CITY SECTION BASKETBALL CAPSULES : NORTHERN CONFERENCE : NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE

Verdugo Hills COACH: Hector Ornelas, 6th season LAST SEASON: 2-19; 5th in league, 2-10 PLAYERS TO WATCH: If the Dons are hoping to pull themselves out of the league cellar, they had better be in good shape. Verdugo Hills has just nine players on this season’s team and only one returning starter. Fortunately for the Dons, their lone returnee is the team’s leading scorer, Tuyen Tran (5-7), a senior guard. Lack of height is also a handicap this year. Only one player is taller than 6-foot--senior center John Taylor (6-1). Joseph Letscher (5-10) will start at forward. Ornelas, therefore, will be employing a three-guard offense. Kheng Lim (5-10) and Nuyen Quan (5-6) will round out the starting threesome with Tran. Chuck Yip (5-11) is also expected to play at forward. OUTLOOK: “Every season gets tougher and tougher,” Ornelas said. “We’ll have the speed but not necessarily the quickness. Hopefully, by the time league rolls around we can be competitive.”