As part of its off-season preparation, Santa Monica High is playing in various summer basketball leagues.
Last week, the Vikings advanced to the championship game of the War on the Floor tournament at Taft High in Woodland Hills before losing to Birmingham High, 77-71.
Strong showings in the summer give players experience and establishes the foundation for next season, when Coach James Hecht’s Samohi team is again expected to be one of the favorites in the Ocean League.
There’s been one significant change in the league. Jon Chapman, a member of three national championship teams at UCLA from 1970-’72, has become the head coach at Culver City.Chapman seldom played on those teams but drew praise from Coach John Wooden for his work in practice, and went on to coach girls basketball teams at Culver City, then became principal at Morningside High.
