March 2008 Archives
Garcia finished fifth in the 5,000 meters on Friday in 17 minutes, 39.16 seconds to meet the standard. It marked a personal best for the senior and gave the Broncos five points in the team competition.
The feat meant that much more to Garcia, who a few weeks ago did not finish a 5,000 race due to a shoe problem.
“Claudia ran extremely well and for her to run that well after having a disappointment last time out means that much more,’’ Bronco coach
Adeniji ran a 56.68 time in the 400 during Friday’s qualifying round. She missed reaching the finals by two-hundredths of a second.
“Tokunbo easily ran the best race as a Bronco and I couldn’t be more proud of her,’’ Johnson said. “It’s a shame that she missed by that close of a margin of reaching the finals, but she has put herself in solid position to improving. I like what she has shown.’’
Junior Jasmine Winn (
For the men, sophomore Jonathan Williams (Temecula) finished third in the 200 in 21.42 seconds. Freshman Carter Griffin (
“Carter has really shown that he has unlimited potential,’’ Johnson said. “He keeps improving and that pleases me, big time. Joaquin cut his times substantially, and to do it on back-to-back nights shows what he is capable of doing. I’m proud of both those young men.
“We’re making not just improvement, but quality improvement for both of our teams. Those are the things that make you a difference maker.’’
Junior Brian Roser (
The Broncos return to the track Saturday at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.
Senior right-hander Cheyne Hann of Cal State San Bernardino has been named CCAA Pitcher of the Week.
He turned in a dominating performance against No. 26 Cal State Stanislaus Saturday, throwing a complete-game two-hit shutout in an 11-0 Coyote win.
In nine innings Hann struck out six while facing just 31 batters – four over the minimum. Two of the base runners reached on errors. Hann did not allow a runner past second base and retired the side in order five times.
He is the second Coyote pitcher in two weeks to earn the award as senior Matt Long did so two weeks ago.
Cal State San Bernardino’s Vanessa Wilt has been voted to the Daktronics NCAA Division II women’s basketball all-America second team by a vote of the nation’s sports information directors.
In addition, Wilt was named a State Farm/Women’s Basketball Coach’s Association honorable mention for the second straight year despite the fact she was among the top 26 in the nation in four statistical categories.
Wilt was the only West Region player named to any of the three teams selected by the Division II sports information directors. None of the 10 all-Americans selected by the WBCA coaches committee played for West Region schools.
The 6-1 senior center from Hesperia (
Wilt was in the top 12 in NCAA Division II in all four categories until very late in the season. She finished No. 2 in the nation in rebounding, No. 8 in blocked shots, No. 23 in field goal percentage and No. 26 in scoring.
Previously this month, Wilt was named the CCAA’s most valuable player and the Daktronics West Region player of the year as well as being selected to the WBCA’s all-region first team.
Wilt had 25 double-doubles (points and rebounds) in 29 games and 36 for her two-year career at CSUSB, in which she led the Coyotes to two straight NCAA regional tournament appearances.
She was the CSUSB Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006-07, earning first-team all-CCAA and first-team all-West Region honors, averaging 18.0 and 9.9 rebounds a game with 41 blocked shots.
She smashed the team’s single-season record for blocked shots (old mark was 59), giving her 112 in her two seasons, one shy of the all-time career record of 113.
Wilt’s 388 rebounds is a new single-season record as is her rebounds per game average (13.4). She tied the team’s single-game scoring record with 39 points against Cal State L.A.
In her two seasons, Wilt led the Coyotes to a 38-19 record and the program’s first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances since the school moved up to Division II in 1991-92.
A good student with a 3.3 GPA, Wilt was recently voted to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA all-District 8 academic first team.
Celeste Trahan of Elizabeth City State (N.J.) was named the Daktronics Division II player of the year averaging 23.7 points and 15.9 rebounds per game, leading the nation in both categories.
The WBCA named sophomore Johanna Leedham of Franklin Pierce as its player of the year. Leedham was a third-team selection by the sports information directors on the Daktronics all-America list.
DAKTRONICS NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S HOOPS ALL-
First team
Lauren Beckley, So., Shippensburg
Emily Brister, Jr.,
Katie Cezat, Jr., Hillsdale
Ashley Langen, Sr.,
Celeste Trahan, Sr.,
*Player of the Year
Second team
Vanessa Wilt, Sr.,
Kate Lynch, Sr.,
Jennifer Rushing,
Michelle Stueve, Sr.,
Sheena Walton, Sr.,
Third team
Anna Atkinson, Jr., Wingate
Jeana Hoffman, Sr.,
Johannah Leedham, So., Franklin Pierce
Syretha Marble, Jr.,
Sarah Van Horn, Jr.,
STATE FARM/WBCA DIVISION II WOMEN’S HOOPS ALL-AMERICA
First team
Lauren Beckley, So., Shippensburg
Katie Cezat, Jr., Hillsdale
Jeana Hoffman, Sr.,
Kierah Kimbrough, Jr.,
Johannah Leedham, So., Franklin Pierce*
Kate Lynch, Sr.,
Jennifer Rushing, Sr.,
Michelle Stueve, Sr.,
Jahzinga Tracey, Jr., Indiana U (
Celeste Trahan, Sr.,
*Player of the Year
Honorable Mention
Vanessa Wilt, Sr., Cal State San Bernardino and 30 others.
Even though Cal State San Bernardino was eliminated from the NCAA men’s basketball tournament last Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, one member of the Coyotes team will still be going to the NCAA Division II national championship event in Springfield, Mass.
Senior guard Marlon Pierce was chosen to the West team that will face off against a team of East players in the third annual NABC/NCAA Division II All-Star game on Friday at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
Pierce will join nine other West players in playing on center court at the Hall of Fame where he and his teammates were part of the pre-Elite Eight dinner for the eight finalists at the 2007 tournament. CSUSB lost in the 2007 semifinals to Barton College, 80-79.
