Three seniors, a junior and a sophomore make up the SPOTLIGHT ON SPORTS All-Olympic League AA basketball team and believe me it took quite a session with the scorebook to come up with the mythical first five.

It’s hard to pick a team on what a person has seen and although some of the players on the team didn’t look too good against particular teams, the selection were based on over-all season play.

Here are the choices:

JIM TIENHAARA, East Bremerton – This 6-1 senior had a lot to do with the success of the Black Knights this year. He is an excellent rebounder and an accurate shot from either corner of the court. If the Knights do anything in the Class AA Tournament, it will probably be Tienhaara that provides the spark.

LES DICKS, West Bremerton – At 6-3, Dicks gives our team strength under the boards and his sheer strength, combined with smooth moves, makes him the choice over several other fine forwards in the league. Les averaged around the ten point mark for West this year and his loss is going to hurt the Wildcats next season.

BRUCE SHAMP, Port Angeles – Many people in the Bremerton area thought that Bruce was a senior when Port Angeles played in that area early in the season and they soon found out that the Roughrider sophomore has moves of a senior, has the poise of a senior and has a way of getting two points when you need it. Shamp, at 6-2, is expected to grow at least an inch or so by next season. He has been the ‘Riders’ leading scorer, even though he missed two games, and he has been the boy they count on for points. He’s be back next year, too.

Bruce Shamp		Dave Denny

STEVE SCHUMACHER, West Bremerton – For ball handling ability and outside shooting, you can’t keep this Wildcat off the team. He had been a consistent scorer all through the year and he has the ability to drive the baseline when the occasion arises.

DAVE DENNY, Port Angeles – Dave learned quite a bit of basketball as a junior and he came on at the end of the season to spark the Roughriders in winning nine of their last 12 games. Dave is only 5-7, but his jump shot from around the key is the most accurate in the league.  He is a sure ball handler and does an excellent job on defense.

Our second team selections include Mike Holen and John Tracy of East Bremerton, Larry Powell of Shelton, Joe Burroughs of Central Kitsap and Jerry Williams of North Kitsap.

There you have our all-league selections and I think we can look forward to another exciting basketball season next year at this same time.

The Olympic League was not as strong this year as it has been in the past, but this was due to the fact that every team was playing sophomores and juniors on the varsity. It should be a stronger league from top to bottom next year.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: The “draw” for positions in the AA tournament is actually a “formula” that pits the top teams form one district against lesser qualifiers from another. East Bremerton went as the first team form the West Central District and “drew” the third place team from Seattle, Ballard’s Beavers.

Many Port Angeles basketball fans are planning to see the action and don’t look for me around town tomorrow either!

Best of luck to Tyna Barinaga and Caroline Jensen in the Uber Cup tryouts in Cincinnati this week. We hope the girls can make a good showing. They are up against the best women players in the nation and the competition will be rugged.

A couple of PAHS track hopefuls, Art Bell and Mike Wait warmed up last Saturday by running to Sequim. They did the 17 miles in some three hours and they said they were “a little tired” at the finish.

One more basketball game is scheduled for Port Angeles and that will come next Monday at the senior high gym when the All-American Red Heads come to town under the sponsorship of the G.A.A at the high school. The Red Heads will face the Peninsula All-Stars and it should be a dandy show. Better get your tickets early.

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