Concluding the most successful season of the 16 he’s guided Santa Monica High boys basketball, James Hecht has been named Ocean League Coach Of The Year.
Samohi went 10-0 in league games and won at least 20 for a fifth consecutive year.
“It was a pleasure to work with these young men,”said Hecht, who grew up in Santa Monica, lives a short distance from Samohi and appreciates the opportunity to coach at the school.
He had an experienced team with all but three players being seniors and they adapted to his style featuring pressure defense.
Hecht prevails over a program that annually attracts more than 150 interested players. They begin in tryouts. Some are then cut while others are assigned to lower level teams where they begin learning what is expected of a Samohi basketball player.
Although only a few players fromt this varsity team will return the Vikings should be formidable again next season. Both the junior varsity and frosh-soph teams won the Ocean League.
MITCH CHORTKOFF
Mirror Sports Editorsports@smmirror.com
