Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO - New San Bernardino Valley College football coach Kevin Emerson kept insisting his team put a woeful 0-10 season behind it. It showed as the Wolverines turned in a spirited effort, only to fall 13-6 in overtime to visiting College of the Desert.

The loss was the 16^th straight dating back to the 2007 season and SBVC lost to the same team 34-17 a year ago. But Emerson wasn't ready to call the showing to a powerful foe from the upper division a moral victory.

``We want to win games. That's the bottom line," Emerson said. ``You guys can call it whatever you want. We had every opportunity to win the game and didn't get it done. We have to go work harder this week.''

It was a battle of defense and kickers since neither team could find the end zone.  COD's only points came on field goals of 31 and 39 yards by Brett Symonds and SBVC doing the same with Jaime Garcia hitting from 25 and 30 yards. Each team made two of four field goal tries with the misses being more the fault of the other offensive personnel.

The Wolverines had the chance to win the game in the closing seconds, taking over possession at their own 34 after a COD fumble following a 40-yard play. The drive was hardly a fluid one as they appeared to be done in twice only to be bailed out by a COD offside and a pass interference call three plays later.

With a second-and-14 at the COD 39 quarterback Robert Fuller flipped the ball off to Eric Charles who then lofted the halfback option pass down field to an open Marcus Williams but the pass was just a little long with 22 seconds to go.

The same play had worked for a 21-yard gain midway through the third quarter.

A 14-yard completion to Williams with 14 seconds left gave SBVC a first down. It worked the ball down to the 25 with Fuller running 10 yards and keeping the ball in the middle of the field for the field goal try with two seconds left.

Desert called two time outs to ice the kicker but Garcia never really had a chance as the offensive line broke down, preventing him from getting a clean effort off.

Desert had the ball first in the overtime and needed just four plays, scoring when Gaston Bailey hauled in a nine-yard toss from backup quarterback Cameron Epting.

SBVC never got much going on its turn and the game ended with Fuller's 16-yard completion to Williams on fourth down short by two yards.

SBVC totaled 284 yards offense. Fuller, who red-shirted last year at Utah State, went 15-of-33 for 155 yards.  He also ran for 37 on seven tries. Ronnie Yarber led SBVC ball carriers with 53 yards on 12 carries.

COD managed 198 with Epting throwing for 106.

SBVC hurt itself with penalties. It was called for 12 penalties for 180 yards. It had an 11-yard scoring pass from Fuller to Eric Charles in the first half nullified by an illegal block. Then in the fourth quarter Jim O'Brien, one of the many SBVC standouts on defense, ran back an interception 19 yards for a touchdown which was called back by an offsides.

The SBVC defense turned in some punishing hits, one of which sent starting quarterback J.D. Buonantony out of the game for good with 9:22 left in the half. He had tucked the ball and run and was stopped by a defender though he was still on his feet.  Another defender came in from the other direction and leveled him.

``I hope we showed people we can play good football tonight,'' Emerson said. ``We're going to win some games.''

The Wolverines will play at Riverside next Saturday in the Bell Game.

michelle.gardner@inlandnewspapers.com (909) 483-9344.

Soares is interested in the medical field and Touro is noted for its health sciences program. He will be starting the Physician Assistant program in the fall.

Soares was a part-time starter and major contributor on a Panthers squad that went 27-7 and advanced to the Southern California Regional Finals. He averaged six points and 3.4 rebounds and shot 80 percent from the free-throw line. He had a high game of 16 points in a winning effort vs Ventura.

Soares also competed in track, placing third at the state meet in the high jump.

Soares is the fourth player from the Panthers to decide on a four-year university. The others are Lamar Williams (Columbus State), Nickalas Turner (Minot State) and Winston Robinson (Mountain State).

She helped the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines to back-to-back Foothill Conference title teams, inlcuding the 2007-2008 team that tied the school record for most consecutive wins and most wins a season.

She was a first-team All-Foothill Conference selection, averaging 8.l7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Her best games were a 22-point showing against Victor Valley and a 21-point effort against Chaffey.

