Staggers, Johnson Named Top Central City Players

John Staggers of Crenshaw and Demetra Johnson of L.A. Washington were named the top players and Reggie Morris of L.A. Manual Arts and Coleen Ota of L.A. Garfield won honors as Central City coaches of the year as The Times’ high school all-star basketball teams were honored Sunday morning in Anaheim.

Staggers, a junior, averaged 27 points a game and was the top player on the Crenshaw team that reached the City 4-A semifinals. Johnson almost single handedly led Washington to the girls’ 4-A quarterfinals and was at her best during play in the Mid-City League, the toughest league in the City.

Morris’ Toilers, a young team without much size, finished 15-7, including three forfeits and a seven-point playoff loss to eventual 4-A champion Fairfax. Ota led Garfield, unranked practically all season, to several upsets and the 3-A quarterfinals.

In all, 200 players from The Times’ 10 circulation areas received a plaque and certificate at the banquet in Anaheim. USC Coach George Raveling was the speaker.