Sports Talk : Fast-Break Times at Roosevelt High: Part II

If folks had told Lorenzo Garcia before last season began that his girls’ basketball team at Roosevelt High School could wind up playing for the Los Angeles City 3-A title he would have sent them to a shrink.

But if they don’t think the same this season, he’ll personally drive them to the nut-house.

The 1988-’89 Roughriders were a young, inexperienced team that appeared to have a bright future but that did not represent an immediate threat to Eastern League foes. They had only four seniors on the roster and three of the five starters were sophomores.

And, Garcia was a rookie coach.

Yet, from the initial tip-off, things looked promising for the Roughriders. They swept their four games against ostensibly stronger 4-A squads, including highly regarded Fremont, and went into league play undefeated.

They sputtered somewhat in the Eastern League--losing twice to eventual runner-up Huntington Park and once to Bell--but managed to hang on for the championship with a 9-3 record.

Franklin, Eagle Rock and Canoga Park were playoff victims before Marshall stopped the Roughriders in the 3-A final at the Sports Arena, 56-45.

Their full-court press defense, which forced seven third-quarter turnovers against Canoga Park in the semifinals, and their fast-break offense were the secrets to their success.

But this season’s team captain, senior forward Blanca Alvarado, believes part of the credit belongs to Garcia’s positive reinforcement and to good team chemistry.

“He can really motivate you. . . . Some of the players, like Rosa (Mendez) and Luscinda (Silva) got a lot of attention last year, but there was no jealousy on the team,” she said.

Garcia, 30, knows something about chemistry--team or otherwise. He majored in the subject at Cal State L.A. and was a pre-med student before joining Roosevelt as a biology teacher in 1987. He is now dean of students.

“Everything he touches turns to gold athletically,” said school Principal Henry Ronquillo.

In his first year at the school, Garcia coached the boys’ swimming team to an undefeated Eastern League season.

The female hoopsters are now the beneficiaries. With four returning starters, they figure to be tough this season.

Leading the squad will be Alvarado, Mendez, Silva, junior guard Angie Quezada and senior guard Silvia Lopez.

Mendez, a 5-foot, 7-inch sharpshooting guard-forward is the team’s catalyst. Mendez, who has piqued the interest of the University of Notre Dame and Columbia University even though she is only a junior, tallied 18 points against Marshall to lead all scorers in that game.

“Rosa Mendez, without question, is going to be our key ballplayer,” explained Garcia. “She has tremendous ability jumping, shooting and passing.”

Silva, a 5-foot, 10-inch junior center who was the league’s most valuable player last season and who averaged nearly 30 points per game, controls the action around the boards.

“She has some explosive moves inside that no other girl has on my team,” commented Garcia.

The supporting cast includes forwards Julie Hernandez and Myrna Aguilar, guards Maggie Elizondo, Angie Ramos, Adriana Huerta and Sandra Ponce, and center Carmin Marin.

It’s a unit Garcia hopes will not only press but also impress, particularly when it co-hosts with Garfield the East L.A. Classic invitational tournament Dec. 26-28 in preparation for the start of league play Jan. 10.

“We have an excellent team,” Garcia said, “but we need to work three times harder than we did last year. Every team is going to be looking after us.”