The only other CCAA conference player on the West squad will be CCAA most valuable player Devin Peal of Humboldt State. Players from the Great Lakes, North Central, South Central and West regions make up the team.
The team will be coached by CCAA coach of the year Bill Treseler of San Francisco State.
Alaska-Anchorage, the 2008 West Region champion, will represent the West in the Elite Eight at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on March 26-27 and March 29.
Pierce was an all-CCAA first team and NABC all-West Region first team selection this season. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game with 118 assists and 57 steals.
Joining Pierce on the West team are: former Mt. SAC standout Jeff Fahnbulleh (Kentucky Wesleyan), Cory Ambercrombie (Pittsburg State), David Dreas (St. Cloud State), Robert Lee (West Texas A&M), Vince Mosley (Gannon), Avery Patterson (Tarleton State), Paul Peterson (BYU-Hawaii), Atila Santos (Minnesota State, Mankato) and Peal.
By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
A good start was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team.
The Coyotes were an impressive 8-0 despite a difficult schedule and they even boasted an exhibition win over Division I Youngstown State. So hopes for a return trip to the national semifinal were not unrealistic.
The Coyotes had their moments but didn’t put 40 minutes together in any game after that. They settled for a still-stellar 22-8 record and a share of the CCAA title for the seventh time in nine years, both noteworthy accomplishments. But with three Elite appearances since 1999, the bar has been raised higher at Cal State.
This year’s run ended with a 67-63 loss to Brigham Young-Hawaii in the West Region quarterfinal at Anchorage.
“I don’t think we were as good as we thought we were,” said Coyotes coach Jeff Oliver, who just wrapped up his sixth season heading the program. “We relied a little too much on our defense and that carried us because we never got it totally together at the other end of the floor.”
The Coyotes came up empty in the close games. They were just 1-3 in overtime and seven of their eight losses were by a total of 24 points. They lost three times when allowing 65 points or less.
“Most of those games we win and it isn’t even close if we have just an average offensive game,” Oliver said.
The Coyotes, who won 20 games for the ninth time in 10 years, came in to the season having lost seven players including their top four scorers.
This year’s team seemed more balanced, with 12 players getting regular playing time, but it never got the same production it got from its top two departed players - Ivan Johnson and Prentice Harris.
“I thought we had balance but it turned out to be a balance of mediocrity,” Oliver added. “We needed more production from our top guys and more production from our middle guys.”
The good news for Oliver is that the Coyotes will start next season with more players who have experience in the system than was the case this year. Seven players are leaving, four of them starters. Among those are all-conference selections Michael Earl, Lance Ortiz and Marlon Pierce.
The core of six who will be counted on heavily next year includes guard Steve Gaston, center Devon Davis, forward Ryan Kinney and guard-forwards Renardo Bass, Phil Jones and Reggie Brown. Gaston, Brown and Kinney are threats form long distance but will need to be more consistent. Jones and Bass were both top-notch defenders but will be asked to contribute more on offense.
Oliver also is high on the three players who redshirted this year. Guards Tim Denson (Colorado State) and Omar Krayem (Eastern Washington) are both Division I transfers. Jordan Richard, a 6-foot-9 center out of Los Osos, has potential to fill the void left by the departure of Earl.
Oliver said he hopes to bring at least five players into the program, at least one at every position. As has been the case Oliver will look for experienced players out of the junior college ranks.
“It never hurts to have some competition so I am hoping we get at least five, maybe as many as seven guys,” he said.
Oliver said his team is not going back to the Disney West Coast Classic in Anaheim since the event is trying to rotate representation out of the CCAA. Humboldt State will be the likely conference participant.
The Coyotes will open the season with games at Seattle Pacific against Great Northwest Athletic Conference contenders Western Washington and Seattle Pacific.
They will go back to Las Vegas but not the same event they had played in the last two years against GNAC schools. Instead they will face Grand Canyon, which once was in the CCAA and now plays out of the Pacific West Conference, and San Francisco School of the Arts, which has been accepted into the Pac West for next season.
Oliver said he will also have exhibition games against two Division I schools which should be confirmed in the next month.
Long, a senior right-hander, handcuffed the Broncos on just three hits while striking out 12 in earning the Coyotes’ pitching staff’s first complete game and first shutout of 2008.
He struck out the side in the first inning and retired the first 12 batters in a row. His perfect game ended with a walk to open the fifth. Long didn’t allow a hit until the seventh inning, a clean double to left center.
No Broncos runner advanced past second base. Long walked three in all and faced just 33 batters in the nine-inning game, six over the minimum.
Long (3-4 on the season) lowered his earned run average to 3.97. In seven starts, totaling 45.1 innings, he has struck out 52 batters and walked only 15.
The
A two-run 11th inning gave the Cal Poly Pomona baseball team a 9-7 victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Friday.
The Coyotes built an early 3-0 lead with two runs in the first on RBI singles from Johnnie Haas and Jason Klug, and a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Drew Valenzuela.
Cal Poly responded with three runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Kyle Boggio, Josh Potter and Chris Wilson.
A messy seventh inning saw Cal State score three runs with just one hit thanks errors by Potter and shortstop Joe Villa, but the Broncos tied the game at six with a run in the eighth on an RBI single from Villa and two runs in the ninth on a two-run single by Wilson off of Cal State’s closer Ward Minich.
The teams each scored a run in the tenth before the Broncos pushed two across in the eleventh on a tie-breaking sacrifice fly by Villa and a wild pitch by Cal State’s Eric Meyerholtz.
The win went to Cal Poly’s Sean Hunter (1-2) who pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing a run on one hit while walking two and striking out one.
The loss went to Cal State’s David Martin (0-1) who allowed the winning run to reach base in the eleventh.
Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino will conclude their series with a doubleheader in Pomona on Saturday.
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By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
Cal Poly Pomona coach Greg Kamansky spent most of Friday watching the junior college state tournament in Stockton. He would have rather been in Alaska, where eight teams were competing in the Division II West Regional.
