Esperanza High School - Quetzal Yearbook (Anaheim, CA)

Page 200 text:

r. Dave Blanchard tosses a rebound to Byron Williams. Blanchard was named Most Inspirational Player. 2. JV starter Paul Spitzzerri hauls down a rebound in a game against Cypress. Spitzzerri moved to varsity during CIF competition. 3. JV cager John Ludwig drives to the basket eluding a Cypress defender. The JV team split their two meetings with Cypress. 4. JV Basketball. row I - john Ludwig, Keith Chalman, Norm Santos, Phil Thummel. row 2 - Alex Anderson, Tim Patterson, Paul Spitzzerri, Mike Choecelc, Kurt Demster, Jim Sturgeon. 196 - basketball

Page 199 text:

MOOfC,S C3.gCI'S C9.PtLll'C fII'St league title Finishing with a historic 2I-5 season record, an Empire League Championship, and first ever CIF playoff appearance, the men's varsity basketball team rewrote the school's record book and emerged as the first team to wind up the season with a winning record. Varsity Head Coach Mike Moore attributed many reasons to the team's success. At the beginning of the season I told our players that they would have to sacrifice a little personal glory in order to attain our goal of a league championship, stated Moore, whose team produced one of the most balanced scoring attacks in Orange County. This group of kids had a special chemistry among them. They have been playing together for three years and they had no doubt that they could win league, added Moore, who was voted Empire League Coach-of-the-Year. In addition to their balanced scoring, a stifling defense held their opponents to just 47.6 points per game, one of the lowest in the league. That defense, along with an unusually rowdy crowd was the reason that the Aztecs defeated one of Orange County's toughest teams, Ocean View, in the first round of the CIF playoffs. Ocean View was heavily favored to defeat the ninth ranked Aztecs, but the team prevailed winning by two in overtime. It was great to see the crowd behind us at that game. They really helped us psyche up and helped us to intimidate Ocean View, stated MVP Tom Leineberg. The cagers finished the season with a to-o home record, the best in school history. In addition to having their best home record, the cagers also won zo games, the first time an Aztec team has ever accomplished that goal. We set up four goals before the season started, our goals were to win twenty games in a season, qualify for CIF, win league title, and win CIF, stated Moore. Moore's team accomplished the first three goals, but lost in the second round of the CIF playoffs to the number two seeded school in the 4-A division. Y 1 1 aV ' GM 3 i. Head Coach Mike Moore tells his players how he wants his team to defend the Cypress offense. Moore and the cagers accomplished all of their goals except a CIF championship. 2. Byron Williams reaches for an Aztec missed field goal. Williams averaged 7.8 points per game. basketball - IQS

Page 201 text:

JV basketball team has rough season The men's JV Basketball Team, despite finishing with a 9-12 record, had nothing that they should be ashamed of. Of their I2 losses, six were by four or less points. Strong performances from freshman Jim Sturgeon and junior Paul Spitzzerri helped to lead the team to their record. I was very pleased with the way we played during the course of the year, stated Head Coach Dennis Riggs. We got strong play when we really needed it. In several games the team seemed to lack just that little extra. In particular, the game against Cypress was tied with one minute left to sus g 41 70 45 - 98 56 Sift ii.s 49 . Gs. - 54 6: 55 play. The Aztecs failed a few crucial free throws and ended up losing the game by three points. Despite the many close losses, the team did manage to win many lopsided victories. Most noticeable of these was the victory over Santa Fe High School in which the team won by 28 points. Varsity Head Coach Mike Moore said, in reference to next year's varsity team, Next year's team will be one of a rebuilding year. That doesn't mean that it will be a bad year, it just means that we will have to work harder to win league. igvmstysisiasail t Tw r g 44 gajgg.. , 63. K .k:, I 'k..i My T - 6 ,.... gl.,. T ,Tustin - ,.,. , ifilAiQuiuu sus is. QifffK4ffl'4'- i . . . . ,i t 'Kennedy Z 5, Kmmdy t ff? Y 72 sam re 'OV gs Fund. .' t is . ss Sff1?aeifil.e. . fp Huntington i,'. 52 .. , L,V. LVVLV ,L 6' . macmcaado 38 t DB' 46 Dorado ,2 'Y 46 Kamtay una 37 .'CYP'N ,4 a1h,',,,, ffi lf x if . SS we i.,. 24 ' l'- ,Alamitos M ., so fax Dona., 37 kj Ocean Wew Crespi 'Empire League 1. Senior Lance Stark out rebounds a spirited Cypress player. Stark was instrumental in his ability to come off the bench and make the big plays when they needed it the most. basketball 1