January 2008 Archives

Junior Erynne Oki of UC Riverside was named the Big West Women's Tennis Player of the Week after she picked up a win in her #1 Singles match against #61 Julie Trunk of San Diego State, 6-4, 4-6, and 11-9.

Oki became the first UCR player to beat a singles player ranked that high since the school moved to Division I. It was the only point for the Highlanders in their 6-1 loss to the No. 49-rated Aztecs down in San Diego, CA last Saturday.

UCR does not return to the courts until next week when they host a dual match with Cal Poly Pomona on February 6th.

By Michelle Gardner

 

Staff Writer

For the Cal State San Bernardino baseball team, close has not been quite good enough the last two years. The Coyotes finished fifth in the 10-team conference, one place lower than needed to qualify for the CCAA tournament.

Ditto the previous season.

So the Coyotes are looking forward to changing that trend as the 2008 season gets underway today. Cal State, 29-22 overall and 20-16 in the CCAA last season, opens play with a 2 p.m. game against Cal State Dominguez Hills (16-36-1, 11-25) at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.

“We should be much better offensively,” says veteran coach Don Parnell, starting his 17th year. “It will be a matter of whether or not our pitchers coming back can step it up a notch.”

The Coyotes were picked to finish their familiar fifth in a preseason poll of member coaches. UC San Diego (37-25, 24-12 in 2007), Chico State (47-15, 25-11), defending CCAA champion Sonoma State (50-12, 29-7) and defending West Region champion Cal State Los Angeles (45-17-1, 27-9) were picked ahead of the Coyotes.
Three of those teams are ranked nationally by Collegiate Baseball with San Diego at 15, Los Angeles at 17 and Chico at 19.

The Coyotes return three of their four starting pitchers led by senior Matt Long (5-4, 3.30) who will today. Senior right-handers Cheyne Hann (4-6, 5.51) and Kevin Wilson (3-2, 3.68) will also hold down slots in the rotation with the No. 4 spot still up for grabs.

Parnell is high on junior Mike Leal, a transfer from Riverside Community College, but he has performed well out of the bullpen in the past and might be better suited for that role.

Others who will contribute from the mound are sophomore right-hander Brent Planck, a transfer from University of San Diego, and senior Jose Hernandez who only pitched seven innings a year ago and is coming off arm surgery. Senior right-hander Theron Cueva should also be in the mix once he returns from elbow surgery.

“We are still waiting to see how things come together as far as that fourth spot,” Parnell said. “We have some options but we have some guys coming off injuries that we’re bringing along slowly.”
Returning position players include senior third baseman Drew Valenzuela (.318, 31 RBI), senior second baseman Michael Minjares (.311), senior first baseman-designated hitter Kyle Walton (.303, 20 RBI) and left-fielder Justin Watson (.258).

Junior Chris Olsen, who saw limited playing time last season, replaces the graduated Patrick Walker behind the plate.

Newcomers are expected to play a major in the team’s success. The most notable will be senior Jason Klug, who will swap out at first with Walton.

The Moreno Valley native played two years at San Bernardino Valley College then went on to Dominguez where he netted conference and West Region Player of the Year honors, hitting a gaudy .405 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI. He sat out last season after having arm surgery.

“We’re really fortunate to have him,” Parnell said. “He put up some monster numbers two years ago. We’re not expecting him to put up the same numbers but if he can be close then it will help us a lot.”
Two transfers from Los Angeles Pierce should make the starting lineup with Daniel Soles at shortstop and Andrew Tapia in rightfield.

Rounding out the starting lineup will be junior centerfielder Johnnie Haas, who is stepping for Justin Roberson who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent. Haas, a Hesperia native who played at Victor Valley College, has not played baseball in three years because he served a Mormom mission.

“You would think it would take him some time to get back into it but he has looked really good,” Parnell said of Haas.

Parnell expects his team to be in the hunt for a postseason playoff berth that it earned four times between 2001 and 2005.

“Last year the conference was stronger than it has ever been,” he said. “But a lot of teams lost key players. L.A. lost 22 players, basically everyone that contributed. There is no reason that we can’t be up there competing with those teams.”

Cal Poly Pomona basketball coach Greg Kamansky and Cal State San Bernardino coach Jeff Oliver don’t think they will have to caution their teams about overconfidence when they head north to start the second round of CCAA play against San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay.

