BOYS’ BASKETBALL 1994-1995: FREEWAY LEAGUE : Clark Ready to Live Up to His Potential Finally : Basketball: 7-foot Sonora senior has matured, and wants to assume leadership role expected of him.

Be warned.

Craig Clark does not bring any tattoos, flashy nicknames or gold jewelry with his initials on it to the 1994-95 basketball season. But he will have an attitude about his game and the kind of year he believes the Sonora Raiders are in a position to have.

The 7-foot, 250-pound senior does not want to share the Freeway League title, as the Raiders did last year with Sunny Hills. He won’t say it loudly, but with all the starters back from last year’s 23-6 squad, Clark is expecting bigger things.

Is a Southern Section championship within reach? “Definitely, if we work together as a team,” Clark said. “And I think we’ll be ready when the season starts.”

Clark has maximized his preparation.

He has already signed his letter of intent, agreeing to attend San Joe State. “I was really impressed when I went up to the campus. But I also wanted to get it over with before the season so I could concentrate on the season. I had eight schools I was considering.”

His summer was no vacation, playing with several all-star teams, including those run by Nike and L.A. Gear. When he wasn’t on the court, Clark was either in the weight room or working with personal trainer Eric Marino in Anaheim.

Even though the memory of losing in the semifinals to Servite--on two foul shots with no time left on the clock--provides a motivation, Clark has other feelings to cleanse; feelings that were charred earlier in his life.

There is the perception that tall men automatically gravitate toward the game, and Clark was saddled with the burden of great expectations the first day he arrived at Sonora. The problem was he was not particularly skilled or graceful early, and the jibes rattled harder than a two-handed slam.

He still keeps a copy of a Times newspaper story where the writer claims Clark will “only look good in a uniform.” It is a reminder of his struggles, when he wasn’t good enough to make the Raiders’ freshman team. Even last year, when he averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds, Clark often felt like an ice skater on sand.

“There were times I didn’t think I could be a good player, when things got overwhelming,” Clark said. “I knew I was expected to be like this from my freshman year. But . . . sometimes it takes big men a longer time to mature and grow into their bodies.

“This summer I made my biggest strides in my power. Last year, I was more a finesse player. But I built myself up during the summer; I put close to 20 pounds on my upper body. I have more confidence now. I think I can power past people.

“If I have to, I can shoot it outside, but I’d much rather be inside. But I can run the floor; I think I got my quickness up a lot from last year.”

Sonora Coach Mike Murphy has noticed the improvement.

“This year, I think we’re going to be able to cash in with him,” Murphy said. “It’s been painful in the past, sometimes, to play him, but this year I think he’s going to be the dominating player we hoped we would be. He’s got great hands, and at seven-foot if he can catch it, that’s half the battle.”

But Murphy is quick to point out that Clark does not have to strap the Raiders on his back and carry them all season. He’s got a complement of all-league players in Sergie Hernandez, Nathan Mirth, Chad Fister and Josh Lein. And when Clark needs a rest, there’s 6-8 center Devin Downs to step in.

“We know Craig will get the boards and we’ve got four great athletes to go with him,” Murphy said.

Which is OK with Clark. But he also would also like to leave Sonora fans the vision of living up to a potential as enormous as his height.

“I think I’m ready,” Clark said, “but I really doubt I’ll be the only one depended upon.”

1993-94 / IN REVIEW

Standings

League Overall School W L W L Troy 8 2 17 10 Sonora 8 2 23 6 La Habra 6 5 17 11 Fullerton 5 6 14 13 Sunny Hills 4 6 10 15 Buena Park 0 10 3 22

Highlights

League MVP Greg Abbott, who averaged 18 points, helped Troy win the league title for the first time since 1986. But the Warriors were eliminated in the first round of the Division II-A playoffs, losing to La Mirada, 50-48. Guard Jeff Sand, who made 41 of 94 three-pointers in the regular season, and forward Rick Parmenter were all-league selections for Troy and Coach T.J. Hardeman was named league coach of the year. . . . Sonora tied Troy with an 8-2 league record, but the Warriors defeated Sonora in both head-to-head meetings. The Raiders were top-seeded in the Division III-AA playoffs and reached the semifinals, where they lost to Servite, 47-46. Seven-foot center Craig Clark, point guard Sergio Hernandez and forward Chad Fister were all-league selections for the Raiders. . . . All-league players Ken Cauley and Andrija Kristich helped La Habra defeat Fullerton, 55-45, to win the league’s third-place playoff game and a berth in the Division III-AA playoffs. Pomona eliminated La Habra in the first round, 79-60. . . . Fullerton tied for third with La Habra and had two all-league players, Sam Mankiewicz and Ryan Schatz. . . . Sunny Hills junior Ben Nicolas, an all-league selection, helped the Lancers win four league games. Buena Park struggled with a small and young team, missing the playoffs. The Coyotes won league titles in 1989 and ’90.