Esperanza High School - Quetzal Yearbook (Anaheim, CA)

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JV players win their first league game. Without winning a league game during their last two years, the j.V. team finally won a league game. The team was coached by newcomer Kert Kertson who also teaches math as well as basketball. Kertson, who coached at Bishop Mont- goery in the Angeles League, also coached j.V. there. Kertson was also used to winning, had to adjust to a much weaker team. The players had to be taught the fundamentals or basics of the game,', said Kertson. Varsity EHS 46 El Dorado 46 Katella S4 Kennedy 61 Loara 52 Cypress 49 Los Alamitos 58 Pacifica 51 El Dorado 67 Katella 65 Kennedy 56 Loara 39 Cyvfsf-S S7 Los Alamitos 62 Pacifica J.V. EHS 40 El Dorado 27 Katella 46 Kennedy 28 Loara 45 Cypress 43 Los Alamitos 64 Pacifica 45 El Dorado 33 Katella 42 Kennedy 38 Loara 50 Cypress 53 Los Alamitos 5o Pacifica Sophomore Oran McCary attempts a shot under pressure by a Cypress The team ended up last in the league with a 2-I6 overall record. A big factor of the team's dismal records in the past years has been the low turnouts of new students with basketball skills. The program loses about 3 to 4 players each year with no new players coming in. However, the players showed Kertson what it takes to be competitive. This problem, facing Kertson, was also a major factor in the resignation of Varsity Coach Mike Moore at the end of the 47 67 69 44 58 37 59 47 64 86 48 60 60 64 55 61 52 30 SI 75 79 62 75 44 46 66 35 47 defender. The J.V. team improved from recent years. 58 - basketball season. After taking an Empire League 5th place and after taking the champion- ship the year before, Moore resigned cit- ing that there was a lack of support and a lack of attraction of talented athletes to the program. I never felt I was building a programf, said Moore. On the JV level junior Ken Kloman re- ceived the most valuable player award and Ron Siecke was named the most im- proved.

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C ,054 44 ff is -ak, I. Greg Yarber, Phil Thummel and Paul Spitzzeri defend against a Los Altos player. The Aztecs lost this game with a score of 49-87. 2. Paul Spitzzeri attempts a shot under pressure from a Los Altos player. Spitzzeri has been a member of the Aztec,s basketball teams for the last three years. Senior Eric Culberson concentrates on a play being explained by Coach Mike Moore, Culberson named co- P Senior Eric Culberson was named Co- MVP, along with senior Keith Chal- man. He was also the only returning player from last year's team. With his experience and leadership, he helped the team during a rough season, the season was not a success but not a disas- ter either, said Culberson. He feels the basketball program is a growing one which will prosper in the future. Culberson averaged I4 points a game and says he had an average season. He made all league team in a tough Empire League. Making the All-League team was my best accomplishment, said Culberson. He has been playing basket- ball here for four years and two of those with the varsity. basketball - 57

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05111 IC nb M as N 1. Senior Mike Chocek attempts to win the tip off of the ball at the start of the game. Chocek was injured at the start of the season, but joined the team later in the season. 2. Junior Ken Kloman dribbles around a Kennedy defender. Kloman was named most valuable player on the J.V. team. 3. j.V. basketball team: Row 1, Coach Kurt Kertson. Row 2, K. Kloman, S. Elias, T. Brown, M. Ross, F. Klossen, E. Bergstrom, G. Willie, K. Bass, R. Siecke, T. Murphy. 4. Senior Mike Chocek scores an easy layup with pressure from a Los Altos player. basketball - 59