The Coyotes (15-3, 8-2), ranked second in the region and 13th nationally, have a one-game lead in the CCAA over Humboldt State (12-5, 7-3) and Cal Poly Pomona (8-7, 7-3) with three other teams two games back.

Meanwhile Monterey Bay (4-12, 3-7) stands ninth out of 11 teams so it might look like an easy win. But think again. The Otters beat UC San Diego in the first go-round, something both the Coyotes and the Broncos failed to do.

“They are very dangerous offensively,” Oliver said. “They keep coming at you, they shoot the three very well and they do not quit. You can’t get rid of them.”

Kamansky agrees.

“They are not a 4-12 team,” he said. “I don’t know why they haven’t won more games because they have given all of us fits. They never think they’re out of a game.”

Then there’s San Francisco State (11-6, 6-4), picked by the coaches in the preseason to finish dead last after a 6-21 showing a year ago. But the Gators have been the surprise team thus far. And like Monterey Bay, the Gators beat San Diego a week ago.

The Coyotes also have a history of struggling in the cramped, antiquated gym. Three years ago they faced the Gators in the last game of the regular season with the outright conference title on the line and lost to a then .500 team.

Cal State defeated San Francisco handily at Coussoulis Arena but the Broncos lost to the Gators at home in their first conference game of the season.

“Back then it seemed like a really bad loss,” Kamansky said. “But they have shown they’re for real. No one is taking them lightly now. Certainly not us.”

Oliver said his team is coming off perhaps its best practice of the season. The Coyotes have been led recently by senior center Michael Earl (13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg) and senior guard Marlon Pierce (12.1 ppg, 4.1 apg) with junior Devon Davis (5.1 ppg) and senior David Reichel (6.8 ppg) putting in some quality minutes off the bench in a win over Humbolt State Saturday.

Kamansky has gotten a stellar effort from his 1-2 punch of junior forward Larry Gordon (18.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and senior guard Angelo Tsagarakis (15 ppg, 2.8 apg). But others have stepped up in recent games, most notably sophomore Donnelle Booker (7.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

Both teams face tough roads the rest of the way. The Broncos, who are ranked eighth in the region, have eight of their last 10 conference games on the road while the Coyotes are on the road for seven.

“We have a tough road ahead of us,” Oliver said. “Humboldt is in the best shape because they have the majority of their games at home and we still have to go there.”

Both women’s teams will be playing the same foes. Cal State San Bernardino (14-3, 8-2) is tied atop the conference with Chico State and was a surprising second in the first West Region poll of the season released on Wednesday.

Coach Kevin Becker thought his team would be fifth or sixth.

The Broncos (8-8, 5-5) are tied for fifth in the conference but have beaten two nationally ranked teams in the last eight days - defending conference and region champion UC San Diego and Sonoma State.

Cal State gets San Francisco State tonight while Cal Poly opens play at Monterey. The teams will then swap foes the following night.

There are a two local players on the rosters of the opposing teams. Former Rialto High and San Bernardino Valley College standout Ja’Nae Westmoreland (6.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg) plays for Monterey Bay while junior guard Will Logan (5.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg), a former Apple Valley High player, is on the Gators roster.

The UNLV Rebels went 2-0 on Saturday at Eller Media Stadium in wins over Palomar College and the College of Southern Nevada. The Rebels ran away from the PC Comets in the first game, 13-0, but had to come back against the CSN Coyotes, en route to the 9-4 win.

In game one, the Rebels jumped out early and scored often in its game with the Comets. UNLV plated 13 runs on 18 hits, while Palomar was held scoreless and tallied only three hits.

The Rebels, playing as the visitors, struck first with a two-run single by Cajon High School graduate Laura Briones. With Jaci Hull and Kendall Fearn on base, Briones knocked her single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

Those two runs were all that Stephanie Bregante would need, as she faced three batters over the minimum in the win. Bregante surrendered only three hits and struck out six in the shut out victory. She had two stretches of retiring seven straight. Palomar's best scoring opportunity came in the sixth, when she opened up the frame with a walk and surrendered a single. A sacrifice bunt pushed both runners into scoring position, but she got the next two batters to pop out to end the inning.

Alyssia De La Torre extended UNLV's lead to 4-0 with a two-run home run to right in the second. De La Torre shot scored Ashli Holland, who was on first following a single.

