It has been a nightmarish season for Victor Valley College basketball coach Tom Dudgeon.

The veteran coach thought he had the nucleus of a decent team. Unfortunately things went South long before the Rams played their first game. He had to run off a few undesirables. Give him credit for that rather than let them stay and have to possibly end up with worse issues.

But one by one other players left mysteriously. He got to the root of the problem but by the time he did it was only days before the first game and he didn’t have enough players to fill out a roster.

Well a dozen or so football players came to the rescue and said they would play so the school could field a team. A couple of games had to be rescheduled but a season was saved. Football players ended their season on Saturday, came to practice on Monday for a couple hours and were playing their first game on Tuesday. Many had not played before.

It would be one thing if Dudgeon had the players starting in October but that wasn’t the case. So the Rams have been managing on the fly. The results have been predictable. The Rams are 0-16, 0-7 in the Foothill Conference.

But Dudgeon praises his players, their work ethic, their attitudes and their demeanor. One can only imagine how miserable the situation would be if he had knuckleheads.

I took in Saturday’s game at Chaffey, just because I wanted to see how the players handled themselves. If you’re an athlete, you’re competitive, you want to win. It’s frustrating when you’re getting blown out every game.

It was 51-19 at the half. Yet there was no complaining, no players griping with each other. Dudgeon and assistants Warren Ellis and Brandon Henderson, coached their players up until the last second ticked off the clock.

The Panthers could have scored more but didn’t run it up. Class move on their part.

Final score – Chaffey 97, Victor Valley 59.

The Rams actually did some good things. But these are good athletes from another sport trying to tackle a new one. They were running an offense and looked like they had an idea what to do. It wasn’t a playground free-for-all.

To put it in perspective, I covered a game the previous night – Cal Poly Pomona at CS Dominguez Hills. Dominguez only had 13 in the first half and went 14 minutes without a field goal in one stretch. So it happens to even the best of teams.

Dudgeon says he wants to stay and coach at the school. Let’s hope the powers that be give him that chance. This team’s problems were not his doing and sometimes you learn more about a coach and his players in situations like this than when they’re actually winning.

Satuday’s local college basketball games

MEN

UC Irvine at UC Riverside, 7 p.m.

San Francisco State at Cal Poly Pomona, 7:30 p.m.

CS San Bernardino at CS Monterey Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Cal Baptist at Dixie State (Utah), 6:30 p.m.

La Verne at Pomona-Pitzer, 7 p.m.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Caltech, 7 p.m.

Barstow at Chaffey, 3 p.m.

Mt. San Jacinto at San Bernardino Valley, 3 p.m.

WOMEN

UC Riverside at UC Irvine, 4 p.m.

San Francisco State at Cal Poly Pomona, 5:30 p.m.

CS San Bernardino at CS Monterey Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Cal Baptist at Dixie State (Utah), 4 p.m.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Caltech, 5 p.m.

UC Santa Cruz at Redlands, 5 p.m.

La Verne at Pomona-Pitzer, 5 p.m.

Barstow at Chaffey, 1 p.m.

Mt. San Jacinto at San Bernardino Valley, 1 p.m.

Following a two-month national search, UC Riverside Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Wickstrom has named Michelle Patton as the team’s head women’s volleyball coach. She had served as head coach at San Francisco State the past five years reviving a program that lay dormant from 2004-07.

In 2012, the Gators posted the second best winning percentage in the history of the program going 21-9 on the year including a 16-6 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association play and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Those 16 conference victories were the most in the 35-year history of the program, earning San Francisco State its best-ever finish in league play as the Gators came in second behind NCAA West Region Finalist Cal State San Bernardino.

“I am excited to welcome Michelle to the Highlanders family,” said Wickstrom. “She has been a winner at every level—player, assistant and head coach. During the search, we spoke with a number of people in the volleyball community. Michelle is known as a tireless worker who can put the pieces together to win.

“I want to thank the search committee of Julie Hall, Eric Buskirk and Jason List for all of the hours they put in to complete a thorough search resulting in such an outstanding fit for UC Riverside.”