For just the second time in the last six years the Broncos did not make the playoffs. And for the first time in Kamansky’s eight-year tenure Cal Poly finished under .500 at 13-15. So it is back to the drawing board.
“We need to upgrade at every position,” Kamansky said, by phone from Stockton. “We need posts but we also need guards. We really need everything.”
Kamansky wasn’t surprised at the sub-par season, acknowledging that the signs were there early. Division I transfer Austin Swift injured an ankle this summer and never got well. He tried to play through it, but shut it down after just two games.
With the Broncos carrying only 10 players, about five fewer than most teams, the injury loomed large.
“Because of our depth, or lack of it, we’re always just one injury away. That is always the case. And it showed this year,” Kamansky said.
He added that the rest of the team came in out of shape, making matters worse.
It was indeed a rollercoaster ride for the Kamansky’s crew. The Broncos got off to a 2-6 start but seemingly recovered when it put together midseason wins over perennial powers Humboldt State and Cal State San Bernardino, both nationally ranked at the time. But Cal Poly hit the skids again and barely made it into the eight-team conference tournament.
It finished off the regular season with an impressive win at Humboldt, then reeled off two wins in the conference tournament before losing the final to UC San Diego.
“We were able to end on a somewhat positive note so that is something we can hold on to,” Kamansky said.
The Broncos are losing just three seniors, two of them posts in Kaelen Daniels (8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds per game) and reserve Kevin Neveau (5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg). The other departing player is shooting guard Angelo Tsagarakis (15.1 ppg, 2.5 assists per game) who was deadly from 3-point range when he was on but also sometimes erratic.
The good news is that the Broncos have a centerpiece to build around in junior Larry Gordon (17.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg). The Montclair product was a first-team all-conference and all-region selection and likely would have been in the hunt for player of the year honors had the Broncos finished higher.
Among the other returning veterans will be junior wing Donnelle Booker (7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg), junior guard Rich Collins (5.1 ppg), sophomore guard Isaac Waters and freshman forward Tobias Jahn, all of whom saw considerable playing time.
Kamansky said he is looking for five to six newcomers that will bring an intensity that was sometimes missing this season. He typically tries to build via the high school ranks but will be looking for some seasoned junior college players as well.
“We looked good at times but we were very average most of the time,” he said. “The team chemistry was never quite right and we didn’t always get in there and compete hard. Those are the things we have to address.”
SEATTLE, Wash. — The UC San Diego women’s basketball team got big first halves from forwards Meaghan Noud and Michelle Osier and a solid defensive effort, in beating Cal State San Bernardino 59-46 in the third game of the NCAA Division II Women’s West Regional on Friday at Seattle Pacific.
The defending regional champions Tritons (25-9) held the Coyotes to just seven field goals in 29 attempts in the second half in pulling away from a 35-30 halftime lead and posting a 13-point victory.
Noud finished with 23 points, after going for 17 in the opening 20 minutes, while Osier posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Center Alexis Gaskin joined her two teammates in double figures with 13 points. Gaskin also had nine rebounds, as the Tritons controlled the backboards 39-34. Guard Alexis Mezzetta had 10 assists and eight rebounds.
No Cal State player scored in double figures. Senior center Vanessa Wilt, the conference and region player of the year, was held to a season-low four points and eight rebounds because of foul trouble. She picked up her second foul four minutes into the game and was a non-factor after that.
Senior Leslie Pickron came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers, all in the first half, and led Cal State with nine points. Krystal Urzua had eight points.
Despite the loss, coach Kevin Becker was pleased with his team’s showing.
“We were picked in the middle of the pack and we were second in the conference with 21 wins. No one can take that away from us,” he said. “I think we played an exciting brand of basketball this year.”
UC San Diego, which had four fewer turnovers than their conference rivals, trailed 25-20 with 7:38 remaining in the first half, but then held Cal State to five points the rest of the half. The Tritons scored seven of the final nine points in the final 4:18 to break away from a 28-28 tie.
Early in the second half the Coyotes pulled to within two at 37-35 early in the second half on a 3-pointer by Shanae Blake with 17:42 left, but only scored five points over the next nine minutes as the Tritons built a 48-40 lead. After a jumper by Jatarra Pryor cut the deficit to six, UC San Diego scored the next six points and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
For the game, the Tritons held Cal State to just 19 field goals in 48 attempts 19-of-48 shooting (32.8 percent), while making 20 of 48 (41.7).
It was the third time the Coyotes lost to the Tritons this season.
UC San Diego now advances to the semifinals at 7 tonight against top-seeded and second-ranked Seattle Pacific, which routed eighth-seeded St. Martin’s 92-47.
By MATT NEVALA
For the San Bernardino Sun
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – In unfamiliar surroundings, the Coyotes found themselves in a familiar situation Friday during the NCAA Division II West Regional. Only this time, the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team couldn’t get past Brigham Young University-Hawaii in the opening round.
Making their first appearance on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus, the Coyotes hustled their way back from a nine-point, second-half deficit before falling to BYU-Hawaii 67-63 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. Cal State’s usually sound defense from baseline to baseline disappeared too often, especially down the stretch when the Seasiders closed with one needed basket after another.
“We were horrible tonight,” Cal State coach Jeff Oliver said. “We didn’t do what we do – pressure the ball, guard the ball and rebound.
“If we don’t do that, we’re probably not going to win.”
Last season, the Coyotes cruised to the Division II Final Four after opening the postseason with a 71-68 win over BYU-Hawaii in Arcata. This season, the Seasiders dashed the team’s title dreams in Anchorage, the ride over after posting a 22-8 record.
“We knew going in that no one was going to let us win,” said Coyotes senior guard Marlon Pierce. “Right now, it’s tough to think about the season as a whole. Looking back, there will probably be some things I’ll be proud of and some things to be disappointed in.”