Jaci Hull led off the third with a solo shot to deep center that cleared the outer fence of the stadium. Holland produced two RBI later in the inning with a single up the middle to score Rosa Ordaz and Cheynah Farley.

UNLV got a run in the fifth off of a wild pitch. Fearn reached on a single and made her way to second on a fielder's choice. She made her way home on two wild pitches.

After a scoreless sixth, Hull opened the seventh with a walk and made her way to third on a wild pitch with Fearn at-bat. Fearn proceeded to knock a single up the middle to score Hull. Ordaz followed with a double down the right line to push Fearn to third. Briones would up hitting a single to right to score Fearn for a 10-0 lead.

The Rebels scored three in the top of the seventh. Holland led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a single by De La Torre. Yucaipa's  Brittany Bolinger hit a sac fly to center to score Holland. A wild pitch took De La Torre to second before she scored on a single by Stephanie Bean, who moved to second on an errant throw by the right fielder. Ordaz closed out the UNLV scoring with a single to right to bring home Bean.

In the second game, UNLV had a tough go from the start, but the offense awoke as the game progressed against CSN in the 9-4 affair.

CSN held UNLV scoreless in the top of the first and took a quick 2-0 lead on a home run down the left field line.

The Rebels knotted things up in the second when Paus nailed a double to left to score Briones and Farley.

The Coyotes went up 4-2 in the bottom of the second on a sac fly and a groundout.

Those four runs were the only scores that Traci Odegard would give up. Odegard was touched for four runs on five hits in the first two innings, but settled down and allowed only two hits in the remaining five frames. In all she surrendered seven hits and struck out five, while walking none.

UNLV was kept off the scoreboard in the third and fourth, but rebounded for seven runs in the final three innings. In the fifth, De La Torre hit a single to left, but the relay throw by the CSN short stop rolled out of play to let Bean and herself to score. Those two runs evened the score for the second time.

The game tilted to UNLV in the sixth when a sac fly by Paus put the Rebels up for good at 5-4. A single to right by Bean brought Ordaz in from second.

In the seventh, the Rebels added three more runs for the 9-4 advantage. Bolinger reached on a one-out single and moved to third on a steal and an errant throw. Fearn stepped up and knocked a double to center to score Bolinger after Hull walked and moved to second on a steal. The ninth run of the game scored when a ball put into play by Bean was misplayed by the CSN second baseman and rolled into right to bring Fearn home.

California Baptist finds itself in a familiar place in the NAIA Softball Preseason Top 25 released Wednesday. The Lancers are in the top five again as they start the season at No. 2. Defending national champion, Oklahoma City, takes the top spot while Golden State Athletic Conference rival Point Loma Nazarene starts 2008 out at No. 3. Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) and Simon Fraser (B.C.) round out the top five.

The Lancers did receive one first-place vote and a total of 313 points, but the Stars received 12 first-place votes and 324 points.

Other notables in the top 25 are No. 10 Vanguard, No. 19 Biola and No. 25 Concordia.

The four-time defending Golden State Athletic Conference champions kick off their season Friday when they travel to St. George, Utah to play in the Red Rock Invitational. The Lancers will play Northwest Nazarene and Dixie State, both Friday and Saturday, with games at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days.

Cal State Fullerton junior forward Toni Thomas was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday afternoon after helping the Titans to a pair of wins last week.

Thomas, a graduate of A.B. Miller High School, who won weekly conference honors for the fifth time in her career, shared her first award this season with Pacific's Karen Dawkins earlier this month (Jan. 2).

The league's leading scorer entering this week's games averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest while shooting .619 from the floor in helping Fullerton to an upset win at UC Riverside, handing the Highlanders their first and only loss in conference play thus far this season, and a road victory over Cal State Bakersfield.

Thomas had 15 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the second half at UCR and followed that up with a stellar performance against the Roadrunners, narrowly missing a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds while adding the game-winning basket with :09 remaining in regulation in Fullerton's two-point victory.

The 21 points against Cal State Bakersfield marked the fourth time in the last six games Thomas has reached the 20-point mark and the eighth time overall this season.

This season, the junior forward is averaging 18.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg while shooting .507 from the field, .381 from three-point range, and .752 from the free throw line.

Winners of its last three straight, Cal State Fullerton returns home to kick-off a four-game homestand this week, hosting local rivals Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge at Titan Gym.

The NCAA Division II Championships committees released their  first men's and women's regional polls today and both Cal State San Bernardino teams were ranked No. 2 in the region.

