Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies - Excalibur Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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INSIDE SPORTS Watch out Kareem — because here comes Dennard Jackson. During a critical point in an intense game, Dennard decides to go for a three pointer to lie the score. This should indicate his sense of distance and strength. JV BOYS SOCES 45 Monroe 44 SOCES 35 Van Nuys 62 SOCES 26 Marshall 50 SOCES 46 Lincoln 32 SOCES 49 Hollywood 34 SOCES 39 Belmont 44 SOCES 45 Downtown 33 SOCES 53 Verdugo Hills 50 SOCES 62 Wilson 71 SOCES 42 Eagle Rock 48 SOCES 76 Franklin 84 SOCES 38 Verdugo Hills 34 SOCES 23 Wilson 65 VARSITY GIRLS SOCES 21 Marshall 79 SOCES 14 Lincoln 57 SOCES 12 Hollywood 41 SOCES 7 Belmont 71 SOCES 14 Downtown 58 SOCES 7 Verdugo Hills 63 SOCES 10 Wilson 83 SOCES 16 Eagle Rock 69 SOCES 23 Franklin 71 SOCES 26 Verdugo Hills 38 SOCES 4 Wilson 44 iii | ' ' i |iim ' iiiiiii mMWwmm Junior Varsity — members are. Coach Weathersbv, Daron Swille. Mitchell Shenkin. David Lin. Richard Cunningham. Raleigh Henderson. Dennard Jackson, Eric Tappan, Byron Devers, Todd Mitchell, Kender- ick Jackson. 48

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ime out — taking lime out during a very intense ante. Varsity players Berlin Parker, Marcus Little- yhn, Cleve McWright, and Dante Harris discuss heir plans to maneuver the ball away from their op- onenls. onto their side of the court. ' halk one up for the home team — shown here making basket from the free throw line, Dante Harris hopes hat it will be one of many more points that he will take to help his team win. -J urviving a challenging new league This is our first year as a varsity basket- ball team in a 3a league. This means that we can now play nearly all of the schools in our district. This presents new challenges for our varsity players, many of whom were on last year ' s varsity team. I think that our team is a little better than last year because last year we were in a magnet league, but this year we ' re in a 3a league which means that we will be playing bigger schools which have three thousand people to choose from, so I think that is pretty good, and without Coach Becker. Coach Box, and Coach Weathersby, I think we would not be able to do anything. said eleventh grader Tyron Cooley. Although we did not have quite the sea- son that we had hoped to have had, the varsity team took it in stride. They kept their spirits and their morale high, and with the help of their senior players they came out fighting, but their senior players were not the only ones that contributed to the team ' s performance on the court, the ju- M % -y f niors also played a big role during the games. I think the seniors of the coming year will do fine, because we have seven people coming back on the varsity team. Those seven people will be seniors, so we will have a good team with or without the people who are leaving this year, said eleventh grader Om Reeder. It is our first year in the 3a division, we obviously lack the experience which would enable us to perform well against teams who have previously competed on this level. Lack of experience is more or less a scape- goat. This year was a period of adaption and learning. Eight juniors returning next year. As an advocate for the juniors I would like to say revenge is not paramount in our eyes, but payback is a feeling which is most enjoyed when done inadvertently ' in other words we will beat them and laugh. said Berlin Parker, eleventh grader. By Wendy Hernandez What was the most memorable mo- ment during one of this year ' s games that you remember the most? It was a tournament game played at St. Monicas, against our cross town ri- val. Dirty Business Magnet, we won. It was clearly one of our better games, said eleventh grader Kevin Campbell. Work. Work. Work — part of their Varsity teams training is participating in a daily brisk game. They work verv hard to keep their physical and mental stability, and bv practicing they get better and better each time. Varsity Basketball Sports ' :: 47

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Hanging in there — is Richard Cunningham, an elev- enth grader. This is his first year on the Junior Varsi- ty team. He is an exceptional player and a wonderful asset to the team. Here he is dunking for two. Over here!. ' — .4s Gwen Thompson goes for that awe- some block number forty-two. Diane Quan. is ready in waiting to he sure we try to keep the opponents from scoring. This demonstrates team work. What an ef- fort ' erforming with hustle, spirit, and pride A new experience for the Junior Varsity Knights basketball teams included the first ever competition in the 3A division. Being in the 3A league made us realize how much stronger we grew. It was defi- nitely a challenge and now we know how strong to be next year, Mac Becker, head coach of the boys J.V. team said. Along with playing in the 3A division for the first time, Lisa Lewis managed to orga- nize a girls basketball team. Playing in the 3A division is a challenge and is fun too. At limes it ' s a little tough being a pioneer team, however the girls are young and I have high hopes for the pro- gram in the future, said Ms. Lewis. Even though both teams, boys J.V. and the girls, had a tough season, it was com- petitive and enjoyable. We have an excellent team with good potential. We are just as competitive as the other 3 A teams so there is no reason why we shouldn ' t come out on the upper half of our division — Varsity. Girls, as well as J.V., said Byron Devers, captain. Basketball practices and games require intensive workmanship, dedication and teamwork. It is very important for the members of the team to work together and help each other. Our team gets along very well. We share secrets and talk out our problems if we have any. The main thing is we help each other and that ' s what counts, said Malinda Paniagua. What does it take to be in the 3A league? Team work is the key word. Not only get- ting along with your own team, but also with your opponents, team members agree. I think it ' s great that we can compete with other high schools and it gives us a chance to compare our athletes with the athletes of other schools, said Diane Quan. Grades are an important rule in the game of basketball. The players must maintain a grade point average of a ' C or above with no fails. To me grades are very important. Play- ing gives me the satisfaction that I have school spirit. To gain that spirit, I work hard in all my classes. said Kenderick Jackson. The cheering and excitement dies down as the basketball season comes to an end. However the encouragement from the cheerleaders and students last forever. By Stephanie Prince How different is it being in the 3A league as opposed to being in the regular league? Dennaid Jackson — ' The difference is a huge one. Things are more organized, more disciplined, and it gives us a good goal to strive for. Nov we know to work twice as hard. Girls arsity — members are. bottom: Tanisha Da- vis. Diane Quan. Jennifer Koepke. Lakisha Stokes. G en Thompson. Top.- Ms. Lewis, Mary Branch. Ma- linda Paniagua. Sophia Lord. Tanisha H ' atts. Pau- lette Mitchell. Tanisha Heard. 49