Laney College - Oak Log Yearbook (Oakland, CA)

Page 47 text:

After an upset at the hands of highly rated St. Nlaryis Frosh. the Oaklanders went on a five-game victory streak. downing Santa Clara Frosh, Diablo Valley College, Vallejo, Fresno. and Fullerton in the opening of the Winter Classic at Santa Maria. Caifornia. 1n the holiday tournament finals the 19-point eiiort ol Wick- wire and Hawkins, 15 points were not enough as Oakland bowed 72-59 to hosting Allan Hancock. Wickvviire and Hawkins were both on the All-Tourney team. After four straight victories. including a win over the previous- ly unbeaten Stanford JV,s, the Thunderbirds crushed Stockton JC, walloped Modesto. 75-54. and then saw a 19-game Big Eight win streak snapped as they bowed to league champion San Fran- cisco 59-43. The Thunderbirds played the contest without the services of Wickxvire, who missed the game because of illness. Bob Johnson led Oakland with 13 points. Coach Rockwell's men kept their Big Eight championship hopes alive with a 79-62 win over San lVlateo and a decisive 87-4-5 victory over Santa Rosa. But once again the hot and cold T-Birds stumbled as they succumbed to Contra Costa 71-59. Oakland could hit only 28 per cent of their shots while Contra Costa hit the nets with a sizzling 50 per cent. Hawkins and the highly-effective Jim Hatchett led the Blue and Colds with 22 and I0 points respectively. Hatchett held All-League center Tyler Wilburri on even terms. scoring two more points than the Comet ace and controlling the defensive boards. Twin no contest wins over Stockton and Modesto showed that the powerhouse Thunderbirds had the 'ghorsesi' to beat any team in the Big Eight when right. Hawkins hit 26 points against Stockton and proved why he was the Northern California Player of the Year in 1057-58 with his defensive play and rebounding. But once more Oakland lapsed and fell behind by 17 points against Contra Costa's Comets in the first half. Ott the bench came Hon Nelson. who sat out the first period. and Nelson put on a one-man show which almost pulled the game out of the fire for Oakland in the second half. Nelson scored 16 points off the guarding of Tyler Wilbon. outrebounded. outfought. and outplay ed the Contra Costa star. leading the Thunderbirds to within one point of the 01-60 Rich- mond victors. A loss to Santa Rosa and two victories over Sacramento JC ended the Oakland season and the Thunderbirds' hopes of an unprecedented second straight Big Eight championship. ln the T-Birds annual basketball dinner, Bob Johnson was voted the MlV1ost Valuable Playerfi Letter winners for Oakland were Hawkins, Wickwire, Ron Nelson. Bob Laird. Jim Hatchett. LaVan Patton, John Mooney, Bob Suter, Don Melen. Jim Reiley. Jim Eastin. and Johnson. Mel Eckhart Ron Nelson Guard Center Bob johnson Hob Laird Guard Forward John Mooney Hob Suter Guard Guard Pat Reiley Dick Nelson Center Forward

Page 46 text:

vita XM flIllillll'llI,S '58-'S' l.. VK A 4' Cage Team. YKLAQ KLA 17 V4 if ty l . . tn fg-on 'E' aat ii gli t 2 1 ' img if ,Q E 'll-Birll Mentor liill Rorlcurell by Frei! llflcllonald Coach Bill Rockwellls T-Bird cfagers ended the l95l'5-59 season with an over-all ll?-T mark and a 9-5 Big Eight record. ,good for fourth place. The Tllunderhirds were parted hy forward Rufus Hawkins. loading T-Bird scorer. third loading Big Eight point maker. and an almost unanimous All-Big Eight selection. Forwards Russ Vlfickwire. second team All-Big Eight. and Holm Laird. centers Ron Nelson and Jim Hatchett. and guards Holm Johnson. John Wloonvy. Ron Gower. and LaVan Patton recviwcl many plaudits also in the Oakland cause. Oakland opened the season with an 85-52 victory over Napa ,IC with llawkins and Gower doing most of the sooring. J RAKL4 Qglll 7 I2 T-Birdy End Second ffm zlglrt Winning Season Jumping Jim Hatchet! prepares to score as the awed Contra Costa Comets look on.

Page 48 text:

Jim Hatchell Don Melon Center Forward Rufus Hawkins 'SCookie Patton Forward Guard Aubrey Labrif' Dick Lev Guard Guard Cloeerleaderf tfpark Victoria! The cheerleaders rooted vigorously at all UCC athletic events during the year and with their jumps. leaps, and hounds co- ordinated into well devised cheers and yells, led rooters who were always anxious to see the T-Birds win. The Fall rooters started right in at the beginning of the se- mester with their noise and enthusiasm. Twelve avid T-Bird fans followed the football team all the w ay to Boise. ldaho for a prac- tice game. Little flifl they expect that they would he joined by about 1.000 Boise residents who cheered for the T-Birds. The three-day' trip will he remembered by the team and rooters lor many years to come. The football rooters headed by Ricardo Ahad and Cheryl Purdy succeeded in giving the T-Bird spirit an additional push with their unique and enthusiastic routines and yells. T-Bird lmasketlwall enthusiasts certainly weren't let, down hy' the Spring cheer section. A pep hand led hy' George Lopez and a straw hat section provided enthusiasm lo the cheer section with their humorous antics and routines. Perhaps for the first time other schools envied our cheer sec- tion because of the hliig T-Bird Drum. The team counted on this drum as much as the students and when it was forced to he left behind at some away games everyone was aware that some- thing w as dehnitely' lacking. Half-time entertainment was at its hest this season. 'l'-Bird rooters enjoyed gymnastics. tumbling. and trampoline exhibi- tions as well as a half-time haskethall game between Delta Psi and Kappa Phi Delta sororities. Jim. lfaslin Russ uHiCI1'l4 il'l' Forward Forward 2 v . - iff - -' , .