    This is another first for the Coyotes basketball program, recognizing both teams for being in first place in their respective California Collegiate Athletic Association divisions after the first round of conference play.

    CSUSB's men, 15-3 overall, 8-2 in the CCAA and 15-2 against regional opponents, trail Alaska-A nchorage, 16-3, 7-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and 16-0 against D-2 foes.

    The Coyotes men have beaten No. 4 Seattle Pacific, No. 6 Central Washington, No. 7 Humboldt State and No. 9 Cal State L.A. this season.

    The Coyotes women, 14-3 overall, 8-2 in the CCAA, and 11-3 against region opponents, trail unbeaten Seattle Pacific University, 16-0 overall, 14-0 in region play and ranked No. 2 in the nation.

    The women have wins over No. 4 Sonoma State and No. 6 Northwest Nazarene and have lost to No. 1 SPU, No. 3 Chico State, No. 7 UC San Diego.

    The top eight teams in both polls when the final regional poll is released on March 5 will advance to the NCAA tournament.

     CSUSB's tea,ms are on the road this week, playing at San Francisco State Friday (women at 5:30, men at 7:30 p.m.) and at Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday (same times). Both women's games will be webcast at www.csusbathletics.com (click on listen live). Both men's games will be broadcast on KTIE 590-AM and simulcast on the web.

       MEN'S WEST REGION POLL -- (team/region record) -- 1. Alaska-Anchorage (16-0); 2. Cal State San Bernardino (15-2); 3. Chaminade (10-2); 4. Seattle Pacific (12-3); 5. Northwest Nazarene (9-2); 6. Central Washington (9-5); 7. Humboldt State (10-5); 8. Cal Poly Pomona (8-5); 9. Cal State L.A. (10-4); 10. BYU-Hawaii (10-5).
    WOMEN'S WEST REGION POLL -- (team/region record) -- 1. Seattle Pacific (14-0); 2. Cal State San Bernardino (11-3); 3. Chico State (12-3); 4. Sonoma State (9-4); 5. Alaska-Anchorage (10-1); 6. Northwest Nazarene (10-4); 7. UC San Diego (11-5); 8. Saint Martin's (8-4); 9. Seattle Univ. (9-4); 10. Central

  The Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team moved up to No. 13 in the latest NABC/Division II national poll released Tuesday.

The Coyotes (15-3) were No. 5 two weeks ago but had dropped to No. 18 after back-to-back losses on the road. Coach Jeff Oliver’s team got back on the winng track with home wins over Sonoma State and then No. 17 Humboldt State last weekend.

Bentley, Mass. remains No. 1.

The Cal State women, who upset No. 25 Sonoma State Friday, just missed moving into the top 25. The Coyotes were third in the receiving votes category. All three of their losses have been to nationally ranked teams.

Both Cal State teams, as well as Cal Poly Pomona will be on the road this weekend at San Francisco State and Monterey Bay.

NABC/DIVISION II POLL

MEN

 1. Bently, Mass. (18-0) 197
2. Grand Valley, Mich. (22-0) 195
3. Winona State, Minn. (22-1) 184
4. South Dakota (16-1) 166
5. Alaska-Anchorage (16-3) 164
6. West Liberty, W.V. (15-1) 158
7. Drury, Mo. (15-2) 149
8. Northern State, S.D. (18-2) 138
9. South Carolina-Aiken (15-2) 133
10. Augusta Starte, Ga. (13-3) 123
11. Findlay, Ohio (16-3) 113
12. Southwestern Oklahoma (15-3) 112
13. Cal State San Bernardino (15-3) 111
14. Rollins, Fla. (15-3) 105
15. Gannon, Pa. (17-2) 95
16. C.W. Post, N.Y. (15-2) 73
17. Tarleton State, Texas (16-2) 70
18. Mount Olive, N.C. (14-3) 52
19. Abilene Christian, Texas (15-3) 48
20. Nebraska-Omaha (16-3) 42
21. Southwest Baptist, Mo. (13-4) 40
22. Florida Southern (15-5) 32
23. Northwest Nazarene, Idaho (13-3) 21
24. Seattle Pacific, Wash. (13-3) 16
25. Fort Lewis, Col. (15-3) 10

Others receiving votes: Edinboro, Pa. 6; Northwest Missouri State 6, Assumption, Mass. 5, California, Pa. 5; Lenoir-Rhyn, N.C. 5; Chaminade, Hawaii 4; Minnesota State 2; St. Augustine, N.C. 2; Virginia Union 2; Florida Tech 1; Northern Kentucky 1; Wingate, N.C. 1.