“I would like to thank Athletics Director, Brian Wickstrom, and the entire search committee for this amazing opportunity,” said Patton. “It was evident throughout my interview process that it is an extremely exciting time to be part of UC Riverside Athletics. The vision and leadership that Brian and his team displayed, along with their commitment to volleyball, was instrumental in my decision to become part of Highlanders Athletics. I am eager to begin working with the players and moving UC Riverside Volleyball in a positive direction.”

When Patton arrived at San Francisco State, she took over a program that was disbanded following the 2003 season after a five-year stretch that saw them compile a record of 20-126.

Patton nearly matched that win total in her first year as San Francisco State went 13-15 in 2008. The following season, the Gators did match that win total going 20-11 on their way to the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987.

In 2010, SF State registered its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1996-97 after recording a 14-13 overall record and an 11-11 mark in the CCAA, including an upset of nationally ranked UC San Diego for the second year in a row to go along with its first sweep of perennial league contender Cal State L.A. in 23 years.

The following year, SF State compiled a 15-12 record and an 11-11 mark in the CCAA, marking the first time since 1986-88 that the Purple and Gold posted an overall winning record in three consecutive seasons. The Gators reeled off a five-match winning streak from Sept. 17-Oct. 1, capped by a four-set road victory at Cal State L.A.

Prior to her appointment at SF State, Patton served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Wyoming from 2004-07.

Patton began her coaching career as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Washington, from 2002-2004, where she was involved in successfully rebuilding a Pac-10 program, helping the Huskies to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and an Elite Eight finish in 2003.

Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Patton was a setter at Washington from 1994-1997, where she helped the nationally-ranked Huskies to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 finish in 1997. She ranks fifth on the UW career list for assists with 2,655 and 11th for aces with 97. In 1996, Patton averaged 13.28 assists per game, which is still sixth on the Huskies’ single-season list.

The latest state community college poll (women’s basketball)

1. Mt. SAC (17-0)

2. Ventura (18-2)

3. Mt. San Jacinto (14-1)

4. Fresno City (15-3)

5. San Bernardino Valley (13-3)

6. Santa Rosa (12-4)

7. Long Beach (12-2)

8. Foothill (13-5)

9. Pasadena (11-4)

10. Siskiyous (12-3) and Ohlone (13-4)

12. Canyons 10-6

13. Modesto (11-3)

14. East Los Angeles (10-4)

15. Cypress (11-70

16. Sierra (9-5)

17. San Francisco (9-7)

18. Cosumnes River (10-3)

19. Irvine Valley (10-3)

20. Chaffey (10-5)

South Region poll

1. Mt. SAC

2. Ventura

3. Mt. San Jacinto

4. San Bernardino Valley

5. Long Beach

6. Pasadena

7. Canyons

8. Chaffey

9. Cypress

10. East Los Angeles

11. Irvine Valley

12. Los Angeles Valley

13. Citrus

14. Moorpark

15. Los Angeles Pierce

North Region

1. Fresno

2. Santa Rosa

3. Foothill

4. Siskiyous

5. Ohlone

6. Sierra

7. Modesto

8. San Francisco

9. Diablo Valley

10. Cosumnes River

11. San Joaquin Delta

12. Se Anza

13. Chabot

14. Mission

15. San Jose City

State Poll
1. San Francisco
2. Mt. San Antonio
3. Santa Rosa
4. Saddleback
5. Foothill
6. Ohlone
7. Mt. San Jacinto
8. Sierra
9. East Los Angeles
10. Lassen
11. Antelope Valley
12. Chaffey
13. Riverside
14. San Jose City
15. Los Angeles Pierce
16. Ventura
17. Fresno
18. Diablo Valley
19. Sequoias
20. (tie) Canyons, MiraCosta

Northern California
1. San Francisco
2. Santa Rosa
3. Foothill
4. Ohlone
5. Sierra
6. Lassen
7. San Jose City
8. Fresno
9. Diablo Valley
10. Sequoias
11. Contra Costa
12. Cabrillo
13. Mendocino
14. Yuba
15. (tie) Canada, Modesto

Southern California
1. Mt. San Antonio
2. Saddleback
3. Mt. San Jacinto
4. East Los Angeles
5. Antelope Valley
6. Chaffey
7. Riverside
8. Los Angeles Pierce
9. Ventura
10. (tie) Canyons, MiraCosta
12. Palomar
13. San Bernardino
14. San Diego City
15. (tie) Santa Ana, Allan Hancock, Citrus

