Ocean View Retires the Jerseys of Usevitch and Butler

Jim Usevitch and Ricky Butler, former basketball standouts at Ocean View, had their jerseys retired at the school’s alumni game last Thursday night.

Usevitch, a 6-foot-9 center, averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds during his senior season (1981-82). He earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors at Brigham Young and has played professionally the last four years in Europe and Israel.

Butler, a 6-6 center, was an All-American in 1985 when he led Ocean View to the Southern Section 5-A final. A three-time most valuable player in the Sunset League, Butler played four years at UC Irvine, then pro ball in Israel.

Nikki Shaw of Fillmore might have lost the CIF State 1,600-meter final to Edison senior Shelley Taylor last Saturday, but she certainly didn’t lose her composure.

Shaw, who placed second in the race last year and was considered the co-favorite with Taylor, had a fine tactical position with about a lap to go Saturday; she was right behind Taylor down the backstretch.

But Taylor, who has had a variety of mishaps in her three State finals, managed to pull away and beat Shaw by more than 30 meters.

“I’m disappointed,” Shaw said, “but it’s nice to see Shelley win. She has been here before and had her share of problems.”

Ocean View point guard Jim Harris has been invited to the prestigious Nike basketball camp, his father, Ocean View Coach Jim Harris Sr. said.

The camp, scheduled July 6-11 at Indianapolis, is an invitation-only event, usually featuring the nation’s top 100 high school players.