The Coyotes and BYU-Hawaii played the second of four games on Friday’s opening-round docket. They also played in front of a capacity crowd, despite host and top-seeded Alaska Anchorage not playing until the nightcap. While not booed or hassled, second-seeded Cal State clearly didn’t feel the love from the Anchorage fans the way BYU-Hawaii did as the game moved along. The seventh-seeded Seasiders were met with continued cheers. Maybe it had something to do with Alaska and Hawaii together not being connected to the Lower 48, the term Alaskans use to describe the contiguous portion of the country.The Coyotes, defending region champs and perennial Division II powerhouses, believed it was something else.
“We’re pretty used to that,” senior guard Lance Ortiz said.
Pierce knew what was up.
“We’ve had a pretty big target on our back all year,” he said. “Everywhere we played, even the neutral sites, we were all we had. Our 15 to 18 guys with the coaches included (are) what we had all season. It was nothing we hadn’t seen before.”
BYU-Hawaii committed 11 of its 12 first-half turnovers in the first 12 minutes. After that, it made only one turnover before halftime. The Seasiders (19-7) solved Cal State’s full-court pressure defense and began getting easy looks for their big men – 6-foot-9 sophomore center Lucas Alves and 6-7 junior Jermaine Odjegba. Each player finished with 16 points.
Alves’ emphatic slam from the left side with 4:19 to play in the first half gave BYU-Hawaii a 24-20 lead. The advantage grew to five (34-29) by the break.
“The two people that hurt us were their bigs and bigs aren’t supposed to hurt us,” Oliver said. “It was a major problem.”
And one that got worse for the Coyotes in the second half before it got a little better.
Alves shook loose for three second-half dunks, including a pair of ooh- and aah-inspiring alley oops. The second on a pass from Corey Neilson gave the Seasiders a 49-42 lead with 12:39 to play.
“(The Coyotes) tried to press the ball as much as they could so the weak side was kind of wide open,” Alves said. “The first time, I was open so I just threw my finger up (looking for the pass). Yes, I was pretty surprised it worked again after that.”
BYU-Hawaii extended the lead to 51-42 moments after Alves’ alley-oop dunk. It was then when the Coyotes found their defensive prowess and mounted the comeback.
Cal State made stop after stop and scored the next 10 points. Joseph Tillman’s long-range jumper gave his team a 52-51 lead with 6:16 remaining. The Seasiders scored, but Cal State answered with an Ortiz three-pointer and Michael Earl free throw. The Coyotes led 56-53, but they then went scoreless the next 2:37.
They also relented defensively, allowing eight consecutive BYU-Hawaii points. Pierce and Ortiz each knocked down three-pointers. Ortiz’s triple with 52 seconds left sliced the Seasiders’ lead to 63-62. Odjegba left-side leaner and a pair of Neilson free throws finished off the Coyotes.
Alves grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. BYU-Hawaii will play rival Chaminade in today’s region semifinal.
Pierce led Cal State with 13 points. Ortiz added 11. The Coyotes were beat on the boards 32-25. BYU-Hawaii shot 54.9 percent (28 of 51) from the floor.
In a classy postgame move, Oliver closed his comments by thanking his group of eight seniors, led by Pierce, Ortiz and Earl.
“Overall, this probably wasn’t the most talented team I’ve had,” said the coach in his sixth season. “But it’s probably been the most enjoyable to coach. This core group (of seniors) is the one that put us back on the map after having the one .500 year. My hat is off to those guys that got us pointed back in the right direction.”
Matt Nevala is a former Anchorage Daily News sports reporter. Contact him at nevs@gci.net.
By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
Now that the famed Itidarod dogsled race is over, another sport will be taking center stage in the sprawling wilderness of Anchorage, Alas.
The top eight Division II men’s basketball teams in the West Region will square off at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex at University of Alaska-Anchorage starting today with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line. Jeff Oliver’s Cal State San Bernardino squad will be trying to advance to the national tournament for the fourth time.
It is the first time the Seawolves have hosted the event.
The No. 2 seeded Coyotes (22-7) face No. 7 Brigham Young-Hawaii (18-7) in the second of four quarterfinals today at 3:30 p.m.
The Coyotes changed their travel plans and left from Ontario Tuesday night, rather than from LAX Wednesday morning which helped in the preparation.
The team practiced at a local high school Wednesday and Thursday, then attended a banquet held to honor the participating teams Thursday evening.”
“I’m really glad we had that extra day. Humboldt came in Wednesday late and had the first practice Thursday. That couldn’t have felt good,” Oliver said. “We have had good practices. We’re healthier than we have been all season. We’re ready to go.”
Oliver said his team seems to be acclimating to the conditions. It was snowing when the Coyotes arrived but had warmed up to a balmy 33 by Thursday afternoon. There hasn’t been much time for sightseeing but Oliver said athletic director Kevin Hatcher and trainer Laura Watkins took a side trip in search of wildlife.
“We actually saw the sun today and were able to open the sunroof on the rental car,” he quipped. “When we got here it was kind of flat. you couldn’t see much because of the fog but it is quite scenic.”
The Coyotes, who claimed a share of the CCAA title for the ninth time in seven years, may be enjoying their surroundings but the mood has been all business. Last year the Coyotes emerged as the regional champion, beating host Humboldt State in a dramatic title tilt.
This year’s quarterfinal is a rematch of one last year in which the Coyotes beat the Seasiders 81-78.
The Coyotes, ranked No. 14 in the most recent NABC poll, play the same style but have tweaked their defense since the last meeting and Oliver hopes that pays off. Cal State’s senior ackcourt of Marlon Pierce and Lance Ortiz have combined for 133 steals with Ortiz (76) ranking first in the conference in that department and Pierce (57) third. Ortiz was slowed by a sprained ankle recently but is back to full strength according to Oliver.
Senior center Michael Earl, a native of Pomona, has also figured prominently on defense with a conference high 56 blocks which set a school record.
“This is what we have been working for all season,” said Earl, a graduate of Diamond Ranch. “It’s a long season. We had some stumbles along the way but we’re still where we want to be.”
Junior forward-guard Philip Jones and senior forward Jason Gilzene round out the starting lineup. Jones hasn’t factored much into the offense but is one of the team’s best on-ball defenders.