She plans to major in photography.

The Urban Knights compete in the Pacific West Conference and are coming off a 6-20 season in their first year at the Division II level.

Winston was a two time 1st team Foothill Conference performer who led Chaffey College to a 27- 7 record and a place in the Southern California Regional Finals in 2009. Winston led the "CHP"  in scoring 18.8 ppg  and rebounding 9.2  for the season .    He had a high game of 32 points in a winning effort vs Mt. San Jacinto College. Chaffey Head Coach Jeff Klein says,

"Winston is a very competitive person. He competes hard everyday in practice and when the game is on the line he wants the ball. "Philly" won games for Chaffey from the free throw line, with offensive rebound put backs, and from the three point line. He is extremely versatile and an incredibly tough matchup for any defender. Mountain State is getting one of the better players to come out of Chaffey College.

 Mountain State Head Coach Bob Bolen says," We are real excited about having an athlete of Winston's caliber sign with the Cougars. His work ethic shown by his improvement from the three point line 20% in 2008 to 46% in 2009 is very exciting for us. We also like that "Philly" comes from a winning program at Chaffey College."

Winston is the third player to sign from the 2008 / 09 season. Lamar Williams signed with Columbus State and Nickalas Turner signed with Minot State.
 

Dias, out of Colony High School, is SBVC all-time scoring leader. In two seasons she amassed 24 goals and 11 assists.

Wayne State competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and is coached by Molly Graham who will be entering her first year.

"Concordia is a newer swim program, and everything I've heard about the program I like. It's a great opportunity to be a part of a growing and nationally competitive team," Locatell said. "[Citrus Head] Coach [Tim] Kyle has helped me get better in the best way possible these past few years. The competition at the State level has helped push me."

Locatell helped the Fighting Owls to their best conference finish in 12 years this past season, as he paced Citrus for a second place finish at the WSC Championships. Locatell swept all three of his events at the WSC Championships and finished 2^nd at the State Championships in the 200 Butterfly. Locatell was also named Citrus College Male Athlete of the Year two weeks ago.

"With hard work and dedication to the sport, Weston has managed to set his name alongside the best of the best in Citrus History. Now he has set his sights even higher with Concordia University in mind," said Citrus College Head Swim Coach Tim Kyle. "Only great things will come to an individual like Weston,m who has such passion to excel. Look for Weston to leave a huge impression at the NAIA level of swimming in the near future."

Locatell will join an emerging program at Concordia. This past year, the Eagles placed third at the NAIA Championships in St. Peters, Missouri.

"I'm looking forward to the competition and travel that the next level will provide," Pike said. "Citrus has helped me improve over the last couple of years tremendously. My attitude, patience, passing, setting, and overall game has improved over the past two seasons."

Pike will be joining a young Gator's squad that finished the season just three games under .500 last year.

"Mackenzie has been a solid citizen and a great role model for Citrus College and the volleyball program," Citrus College Head Volleyball Coach Shin Jung said. "I can not emphasize enough the impact that she has made for the program and the work ethic she has left for others to follow."

Minot State University is a member of the Dakota Athletic Conference. The Beavers won the Conference in 2005 and 2008.

Turner was a two time 1^st team Foothill Conference performer who led Chaffey College to a 27- 7 record and a place in the Southern California Regional Finals in 2009. Nick was one of our team captains and averaged 16.4 ppg/4.4 Rebs/ and a team leading 142 three pointers for the "CHP" in his career.

  He had a high game of 28 points in a winning effort his freshman year vs Mt. San Jacinto College.

 Chaffey Head Coach Jeff Klein says, "Nick is a very competitive person. He is a fearless three point shooter and when pressured he can take it to the rack hard. Defensively, Nick gets after it and will battle on the boards. "

Forward Zipporah Brown (Rancho Cucamonga HS) is headed to Cal State San Bernardino while frontcourt mate Aundria Anderson (Miller HS) is headed to the Coyotes CCAA rival Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The guard duo of Keisha Mackall (Miller HS) and Tamesha Jackson (Upland HS) is headed to NAIA Bacone College in Okla.

