Coach to Resign at Sherman Oaks CES

When Sherman Oaks CES High Coach Mac Becker took over the basketball team in 1984, he promised the administration that he would stick around for eight years, build a respectable program and then retire.

In keeping with that promise, Becker announced his resignation Monday, just minutes after the Knights beat Birmingham, 66-63, in an East Valley League playoff game to determine which team would advance to the City Section 3-A Division playoffs.

Becker, 58, who started the school’s first basketball program eight years ago, said he would remain the athletic director for one more year. Ed Weathersby, the junior varsity coach, and varsity assistant Tommy Box will succeed Becker as co-coaches.

“It was our goal eight years ago to make the playoffs and to win a league championship in the city,” Becker said. “We met half of it.”

In overtime, Kyle Augustus (10 points, 11 assists) buried two free throws with 24 seconds left to give Sherman Oaks a 66-63 victory.

The Knights (13-12, 7-6 in league play), who made 16 of 19 free throws, trailed throughout most of the game. But Mitch Shenkin’s three-point basket tied it, 55-55, with one minute 22 seconds left in regulation.

Shenkin, who was four for four from three-point range, scored 17 points. Barry McWright finished with 12 points and Jason Hunter had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Carlos Avelar and Raffie Kassabian each scored 18 points for Birmingham (10-12, 6-7).