The final 2012 CCCFCA ranking after Bowl and playoff games -

1. Bakersfield (11-2)

2. San Francisco (10-2)

3. Butte (10-1)

4. Mt. San Antonio (11-1)

5. Ventura (10-1)

6. Riverside (9-2)

7. American River (8-3)

8. Fresno (8-3)

9. San Joaquin Delta (8-3)

10. Siskiyous (10-1)

11. De Anza (8-3)

12. San Mateo (7-4)

13. Santa Ana (8-3)

14. Southwestern (10-1)

15. Saddleback (6-5)

16. Fullerton (7-4)

17. Citrus (7-4)

18. Diablo Valley (7-4)

19. LA Harbor (6-5)

20. LA Pierce (9-2)

21. Mt. San Jacinto (9-2)

22. Santa Monica (9-2)

23. College of the Canyons (5-6)

24. Contra Costa (8-3)

25. Allan Hancock (5-5)

Southern California Poll

1. Bakersfield; 2. Mt. SAC; 3. Ventura; 4. Riverside; 5. Santa Ana; 6. Southwestern; 7. Saddleback; 8. Fullerton; 9. Citrus; 10. LA Harbor; 11. LA Pierce; 12. Mt. San Jacinto; 13. Santa Monica; 14. Canyons; 15. Allan Hancock; 16. Cerritos (5-5); 17. Antelope Valley (7-3); 18. Grossmont (5-5); 19. Palomar (4-6); 20. San Bernardino Valley (6-4).

Northern California poll

1. San Francisco; 2. Butte; 3. American River; 4. Fresno; 5. San Joaquin Delta; 6. Siskiyous; 7. De Anza; 8. San Mateo; 9. Diablo Valley; 10. Contra Costa; 11. Sierra (5-6); 12. Chabot (5-6); 13. Modesto (4-6); 14. Sacramento (5-5); 15. Laney (5-6); 16. Sequioas (4-6); 17. Hartnell (6-4); 18. Monterey Peninsula (5-6); 19. Santa Rosa (3-7); 20. Los Medanos (6-4).

The Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team turned in a 52-51 win over UC San Diego which on the surface may not seem that impressive.The Tritons came in to the game in last place and you’re supposed to beat the last place team if you’re tied for first right?

But the Broncos (9-0) played without three starters as a result of a brawl in their previous game against Humboldt State. Mohammed Fall and Shannon Sharpe were both ejected from that game, thus each had to sit out this game.

But DeRonn Scott also got a Coach-imposed one-game suspension. He was the one that actually started the brawl, although the officials didn’t catch it when they huddled to make that call during the game.

Broncos coach Greg Kamansky made the decision to bench Scott for his participation in the melee. Nowadays there is so much pressure on coaches to win, even at the Division II level. It would have been easy for Kamansky to look the other way, especially since he already had two players sitting. But that speaks of Kamansky’s character the high standard to which he holds his players.

Kamansky told me a week ago he was going to bench Scott but asked that it not be made public to tip off his opponent. But San Diego coach Chris Carlson was not surprised. He knows Kamansky well and expected him to sit the third player.

Asked after the game if he regretted that decision even if his team were to have lost, Kamansky said no. And in the end the Broncos benefited from the experience. Now the players know they can overcome adversity and the loss of any individual, be it by injury or whatever. And the message has been sent to the players that bad behavior won’t be tolerated.

There has been a void in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball playoffs the last two years. Traditional contenders Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona both missed making the 64-team field – a huge disappointment for two programs with proud pasts.

Look for the downward trend to change. Both are fielding teams who should contend not just in the tough CCAA, but the West Region as well. The Broncos (8-0, 4-0) sit first at the moment, just a shade of you now who – Cal State San Bernardino (5-1, 3-0).

The No. 6 Broncos have maybe the most complete all-around player in the conference in senior Mitchel Anderson. He’s not flashy, so he probably doesn’t get quite the attention he deserves. But every game he’ll be there with his 18 points, 7 to 10 rebounds, a handful of steals, handful of assists.

