Placer Athletic Hall of Fame: Senter was a 3-year basketball star

When legendary basketball coach Tom Barry was asked to name his all-time starting five for Placer High School, he didn't hesitate to name Tom Senter (Class of 1969) as one of those players. He joined Gary Just (1970), Bernhard Peat (1975), Jim Hardey (1974), and Alan DeLisle (1977) on Barry's all-star team. For his outstanding efforts in scoring and rebounding, Senter will be inducted into the PHS Athletic Hall of Fame on April 26 in a ceremony at the school. The Placer grad was excited when he learned that the ceremony will be held in the school's iconic Earl Crabbe Gym. He reflected on his playing days back then. "Coming out of the locker room and taking the court was electric," he said. 'The gym was always packed, the pep band was playing, the cheerleaders doing their thing, the crowd screaming." Senter enjoyed an outstanding career at Placer, being brought up to the varsity team as a sophomore. "It was the day of the hook shot and the turn-around jumper," he recalled. In his first game against Nevada Union, he set a school record by scoring 39 points, breaking Ola Lee Murchison's record of 38 points set 11 years earlier. The Sacramento Bee called him a Super Soph. Unfortunately, he didn't notice a broken foot until the next game, which forced him out of action for the remainder of the season. In his junior year, the Hillmen placed second in the Sierra Foothill League, but won the prestigious Kendall Arnett Tournament. Senter was named the Most Valuable Player. He had the most rebounds in the tourney and grabbed 15 in the final game against defending champion Mira Loma in a 60-53 victory. As a senior, the 6-foot-4 left-hander helped his team to a 12-0 undefeated season in the SFL. A highlight of the season was a 24 -point, 23-rebound effort against El Dorado. "I was exhausted after the game," he admitted as the Cougars ran a fast-paced run-and-gun offense. His one regret was that he didn't win the Kendall Arnett in his senior year, fouling out as the Hillmen lost to Jefferson of Daly City in the final game 51-48. But he did lead the team in scoring and rebounding that year, finishing his career with more than 1,000 points. Senter still holds the career rebounding record (772) and single game rebounding record (24) at Placer. "I was always a big kid, but also coordinated" he said with a chuckle. "I was six feet tall in the seventh grade. The opposing teams' principals always wanted to check my birth records." His father played semi-pro football, and because of his son's size, he wanted him to play football. "But Mom saw the beatings Dad took and didn't like it." So basketball and baseball became his sports. At Placer he played centerfield for baseball coaches Chick Wallgren and Fred Moeller during his first three years. He opted not to play as a senior when he auditioned for and won the lead role in Glenda Gonzales' production of the Sound of Music. Not bad for a guy who calls himself a country boy. "I grew up in Newcastle. We had peach trees, apricot trees, pecan trees and we raised chickens." During the summer Senter worked in the area fruit sheds making lug boxes. After high school, Senter received an athletic scholarship to Houston Baptist University. "It was a different offense from what he had known at Placer," he said. Placer coach Barry used a pass and go offense, while his college team used a slow-down offense. He became a sixth man, rather than a starter. After college, he went to seminary school at the Southwest Theological Seminary from 1975-78 and received a Masters in Divinity. Then, as a Southern Baptist minister, he returned to California to serve as pastor and associate pastor in Grass Valley, Roseville, Sacramento, and Loomis. Senter is now retired and lives in League City, Texas with his wife Sandy. He's still friends with his college teammates and calls himself a "True Texan with a truck, a Remington .45 and a shotgun." Senter has two sons, John and David who grew up in Loomis and played for Del Oro, a daughter Mary and nine grandchildren. The Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will be held in the Earl Crabbe Gym on April 26. A reception will begin at 6 pm followed by the induction ceremony at 7 pm. Tickets for the reception cost $25 until April 15, and $35 after, and are available online at placerathletichalloffame.org. The 7 pm ceremony is free of charge to the public.