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Buchanan the catalyst for MHS
Seniors David Buchanan, Michael Snowden, Ryan Murry, Cody McVey and David Anderson played together on the fourthgrade Moorpark traveling team. With six regular-season games left and the team's playoff picture still murky, the players' journey together is nearing its end. "The cohesiveness is there, and it definitely shows on the court," said Buchanan, a captain who leads the Musketeers by averaging 19.5 points per game, the third-best figure in the Marmonte League. At 11-9 overall and 2-6 in league, Moorpark needs just one more victory to become eligible for the postseason. The top four teams in the league earn automatic berths, and the Musketeers are two games behind Calabasas and Agoura for fourth place. The Musketeers, however, enter perhaps their most difficult stretch of the season with four straight road games, starting with tonight's clash against Westlake High at 7:30 p.m. Buchanan, a 6foot2, 170pound combo guard, has worked hard to get Moorpark focused and playing more cohesively for first-year head coach Adam Wohlstattar. Wohlstattar, who coached the girls' varsity team for three years, was the junior varsity boys' coach for four seasons prior. Although Moorpark started 40, Wohlstattar said the early going "wasn't all roses." That acclimation period took longer than the coach expected. "It really took us awhile for players to find common ground with coaches. There have been a lot of bumps in the road," Wohlstattar said. "Coming from the girls' team, which was an experienced group, I didn't have to say a whole lot. They knew the routine and the leadership was strong." Wohlstattar, or "Wally" to his players, led Moorpark's girls to a 244 record and league championship in 2006-07. Buchanan, 18, has been a big part of getting the team on the right track, Wohlstattar said. An outstanding outside shooter whose 3-point jumper is sweeter than a Michael Redd pirouette, Buchanan worked on penetrating to the basket. His newfound aggressiveness has paid huge dividends, as the senior captain is 117of137 at the freethrow line, good for 85 percent. Now, he can score when his shot is off. The senior is third in the Marmonte League in scoring behind Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson (23.8 points per game) and Michael Meza (20.4 ppg). "He's extremely hungry; he's extremely focused," Wohlstattar said of Buchanan. "He's trying to finish his last year of basketball in the best possible way that he can, and he's really willing to do whatever it takes to help. "Marmonte League teams put their top defenders on him, and he's still been able to produce at a high level." Buchanan has scored in double figures in all but one game and torched Menlo High for 31 points in a 61-52 victory on Dec. 29 in the Chaminade Christmas Classic. Teammates have also been impressed with Buchanan's work ethic. "He is the player he is because of how much work he puts into the game," said Murry, a wide receiver for the football team in the fall. "It's ridiculous: Every single day, he's working on his game. He's probably one of the best shooters I've ever seen in a while. When he misses in practice, it's a rare thing. You give him a foot to shoot, he's going to score." Even though he's had offers to play Division III basketball, Buchanan thinks this will be his last season of competitive hoops. He's leaning toward attending the University of Arizona and cheering on the Wildcats from the student section. The guard would one day like to be a math teacher and coach. For now, Buchanan hopes MHS has one more big run left. "It's been an awesome season," he said. "It's not about the wins and the numbers all the time. It's how well you perform as a team. "Wally always tells us it's tough to get into the playoffs. If we lose every game, as long as we've given it our all and left it all on the floor, that's considered a success for us." |
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