Lutheran High School - Paw Prints Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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The Lion Sleeps Tonight With the league basketball championship under their belt from last year, the Lions returned to season play, with high hopes. Three regulars had returned and an abundance of talent came up from the J.V. ' s, causing the coaches to anticipate a winning season. C.I.F. play did not appear out of reach. There were rumors that this year ' s squad might surpass the far-reaching achievements of last year ' s championship team. Unfortunately, their expectations, along with the inward hope of the fans, were falsified once play had begun. After working hard in practice to acquire the shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball-handling; to develop the speed, co-ordination! and quick thinking that it takes to play good ball, the Lions opened the season, only to lose to Big Bear. They went on, playing in several pre-league tournaments, trying to perfect their skills — but some- thing was wrong. The Lions were just not functioning well as a team. The individual talent was there, but playing as a unit was not always easy for the Lions.

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God Isn ' t Out of Place in Spikes Ever since the beginning of Lutheran High Time, coaches have tried to instill a religious atmosphere into the athletic environment. Sometimes this Godly fer- tilizer was brought up at summer work- outs. Sometimes it came in the form of a prayer at an awards banquet. Most often it was spoon fed to athletes in prayers before a game. On a smaller scale, coach- es may occasionally talk between them- selves or with players about small things they may agree on within their faith. Pos- sibly two players who cared enough would rap about a detail in their life that both- ered them, hoping for some spiritual an- swer. Joining the national organization of Fellowship of Christian Athletes this year offered Lutheran High teammates and coaches a chance to be on the same leve sharing themselves with each other. They have two common goals now, Jesus Christ and winning. Ideally it was a fantastic opportunity. But this first year was a rough one. Suddenly thrown into an organization it knew nothing about, caused confusion and slow starts. Few coaches supported with their attendance and infrequent meetings didn ' t draw crowds of athletes. Yet, through discussions that did develop and common feelings that were expressed those that did come benefitted from it. Hopefully, after this first year of trial and error, the organization will develop and more sportsminded people will share the love of Jesus. Three years ago. Robert Dueker was asked to fill in as a basket- ball coach for the freshman rook- ie team. He organized this mess of knees and elbows into a unit which went undefeated in league. Beginners luck, they said. The next year found him in the intermediate division coaching the J.V. team, and when his team lost their first league game, people suspected the sopho- more jinx, — that is, until they rolled to 13 victories in a row. They haven ' t lost since. In three years his teams ' league records stand at 39-1, or 65-7 overall. Not bad for a part-time coach. Both as athletic headman and coach, he is striving to create a concept of togetherness on the teams and total abstinence of individuality for the sake of the team. We have placed too much emphasis on the individual. This may be what our society today dictates but I cannot accept this in athletics. Even off the field one must sacrifice certain concepts of individuality if he knows it hurts the team. I see many individuals relating to their own performance to the outcome of the game, do everything we can to extinguish this feeling, and he adds, My belief is that a disci- plined, regimented life makes for a better athlete. Athletics is his way of life and his vyay of stopping old age from grabbing him too soon. If. in coaching, I can relate more to oung men I will be very thank- Above Left: The officers of Lutheran High ' s newest group. President Rex Bnggs. Treas- urer Randal Nelson. Secretary Tim Swayne, Vice-President Tim Warneke. and sponsor Jim Young, contemplate the discussion that surrounds them. Above: Athletes within the group share common interests, hoping it will relate to another person. Together, then, they search for answers. 115

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l.Givingtheteamashort, much needed rest. Coach Ed Reitz reviews the game plan during a time-out. 2. Challenging Bell-Jeffs tight defense, Chris Malone prepares to release one ( his crisp passes. 3. Anticipation is a necessity in good defense and Donnie McDonald shows he has it in attempting to break up pass. 4. A whistle is blown and the game is begun with a jump ball in which Lion ' s center Leo Wills takes command. 5. Finishing up a perfect fast break, Mike Jordan goes up for two under tough pressure from a Bell-Jeff defender.