Previews of Southeast / Long Beach Teams : MOORE LEAGUE

This is expected to be a three-team race and Poly, the perennial champion, is not one of the three.

1. MILLIKAN--The Rams, who finished in a tie for second place last season, are experienced, quick and have depth. Coach Bill Odell has his two top scorers back--6-3 forward Shawn Williams, who averaged 16.2 points a game, and 6-4 forward Ken Jarvis, who averaged 13.8. Also back is 6-5 Eddie Carswell, who was second to Jarvis in rebounds.

2. LAKEWOOD--The Lancers have a talented, veteran team that won more than 20 games in the summer. Leading them is 6-1 guard Duane Cooper, a three-year starter and one of the best players in California. Joining Cooper are 6-5 Milton Robinson, 5-10 Ronald Brown and 6-4 Matt Ward, all two-year starters. Ward, says Coach Tim Sweeney, is a player to watch, along with guard Alan Wilson, a transfer from Poly, where he did not play.

3. WILSON--Coach Jim Ferguson expects the Bruins to tie Millikan for the league title. Making this team formidable is 6-5 senior forward Don Brotz, who averaged 20.3 points last year and was The Times’ South Coast player of the year. Other lettermen are 6-5 Randy West, 6-0 Lantz Simpson, 6-3 Jody Pruitt and 6-9 Sonny Reynolds.

4. POLY--This is a rare season because the Jackrabbits are not expected to finish in first place. Osei Appiah, Michael Herring and Chris Roscoe are gone, so Coach Chris Kinder is faced with inexperience. Keith Crawford, a 6-3 guard, and Shelton Gillis, a 6-5 forward/center, are the only lettermen. Biggest of the newcomers is Jay Jefferson, a 6-7, 220-pound junior center.

5. JORDAN--”This is the smallest group I’ve had, but it’s the quickest,” said Coach Ron Massey, starting his sixth season. The best Panther is senior Rich Bartholomew, a 6-2 guard/forward who averaged 11 points and eight rebounds last year and was all-league. Top newcomer is Tyrone Julks, a 6-2 junior forward. Massey expects Jordan to be very competitive,

6. COMPTON--The Tarbabes are counting on experience to lift them from the basement. DaReck Crane, a 6-3 guard/forward who averaged 14 points last season before breaking his foot, is back, as are 6-4 center Rene Hampton, point guard Derry Thompson, forward Keith Nathaniel and guard Rovalier Thompson. Coach Eddie Thomas is counting on newcomers Clifford Sims, a good-shooting forward, and 6-4 Sean Williams, a strong rebounder.