Green Spartans still hope for Gold

The defending GEL champions have a slim shot at postseason play.

Sacramento Bee, February 9, 2006

By Edward de la Fuente, Special to the Bee

The San Juan High boys basketball team cruised to the Golden Empire League title last season, losing just one game on its way to the Sac-Juaquin Section Division III playoffs.

The postseason is still within reach for the Spartans thgis year, but just barely.

"We'll probably need to win three of our last four games," San Juan coach Erich Wohlenberg said after his team's 61-48 loss to Encina last Friday. "We can get those three wins, but we have a tough road ahead."
Wohlenberg is one of the few still with the team who can recall last year's success. He watched nine players from the team that went 22-4 overall and 11-1 in league play graduate.

Just two players, guard Brandon McMurtry and forward Bill Hardeman, played on varsity last season. Four players on the roster were not part of the progream the year before.

With so much inexperience, the Spartans predictably have struggled at times this year - with four games remaining, they stood at 11-13 overfall and 5-5 in league play. But Wohlenberg still has managed to steer them within sight of the playoffs.

They went 6-8 during the non-league portion of their schedule before dropping their first two Golden Empire contests, to Lindhurst and Capital Christian - the two schools that have emerged as the teams to beat.

Following those set backs, San Juan began a five-game winning streak that kept it tantalizingly close to the league leaders. After the string was snapped by a two-point home loss to Lindhurst, the Spartans lost again to Capital Christian, setting up a rematch with Encina with prime position in the standings on the line.

The losses seemed to indicate the Spartans were ill-equipped for important games against tough league foes.

"We were really on a roll," Wohlenberg said. "But it really speaks to experience. Lindhurst came into our gym, and it was a big game. And we turned the ball over 16 times in the first half. With their press, I had to call timeout two minutes into the game because we had three guys who were hyperventilating."

"It's the lack of experience, lack of reps, lack of savvy, and being unable to handle that kind of experience that holds us back."

While this year's edition lacks the pedigree of last season's team, the Spartans believe they can still be dangerous. Coaches from Colfax High sat in the Encina stands Friday, scouting both teams in case one is pared with the Falcons in the first round of the section playoffs.

The Spartans still have work to do in order to be that team. "When you have so many players who don't know our system, you just run real basic stuff," Wohlenberg said, "I think we've taught them to play hard, and we're proud of that. They're running stuff the best they can. Bun in a big-game situations, you have to execute."

Attitudes That Build Winners:
"Sports psychologists have identified the eleven mental attitudes directly related to success in competitive sports."

Drive~ provides the desire that carries an athlete to success. Dedicated athletes have a strong desire to improve, to compete and to win. No One gets to be best without a burning desire to be the best.
Agressiveness~ Winners make things happen instead of waiting for them to happen. They take charge, force action, and produce results. They assert themselves strongly, make their presence felt. They thrive on competition.
Determination~makes winners. The refusal to quit or accept defeat; the persistence to try and try and try again; the willingness to practice long and hard. Determined athletes are relentless in their efforts to improve and to win.
Responsibility~Winners accept total responsibility for their actions. They recognize their own mistakes and the need for change and improvement. They admit errors and will not blame others or make excuses.
Leadership~Winners tend to enjoy the role of leader. When leadership is needed, they step forward and take charge. They are dynamic prople who like to influence others and take control of situations.
Self-Confidence~builds winners. Winners have confidence in their abilities and can act decisively. They believe they can successfully meet challenges, handle unexpected situations. They never doubt their own ability.
Emotional Control~Successful athletes can handle the pressures of competitive sports. They stay cool, adjust quickly, and are not upset by bad breaks or bad calls. They deliver top performance regardless of the circumstances.
Mental Toughness~is a big factor in athletic success. Winners can accept strong criticism and rigorous training from a demanding coach. They recover quickly from setbacks, don't fall apart when the going gets rough.
Coachability~Winners respect the coach and the coaching process. They know that coaching is important to their development and progress as an athlete. They are reseptive to the coach's advice and follow it.
Concientiousness~Winners have high standard of character. They have a deep sense of obligation, and know a team must have discipline to be successful. They put the welfare of the team first, don't bend rules or regulation to suit themselves.
Trust~Winners are believers. They accept people at face value, and know that mutual trust is a major factor in building team morale and unity. Trusting athletes communicate and cooperate better with their teammates and coach.