The quartet led the Panthers (22-10, 9-5) to a fifth-place finish in the tough Foothill Conference which advanced its top five teams to the playoffs.

"I like Missouri Valley a lot. They have a lot of diversity on campus, and the coaching staff seems really nice," said West. "Coming out of high school I didn't really expect to get a scholarship to play basketball. The Citrus team and coaching staff did a good job of putting us out there, and putting us in a position to get recruited."

During her two year stint at Citrus, West helped lead the Lady Owls to a 42-23 record in two seasons and a Southern California playoff appearance in 2009. During the 08-09 season, West averaged 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

"Shateah has been given a great opportunity to further her academic and athletic career. I am extremely happy for her and her Mom," said Citrus College Women's Basketball Head Coach Eric Anderson. "With an unwavering amount of dedication and hard work I believe that Shateah West will have great success."

West will bring some winning experience to a Missouri Valley team that struggled last season, going 5-27.

The biggest explosion came in the first inning, but things settled down after that and the Panthers emerged with an 8-3 win over the Wolverines. The two teams meet again Saturday in a doubleheader at Chaffey starting at noon.

"This was big to win the first game," Chaffey coach Jeff Harlow said. "It's easier to lose two than win two, so the first game is huge, especially coming here and winning."

The Panthers (26-11, 16-3) came out of the gates strong, scoring in the first frame when Gerry Hernandez singled home Chris Lemus. But then came the fireworks.

Hernandez rounded first after the hit and was tagged out by SBVC first baseman Chris Sautia. Umpire Bill Barnes originally ruled Hernandez safe, which upset SBVC coach

Bill Mierzwik, who came out to argue. After the umpires conferred, Hernandez was called out, which set off Harlow and led to a heated altercation between the coach and umpire.

Harlow admitted he was surprised he wasn't tossed, but said the umpire bumped him first, and Mierzwik said he had planned to get tossed if the call wasn't changed in his favor.

Chaffey broke the game open, going up 4-2 on a towering home run by Willie Holmes in the seventh inning off starter Kevin Ryan. SBVC (22-15, 13-6) crept back, though, with an unearned run in the seventh to make it 4-3, but the  Panthers put the game away with four runs in the eighth, aided by two Wolverine errors.

That was more than enough for Chaffey's Colby Gurney (10-0), who scattered seven hits, struck out eight and gave up three runs before getting relief help in the ninth from Derrick Duran.

Catcher Nick Hartman had three of Chaffey's 11 hits. Holmes and Christopher Haas had two each. SBVC got three hits and two RBIs from sophomore third baseman James Frederick, and Evan Erickson had two hits.

"We have won the games we're supposed to win, but when it comes to playing the better teams, we haven't put all three facets of the game together," Mierzwik said. <NO1>"We have to do that, because they're a good team."

Kyle helped lead the Fighting Owls to their best conference championships finish since 1997 this past weekend. Citrus grabbed 2^nd place at the WSC Championships, beating 3^rd place Cuesta College by a lone point. Kyle also coached Locatell and four relay teams to the State Championships which take place this weekend in Long Beach.

Locatell, who was an All-American last year, just got better this year, winning all three individual events he participated in at the WSC Championships. Locatell won the 200 IM, 100 Fly, and 200 Fly. Locatell also smashed the previous conference record in the 200 Fly, beating the previous record set in 1998 by over a full second. His time of 1:52.07 is also the fastest time in the State this year.

You can catch Locatell and company one final time this weekend as they participate in the 20009 California Community College Athletic Association State Championships held at the Belmont Plaza Hotel in Long Beach. Prelims begin on Thursday April 23^rd at 9:30 AM.

Citrus College Superintendent/President Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D. will address the crowd and throw out the ceremonial first pitch along with Board of Trustees President Mrs. Susan M. Keith.

Following the dedication ceremonies the Lady Owls softball team will take on visiting Canyons College ranked #9 in the State of California.

For more information regarding this event, please contact Paula Green in the Citrus College External Relations Office at 626/914-8873 or pgrreen@citruscollege.edu.