USA TODAY-ESPN DIVISION II

WOMEN

1. Delta State, Miss. (17-0) 624
2. Seattle Pacific, Wash. (17-0) 593
3. North Dakota (18-1) 562
4. Souith Dakota (17-1) 535
5. Indiana University, Pa. (18-1) 529
6. Concordia-St. Paul, Minn. (18-1) 495
7. Drury, Mo. (15-2) 473
8. Holy Family, Pa. (17-0) 451
9. Alaska-Anchorage (17-2) 439
10. Fairmont State, W.V. (17-2) 361
11. Fort Lewis, Col. (18-1) 350
12. Washburn, Kan. (14-3) 313
13. West Georgia (17-2) 296
14. West Texas A&M (14-3) 257
15. Valdosta State, Ga. (17-3) 247
16. Minnesota State-Mankato (16-3) 239
17. Arkansas Tech (16-2) 212
18. Chico State, Ca. (15-4) 182
19. Stonehill, Mass. (15-4) 155
20. Augustana, S.D. (18-4) 133
20. Augustana, S.D. (18-4) 133
21. Anderson, S.C. (16-2) 113
22. Francis Marion, S.C. (13-2) 104
23. Michigan Tech (16-4) 98
24. Emporia State, Kan. (12-5) 78
25. Franklin Pierce, N.H. (15-4) 68

Others receiving votes: Tampa, Fla. 45; Hillsdale, Mich 27; Cal State San Bernardino 21; California, Pa. 21; Tusculum, Tenn. 14; UC San Diego 12; Indianapolis 8; Columbus State, Ga. 7, Ferris State, Mich. 7; Missouri Science & Tech 7; Bentley, Mass. 6; North Georgia 6; Wayne State, Mich. 6; Wingate, N.C. 6; Clayton State, Ga. 5; Augusta State, Ga, 4; Sonoma State, Ca. 4; Northern Kentucky 3; Lander, S.C. 2; Shepherd, W.V. 2, Texas A&M-Commerce 2; Assumption, Mass. 1; Missouri Southern 1; Central Oklahoma 1.

 

GWEN KREMER

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Swimming

The lowdown: The senior backstroke specialist got off to a slow start because of sickness but has been a key to the Athenas success in the last four years. Won the 200 individual medley (2:19.55) in a recent dual meet against Whittier. Took third in the 200 back (2:17.01) in a dual meet with Division I Loyola Marymount. Is in her fourth year in the program, her best season being a sophomore year in which she earned all-conference honors in the 200 back and as part of the 200 medley relay.

Age: 21

Hometown: San Diego

High school: Rancho Bernardo High School, 2004

Major: Economics

Most memorable moment: Breaking a minute in the 100 backstroke.

Most embarrassing sports moment: My goggles fell off in a 200 backstroke race in college.

Role model: Jesus Christ

Person most influential in your athletic success: Steve Marksbury (cub swimming coach)

Last good book you read: Perelandra

Favorite movie: Remember the Titans

Can’t miss television shows: Law and Order: CI

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii

Favorite food: Sweet potatoes

Best advice anyone has given you: Speed  in the butterfly is distance over the water.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: A long warm-up

What’s in your CD player/iPOD? Jars of Clay

Other hobbies: Sewing

What do you want to be doing in five years?: Working on public policy research in Washington.

 

 

THOMAS STOUGHTON

University of Redlands

Swimming

The lowdown: The senior team captain is the Bulldogs top breastroker and individual medley swimmer. Won the 400 IM (4:25.36) and the 100 breaststroke (1:03.95) in the team’s most recent meet against Cal Lutheran and won the 200 breast (2:20.39) and the 200 IM (2:01.39) in the previous meet against Occidental. Has been part of SCIAC championship teams all three years this far. Placed second in the 200 breast and third in the 100 breast at last year’s SCIAC championship and also contributed on three relays. Carries a 3.64 GPA and is a presidental scholarship recipient and member of the dean’s list.

Age: 22

Hometown: Glendora

High school: Damian High School, 2004

Major: Environmental studies

Favorite athlete: Scott Niedermayer

Favorite team: Anaheim Ducks

Role model: My dad

Can’t miss TV show: American Gladiators

Most embarrassing moment: I got disqualified in a club meet for a flip turn during the transition from back to

breaststroke.

