BOYS’ BASKETBALL 1994-1995: ORANGE LEAGUE

MAGNOLIA

1993-94 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 19-8 8-2

COACH: Al Walin

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 190-257

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Gary Charles Sr. 5-10 G Josh Reding Sr. 6-1 F

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Hani Atalli Sr. 6-4 C Don Fisher Sr. 6-3 C Amad Shurdim Jr. 6-3 C Vatha Singbandith Jr. 5-9 G Lan Tran Sr. 6-0 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Donald Benjamin So. 6-1 F Mister McKinney Jr. 6-2 F Henry Welch So. 6-2 F

OUTLOOK

The two-time league champions, (who tied Valencia for the title last year) were depleted by graduation. But a 19-8 summer league record has Walin thinking he might not have to rebuild after all. “I didn’t know what to think before we started,” Walin said, “but we played extremely well defensively. It showed we had 10 kids we could play.” A couple of those are McKinney, a transfer from Savanna whom Walin described as “a good athlete,” and Todd Jones, who missed the summer with a broken wrist but is ready. Like other teams in the Orange League, the Sentinels are not overly tall so they will depend on quickness. Magnolia will find out early how good it is, playing in three tournaments during December. But Walin is optimistic about the prospects. “Our athletic ability has gone from way down to the top. We may struggle shooting now and then, and may not beat the top teams, but I think we can beat everybody else. I still think we have a shot to win three times.”

SCHEDULE

December 1-3 at Orange Lutheran tournament; 5-10 at the Costa Mesa Kiwanis tournament; 14 at Loara; 15 vs. Garden Grove; 16 at Katella; 21 vs. Sonora; 26-30 at Canyon tournament.

January 6 vs. Savanna; 11 at Western; 13 at Brea-Olinda; 18 at Valencia; 20 vs. Anaheim; 27 at Savanna.

February 1 vs. Western; 3 vs. Brea-Olinda; 8 vs. Valencia; 10 at Anaheim.