Conference honors 4 La Verne basketball stars
Campus Times
March 20, 1998
Sophomore Lori Johnson (#45) and junior transfer Heather Johnson (#30)
each earned All-SCIAC first team honors. The two combined for 32.7 points
per game for the Leopards.
Freshman Kevin Gustafson and junior Ryan Burchfield were chosen this
season as University of La Verne representatives for the All-Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) men's team.
Gustafson, a starting power forward from Covina, is a first team All-SCIAC
selection. During conference play, he ended his season with a teamleading
average of 13.2 points per game and a shooting percentage of .648 for ULV's
basketball team.
"He [Gustafson] was the most consistent player, he didn't really
have high or low games. He played the point of the press," said head
coach Terry Boesel. "Kevin was most impressive because he led the conference
in field goal percentage [65]. He was in the top 25 percent in the nation."
"Our teams chemistry was a big part of it, I helped out in a lot
of ways, but I wouldn't say I was the main player on the team. As an incoming
freshman I didn't expect to be a main player, or be one of the 'look up
to' guys," said Gustafson.
Burchfield, a starting guard from Danville, was chosen for the All-SCIAC
second team after ending conference with an average of 9.4 point per game
and 82 percent from the free throw line.
"He was pretty big for us in a lot of games at the end of the game.
He was there whether he was making free-throws, baskets or steals,"
said Boesel.
"I'm honored [to be an All-Conference player]. It's a pretty cool
feeling. We were a good team. I asked my coach why I was chosen. I didn't
think I deserved it, to be honest. I was pleasantly surprised," said
Burchfield.
The All-SCIAC players were nominated by opposing coaches and were then
voted upon by every other coach in the conference except for the player's
coach.
"It is very unbiased," said Boesel. "First and foremost,
with the player that gets nominated it is that coach's responsibility to
get the stats and put them on the board for others to see and compare to
other nominees.
Aside from the statistics, coaches are able to make a statement about
each player so that other coaches get a better idea as to why the player
is worthy of receiving All-SCIAC recognition.
"I rely heavily on how that player performed against us specifically,"
said Boesel of his voting.
Although Boesel is satisfied with with the All-Conference results, he
said that it is difficult to compare ULV's players to those of other schools
through statistics because "my guys get 20 minutes a game, where other
schools get 30-35."
"It [All-SCIAC] is more for the players than it is for me. If we
had a terrible season and players got on I wouldn't be happy. It is nice
to see a couple of kids get recognized.
"We didn't have one or two guys to concentrate on, that's what
made us a good team. Without us being a good team, we wouldn't have gotten
anyone on the first team," said Boesel.
"It wasn't a goal. I was more interested in us doing better as
a team. I figured if individual honors came along with it, that's great,
but by no means was it a goal of mine," said Burchfield.
The women's basketball team also picked up the honor of having two players
make All-Conference.
Both, sophomore Lori Johnson, from Rancho Cucamonga and junior Heather
Johnson from San Dimas were chosen for the All-SCIAC first team.
"Lori and Heather were pivotal to keeping us in games and making
a difference in our wins. They've proven themselves as over all players,"
said head coach Julie Kline.
For Lori Johnson, forward, this is nothing new to her, she also made
All-Conference last season. Lori ended her season leading the team with
a shooting percentage of 44, 103 rebounds and 15 blocks. She averaged 14.7
points per game.
"I didn't think I was going to make it this year. My first year
I had good stats, and was the second all-around good player in one of the
top ranks. This year I wasn't really competitive, I didn't think I had high
scores and I thought they'd raise the criteria," said Lori.
Heather Johnson, ULV's starting point guard, led the team with 51, 3-point
field goals and 18 points per game. She had the second leading free-throw
percentage in the conference, with 75.
"I always set my limits high, keeping a good work ethic. To work
hard was more of a goal this year. I think it had to do with scoring. I
was getting double teamed, my number stuck in their [coaches] heads when
they thought of La Verne," Heather Johnson said.
"The key to stopping La Verne was to stop the Johnson and Johnson
combination," said Kline.