A strong supporting cast surrounds him – DeRonn Scott, Terrence Drisdom, Shannon Sharpe, Mohamed Fall.

Then there are Jeff Oliver’s Coyotes.Start with monster dunker Kwame Alexander. Then there’s super slick point guard Brian Goins and a bevy 3-point threats in Lacy Haddock, Jamari Simmons, Johnny Bell. There are no shortage of offensive threats.

The Coyotes haven’t necessarily played well the last three games, but they made clutch plays down the stretch and seem to have a chemistry and mental toughness that has been lacking in recent years.

Both teams are worth the price of admission. When they play each other Jan. 5 at Kellogg Gymnasium it will be a showdown between local rivals that had lacked some intensity in recent years. The winner will emerge as the team to beat in the CCAA.

The Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team picked up a huge win, defeating Humboldt State 69-47.It was a huge win for many reasons. It establishes the Broncos (8-0, 4-0) as the team to beat in the CCAA, based on the teams it has already beaten.

But the buzz afterward was more about the brawl that took place at the 8-minute mark of the second half and resulted in the ejection of four players – two from each team.Suspensions are sure to follow.

The game wasn’t chippy and there was no previous altercation leading up to the skirmish. The referees were letting the teams play so there was some frustration on both sides that more fouls were not called.

CPP led 49-42 with 7:50 left. There was a rough scramble for a loose ball at the CPP end and CPP’s DeRonn Scott and Humboldt’s Deaundry Robinson were exchanging pleasantries. CPP’s Shannon Sharpe then interjected himself and began getting into a shoving match with Robinson and Darren Turpin.

The worst offender was CPP’s Mohamed Fall, who came racing off the bench to the Humboldt end where he hurled a punch at Austin Bryan, then jumped on top of him. (That happened right in front of me.)

That’s when benches cleared.

Most were trying to break it up but a young Humboldt assistant coach was an aggressor, which angered the Cal Poly folks.

The referees restored order and ejected the proper participants – Fall, Sharpe, Robinson and Turpin. All will get the mandatory one-game suspension but the CCAA can assess more games.

Broncos coach Greg Kamansky said he will appeal any suspension more than a game, based on what the office has issued in the past. Two years ago a player from CS Dominguez Hills cold-cocked a CS Stanislaus player in the back of the head, an offense which most other coaches thought should have been season-ending. And he got just one game.

Both teams have no history of such incidents. The only other one Kamansky can remember from his team was back in 2006 and involved Kaelen Daniels.

The player likely in the most trouble would be Fall, who might get an extra game for leaving the bench.

Fortunately for Humboldt it’s next game is a non-conference tilt with lowly Pacifica.

Cal Poly’s next game is a CCAA game against UC San Diego which is currently in last-place but is well-coached and can be a tough foe.

Cal Poly athletic director Brian Swanson said the schools are likely to be notified early next week. Stay tuned!

Carl Beach’s tenure as football coach at Chaffey College is officially over. He is going to stay on as athletic director, with the interim label he had the last three years being lifted.

Ron Hadaway, Beach’s right-hand man since he arrived in 1996, has been named the successor. His appointment was the worst-kept secret in the Inland Empire. Most knew the torch would eventually be passed to him.

It’s a good decision for the future of the football program and the athletic department as a whole. The transition to Hadaway should be a smooth one. He was handling many of the day-to-day coaching chores anyway with Beach having to tend to the department. Hadaway knows the staff and the athletes already in place and is familiar with the landscape of the Inland Empire.

It is surprising the school didn’t officially make the move sooner. It is one thing for a coach to handle that job simultaneously for a year but Beach has done it for three. It should not be a surprise that the Panthers showing on the football field has slipped in recent years. The Panthers were 2-8 in 2012 despite playing a lesser schedule than in previous years.

Handling any sport while being an athletic director is an unenviable task. When it’s a sport such as football where you’re dealing with such a large number of athletes, it’s almost impossible.

Beach, 63, has four decades of coaching behind him, he shouldn’t have to put in 12-hour days six days a week.

I’ll miss quizzing him each week as to whose injured, what position changes is he is making and what he thinks of the upcoming opponent. But he’ll still be around and that’s a good thing!