Most memorable sports moment: Senior year at Damien I was ninth in the Division I CIF finals in the 200 IM and

the 100 breaststroke.

Person most influential in your athletic success: My high school and college coaches.

Celebrity you most want to meet: Michael Phelps

Favorite food: Sushi/Japanese

Favorite movie: Top Gun

Last good book you read: Fast Food Nation

Other hobbies: Fly fishing, surfing, hiking

Favorite vacation spot: Maui (staying with my grandpa)

What’s in your CD player/iPOD: Sparta

Best advice anyone has given you: Life it what you make it.

What do you want to be doing in five years?: Working in the field of botany somehere on the West coast.

RACHEL JOHNSON

Cal State San Bernardino

Basketball

The lowdown: The 6-foot junior forward is averaging 7.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and has started 10 of 17 games for the Coyotes (14-3). Had a career-high 24 points and six assists in a 78-64 win over Cal Poly Pomona two weeks ago. Went 7-of-10 from the field and 5-for-7 from 3-point range in that game. Also had 17 points with five 3-pointers in nonconference play against Notre Dame de Namur. Averaged 6.2 points and 2.8 rebounds as a sophomore and 3.4 points and 2 rebounds as a freshman. Played four years of basketball and one year of volleyball in high school.

Age: 20

Hometown: Kennewick, Wash.

High school: Kennewick High School, 2005

Major: Communications/public relations

Favorite athlete: LeBron James

Favorite team: Boston Celtics

Role model: My parents (Brian and Cindy Johnson)

Can’t miss TV shows: King of Queens, Sex and the City

Most memorable sports moment: Playing in the NCAA Tournament (Division II) last year.

Person most influential in your athletic success: My dad

Celebrity you most want to meet: LeBron James

Favorite food: My mom’s homemade pizza

Favorite movie: Training Day

Last good book you read: The Secret

What’s in your CD player/iPod: Cam’ron Killa Season

Other hobbies: Shopping

Favorite vacation spot: Mexico

Best advice anyone has given you: Live life to the fullest.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: I chew a piece of gum on each side of my mouth.

What would you like to be doing in five years?: Have a successful career and be happily married.

- Compiled by Michelle Gardner

The Wolverines won impressively in Foothill conference play. The men defeated previously undefeated the College of the Desert Roadrunners, 95-88, while the women blew out the Roadrunners 102-44.

In the men's game, Wolverines (5-2 9-12) sophomore forward Lewis Leonard led all scorers with 25 points, and sophomore guard Johnny Barnes added a double-double (19 points 12 total rebounds), in a close win over the Roadrunners. Behind key players like freshman guard Netsanet Hailu (Riverside Poly) who added 12 points and sophomore guard Jacob Letson (REV) who had 20 points, the narrow margin of victory was preserved.

The Roadrunners (6-1 17-6) entered the game undefeated in conference play, five players hit double figures for scoring, including sophomore guard Julius Lang who had 23 points, freshman guard Andrew Avalos (Colton) with 18 points, freshman forward Robert Marshall (Moreno Valley) contributed 17 points, freshman guard Antoine Davis added 13 points, and freshman forward Spencer Dayton (Palm Desert) had 12 points in the loss.

In the women's game, sophomore forward Ronisha Edwards (Riverside La Sierra) totaled 16 points and 12 total rebounds, in the first game of the year which Wolverines have scored over 100 points. As the state's number one defense, the Wolverines (7-1 18-5) pressured the Roadrunners into 24 turnovers and converted them into points.

Sophomore guard Shy Walter (Perris) scored 17 points, sophomore forward Sylvia Roland (Rialto) contributed 14 points, and freshman guard Dwayanna Pullum had 12 points in the blowout win. The Roadrunners (3-5 6-16) were led by sophomore guard Charlene Cota (Thermal Coachella Valley) who had a game high 18 points, and sophomore guard Bianca Barragan (Thermal Coachella Valley) contributed 11 points in the loss.

With the win the Wolverines are in sole possession of first place in the Foothill conference; all players scored for the fourth time this season in their seventh win in a row.

Copyright © 2003-2007, San Bernardino Valley College. All right

The University of La Verne women's basketball team is all alone in first place in the SCIAC standings after defeating the University of Redlands 71-61 Saturday at Currier Gym in Redlands.

