Notebook : Former Pasadena Defensive Standout Makes a Point About His Scoring Skill

When Forrest Walton-McKenzie played basketball at Pasadena High School, he had a reputation as a defensive specialist, not a scorer.

It has taken the 6-7 forward a few years at Loyola Marymount, but he has proved his point--that he can score.

Walton-McKenzie, a senior, became Loyola Marymount’s all-time scoring leader when he hit for 16 against St. Ambrose of Iowa last week.

That gave him 1,707 in his four-year career to pass former Arcadia High School star Jim Haderlein’s 1,706, established in 1968-71. Walton-McKenzie added 25 against U.S. International University later in the week to reach 1,732.

But Walton-McKenzie may not have long to celebrate the record. At least not if senior guard Keith Smith, a former West Covina High star, continues at his present pace.

Smith, who also passed Haderlein with 36 points against USIU last week, has scored 1,716 and has been steadily closing in on Walton-McKenzie.

Smith is averaging 24.6 points a game this season and Walton-McKenzie 19.6.

Claremont High School’s 6-8 senior quarterback Dan McGwire, who received plenty of honors last season, recently gained two more.

McGwire, one of the most hotly recruited players in the nation, was named state player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports News of San Jose and made the 47-member Parade All-American team.

McGwire had an exceptional year, completing 203 of 328 passes for 3,167 yards and 33 touchdowns to lead Claremont to its second consecutive CIF Eastern Conference title. He passed for 6,554 yards in his career, second in the CIF behind former Los Angeles Rams and USC quarterback Pat Haden.

Pomona running back J. J. Flannigan, who gained many honors last season, also made the Parade Magazine team and the all-state squad.

Flannigan, named state player of the year by Gatorade, rushed for 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns in 165 carries as a senior and rushed for 3,500 over the last two seasons.

Defensive back John Hardy of Muir, the top defensive player for a team that won the CIF Coastal Conference title, was the only other valley player named to the all-state team.

Don’t be surprised to see a lot of college football recruiters at Bishop Amat High School games next season.

Two players from the traditional San Gabriel Valley power have been named to the all-state underclassman team selected by Cal-Hi Sports News.

They are junior lineman Richard Garrick, 6-3 and 245 pounds, and 5-9 junior running back Eric Bieniemy, who rushed for 1,824 yards and 28 touchdowns in 304 carries last year and has rushed for nearly 3,000 in two years as a starter for the Lancers.

The only other valley player selected to the all-state underclass team was junior running back Ricky Ervins of Muir, who was named junior state player of the year after rushing for 1,218 yards and 14 touchdowns and catching 12 passes during his team’s championship season.

Muir High is the only school in the valley ranked in the state top 10 in boys and girls basketball.

The Mustangs girl cagers are ranked No. 1 and the boys No. 7 in Division I in the Cal-Hi Sports News rankings. The Mustang girls are ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today.

Wilson is ranked No. 1 in state Boys Division II, Ganesha is No. 4, Damien No. 11 and Blair No. 12. In overall Southern California rankings, the Muir boys are No. 6 and Wilson No. 9.