The unsung hero has been junior Renardo Bass who has done what Oliver dubs the “intangible things” that have contributed to the team’s success.
BYU, the runner-up in the weak Pacific West Conference, will pose a formidable threat because of its inside presence in 6-foot-9 sophomore forward-center Lucas Alves (20.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg), a first-team All-Region selection.
Other key players are senior guard Paul Peterson (15 ppg, 3.7 apg) and junior guard Trenson Akana (11.7 ppg).
Despite the overall success, the Coyotes have come up empty in a lot of close games this season. They are 1-3 in overtime and six of their seven losses have been by a total of 20 points.
“It has been little things,” Pierce said. “We’ve been in every game we just haven’t been able to finish them off. Now we have to do it because there are no second chances.”
Burke shot the lowest competitive round of his life, a 65, and the lowest 54-holes of his three-year collegiate career, a seven-under par 203, to finish six shots ahead of the field of 79 golfers in the two-day event hosted by UC San Diego.
The Los Angeles resident shot rounds of 69 and 65 on Monday to lead by one stroke after 36 holes, then played steady golf on Tuesday at the 6,583-yard, par-70 course, parring the first 14 holes and finishing with two birdies and a bogey for a 69.
"I putted real well the entire tournament," Burke said. "The first day I was really putting well. I took advantage of almost every good putt I had." He collected 10 birdies and an eagle over the 36 holes on Monday.
"Today, I knew I had to play a solid round. The pins were in tougher locations today so I wanted to just be strong and steady, hit the greens, which I was able to do," Burke said.
Burke admitted he has shot six-under-par before but "this was my best tournament round ever," referring to the 65 on the second 18 holes on Monday.
The 2004 graduate of
While Burke was fashioning a championship, the Coyotes team was able to play well enough Tuesday to move up from eighth to sixth in the 15-team tournament, won by Lynn University of Baca Raton, Fla., with a collective 861 score -- 21 over par.
The Coyotes finished at 880 -- 40 over par. Coyotes senior Dane Bagnell was 25th with a score of 222, 12 over par. Junior Joe Alldis was 48th at 229 -- 19 over par. Sophomore Gene Webster was 53rd at 232, but closed with a 74 on Tuesday, four-over par. Senior Bill Clayton finished 62nd at 27 over par -- 237.
CSUSB finished ahead of CCAA rivals
@Marbella Country Club in
TEAMS: 1. Lynn Univ. (861); 2.
4. Nova Southeastern (873) 5. Washburn (877) 6. COYOTES (880); 7.
8. (tie)
INDIVIDUAL 1. Micah Burke (CSUSB) 69-65-69 -- 203; 2. (tie) Lucas Delgado (
COYOTE CARDS: 1. Burke (69-65-69 -- 203); 25. Dane Bagnell (72-74-76 -- 222);
48. Joe Alldis (79-69-81 -- 229); 53. Gene Webster (79-79-74 -- 232); 62. Bill Clayton (82-80-75 -- 237).
It is the second year in a row that Wilt has been a finalist for the award -- known then as the Kodak All-America team. She was an honorable mention in 2006-07.
Five players from eight regions of the country make up the 40-women field voted on by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in each region.
A 10-member all-America team will be named on March 25 at the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament banquet in
Joining Wilt from Region 8 (West) are Beth Christensen and Jackie Hollands of Seattle Pacific, the No. 1 team in the region and No. 2 in the nation, along with Rebecca Kielpinski of Alaska Anchorage and Audriana Spencer of CCAA champion
Wilt averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots a game in 20 CCAA games to earn the conference's MVP honors by a vote of the coaches. She averaged 18 points and 9.9 rebounds a game in 2006-07 with 41 blocked shots.
She has already smashed the team's single-season record for blocked shots with 69, giving her 110, just four blocks away from becoming the team's career leader in that category. Her 380 rebounds this season is already a new team single-season record.
Wilt has 25 double-doubles in 28 games, leading the Coyotes to a 21-7 season thus far, 15-5 in the CCAA and a second-place finish. The team is ranked fourth in the West Region and will compete in the NCAA West Regional for the second year in a row.
Both Cal State San Bernardino basketball teams will be facing familiar foes this week when West Region play convenes. For the women’s team the opponent is a little too familiar.
The men’s team, currently ranked 14th nationally, is seeded second behind the host team University of Alaska-Anchorage and will square off against No. 7 seed Brigham Young-Hawaii in its quarterfinal on Friday at 3:30 p.m. It is the Coyotes ninth playoff appearance in 10 years.
It will be a rematch between the same teams in the same round last year. The Coyotes rallied to win that game 71-68 en route to a championship and berth in the Elite Eight.
Coyotes coach Jeff Oliver was not surprised with that draw and is pleased to be playing a nonconference opponent.
‘I really didn’t want to have to play a team I have seen twice already,” he said. “With our defense teams have a lot better chance if they have seen it. We played it last year but we tweaked it a little and we’re playing it better.”
The Seasiders (18-7), runner-up in the Pacific West Conference to Chaminade, are led by a solid duo that consists of 6-9 sophomore Lucas Alves and senior guard Paul Peterson.
“They have the best big man in the region (Alves),” Oliver said. “They have a lot of the same team they had last year. We’re quite a bit different. It will be a test.”
The Coyotes (22-7) finshed as co-champion in the CCAA with Humboldt State, which is seeded No. 6 and will face No . 3 Chaminade. The third conference representative is No. 8 UC San Diego, which earned the automatic berth by winning the conference tournament and will play the host team.
Four CCAA teams made the women’s regional, which will be hosted by top seed Seattle Pacific 27-0), ranked No. 2 nationally.
The No. 5 Coyotes (21-7) will face CCAA rival and No. 4 seed UC San Diego (4-9) in their first game Friday at 5:30 p.m.
The teams have played twice with the Tritons winning both games - 68-60 and 66-56.
