TAKING CHARGE : Pettengill Discards His Misgivings and Learns to Excel in Role as Point Man for Kennedy

Thirty-three dribbles and one assist marked Mike Pettengill’s debut as a varsity point guard at Kennedy High School.

Pettengill was a nervous freshman, brought up to the varsity by Kennedy Coach John Mayberry for a tournament at Cerritos High. The idea was for Pettengill, who had been playing on the junior varsity, to gain a little experience practicing and watching games from the bench.

But Pettengill found himself in a game during the waning minutes of a blowout victory over Cerritos.

He dribbled the ball upcourt, fighting the butterflies as he went. He kept dribbling and dribbling, looking for someone to get open. Finally, he found someone, but not before Mayberry counted 33 consecutive dribbles.

“The crowd cheered when he finally passed,” Mayberry said.

Afterward, Pettengill told Mayberry he did not want to be a point guard.

Pettengill managed to record an assist and added a free throw, but he envisioned himself as a shooting guard. Playing point was too difficult, he thought.

Three years and countless passes later, Pettengill, a 5-foot 10-inch senior, has established himself as a prototypal point guard. His resume includes an Orange County-leading 9.6 assists a game last season. He also helped Kennedy win the Garden Grove League and Southern Section 3-A championships.

This season he averages 6.6 assists, 13 points and--despite controlling the ball 90% of the time--only 5 turnovers a game. Kennedy is 15-7 overall and 8-2 in the Garden Grove League.

But most impressive is his transition from reluctant passer to Kennedy’s unquestioned leader. He is no longer “scared to death” on the court, but a composed and polished player, eager to take control in the late going.

“I didn’t used to like being the point guard, but now I love knowing that everyone is depending on me,” Pettengill said.

Said Mayberry: “I always knew he was going to be my starting point guard. I think he just built some confidence.”

His confidence has swelled as he has matured into his role as Kennedy’s floor leader. Often, he directs the team’s practices whenever Mayberry is a few minutes late. He puts the team through the drills, deciding which to run beforehand. He consults with Mayberry on what offenses and defenses the team should work on.

“It’s now to the point where I can read Coach Mayberry’s mind,” Pettengill said. “I know what he would say. I know all his drills.”

It started when Pettengill was a junior. Mayberry wanted him to take more of a leadership role on what was hoped would be a championship-caliber team.

But running practice?

“He was a little late one day, so I took it upon myself to start practice,” Pettengill said.

Said Mayberry: “He’s out of the old mold in his leadership abilities. He doesn’t try to cut corners. Sometimes he’ll add drills we haven’t done in a long time. Sometimes I’ll just go out on the floor and watch what he’s doing.”

One of Pettengill’s favorite games in practice is a free throw shooting contest. Each player lines up to shoot a one-and-one. If the player makes it, the team gets a point. If he misses, Mayberry gets two points.

Pettengill, who makes 77% in games, likes to shoot last because he likes to have to have the contest riding--and his teammates depending--on his free throws.

Pressure was something he was confronted with almost on a nightly basis during the playoffs last season. It proved to be a turning point in Pettengill’s career.

After spending his sophomore season as the backup point guard, he became the starter as a junior.

It was a heady introduction to the starting lineup. Kennedy had a veteran team and expectations were high. Twins Michael and Maurice Keith, Mike Williams and Wendell Lauderdale were experienced seniors, determined since they were junior high teammates to win a Southern Section championship.

After an easy victory over Troy in the first round, the games got tougher. Kennedy had to go to Lancaster to play Antelope Valley, where it pulled off a 58-55 victory. Next was top-seeded Saddleback in the quarterfinals. A late drive by Pettengill sealed a 58-55 victory over the Roadrunners.

In the semifinals, Pettengill was a steadying influence in an 83-80, triple-overtime victory over Rolling Hills. Compared with that, the final against Tustin in the Sports Arena was a breeze. Kennedy took the title, 58-54, in overtime.

The drive to the state championship game stalled in the semifinals, where the Fighting Irish lost to Bakersfield Foothill.

Pettengill said those tense playoff games made him a better player. This season, he has tried to pass on what he learned. He said the team often watches a videotape of the triple-overtime game against Rolling Hills, trying to pick out the little things that helped Kennedy win the game.

What they see again and again is Pettengill taking control and leading Kennedy to the victory.

“In the playoffs last year, his teammates wanted him to have the ball in his hands,” Mayberry said. “He wanted it too. That’s rare. I haven’t had many players like that.”