Erich Wohlenberg
Varsity Basketball Coach
7551 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, Ca 95610-5687
Office 723-9110

SPARTAN Varsity
SCOREBOARD:

Nov 29...Mesa Verde 80.......San Juan 70: Brown 11, McMurtry 7, Powell 9, Ferrill 24, Miller 2, Hardeman 17

Dec 2...Sac Waldorf 53......San Juan 50:
Brown 19, McMurtry 3, Powell 4, Smith 4, Ferrill 12, Hardeman 8

Dec 8-10...Live Oak Tour (V):
Game 1 Willows 32...San Juan 65: Brown 15, Tucakopic 2, Powell 5, Smith 4, Ferrill 24, Hardeman 4, Ajayi 4, Trepachko 4
Game 2 Winters 44...San Juan 61: Brown 22, McMurtry 3, Powell 4, Ferrill 19, Hardeman 12
Game 3 Corning 59...San Juan 52: Brown 15, Powell 3, Smith 4, Ferrill 19, Miller 1, Hardeman 10

Dec 13...Union Mine 77....San Juan 53: Brown 22, Tucakopic 3, McMurtry 4, Powell 1, Ferrill 18, Hardeman 2, Ajayi 3

Dec 15-17...Victory Christian Tour(V)
Game 1 Bradshaw Chr 34...San Juan 69: Brown 6, McMurtry 8, Powell 6, Smith 6, Ferrill 14, Miller 2, Hardeman 17, Ajayi 3, Jeendrah 7
Game 2 Cent Cath 34...San Juan 62: Brown 14, Tucakopic 2, Powell 4, Smith 4,Ferrill 19, Miller 3, Hardeman 14, Jeendrah 2
Championship Game 3 Victory Chr 41...San Juan 63: Brown 13, McMurtry 6, Powell 6, Smith 5, Ferrill 11, Miller 4, Hardeman 17

Dec 21...Highlands 67...San Juan 64: Brown 31, McMurtry 5, Powell 5, Smith 4, Ferrill 9, Hardeman 10

Dec 27...Lincoln 84...San Juan 64: Brown 20, McMurtry 1, Howell 3, Smith 9, Ferrill 13, Hardeman 14, Trepuchko 3, Jeendrah 1

Dec 28-30...64th Kendall Arnett Tour (V/JV)
Game 1...Nevada Union 84...San Juan 65: Brown 19, McCurtry 9, Powell 4, Ferrill 22, Hardeman 9, Trepuchko 2
Game 2...Colfax 68...San Juan 62:Brown 25, Powell 8, Ferrill 21, Hardeman 8
Game 3...Bear River 59...San Juan 63:Brown 21, McMurtry 12, Powell 6, Ferrill 5, Hardeman 17

Golden Empire League....

Jan 3...Lindhurst 46...San Juan 44: Brown 13, McMurtry 3, Powell 6, Ferrill 10, Hardeman 12

Jan 5...Capital Christian 75...San Juan 53: Brown 21, McMurtry 3, Powell 7, Smith 2, Ferrill 14, Hardeman 6

Jan 11...Encina 59...San Juan 62(OT): Brown 22, McMurtry 6, Smith 4, Ferrill 34, Hardeman 4, Burnitzki 2

Jan 12...Inderkum 48...San Juan 72: Brown 16, Tucakopic 3, Burnitzki 9, Smith 3, Ferrill 13, Hardeman 14, Powell 11, Ajay 3

Jan 17...Golden Sierra 45... San Juan 52: Brown 23, McMurtry 1 Ferrill 20, Hardeman 2, Powell 6

Jan 19...Pioneer 56...San Juan 62(OT): Brown 22, Burnitzki 2, Powell 7, Ferrill 17, Hardeman 14

Jan 24...Marysville 35...San Juan 42(OT): Brown 10, Burnitzki 2, Powell 5, Ferrill 17, Hardeman 8

Jan 27...Lindhurst 56...San Juan 53: Brown 21, McMurtry 1, Powell 7, Smith 2, Ferrill 16, Hardeman 6, Burnitzki 2

Feb 1...Capital Christian 79...San Juan 59: Brown 17, Powell 8, Ferrill 22, Hardeman 12

Feb 3...Encina 61...San Juan 48: Brown 16, Powell 16, Ferrill 7, Hardeman 9

Feb 8...Inderkum 59...San Juan 76:Brown 26, Tucakopic 1, McMurtry 2, Burnitzki 4, Powell 9, Smith 5, Ferrill 17, Miller 3, Hardeman 7, Jeendrah 2

Feb 10...Golden Sierra 30... San Juan 59: Brown 23, McMurtry 5, Burnitzky 5, Powell 5, Ferrill 11, Miller 2, Hardeman 8

Feb 15...Pioneer 58...San Juan 68: Brown 2, McMurtry 3, Powell 11, Hardeman 4, Ajayi 7, Ferrill 23

Feb 17...Marysville 68...San Juan 78:Brown 29, McMurtry 8, Burnitzki 3, Powell 4, Hardeman 6, Farrow 19, Ajayi 9

Feb 22...Amador 62...San Juan 47:

San Juan (15-13, 9-6)

2005-2006 Boys Basketball Schedule