It isn’t a good matchup for the Coyotes who have not had an answer for the Tritons 1-2 punch of 6-footers Meaghan Noud and Michelle Osier. The two combined for 34 points in the first game between the teams and 57 in the second. They also boast a 6-2 center in Alexis Gaskin, giving the Tritons a big advantage in size and strength.
If there is any good news it is that the Coyotes have not played a good game against the Tritons.
“I don’t think we can play any worse than we did the last time we played them. So it has to get better,” coach Kevin Becker said.
“We need to shoot the ball better. Both times we played them we didn’t lose because we didn’t defend well. We held them in the 60’s. We have to shoot better.<WC> If we don’t it will be a long night.”
The Coyotes qualified for the regional last year for the first time since 1998 but lost their quarterfinal to another conference foe - Chico State.
They had been No. 4 last week but dropped a spot this week. That failed to matter because the 4 and 5 teams play.
It has been a topsy-turvy season in the CCAA.
So it’s appropriate that the team seeded eighth is on the brink of a tournament championship and an automatic berth in the West Regional despite a record under .500.
On Friday, the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team continued its run with a 66-61 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA semifinals at Coussoulis Arena. The Broncos will square off with UC San Diego (17-11) in tonight’s 7:30 title tilt.
“One more to go,” Cal Poly coach Greg Kamansky said. “A miracle might still happen. We played very well early and I think we got a little tired but we dug in and sucked it up just enough to get the job done.”
The Tritons are in the same position as the Broncos, needing a win to advance since their current regional ranking isn’t good enough.
UC San Diego beat Cal Poly Pomona (13-14) both times the teams played this season — 55-52 and 78-76.
“They have the best shooting team in the conference,” Kamansky said of the Tritons. “They’re tough. They’re smart. It will be another tough one but at least we have a shot. We have nothing to lose.”
Cal Poly had lost both games to the Toros<WC>,<WC1> too, although each was by three points. But the Broncos were the better team this time from the opening tip.
They led the entire first half, the biggest advantage being 11 at 32-21 on a free throw by Kaelen Daniels with 4:07 left. The Toros cut into that a bit but still trailed 33-26 at the half.
Dominguez (17-11) went ahead 61-59 on a pullup jumper by Nonso Nibo with 1:40 left. It was the Toros' first lead since 2-0.
But the Broncos answered with Kaelen Daniels scoring and sinking a free throw to make it 62-61 with 1:35 to play. The Toros came up empty on their last possession as an alley-oop pass went awry and was corraled by the Broncos' Larry Gordon who was fouled. He made both with 23 seconds to go for a 64-61 lead.
The Toros weren’t done yet. Jonathan Toliver hoisted a 3-pointer from four feet beyond the line at the top of the key. It was off the mark but Jerrell Smith grabbed the rebound. The Ontario native then threw the ball away with three seconds left, sealing the Toros fate.
Gordon led the Broncos with 23 points, highlighted by the 1,000th point of his career, which came on a bucket that gave the Broncos a 56-54 lead.
Daniels and Angelo Tsagarakis added 15 each, with Daniels having the best game of the season.
The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team already pulled off one upset in the CCAA Tournament. On Friday, they had a chance at an even bigger one.
But the tenacious Broncos came up short, falling to regular-season champion Chico State 78-74 in a CCAA semifinal at Coussoulis Arena.
The Wildcats, ranked 13th nationally, advance to face defending conference and regional champion UC San Diego in tonight’s title tilt at 5:30 p.m.
At times it looked more like the teams were playing football than basketball. There were a total of 53 personal fouls called, with Chico shooting 47 free throws. Both coaches were unhappy with the officiating and got technical fouls in the second half.
First-year Broncos coach Scott Davis said the physical nature of the contest favored the Wildcats, who drained 36 of 47 free throws.
“It probably didn’t favor either team but they were able to take advantage because they made their free throws and we didn’t. They were more aggressive in getting to the basket and we were just a step late so charging fouls turned into blocking fouls.”
The Wildcats (26-5) used a 14-4 run at the end of the first half to take a 34-24 lead at the intermission.
Every time Chico threatened to blow the game open, the Broncos (12-16), who upended second seed Cal State San Bernardino on Tuesday, rallied back. They got within two points 7:40 into the second half on a jumper from the free-throw line by Unique Anderson that cut the deficit to 43-41.
The Wildcats surged ahead again and were up by 13 at 62-49 with 6:07 to play. They were still up by double digits at 68-57 with 2:47 to go, but the Broncos got four straight points from the line. After a Wildcats turnover, Vanessa
Dominguez converted inside to make it 68-63 with 1:41 remaining.
With the Broncos down 69-65 and 1:03 to go Anderson swiped the Chico inbounds and dished off to Natasha Reed whose layup made it 69-67.
The Broncos, seeded seventh in the eight-team field, were within one for the first time since late in the first half after Dominguez hit two free throws to cut it 70-69 with 50 seconds left.
Chico’s Christine Vest scored an easy layup off a baseball pass, then made a free throw to complete the 3-point play for a 73-69 lead that sealed the win.
Dominguez tallied 27 in the contest, 23 of those coming in the second half. She also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Andrea Ohlssen pitched in with 11 and Ashley Moody had six assists. She also threw in a shot from half-court at the buzzer.
“I didn’t want to go losing,” said Dominguez, one of the team’s five seniors. “We gave it everything we had.”
For Chico the win was overshadowed by the loss of leading scorer Audriana Spencer, who went down with a torn ACL with 3:56 left in the first half. She raced down court for a fast-break layup and came down awkwardly on her left knee.
It was a huge blow to a team that is ranked second in the region and had already won the regular season conference title.
So its finish in the tournament meant little.
The Wildcats had five players in double figures with sophomore Jade Smith-Williams leading the way with 17 points. Natasha Smith followed with 13 and Amanda Monteith 12. Chico led 38-30 on the boards with Monteith and Vest snagging seven each.
Coach Molly Goodenbour, a former player at Stanford, was visibly upset after the game. She wasn’t a big fan of the tournament even before the injury.
