Gray, Owens Selected in CBA Draft

Gary Gray and Keith Owens, former area high school standouts, were among 136 players selected in Tuesday’s Continental Basketball Assn. draft.

Gray, a 6-foot-9 forward from Granada Hills High and UC Santa Barbara, was picked by the Quad City Thunder in the third round. He was the 49th pick overall, one choice after the Wichita Falls Texans tabbed Indiana State’s Eddie Bird, the younger brother of Boston Celtic superstar Larry Bird.

Owens, a 6-8 forward who played at Birmingham and UCLA, was drafted by the Oklahoma City Cavalry as the third round’s final pick. He was the 51st player selected.

Drew Schultz of Ventura placed first in kumite (sparring) and third in kata (forms) in the 9-year-old boys’ advanced division in the USA Karate Federation national championships in New Orleans last week. Schultz, who competes for the Japan Karate-Do Meibukai in Oxnard, was joined by Ventura’s Amber Schultz and Harvey Hale and Steve Robinson of Port Hueneme in the championships.

Amber Schultz took third in kumite and second in kata in the 17-year-old girls’ division.

Harvard High graduate Larry Bercutt was among 15 players chosen to represent the United States in the VI Junior World Water Polo championships, to be contested at various sites in Southern California from Aug. 31-Sept. 8. The top 16 international junior teams are expected to take part in the tournament.

Information: 213-420-4240.

The Valley Rangers set a U. S. Open baseball tournament record with nine home runs Monday night in a 27-16 win over the Nevada Pride in Carson City, Nev. The Rangers’ nine home runs--including two by Shaun Doyle--broke Cuba’s 4-year-old record of six.

The Rangers will play today at 9 a.m. against the Victor Valley Mets, then again in the afternoon against the Woodland Hills Astros.

Rusty King, who graduated from Crespi High in June, has been named All-American in one event and honorable mention in three others by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Assn.

King ranked ninth in the nation among independent (non-public) high school competitors in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1 minute 43.30 seconds. The top 15 swimmers in each event are recognized as All-Americans and swimmers ranked 16th through 25th receive honorable mention.

King ranked 16th in the 100 butterfly (51.64) and 17th in the 100 freestyle (46.87) and also was ranked 24th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:15.50) along with Erik Schraner, Jason Mitchell and Tim Behrens.

Bob Bryan of Camarillo placed third in the 14-year-old singles portion of the National Tennis championships in San Antonio last Saturday. Bryan, the 16th-seeded player, defeated Keith Brill of Columbia, S.C., 7-5, 6-4. Brill was seeded eighth. Bob’s twin Mike placed seventh by defeating Jordan Wyle of New Jersey, 7-6, 6-3.