Crenshaw High School - Cougars Path Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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When the season opened there were very few individuals who thought the Crenshaw Cougars would repeat as City Champions. Only one starter returned to the squad and the team had no real height, with the exception of 6 ' 6 Gary Maloncon. Despite these disadvantages, however, the Cougars surprised everyone by de- feating supposedly superior teams and steamrolled into the playoffs. They de- feated, in succession, Locke, 97-82; third ranked Fremont, 92-85; fourth ranked Dorsey 76-63 and leaped into their second City Championship Finals facing Manual Arts. This, it was thought, was a game the Cougars could not win. After the contest, though, no one would ever doubt the Crenshaw Cougar ' s ability. They ripped the Toilers 109-67 and never looked back. Manual was never in the game as the sharp shooting Cougars had the Toilers out the door by half- time. A week later the team took their act to State and in the first game defeated East Bakersfield 68-75 taking third place after losing to St. Francis 75-59 and beating St. Marys 72-71. First in the City, third in the State. Not bad for a team with no height but a lot of heart. Above left. The city champs celebrate after the final game against Manual Arts. Student Body President Al Bennett (top right) trades a Cougar button for a Manual buttom before the staff of cage action. Below, the Cougars show Manual Arts the way to rebound.

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Doing it to Dorsey, 79-66 (Above left) The crowd knows the Shaw is 1. Coach Willie West (left) discusses a last minute play. Harold Trommer (above) scores two more of the 79- (Top left) Franklin Rhodes brings the ball down court in the closing minutes at the Sports Arena. 161

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' We Are the Champions ' Franklin Rhodes, the game ' s most valuable player, (above) is on Lett. Chris Brown drives the hoop as Cordie Dillard rushes for a possible rebound.