“You play 20 games during the regular season to determine a conference champion. That should be enough,” she said. “So, no, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
The California Collegiate Athletic Association announced its All-Conference basketball teams on Wednesday and Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona were represented on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Cal State San Bernardino senior center Vanessa Wilt was named the CCAA’s Most Valuable Player while Cal Poly’s Reyana Colson took home Freshman of the Year honors.
Wilt, a graduate of Sultana High School, averaged a CCAA-leading 19.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.46 blocks, leading the conference in those categories as well as field-goal percentage (.553).
She is the first Cal State player to earn the MVP award, at least in the 12-year tenure of coach Kevin Becker. Wilt helped the Coyotes (21-7) to a second-place regular-season finish and No. 4 West Region ranking. They were also ranked nationally earlier this season.
“She is certainly very deserving,” Becker said. “You look at the numbers she put up and it would be hard to see her not getting it. On top of everything she is also a great student and an even better person.”
Wilt’s 69 blocks set a single-season record, besting the 59 of Celeste Gude in 1994-95 and equaled by Jill Bekar in 1997-98. Her 110 blocks are four shy of the school’s career record but the Coyotes have at least one more game to play in next week’s regional tournament.
Wilt, who transferred from Cal Baptist for her junior year, has also set new school marks for rebounds with 380 this season, and her 13.6 rpg average ranks second in the country.
She earned conference player of the week honors five times and chalked up 24 double-doubles in 27 games.
“Other teams focused completely on her,” Becker said. “By the end of the season she had two and three defenders on her every night. They knew she was the one they had to stop.”
Colson, of Compton, averaged 13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds and was one of two Broncos named to the second team. She was the only freshman to make the first or second team.
“I’m very happy for her,” first-year Broncos coach Scott Davis said. “She deserved it. I didn’t get a chance to recruit players when I got here but she was the one player I was able to bring with me. I knew what kind of impact she could have on a program.”
Among the others named to the second team were: Cal State junior point guard Shanae Blake, (10.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), a product of Chino High and Chaffey College, and Cal Poly senior forward Vanessa Dominguez (12.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg). It was the second second-team selection for Dominguez.
On the men’s side, the Coyotes (22-7) had three first-team selections in center Michael Earl (12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and guards Marlon Pierce (12.1 ppg) and Lance Ortiz (11.7 ppg), all seniors.
The Broncos (12-14) are represented by junior forward Larry Gordon (17.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg) on the first team and senior point guard Angelo Tsagarakis (15.1 ppg) on the second team.
Player of the Year honors went to Humboldt State’s Devin Peal, who edged out Pierce and Gordon.
Rodney Yearby (10.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Jerrell Smith (11.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) of Cal State Dominguez Hills shared the Newcomer of the Year award. The two played together at Riverside Community College. Smith is also a product of Ontario High School.
Bill Tressler of San Francisco State took home Coach of the Year honors. His team went from 6-21 to 17-11 this season. The Gators were again picked to finish last and wound up tied for third.
CCAA AWARDS
MEN
Most Valuable Player - Devin Peal, Sr., Humboldt State
Co-Newcomers of the Year - Jerrell Smith and Rodney Yearby,
Dominmguez Hills
Freshman of the Year - Robert Hayes, San Francisco State
Coach of the Year - Bill Tressler, San Francisco State
First team
Vincent Camper, Sr., G, CS Los Angeles
D'Shon Cannon, Sr., G, Monterey Bay
Michael Earl, Sr., C, CS San Bernardino
Larry Gordon, Jr., F, Cal Poly Pomona
Grayson Moyer, Sr., G, Humboldt State
Lance Ortiz, Sr., G, CS San Bernardino
Henry Patterson, Jr., F, UC San Diego
Devin Peal, Sr., F, Humboldt State
Marlon Pierce, Sr., PG, CS San Bernardino
Cy Vandermeer, Sr., C, Humboldt State
Second team
Clint Allard, Sr., PG, UC San Diego
Robert Hayes, Fr., G, San Francisco State
Augie Johnston, Jr., G, Monterey Bay
Andrew Kochevar, Sr., PG, Sonoma State
Joe Mitchell, Jr., F, Monterey Bay
Darroll Phillips, J., G, Chico State
Will Sheufelt, Sr., G, Humboldt State
Alex Thomas, Jr., G, San Francisco State
Angelo Tsagarakis, Sr., PG, Cal Poly Pomona
Rodney Yearby, Jr., F, Dominguez Hills
WOMEN
Most Valuable Player - Vanessa Wilt, Sr., Cal State San Bernardino
Newcomer of the Year - Katie Franci, Jr., Humboldt State
Freshman of the Year - Reyana Colson, Cal Poly Pomona
Coach of the Year -Molly Goodenbour, Chico State
First team
Dana Andrews, Jr., G-F, Monterey Bay
Katie Franci, Jr., G-F, Humboldt State
Jessica Liang, Sr., PG, Dominguez Hills
Krystle Mays, Jr., F, San Francisco State
Meaghan Noud, Sr., F, UC San Diego
Michelle Osier, Jr., F, UC San Diego
Jade Smith-Williams, G, So., Chico State
Audriana Spencer, Sr., G, Chico State
Danae Wellender, Sr., G, Sonoma State
Vanessa Wilt, Sr., C, CS San Bernardino
Second team
Genny Anderson, Sr., F, Sonoma State
Chelsey Armacost, Sr., G, Sonoma State
Shanae Blake, Jr., PG, CS San Bernardino
Reyana Colson, Fr., G Cal Poly Pomona
Vanessa Dominguez, Sr., F, Cal Poly Pomona
Shristy Kumar, Sr., G-F, CS Stanislaus
Alma Lopez, Sr., PG, Monterey Bay
Brio Rode, Sr., F, San Francisco State
Lysandra Williams, Jr., F, CS Stanislaus
Veronica Williams, Jr., F, CS Los Angeles
The Coyotes, 1-2 in CCAA conference play, will host
Two of the most competitive matches on the day were at No.2 singles where the Coyotes' Leslie Horn prevailed over Kristine Brock of Hope, 7-5, 6-1. At No. 4 singles, CSUSB freshman Brittany Choate defeated Hope's McKenna Hamel 6-3, 6-2.
