Vanguard University of Southern California - Centurion Yearbook (Costa Mesa, CA)

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Jumping from the frying pan into the fire the fearless five journeyed to Newhall to face L.A.B.C. in their first G.S.A.A. encounter and lost a good game 98-85. With the hustle and finesse of Flip Marocco, part of SCC Italian Power, stealing all types of balls from the L.A.B.C. big boys in an imrelenting pressing defense, the Vanguard vipers trailed only by 3 points with 5 minutes to go, but the front line of 6 ' 10 , 6 ' 9 , and ' % proved to be too much for us. Six Vanguards scored between 12 17 points for the best balance of the year but 80 points between the giants cancelled out all of the good works. Oh Life College we love thee, yes we love thee we sang on the way to another sure win but found ourselves tied 93-all at the end of the regulation game. Smooth moves by reckless Rick Shults shot the Vanguards ahead in overtime and we won 108-102. Rick finished with another career high of 35 points. Our annual trip to Northern California could be represented as a 33% success, as we took one out of three on the road. The first night in rainy, cold Livermore, in a gym with no seats, scoreboard or showers, we polished off the Northern Califomia Pentecostal Bible College 128-60 with all 13 SCC players scoring. Stanislaus State whipped us the following night 116-84 dispite five men in double figures. On to Fresno for the Tuesday night game and even with Jumping Jimmy Payne collecting 24 points and 25 rebounds we fell 104-67. Back home during the semester break for a breather we fell to the Republic of China ' s Basketball Team 98-74. Again height was the factor plus our units were plumb out of gas from the long and hard road trip. Laveme College, with nationally ranked scoring leader Davey Jones, came to Costa Mesa and ran over, thru and around a gallant Vanguard five for a 112-96 victory. Six Vanguards scored in double figures led by Rinker ' s 24 but Jones and Barber accounted for 62 Laveme points. Our very dear friends, Victor Valley College, back for their seventh try at beating a Vanguard team, came, saw, but did not conquer as seven Vanguards hit in the double figure column for a bright 113-93 victory. Off to LaMirada in hopes of another upset journeyed the darling dwarfs of Costa Mesa only to be blown out of the Biola gym by a score of 78-100. Homecoming was a complete success right up until the big game. The University of Califomia from San Diego didn ' t seem to understand that WE were supposed to win and thrashed us before a packed gym of alumni and fans 107-73. Rinker ' s 22 points was tops for both teams but UCSD got the most satisfaction by winning the game. Still very much alive for the G. S. A. A. Conference title we traveled to Riverside to play in the new $300, 000 Cal Baptist gym and once again upset the taller Lancers. With five Vanguards in double figures we raced to a 42-40 halftime lead and then kept the lead for a fine 81 -76 win. Stanislaus State dropped in from Turlock and proved their first win over us was no mistake by beating us without mercy 112-81. Rinker hit 24 but it didn ' t stop the running giants from the north country. Our buddies and cousins from Los Angeles (Life College) came to town to try and force us into another overtime game . . . and it Iftoked like they might do it! We led by as much as 10 points in the first half only to see it melt away; and Life tied us at the half 43-43. After a halftime in the locker-room of 25 words or less the Vanguards charged out of the shower confines and immediately set about to make ammends for their poor first -half showing. When the smog lifted, the score read SCC-127, Life 73. Forward Phil Marocco and Center Ronn Nipper continously picked reboimds from the de- fensive boards and while casually tossing them downcourt for the lively fast breads, ship- wrecked the Vikings by a tormenting game of keep away. The Vanguards did everything but eat popcorn the second half as they scored a record-tying 84 points behind Rick Shults ' 32 points and Jerry Rinkers 26. Six Vanguards again were in double figures. With the G. S. A. A. Basketball Title on the line, the Los Angeles Baptist CoUege team invaded our gym and within the first 20 minutes wrapped up the Conference tide. As even the usually consistent hot-shooting guard, Lynn Taylor was vmable to connect, the low percentage of the entire team (18% the first half) cost us the game and the 6 ' 5 average. Mustangs won their second straight Conference Title and remaining undefeated for two years. Mentally and physically down from the LABC defeat Cal Tech took us on our own floor and won their first game ever over an SCC Basketball Team 83-74 after we had led at the half 42-31. Fresno Pacific CoUege came to town for our final game fo the year and handed us our 19th defeat against 11 wins. Teamwork, a miracle in past years, became the Foundation and recipe for the victories of the small, scrappy Vanguards. Whether it was Jerry Rinker, Dan AUbritton, Lynn Taylor, Ron Nipper, Rick Shults, Jodie Murray or Phil Marocco, one of the spectacular assists al- ways started the spectators stomping in the stands. But even with all the depth experienced and hustle, the 1969 Vanguards could not compensate for their lack of height. And as the sun slowly set in the basketball gym, there remained the radiant hopes for next year, when all three guards and three forwards would be returning to the locker rooms and new challeng- es, hopefully with a bouncing 7 foot center.