Both squads came into the contest tied atop the SCIAC with respective 5-0 records. The Leopards, who trailed 36-33 at the half, outscored Redlands 38-25 in the final 20 minutes to claim victory and snap the Bulldogs' eight-game win streak.

La Verne (13-4, 6-0 SCIAC) pulled away down the stretch getting key baskets from Trenecca Jones, Marissa Raya and Emily Carrillo. The biggest shot, however, came from point guard Lindsey Shiomi, who sank a three-point basket with under two minutes left to help secure the win. The Leopards shot 51.7% from the field in the second half.

The Leopards also hit 10 three-point field goals and forced 17 Bulldog turnovers. La Verne also held Redlands to 3-of-16 shooting (18.8%) from three-point range.

Jones posted her ninth double-double of the season with game-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ashley Paul connected on five three-point baskets en route to 15 points, while Carrillo and Raya added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Carrillo finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.

Redlands (12-4, 5-1 SCIAC) used an 11-2 run late in the first half to lead by three at the break. The Bulldogs were successful in the early going getting several buckets off Leopard turnovers. Mackenzie Smith tallied 12 points for Redlands while Laura Murphy chipped in with 10.

ULV returns to action next Thursday as it makes the short trip to Claremont to take on the Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Tip time is 7:30 pm.

WALNUT CREEK — Cal State San Bernardino center Vanessa Wilt has been named Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 21-27. It marks the fifth time this season she has been honored. Wilt, a 6-foot-1 senior from Hesperia, Calif., averaged 20 points and 13.5 rebounds it two home wins over Sonoma State and Humboldt State that kept the Coyotes in a tie with Chico State for first place in the CCAA. She shot 77 percent (17 of 22) from the field and also averaged 2.0 blocked shots in the two games. In Friday’s win over Sonoma State, Wilt scored 22 points and had seven rebounds despite playing just 26 minutes after getting into early foul trouble. Wilt came back on Saturday to score 18 points, grab 20 rebounds, collect two steals, two blocked shots and an assist in 39 minutes against Humboldt State. Wilt tops the CCAA in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, averaging 20.9 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2.47 blocked shots a contest. Cal State San Bernardino opens second-half play on Friday when it travels to San Francisco State. The Coyotes conclude weekend play at Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. Wilson CCAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week: Nov. 12-18: Renee Goldoff (Chico State); Nov.19-25: Shirsty Kumar (Cal State Stanislaus); Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Vanessa Wilt (Cal State San Bernardino); Dec. 3-9: Vanessa Wilt (Cal State San Bernardino); Dec. 10-16: Veronica Williams (Cal State L.A.); Dec. 17-23: Vanessa Wilt (Cal State San Bernardino); Dec. 24-30: Dane Wellander (Sonoma State); Dec. 31-Jan. 6: Vanessa Wilt (Cal State San Bernardino); Jan 7-13: Melissa Richardson (Chico State); Jan. 14-20: Michelle Osier (UC San Diego); Jan. 21-27: Vanessa Wilt (Cal State San Bernardino).

WALNUT CREEK — Cal Poly Pomona forward Larry Gordon has been named Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 21-27. It marks the second time this week he has been honored.

Gordon, a 6-foot-5 junior from Pomona, Calif., averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds while helping the Broncos to a pair of home wins over No. 17 Humboldt State and Sonoma State over the weekend. He connected on 57.1 percent (12 of 21) of his field goal attempts and was 15 of 16 from the foul line.

In Cal Poly Pomona’s win over nationally-ranked Humboldt State, Gordon registered a double-double with a career-high 24 points and 13 rebounds. He followed that performance with 16 points and nine rebounds in a win over Sonoma State.

Gordon is currently the CCAA’s leading scorer, averaging 18.1 points a contest, and is second in rebounding with 10.6 boards a game.

The weekend sweep by Cal Poly Pomona moved it into a tie with Humboldt State for second place in the conference standings with a 7-3 league mark as the CCAA reaches its midway point. The Broncos and Lumberjacks trail conference leader Cal State San Bernardino (8-2) by one game.

Cal Poly Pomona starts second-half play on Friday when it visits Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside. The Broncos conclude weekend action on Saturday when they play at San Francisco State.

