Player of the Week : Esperanza’s Doug Sheets Has Got His Opponents Covered

The ceiling of Esperanza High School’s gymnasium is chock-full of red and gold league and Southern Conference title banners, celebrating championships in almost every sport, but particularly football.

Although the basketball team regularly plays beneath these banners, the players on the court aren’t exactly filled with school pride. Esperanza, which placed seventh in the Empire League last season, had a 1-19 record. The Aztec basketball team, in fact, has not contributed much to the banners that are given for league championships and playoff titles.

Last week, however, the Aztecs (5-5) won the Canyon Tournament championship. Although the Canyon was not the most prestigious of holiday tournaments, it was a significant step forward for the Aztecs. Not only was it Esperanza’s first tournament title in three years, but forward Doug Sheets was named the Most Valuable Player.

Sheets shot 75% from the free throw line and 63% from the field, and scored 43 points, had 6 rebounds and 3 steals in the tournament. His performance was worthy of Times Player of the Week honors.

Sheets is an unlikely candidate for basketball success. He was an undistinguished sixth man on the sophomore team before moving up to varsity last year and capturing team MVP honors as a junior.

Despite the team’s poor performance, Sheets quickly emerged as an excellent shooter and solid, stocky rebounder. After 10 games, he’s averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds a game.

“Doug set an example on the team,” Aztec Coach Kurt Kersten said. “When we were 1-19, he was committed to the game and the other kids watched him. He became MVP last year after taking a leadership role.”

This year, he wouldn’t mind helping the Aztec basketball team contribute to the gymnasium banners. But that will be a difficult challenge with the likes of El Dorado and Katella in the Empire League.

Still, the improvement Sheets and Esperanza have made so far is enough to call it a banner year. Doug Sheets Esperanza High School Position: Forward Height, Weight, Class: 6-0, 160, Sr. Last Week: 43 points in three games of the Canyon Tournament. Season: 16.0 average for 10 games.