Boys’ basketball: Legends on bench for Manual Arts

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Those who played basketball in the City Section in the 1970s or watched as a fan would have had their autograph books out on Monday asking the legendary Manual Arts High coaches to offer their signatures.

Dwayne Polee Sr. and Freeman Williams were on the bench. Polee, in his first season as head coach, was the City 4-A player of the year in 1981. He scored 43 points in the 1981 City final for Manual Arts. Williams, serving as an assistant coach, was All-City in 1974 and went on to lead the NCAA in scoring at Portland State, scoring 81 points in one game. He was a first-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics.

‘I’m excited,’ Polee said before his team’s game against Washington in the Westchester tournament. ‘I told the kids I hope you’re as excited as I am.’

Now, it’s going to be a long season of learning for both, because the Toilers have a lot of rebuilding to do. Manual Arts fell behind, 29-8, after one quarter and was beaten, 80-40.

But if the two ever want to put on a halftime shooting exhibition, that would be something to see.

‘We’re two gunners keeping our pistols loaded,’ Williams said.

-- Eric Sondheimer