BOYS’ BASKETBALL ‘94-’95: EMPIRE LEAGUE

Kennedy

1993-94 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 7-17 6-8

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL John Mayberry 288-139

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Travis Dreessen Sr. 6-8 F Todd Tsuboi Sr. 5-11 G Ryan Van Otterloo Jr. 6-5 C

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Nigel Petrie Sr. 5-8 G Justin Zuschlag Jr. 5-11 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Richie Bowen Jr. 6-5 F Wade Murakami So. 5-9 G Aaron Purnell Jr. 6-1 F

OUTLOOK

Kennedy missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 1985, but Mayberry hopes the team will return to prominence. “We just have to get back to playing at that level,” Mayberry said. “If the seniors come through to lead the way, I think we have the best sophomores and juniors we’ve had in some years.” Dreessen was the team’s leading rebounder and second-best scorer last season, and he will be a key figure inside for the Fighting Irish. Van Otterloo gives Mayberry another big body inside and Zuschlag started at times last season. Petrie was a reserve guard last season and Murakami helped the junior varsity win the league title before coming up to the varsity late in the season. Both will play point guard. Tsuboi will play off-guard, but Bowen is one of the team’s best shooters and he will play guard and forward. “Purnell will have to play somewhere, too,” Mayberry said. “He’s the best leaper in the program.” It all adds up to an improved season. “We have a tough nonleague schedule,” Mayberry said. “We also open league with Katella and Cypress, so we’ll find out how good we are in a hurry.”

SCHEDULE

November 28-30 at Sunbird tournament.

December 1 at Sunbird tournament; 7 vs. Rancho Alamitos; 13-17 at Irvine tournament; 21 vs. Savanna; 27-30 at Orange Holiday Classic.

January 3 at Fullerton; 5 at West Covina; 11 vs. Katella; 13 at Cypress; 18 at Loara; 20 vs. El Dorado; 25 at Century; 27 vs. Cypress.

February 1 at Katella; 3 at El Dorado; 8 vs. Loara; 10 vs. Century.

TimesLine: (714) 808-8463. School code: *4320