THE UNBEATABLE FIVE

Though the first string five from Aldous Huxley High is relatively big time basketball, they spring from the same Youth Leagues that spawned The Backyard Five (KR, 1973) and, moving into the varsity just in time to bury a record winning streak, youngest Huxley Lion, Bud Cane, faces some familiar problems -- working his way up through the team pecking order, dealing with the dirty play of a rival captain, and restoring the lost morale of the former ""unbeatables."" There's far less off-court action and, aside from his buddy Birkie and pompom girls Polly and Lulu, Bud hardly seems to have time for friendship as he concentrates on sinking every point. Strictly business.