THE TIMES’ 1992-93 ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAM : FIRST-TEAM PROFILES

Matt Ambrose

FORWARD HUNTINGTON BEACH

Ambrose and center Tony Gonzalez gave the Oilers one of the county’s best 1-2 punches inside. Although somewhat foul-prone, Ambrose was a steady scorer, averaging 12.7 points. A three-year starter, he was consistent throughout the playoffs, leading the Oilers to the Southern Section Division I-A championship game and the Southern California Division I semifinals. Jeff Cummins

FORWARD KENNEDY

The Fighting Irish reached the Southern Section II-A championship game in 1991-92 and the semifinals this season. Cummins, a 6-foot-4 senior, was a big part of that success. The versatile forward averaged 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior and 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds this season. He scored inside and outside and was one of the fiercest competitors in the county. David Drakeford

GUARD MATER DEI

Statistics only told half the Mater Dei story this season. Drakeford was a case in point. Although he averaged only eight points, he gave solid performance after solid performance in the Monarchs’ drive to a second consecutive Southern Section championship. Drakeford was never flashy but earned a scholarship to Oregon State largely because of his dependable style of play. Jim Faulkner

GUARD ESTANCIA

When all-everything center Matt Fuerbringer graduated, Estancia’s winning ways didn’t go with him, thanks to Faulkner. Faulkner’s leadership sparked Estancia to a 15-12 record and a Pacific Coast League co-championship with Trabuco Hills. Faulkner showed he was one of the county’s top all-around players, averaging 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and three assists. Tony Gonzalez

CENTER HUNTINGTON BEACH

Gonzalez emerged as one of the county’s top three players this season by averaging 17.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. A two-year starter, Gonzalez, the Sunset League MVP, dominated teams inside with his tenacious rebounding. He will likely be a Division I college basketball recruit next season. Division I football programs already are recruiting him at outside linebacker. Chris St. Clair

GUARD SONORA

St. Clair, a senior, was more then just a fine all-around player for the Raiders. He was their soul. But the numbers don’t even begin to indicate what he meant to them. In Sonora’s final game, St. Clair nearly single-handedly brought the Raiders back. He scored 33 points--14 in the fourth quarter--in a 65-60 loss to Santa Margarita in the Southern Section III-AA playoffs. David Sedgwick

GUARD CAPISTRANO VALLEY

Sedgwick, perhaps the finest point guard in the county, directed the Cougars to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs, where they lost to Long Beach Jordan, 69-57. Sedgwick, bound for Brigham Young, averaged 8.6 points and was always a cool ballhandler. Next season, he can look forward to passing to 7-4 center Shawn Bradley. Miles Simon

GUARD MATER DEI

Smooth, strong and often sensational, there wasn’t much Simon didn’t accomplish in his junior season. He led the Monarchs with a 17.5 scoring average. He was the South Coast League MVP, leading Mater Dei to the league championship in its first season in the league. He had a game-high 19 points in the section final. There’s little doubt that he’ll be the top player in the county next season. Tom Walden

GUARD HUNTINGTON BEACH

Walden helped Huntington Beach to one of its finest seasons, averaging 10.4 points. His quickness, consistent shooting and solid defense led the Oilers to a 29-5 record, the Sunset League title and the Southern California Division I semifinals. A three-year starter, he was the key to the Oilers’ three-guard offense. He was a first-team all-league selection. Marmet Williams

FORWARD MATER DEI

Williams, who will play at San Jose State next season, was another Monarch who seemed happy to do whatever was necessary to help the team win. Although he said he was more comfortable playing outside, he ventured into the paint and averaged 13 points for the second consecutive season. He helped lead Mater Dei to its second consecutive Southern Section championship.

The Boys’ Roster FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Yr. Hgt. PPG F Matt Ambrose Huntington Beach Sr. 6-6 12.7 F Jeff Cummins Kennedy Sr. 6-4 17.3 G David Drakeford Mater Dei Sr. 6-1 8.0 G Jim Faulkner Estancia Sr. 6-4 18.4 C Tony Gonzalez Huntington Beach Jr. 6-5 17.1 G Chris St. Clair Sonora Sr. 6-0 21.9 G David Sedgwick Capistrano Valley Sr. 6-2 8.6 G Miles Simon Mater Dei Jr. 6-4 17.5 G Tom Walden Huntington Beach Sr. 6-2 10.4 F Marmet Williams Mater Dei Sr. 6-6 13.0

SECOND TEAM

Pos. Player School Yr. Hgt. PPG F Aaron Aguilera El Modena Sr. 6-4 14.4 G Steve Carbone Los Alamitos Sr. 6-2 18.4 F Brian Carlson Katella Sr. 6-6 19.8 F/G Jim French Irvine Sr. 6-2 13.3 F Frankie Floyd Western Sr. 6-3 19.5 G Jimmy Harris Ocean View Sr. 6-1 18.2 G Todd Merriman Corona del Mar Sr. 6-1 16.9 G Anthony Porter Santa Ana Valley Sr. 5-8 15.4 G Brett Poulos Trabuco Hills Sr. 5-11 16.6 G Mike Thimgan Esperanza Jr. 6-3 14.2