By Melody Hanatani
Daily Press Staff Writer

SAMOHI The team’s experience level might be significantly lower and the early season results might be an unfavorable departure from last year, but there’s something in this years varsity boys’ basketball squad that gives senior Edward Willis a feeling that there are greater things to come.

“We’ve started out slow,” said Willis, a small forward for Santa Monica High School. “But we work a lot better together than [we did] last year.”

Such optimism shows the Vikings are unfazed by the start to the 2007-08 season with a 1-2 mark as of Friday afternoon, a record that can be attributed to the lack of experience of the roster.

The Vikings return only five players from a team that went 21-6 last year, reaching the CIF-Playoffs but losing to Woodbridge High School in the first round — a Woodbridge team that included the exceptional performance of small forward Austin Daye, who is now playing at Gonzaga.

It was a disappointing end to a season that started out successfully. The Vikings lost their last two regular season games to Culver City and Hawthorne heading into the postseason. But looking back, Coach James Hecht said he is pleased with the 2006-07 season.

The Vikings lost several key players in last year’s success to graduation, including 6’6” forward Ari Feldman, who Hecht called an inside threat who could also shoot well from beyond the three-point arc. Feldman, who was named All-Ocean League and All-CIF, is now playing volleyball at Cal State University Northridge, Hecht’s alma mater.

“We were a fairly well-rounded team in terms of weapons,” Hecht said.

But that was last year and this year’s squad is still looking to form its identity.

Out of the five returning players, only two played significant minutes last year — Willis and forward Willie Goetz.

“A lot of guys don’t have varsity game experience,” Hecht said. “By the time league rolls around, we’ll be pretty competitive.”

Ocean League play starts in a few weeks with the first game at Morningside High School on Jan. 8.

The Vikings opened the season with a 78-49 loss against Gardena High School but won its next game 64-45 against Locke. That game was followed by another loss at the hands of Lynwood High School, 59-48.

The Viking’s problems in the past few games have seemed to be ball-handling, free throw shooting and rebounding. In their game against Gardena, the Vikings turned the ball over on their first four possessions, all turnovers that led to points for the opponent.

“We’ve seemed to be our own worst enemy at times,” the 14-year head coach said.

The Vikings will take it one day, one practice and one game at a time.

“We’re not going to make any excuses when we lose and we’ll stay hungry after the victories,” the coach said.

Samohi has won two CIF banners in school history — in 1928 and most recently in 1987 under former Coach Cliff Hunter.

The players are hungry for another shot at the CIF championship.

Willis said he will never forget the feeling of playing at such an elevated level where one mistake can end an entire season. He recalls the nervousness in anticipation of the game, the intensity during the game, and the heartbreak following it.

“I want more of it,” Willis said.

melodyh@smdp.com