Southern Section 2-A Boys : Only Murphy Stands in Way of Powerful Charter Oak

When Royal Oak and Charter Oak high schools merged before the start of the school year, it was supposed to have a major impact on the rest of the Southern Section.

Little did anyone suspect how major an impact.

Charter Oak has already won the Southeastern Conference football title and finished second in the 1-A Division in girls’ volleyball.

Today, the Chargers will bid for their second major title of the sports year, playing Murphy for the 2-A boys’ basketball championship at 12:15 in the Sports Arena. Charter Oak is 22-4, Murphy 19-7.

It is a dream come true for Charter Oak Coach Bud Reich, who is retiring after 19 years as coach at the school. “I’ve watched it a lot of times but we’ve never gone to the finals, and I honestly never thought we’d be playing there,” he said.

The all-senior starting lineup for Charter Oak is led by 6-foot-7 center Jim Farris, the only starter who doesn’t play football. Farris is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The other starters are forwards Khaled Shabo and Mike Smith, who is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds, and guards Jeff Gustin and Mark Smith, Mike’s twin brother.

Murphy Coach Jim Tinker said his team has benefitted by the addition of two players in early February. Starting forward Lance Malveaux has averaged 18 points since he became academically eligible Feb. 1, and forward Milt Wilson has been a top reserve since recovering from an injury.

Murphy also starts 6-9 Arthur Phillips at center, Kenyatta Kalisana at forward and John McKnight and Andre Gougis at guard.