Some Reflections on ’84 and Predictions for ’85

A few parting shots for the past year:

Best Athlete: Crenshaw’s John Williams, who was simply the best prep basketball player in the United States. Williams, who averaged nearly 30 points a game, is currently a freshman starter at Louisiana State.

Best Team: It was close since there were so many excellent choices, but a slight nod goes to Carson’s pistol girls, who edged Riverside Poly’s acrobatic cheerleaders in a shootout.

Rudi Gernreich Award: To Carson Coach Gene Vollnogle, who drew oohs and ahs when he fashioned a 33-20 upset of No. 1-ranked Banning in the City 4-A championship with his shocking no-back offense. Look for it to become the rage in 1985.

Nice Guy Awards: Police and Fire Department personnel who monitor various game sites in an effort to keep the peace, and also donate the use of an occasional fire truck to add to the excitement of City homecoming parades.

Top Newcomer: Freshman cross-country sensation Tracey Williams of Mountain View, who will literally go as far as her legs will take her.

Best T-shirt: Indio’s. But only the version with the authentic picture of the Rajah on the front.

Best quote: Junior wide receiver Cyndi Bays, the only girl on Royal’s JV football team, commenting on the attitude of her peers: “My friends think I’m insane. They’ll ask me, ‘If you get killed, can I have your clothes?’ ”

Wisest Choice: The Southern Section’s decision to drop out of the State basketball tournament. It will save eventual Southern Section champion Mater Dei the embarrassment of losing to L.A.’s Crenshaw or San Francisco’s Riordan.

Things I learned: That Southern Section Commissioner Ray Plutko needs the services of a qualified optometrist. He continually addresses a sportswriter, adorned in a bright, red jacket emblazoned with the word Wisconsin, as “Indiana.”

--That Cary Grant played wide receiver for Muir of Pasadena and Kenny Rogers doubled as a wide receiver and defensive back for Antioch.

--That having two prep bands start the national anthem at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean they will finish at the same time.

--That the popcorn at East Los Angeles College isn’t as good as it was 10 years ago.

--That football Coach Jeff Engilman of Manual Arts could have a voice capable of breaking glass in commercials

--That I should never make predictions.

What to expect in 1985: That I will nonetheless continue to make predictions.

--Watch out for Long Beach Poly and Hart in football.

--Don’t be surprised to see Santa Clara pull off a rare Southern Section double, winning the boys’ 2-A and the girls’ 1-A titles in basketball.

--Look for the Compton girls, led by Kim Thompson and Felicia Benson, to win the 4-A basketball title.

--Look for Herald Examiner prep reporter Steve Guiremand to ask his younger brother, Richard, a student at La Serna High, for a chance to use his new electric typewriter. Richard wrote his way to first place in a sports journalism contest sponsored by The Times during the recent Tournament of Champions.

--Running back Aaron Emanuel of Quartz Hill and offensive tackle Brent Parkinson of Canyon High in Canyon Country will sign with USC.

--That the intense recruiting war being waged for the services of Mater Dei’s Tom Lewis, the finest basketball player in Southern California, will eventually result in an NCAA investigation.

--USC basketball Coach Stan Morrison will continue to watch the best players in the City of Los Angeles leave town for other campuses.

Prep Notes

Meanwhile back on the planet Earth: Bill Redell, who left Crespi to take an assistant coaching job with the Boston-New Orleans-Portland Breakers of the USFL, has returned to the Encino school for another tour of duty. Redell coached Crespi to an 8-3 record in 1982. This time he will be coaching two of his sons, quarterback Randy and defensive back Billy. . . . Fairfax’s Shameil Coleman was too much for Santa Monica in the Simi Valley tournament as she scored scored 48 points in a 73-43 win over the Vikings. However, the next night, Louisville’s 6-1 center Andrea Knapp cooled off Coleman, holding her to 12 points. Knapp scored 29 in a 51-43 victory.. . . Anyone who needs their cathedral ceiling dusted should call Banning’s Joe Johnson, who has a vertical leap of 45 inches. Johnson’s brother, Dennis, plays guard for the Boston Celtics.

Kevin Kurz of Schurr scored 53 points, but his efforts were in vain as the Spartans lost to El Dorado, 104-102, in double overtime, in a first-round game of the Brea-Olinda tournament. . . . Esperanza, 1-19 last season, is off to a 5-5 start, including a 75-64 victory over Bolsa Grande in the championship game of the Canyon of Anaheim tournament. . . . Riordan Coach Ron Isola, after his team was beaten, 75-71, by Crenshaw in the final of the Chaminade tournament: “They might be the second-best team in the state . . . behind the Lakers.” Indeed, the Lakers’ Michael Cooper, no stranger to higher elevations, might pick up a few pointers on the dunk from Crenshaw’s junior guard Stevie Thompson. Thompson’s play might create a new category--most minutes spent above the rim. . . . Culver City will play host to Rolling Hills Wednesday night at 7 in a preseason soccer match. At halftime, Culver City Mayor Paul Jacobs will present a commendation to four players of the U.S. National team, which recently went to Trinidad for the qualifying round of the World Youth Cup.