A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore

There is a rosebush on the campus of Burbank's Bell-Jeff High. It was planted there last week by members of the Bell-Jeff and Ribet Academy basketball teams.

It was an unlikely pairing, these players from two rival teams who could meet in the playoffs later this season. But tragedy has a way of bringing people together, even people who may never have taken the time to know one another otherwise.

The rose is in memory of Lawrence Jenkins, who died Nov. 29 after collapsing at basketball practice at Ribet Academy. Jenkins, 17, had played the past three years at Bell-Jeff. He transferred to Ribet over the summer, hoping for a little more playing time and exposure.

His teammates at both schools, devastated by the loss of their popular, easy-going friend, wanted to do something for Jenkins, to show him they still cared, and that they'd never forget him.

So they planted the rosebush in Jenkins' name. Then they took a little time to talk. The rose was their gift to Jenkins. In return, he gave them friendship.

``There was great communication between the players,'' said Bell-Jeff coach Elli Essa. ``We were both Lawrence's teams, so we've sort of adopted one another. We're pulling for them and they're pulling for us. We promised them we'd come watch them play, and they said they'd come watch us.''

This was typical Jenkins. Bringing people together.

``That's what Lawrence liked to do,'' said Carlos Arroyo, the Guards' center. ``He always liked to make people happy. In a way, he's brought (these) families together''

These are trying times for the players at Bell-Jeff. The same day Jenkins died, the father of point guard Romel Cabrera died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. Two days later, assistant football coach Doug Brisky, 63, died of a heart attack.

Last week the Guards played three games after attending funerals earlier in the day. The remainder of the week was spent going to memorials, grieving, crying and coping.

``When I first found out (about Jenkins' death) I thought it was just a dream,'' said Bell-Jeff guard Saul Que, who has known Jenkins since the third grade. ``Even at the memorial I thought I was still dreaming, I was crying so hard. I guess reality didn't really hit me until they closed the casket. Then it sort of set in.''

Sadly, reality set in three times for Bell-Jeff. Nobody is quite sure how they've pulled through. Yet somehow they found the strength to win the Miliken tournament championship.

``They went straight from the gravesite to the gym three times,'' Essa said. ``In each case they started slowly, and at halftime I told them to toughen up and somehow find their way and they did. It's pretty remarkable.''

On Saturday Bell-Jeff laid Melo Cabrera, 43, to rest, then took Notre Dame to overtime before losing 73-71.

When Essa spoke to the players before the game, he had a motivational speech etched out. But he changed course once he saw their somber, withdrawn expressions as they sat in the locker room.

``It just seemed like the last thing they wanted to do right then was play a basketball game,'' Essa said. ``So I basically just told them how proud I was of them, the way they'd handled everything, and that we're a family and I really didn't care what happened in the game, just to go out and play for Lawrence, and Melo and coach Brisky.''

The deaths of Jenkins and Melo Cabrera have hit Bell-Jeff especially hard. Most of the players never had dealt with losing a family member or close friend. In less then a week they suffered two tragedies, then the loss of Brisky, a popular coach.

They stick together knowing that's how Jenkins would have wanted it. But it's tough.

``We just try to stay positive and think positive,'' said Que. ``We just keep thinking every time we step on the court to play for Lawrence and Romel's dad. That makes us hungry to get that win ... for them.''

Que and Arroyo wear Jenkins' jersey under their game and practice jerseys. The Guards have dedicated the remainder of the season to Jenkins and Melo Cabrera.

``Man, I've seen Lawrence wear that jersey since we were in the seventh grade,'' Que said, laughing. ``So now I'll wear it for him.''

As the players deal with the loss of Jenkins, they've rallied behind Romel Cabrera, a sophomore point guard. Remarkably, Cabrera played Saturday against Notre Dame after attending the funeral of his father, a popular parent at Bell-Jeff.

Melo Cabrera owned an auto repair shop, and Que's father would often visit him there to talk basketball.

``We're right there behind him, but we try not to remind him about things so he can keep his mind off it,'' Arroyo said. ``We know he's hurting, but he's getting though it.''

They all are.