Dynamiters Place Three Cage Stars in Galaxy

It it rare when three players from the same high school are selected to the 10-member Times All-Glendale-area boys prep basketball team.

But rare is just the word to describe Coach Steve Keith’s talented Glendale High School team, winner of 25 consecutive summer league games and 28 regular-season games in a row, including five in the playoffs, en route to a CIF 4-A championship this season.

The catalysts for Glendale are seniors: point guard Rich Grande (6-2), a leading candidate for CIF 4-A player of the year; big and bruising center Jan Svoboda (6-8) and always reliable Bob Mulcahey (6-7).

Joining that trio on The Times’ All-Glendale team are Harvey Mason (6-3) and Drew Haberl (6-3) of Crescenta Valley, Matt Dyrek (6-7) of St. Francis, Jerry Simon (6-5) and Jasen Mackenzie (6-3) of Marshall, Walt Bakly (6-5) of La Canada and Robert Preston (6-9) of Hoover.

Coaches Were Polled

Selection was based primarily on voting by coaches and Times sports reporters.

Players from nine Times circulation areas will be honored at an awards program sponsored by the Los Angeles Times Fund at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Harry Chandler Auditorium at Times Mirror Square.

The Glendale team and all-star squads from the San Gabriel Valley, Orange County, Westside, Southeast, South Coast, South Bay, San Fernando Valley and Central City areas will be honored. A similar program will be held in San Diego.

At the ceremonies, a player of the year and a coach of the year will be named from each area. Each player will receive a certificate and trophy.

USC Coach Stan Morrison, who guided the Trojans to a co-championship in the Pacific 10 Conference and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, will speak.

Four members of the all-star team are juniors: Mason, Simon, Bakly and Preston. The others are seniors. The all-stars range in size from 6-2 (Grande) to 6-9 (Preston).

Grande Going to USC

Two have accepted basketball scholarships to major colleges, Grande with USC and teammate Svoboda with California. They declared last November.

A look at the all-star squad:

Bakly is admired for a quick first step to the basket. At 6-5, he can bang inside for points and has a nice shooting touch from 18 feet.

An all-Rio Hondo League (2-A) team selection, Bakly averaged 18.9 points a game. The junior will be strongly recruited next season. Pacific 10 schools Stanford, Washington State and Arizona have displayed interest.

Dyrek, the most dominant big man in the tough 5-A Del Rey League, averaged 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds to pace his team to an 11-13 record, one of the best marks for the Golden Knights in recent years. He was all-league.

The 6-7 senior was equally adept at scoring from the outside on a soft-touch jumper or muscling inside for points.

Grande had a season most players dream about. His team was undefeated and won the CIF 4-A title, and he was the player most responsible for it.

Scorer, Ball Handler

The most valuable player in the Pacific League, Grande averaged 21.6 points and 4.6 assists. His ball-handling skill offset attempts by opponents to pressure Glendale.

Like most outstanding players, Grande was at his best in big games. In the five playoff contests, he scored 21, 26, 23, 26 and, finally, 26 in the championship game against Dominguez.

Haberl did everything for Coach John Goffredo’s Crescenta Valley team. He scored, rebounded and was a great assist man. When teams put the pressure on, he brought the ball up the court.

An all-Pacific League selection, Haberl averaged 14.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists.

Mackenzie never received due recognition because of playing with Simon, one of the most talented and exciting players in Southern California.

But the two-time all-East Valley League selection was impressive. He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Mason Tops Scorers

Mason is the leading scorer on the all-star team with a 26-point average. The Crescenta Valley junior is following in the footsteps of two of his school’s great scorers--Greg Goorjian and Brad Holland.

An all-CIF performer last season and a good bet to make it again this year, Mason scores inside with slick moves and hits from outside. He is expected to be heavily recruited by colleges during his senior year.

Mulcahey of Glendale High did everything needed of him. He frequently scored the key basket, picked up a loose ball, got the rebound when it counted.

An all-Pacific League selection, Mulcahey averaged 8.6 points and 11.7 rebounds. Opposing coaches say with a less talented team he would would have averaged 17 or 18 points.

Big things are expected next season from Preston, the tallest player on the all-star squad at 6-9 and growing.

Getting Better Constantly

THe Hoover High product, an all-Pacific team selection, is expected to develop into a major-college prospect in his senior year. Opposing coaches marveled at his rapid progress during the season.

A great leaper, Preston averaged 15.6 points and 9 rebounds.

Already one of the most talented players as a junior, Simon figures to be unstoppable as a senior.

He is expected to be heavily recruited by major colleges because at 6-5 he is an excellent ball handler who can shoot from the outside or take a smaller guard inside. He has excellent moves to the hoop.

An all-East Valley selection, Simon was league co-MVP with Anthony Cook of Van Nuys. Simon’s statistics are glittering. He averaged 19.4 points, 5.9 blocks, 10 assists and 13 rebounds.

Svoboda: Muscle Man

Svoboda was the muscle man on the Glendale championship team, always hustling, fighting for rebounds and loose balls.

An intense competitor and all-Pacific League selection, Svoboda averaged 16.5 points and 8 rebounds.

Those receiving honorable mention on the Glendale-area team are John Alaimo of Hoover; Dan Jordan, St. Francis; Fred Bickett, Glendale; Mike McGeagh, Crescenta Valley, and Javier Andrade and Greg Sanford of Eagle Rock High School.

GLENDALE ALL--STAR PREP BASKETBALL TEAM

Scoring Name, School Year Height Weight average Walter Bakly, La Canada Junior 6-5 185 18.9 Matt Dyrek, St. Francis Senior 6-7 190 17.1 Rich Grande, Glendale Senior 6-2 155 21.6 Drew Haberl, Crescenta Valley Senior 6-3 185 14.7 Jason Mackenzie, Marshall Senior 6-3 185 17.0 Harvey Mason, Crescenta Valley Junior 6-3 160 26.0 Bob Mulcahey, Glendale Senior 6-7 195 8.6 Rob Preston, Hoover Junior 6-9 215 15.6 Jerry Simon, Marshall Junior 6-5 165 19.4 Jan Svoboda, Glendale Senior 6-8 210 16.5