NOTEBOOK : Huskies Stirring Memories of 1990 Champion Squad

East Los Angeles College Coach Orlando Brenes ranks his 1994 soccer team with the Huskies’ 1990 state champion team. The squad is certainly living up to those expectations.

The Huskies are the top-ranked team in Southern California and second in the state behind De Anza. East L.A. wrapped up its sixth conference title in seven seasons last week with South Coast Conference victories over Long Beach City and Cerritos to improve to 17-2-1 and 13-1.

East L.A. begins its quest of a state title Tuesday night at 6 when the Huskies play host to an opponent to be determined in the first-round of the Southern California Regional playoffs.

“We’ve had some lapses but we won the conference outright,” Brenes said about the South Coast Conference, which includes six of the top 15 teams in Southern California. “If we can put things together, this team has the ability to be one of the best in the state and make it to the final four.”

Sophomore Prawit Namutawong is the top-rated goalkeeper in the state. He has 11 shutouts and allowed only three goals against 110 shots for a 0.24 goals per match average.

Midfielder Sergio Vasquez, along with Juan Carlos Rocha, scored in the Huskies 2-1 victory over Long Beach on Tuesday. Vasquez leads the team with 15 goals and 12 assists. Roberto Hernandez has seven goals and seven assists.

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Thrill of victory--The Garfield girls’ cross-country team made its 11th consecutive appearance in the City finals Saturday at Pierce College. Bell, Belmont, Bravo Medical Magnet and Huntington Park also competed.

Among the entrants in the boys’ division were Belmont--winner of 10 of the past 12 City titles--Bell, Garfield and South Gate.

The Franklin High girls’ volleyball team defeated Fairfax, 15-13, 15-6, 16-13, Tuesday to advance to Saturday’s City 3-A final against Sylmar at Occidental College.

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Agony of defeat--The Roosevelt High girls’ volleyball team took defending City 4-A champion Palisades to five games before losing a semifinal playoff match on the road Tuesday, 16-14, 6-15, 11-15, 15-2, 15-4.

Zenobia Tyson Hunt, who had 27 kills to lead Roosevelt (12-4), and setter Minnie Alatriste are the only seniors on the team. Middle blocker Dawn Pellerin is a junior. Outside hitters Rose Zuniga, Anabel Tovar and Maricela Santoyo are freshmen.

“We had their backs to the wall and when they came roaring back, our young ladies kind of froze because they had never been in that position before,” said Coach Ken Maki. “I think they were a little overconfident.”

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On the outside--The Bell Gardens football team was left out of the Southern Section playoffs for only the second time since 1977 after forfeiting an Oct. 14 victory against Keppel over an ineligible player.

Bell Gardens Coach Dave Newell elevated several junior varsity players because Keppel did not field a junior varsity team. A sophomore running back used sparingly in the 29-6 victory was only 14. State CIF rules require varsity players to be at least 15 years old.

The forfeit forged a three-way tie for third place in the Almont League with Bell Gardens, Keppel and Schurr, all with 2-3 records. Keppel was awarded the final playoff berth by virtue of a coin flip.

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Names in the news--Michael Granville of Bell Gardens High was selected to the Track & Field News magazine high school All-American team. Granville won the state 800-meter title and set a national sophomore record of 1 minute 48.98 seconds--the fastest time in the nation . . . Mercedes Edwards of Washington High has made the women’s basketball team at Arizona State as a walk-on. The 6-0 forward averaged 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds a senior last season . . . Midfielders Jesus Gonzalez and Victor Arana, defender Dario Gomez and goalkeeper Claine Plummer of Cal State Los Angeles were selected to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Assn. soccer team. The Golden Eagles finished 15-4-2 and reached the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.