No. 1 singles player Jennifer Joy improved to 7-0 on the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Hope's Alexandra Weiss. Joy and Horn defeated Weiss and Brock at No. 1 doubles, 8-1.
SINGLES
Jennifer Joy (SB) def. Alexandra Weiss (HIU) 6-1, 6-4
Leslie Horn (SB) def. Kristine Brock (HIU) 7-5, 6-1
Dottie Elwell (SB) def. Brittney Munoz (HIU) 6-2, 6-1
Brittany Choate (SB) def. McKenna Hamel (HIU) 6-3, 6-2
Ashley Hulett (SB) def. Allison Hotz (HIU) 6-1, 6-2
Kara Jenkins (SB) def. Kelly Galligan (HIU) 6-0, 6-0
DOUBLES
Joy-Horn (SB) def. Weiss-Brock (HIU) 8-1
Elwell-Choate (SB) def. Munoz-Galligan (HIU) 8-0
Xinia Chaves-Jenkins (SB) def. Hotz-Hamel (HIU) 8-1.
By Michelle Gardner
Staff Writer
Neither Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball coach Greg Kamansky nor Cal State San Bernardino coach Jeff Oliver liked the idea of a California Collegiate Athletic Association <WC1>conference tournament when it was announced a year ago. The first one is a day away and the two like the idea even less now.
Quarterfinal games will be held Tuesday at the sites of the highest seeded schools while Friday’s semifinals and Saturday’s championship games will be at Coussoulis Arena. The No. 2 seeded Coyotes (22-6, 15-5) will open play at home at 7:30 p.m. against No. 7 UC San Diego (15-11, 11-9) while the No. 8 Broncos (11-14, 10-10) will play at No. 1 Humboldt State (20-7, 15-5), whom they played in their regular -season finale on Friday.
On the women’s side, it will be the two local teams squaring off at 5:30 p.m. with the No. 2 Coyotes (21-6, 15-5) playing host to the seventh-seeded Broncos (11-15, 8-12).
Both Oliver and Kamansky have understandable beefs with the conference braintrust.l
Oliver is upset that the Coyotes — who finished tied with Humboldt State for first place — won’t be considered regular-season co-champions by the CCAA, as has been done in the past.
Cal State finished tied with Humboldt for the top spot, each with a 15-5 conference record, and the conference had to break the tie for purposes of awarding the top seed for the tournament. The Lumberjacks got that which Oliver didn’t really have a problem with but he does think the teams should be considered regular season co-champions.
In 2005, the Coyotes finished tied with Cal Poly Pomona and the two were declared co-champions. Both got banners. Cal State has finished first or tied for first in seven of the last nine years.
“They’re telling me I can’t even claim a share of the conference and I have a problem with that. My kids worked hard and a conference title is what you strive for as a program. To say that we’re not at least a co-champion is asinine,” he said. “There will be a banner hanging in Coussoulis Arena, I guarantee that, even if I have to buy it myself.”
The CCAA has criteria for deciding a regular-season champion and others for deciding who gets into the tournament. But the line is blurred. Among the criteria is “executive decision.”
The Coyotes had a better strength of schedule, better overall record and higher West Region ranking than Humboldt, but the teams split their head-to-head games, although the Coyotes would have come out on top had point differential come into play.
But their being taken out of the equation came down to another team’s game which Oliver didn’t think was right. The conference’s criteria called for the first-place tiebreaker to be finish against the third-place team — a problem, because five teams finished tied for third.
When that tie was broken Cal State Los Angeles was third. Both Cal State and Humboldt swept their series against the Eagles. Humboldt came out on top because it swept Cal State Monterey Bay, which eneded up fourth, while the Coyotes split.
Dominguez was set up to finish third all alone but was upset by 3-17 Chico in its regular season finale. Had that not happened the Coyotes would have been the top seed because Humboldt lost a game to the Toros.
“As even as all these teams are it doesn’t seem right it should come down to that,” Oliver said. “But no one has told me what tiebreaker was used so I still don’t know for sure.”
Kamansky’s beef with the conference is that he was never notified as to where his team was playing by a conference representative. Instead he had to told by one of his players who found out on the Internet.
The Broncos knew they would play on the road Tuesday with the possibilites being close to home at San Bernardino or at Humboldt where they were already hunkered down having played the Lumberjacks that night.
The team had plans to return home Saturday, unless their quarterfinal opponent was Humboldt again, in which case they were to stay in Arcata.
San Diego was in the same position, having played Friday at San Francisco and needing to know where to go next.
Cal Poly athletic director Brian Swanson tried to call conference officials late Friday but had no luck reaching anyone for verification.
Both Kamansky and Oliver said they will take up their issues with the powers that be at this weekend’s conference meeting held in conjunction with the tournament.
“I might just have to explode. Friday night we were sure we were playing San Bernardino. Humboldt was sure we were playing San Bernardino,” Kamamsky said. “We should have just showed up at San Bernardino Tuesday night.”
Kamansky’s other issue with the conference tournament is the time it takes his players away from classes. The Broncos were out of school all last week because of the northern road trip and now have to stay an extra four days because of the game Tuesday.
If the Broncos were to win the CCAA tournament, they would advance to the regional — which will likely be held in Alaska.
“We would have kids attending their classes for about three days in three weeks, right before finals,” he said. "That’s not what we should be about. When they started this tournament they said it was for the student-athlete. Well I don’t think it's in the best interest of the student-athlete. The athlete, maybe.”
Tickets for Tuesday’s quarterfinal games and for the semfinals and title games later in the week will go on sale today at 10 a.m. at Coussoulis Arena. For more information call the ticket office a (909) 537-5048.
