ocean View High, it’s a safe bet you’ll find him there.

A math teacher on campus, Harris begins his 26th year as head

coach of the Seahawks’ boys’ basketball program on Dec. 4. Four days

later, he’ll begin his first year coaching the girls’ program.

“Needless to say, I’ll be pretty busy,” Jim Harris said. “I’m

looking forward to what should be a very interesting season.”

On the boys’ court, Harris welcomes back an experienced team, one

that will try to build on last year’s successes, which included a

perfect 12-0 record en route to the school’s sixth-straight Golden

West League championship, an overall record of 27-4 and an appearance

in the CIF-Southern Section semifinals.

In Harris’ previous 25 years as head coach of the boys’ program,

Ocean View has won 12 league titles and qualified all 25 years for

the CIF playoffs.

Five of his last six Seahawk teams have reached the Final Four and

twice during that span played in a CIF Southern Section title game.

His 1997-98 squad won the school’s first Southern Section

championship.

His current squad not only features a father/son head coaching

combo, with his son Jimmy joining his as co-head for the second year,

but two players with basketball lineage: senior forward/center John

Impelman is the great-grandson of legendary coach John Wooden, and

freshman center Clint Amberry is the grandson of Tom Amberry, whom

Harris said is the world record holder for consecutive free throws

with 2,750.

Also this season, Harris should, at some point, attain his 500th

career coaching victory.

He enters the 2002-03 season with a coaching record of 489-199.

On the girls’ court, he takes over a program that last year

reached the second-round of the CIF-SS playoffs.

Four starters return from that team.

Here’s a closer look at both Ocean View teams:

BOYS

School: Ocean View

Co-Head Coaches: Jim Harris and Jimmy Harris

Years in position: Jim Harris, 26th; Jimmy Harris, 2nd

Assistant Coach: Dan Johnson

2003-2003 Record: 27-4

League Record/Finish: 12-0; champion

Returning Starters: Matt Sargeant, 6-foot-4, guard, Sr., 20 points

per game.; Greg Okwudibonye, 6-3, guard, Sr., 10 ppg.; Bear Wurts,

6-6, forward/center, Sr., 7 ppg.

All-League Returners: Matt Sargeant, Golden West League MVP;

Okwudibonye, First-Team; Bear Wurts, Second-Team.

Other Returning Lettermen: John Impelman, 6-2, forward/guard, Sr.;

Ryan Lee, 6-5, center, Sr.; Josh Roth, 6-3, forward, Sr.

Newcomers: Clint Amberry, 6-9, center/forward, Fr.; Brad Sweezy,

6-5, forward, Soph; Robert Ike, 5-8, guard, Sr.

What Can be Expected: “Unselfish play by a talented group,” Harris

said.

Team’s Strength: “Experience, size, versatility and great team

attitude,” Harris said.

Keys to team’s success: Harris mentioned three key points:

rebounding, shooting well from the free throw line, and staying

healthy.

Season Opener: At Lone Star Invitational, San Antonio, Texas, Dec.

4-6

GIRLS

School: Ocean View

Head Coach: Jim Harris

Assistant Coaches: Stephanie Horiuchi, Aaron Mason

Returning Starters: Erica Williams, 5-7, guard, Sr.; Leila

Abufarie, 5-7, guard, Sr.; Vanessa Alderfer, 5-6, guard, Jr.; Ahkiah

Hunter, 5-6, guard, Sr..

Other Returning Lettermen: LaLa Rushin, 5-10, center, Sr.; Josnique Thomas, 5-6, guard, Soph.; Erica Rivera, 5-3, guard, Jr.

What Can be Expected: “We’ll play very hard and play well

together,” Harris said. “Our guards are very good.”

Team’s Strength: “We’re versatile, aggressive and can shoot well,”

Harris said.

Keys to team’s success: “The development of our young post players

and defensive knowledge,” Harris said.

Season Opener: at Sage Hill, Dec. 8

Editor’s note: Season capsule previews for Edison, Huntington

Beach and Marina will run in the Dec. 4 edition of the Independent.