Christian Emerges From Clark’s Shadow

Tony Clark continues to be the nucleus of the Christian High School boys’ basketball team. But something has changed over the past couple months. Other players are beginning to make the critical steals, finesse shots and key rebounds.

“At the start of the year, it was just Tony, and everyone else was just on the court,” said Jeff Rose, a 5-foot-11 guard. “Now we are more of a team.”

Clark has scored 1,264 points this season, 2,474 in his career, and had a game high 64 against La Jolla Country Day during the section playoffs.

“They don’t mind being in the shadows of a legend,” Christian Coach Randy Wright said of his other players. “They’re very unselfish. They’re a pretty unique group. They’ve definitely learned from playing with Tony.”

The other four starters have, Wright said, “came on in different ways to contribute,” and because of this, the Patriots have been successful in post-season play.

Today at 4:30, Christian (18-11) will play Canoga Park Faith Baptist in the Southern California Regional Division V final at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Christian reached the championship game with a come-from-behind, 44-43 victory over Paramount Brethren in a semifinal Thursday.

Faith Baptist, which had defeated Brethren in overtime to win the Southern Section 1-A championship, beat top-seeded La Canada Ribet, 61-57, Thursday to reach the regional final.

“No one gave us much of a chance,” said Stuart Mason, Faith Baptist’s coach.

Faith Baptist (21-10), which has only one senior starter, is lead by three sophomores: Alex Estrada, a 5-8 guard, is averaging 18 points, 7.5 assists and 3.7 steals; Peter Rasmussen, a 6-6 center, is scoring 14.5 points; and Darren Wyre, a 5-10 guard, is averaging 12.7.

Wright said his team matches up better with Faith Baptist than with Brethren. “Not saying we’ll win, but height-wise we match up better,” Wright said. “Their guys are shorter and match up better with Jeff (Rose).”

Wright said that in Thursday’s game with Brethren, it was Rose, not Clark, who made that “key play” at “a crucial time” for Christian.

“That steal and three-point play was the key,” Wright said of the layup and free throw that brought the Patriots to within 40-39.

The other starters, Dwaine Lee, Brad Fox and Dave Piester, have also made significant contributions.

Fox, who missed the first 6 1/2 weeks of the season because of a football injury, has started playing to his potential, Wright said.

Piester, a 6-6 junior forward, has not only made an impression on his coach but on his opponents as well. Against Calipatria in the San Diego Section Division V finals, Piester was praised by Calipatria Coach Wallace Williams:

“I knew Piester was a good player, but not quite that good.”