THE GOLDEN GIRL : Stacy Parson Has Everything but What She Wants--a City Title

A faint smile, accompanied by a chagrined burst of laughter, comes to Stacy Parson.

What draws the reaction is a question about last year, specifically the game at the Sports Arena that determined the best girls’ basketball team in the City 4-A Division.

“Well,” says Parson, “I think I kind of have something to prove to myself. I really don’t think I’ve performed very well the last two times we’ve been to the Sports Arena. I’d like to go in there and have a decent game.”

Parson, a 5-7 senior guard, has had more than her share of decent games in her career at Kennedy High. For three years, Parson has been one of the Golden Girls for the Golden Cougars, winners of 75 straight league games over eight seasons.

“We’ve had girls here that have played parts of the game so extremely well,” Kennedy Coach Craig Raub said. “But she plays more parts of the game well. She’s the most talented player I’ve had the pleasure to coach.”

Raub has sent nine players to Division I schools on scholarships in his eight years as girls’ coach at Kennedy. Parson, who has verbally committed to attend Stanford next year, will become No. 10.

Parson is one of the best outside shooters in the Valley. “She’s tough from 18 feet on,” Raub said. In each of her three seasons as a starter on the varsity, she has shot at least 50% from the field.

Parson is averaging 17.9 points a game for the Golden Cougars, after posting a 21.3 average as a junior.

“As far as shooting and dribbling are concerned, I’d rate her No. 1 as to the girls I’ve seen this year,” said Van Nuys Coach Tony Magnante, who watched Parson take his team for 26 points. “She destroyed us.”

Louisville Coach Brian O’Hara coached Parson in a summer program two years ago.

“She is one of the nicest girls I’ve ever coached,” O’Hara said. “And as far as athletic ability is concerned, she’s one of the best I’ve ever coached. What a combination. I love her.”

Raub said that having a player like Parson is a challenge. “With her, you are always trying to take her another step,” he said.

The Kennedy team is determined to take another step this year. A City 4-A championship is at the top of the ladder and the Golden Cougars are determined to reach it.

Two seasons ago, Kennedy lost in the semifinals to Dorsey, 68-67, in overtime. Parson scored 10 points in the game at the Sports Arena before fouling out early in the fourth quarter.

“When she fouled out,” Raub said, “I knew we were in trouble.” Three seniors from that team earned Division I scholarships, but Raub said that Parson was the team’s best player in the playoffs. In the two postseason games before Dorsey, Parson scored 16 and 26 points.

Last season, Kennedy lost in the finals to Locke, 47-38. The Golden Cougars finished the year 21-5, two of their losses coming to Locke.

Parson was named the Valley 4-A League’s most valuable player, as well as first-team All-City. She also earned a spot on The Times’ All-Valley team.

Parson had an excellent playoff series--until the finals. She scored 20, 26 and 23 points in the three games leading to the championship. In the quarterfinals against Dorsey, Parson hit an 18-footer with four seconds left for the win.

But then came Locke. Parson scored just six points, making 3 of 13 shots.

“I was really nervous,” Parson said. “Usually, just after tipoff, it’s fine. Usually, it’s an anxious kind of nervousness. But that was a frustrating kind of nervousness.”

The 17-year-old said she occasionally reminds herself of the Locke game. “It’s not like it’s driven me crazy. When you’re trying to improve, you always think about the things that didn’t go right.”

While Parson doesn’t want to make any predictions, she does feel that Kennedy can end its season on a happier note this year. “I think we’ve got the personnel to win it. I think we’re going to be at the same level as last year and hopefully a little higher.

“Being so close and not getting there, it feels like something you’ve got to do.”

The Golden Cougars, with four starters and the top reserve back from last year, are the favorites to win the City 4-A title.

Entering today’s league game against Van Nuys, the Golden Cougars are 13-2 overall and 5-0 in league. Their only losses have come to Chino (65-50) and to Buena (50-46). Chino is ranked first among Division II schools in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, while Buena is ranked second among Division I schools. Kennedy is the No. 7 team in Division I.

Parson is the team’s leading scorer, just ahead of junior center Diane DeCree, who is averaging 17.3 points a game. With all the talent Kennedy has, it is difficult for opponents to concentrate on one player.

“If I score four points,” Parson said, “Diane is going to get 25. Or somebody else will. They’ve got to respect all the players.”

Parson had just four points in a game this season--against Locke. But it really didn’t matter since the Golden Cougars won, 92-36. DeCree had 20 in that game.

“I’m really not satisfied with the way I’ve been playing this year,” Parson said. “I haven’t been playing as consistently as I should be. The basics are all there. It’s just a matter of putting it all together.”

While Parson may not be overly impressed with her play this season, others are.

“She’s quick and she shoots well,” Magnante of Van Nuys said. “Hey, she even rebounds.”

Despite her size, Parson is second on the team in rebounding, averaging 10.3 a game. She’s first in steals and second in assists. She also has the fewest turnovers on the team.

“She can find a way to create a shot, find a way to get open,” Raub said. “That’s what makes her so scary.”

Raub is particularly impressed with Parson’s attitude. “It would be very easy for her to say, ‘I’m not getting enough shots.’ But she doesn’t. She’s almost too unselfish at times.”

During a game, Parson will take the blame if a pass gets past her, even if it isn’t her fault, according to Raub.

“She’ll even say to someone on the other team, ‘Nice block,’ ” teammate Wyndee Bailey said.

For the second straight season, Parson is one of the team captains. “When things go wrong, she’s the one to get us together,” Bailey said.

Parson has become one of Raub’s favorites on and off the court.

“Forget basketball, and forget I’m her coach,” he said. “She’s a lot of fun to be around. She’s a modest, sincere kid. She’s got maturity reserved for a woman a lot older than she is.

“We can talk for hours and not talk about basketball. She’s been our captain for two years and she has a lot of input in what we do.”

Has Raub discovered anything about Parson he doesn’t like?

“Yeah,” he said. “She’s a senior.”

Stacy Parson’s Career

Year G Asst. Reb. Stl. Pt. 1983-84 24 5.2 6.1 5.3 11.6 1984-85 26 4.7 9.6 4.5 21.3 1985-86 15 5.3 10.3 4.1 17.9