Wilson CCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week:
Nov. 12-18: Michael Earl (Cal State Bernardino); Nov. 19-25: Darroll Phillips (Chico State); Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Cy Vandermeer (Humboldt State), Dec. 3-9: Andrew Kochevar (Sonoma State); Dec. 10-16: Demetrius Hazel (Cal State L.A.); Dec. 17-23: Grayson Moyer (Humboldt State); Dec. 24-30: Larry Gordon (Cal Poly Pomona); Dec. 31-Jan. 6: Chris Rodriguez (San Francisco State); Jan. 7-13: Vincent Camper (Cal State L.A.); Jan. 14-20: Vincent Camper (Cal State L.A.); Jan. 21-27: Larry Gordon (Cal Poly Pomona).

The Cal State San Bernardino women’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the CCAA before the season started. So coach Kevin Becker is more than pleased with where his team stands at the halfway point.

The Coyotes (14-3, 8-2) closed out the first round of league play with a 63-53 win over Humboldt State on Saturday at Coussoulis Arena.

With the win, the Coyotes remain in a first-place tie with nationally ranked Chico State.
All three of the team’s losses have been to ranked teams. The Coyotes were coming off a win Friday over No. 25 Sonoma State, which entered that game in first place in the conference.
The first West Region poll— which determines the eight teams that advance to postseason play in March — is due out next week.

“We had an All-American kid (Vanessa Wilt) to build around and we brought in a lot of new kids, role players, and we have seen them develop a chemistry,” Becker said. “We have come together.”

As usual, Wilt shouldered the load with 18 points, 20 rebounds two blocks and two steals. Junior point guard Shanae Blake also had stellar game with 17 points and Krystal Urzua added 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Blake, who is coming off a red-shirt year, has come up big, especially in the last three weeks.

“She has been the key for us, every bit as much as Vanessa but in a different way,” Becker said. “She didn’t play last year so it took her few games to find her groove.”

Both teams started slowly with the Coyotes shooting just 25.7 percent (9-for-35) and the Lumberjacks (9-8, 5-5) doing slightly better at 34.5 (10-for-29) as the first half ended with the teams tied at 21.

The Coyotes started pulling away in the opening minutes of the second half, building a nine-point lead on a 3-pointer by Rachel Johnson with 13:24 to go that made it 38-29.
Humboldt chalked up the next six points, four of those by Taylor Kilgore. Her driving layup with 12:32 left closed the gap to 38-35.

Humboldt was also within four points at 43-39 with 6:02 left.
But the Coyotes got some breathing room with a six point run that included a jumper by Urzua and two buckets by Wilt to go up 49-39.

Cal State maintained a double digit lead the rest of the game.

The Coyotes shot 51.9 percent in the second half to finish with a 37.1 for the game. Wilt’s domination on the boards helped them to a 45-38 rebounding advantage.

Humboldt State, which was coming off a win over Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, shot 41.4 percent for the game and was led by Katie Franci and Kayla Henry with 13 points each. Franci also had a team-high 12 rebounds.

The Coyotes head back on the road next week for games at San Francisco State on Friday and Monterey Bay on Saturday.

Cal Poly Pomona made sure it would not let go of its lead Saturday night against No. 25 Sonoma State. The Broncos grabbed the lead early in the second half and went on to a 64-57 California Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball victory Saturday at Kellogg Gym.

 

            Senior forward Vanessa Dominguez (Mission Viejo) led the way with 15 points on 8-of-8 free throws with four assists and two steals for the Broncos, who improved to 8-8 overall and 5-5 in the CCAA. Senior guard Ashley Moody (Carson) added 11 off the bench, while freshman guard Reyana Colson (Compton) scored 10 with two rebounds, two assists and a steal.

            Sonoma State held a 32-29 halftime leads, thanks to its 13-of-24 effort from the floor (54.2 percent). But Dominguez’ two free throws with 18:38 left in the game put the Broncos ahead for good at 33-32. The lead was as slim as one (35-34) and as large as 12 at 6:51 left in the game. Dominguez added two more free throws and gave the Broncos a 55-43 lead with 6:51 remaining.

            “If we can learn to be consistent on a regular basis, we’ll be a good team,’’ Broncos coach Scott Davis said. ‘We’re getting there. Tonight was a nice win against a well-coached, quality program. It’s a strong positive.’’

            Danae Wellander led the Seawolves with a game-high 19 points. Lauren Redfield added 10 for Sonoma State, now 13-4 and 7-3.

            The big key for the Broncos was their free throw shooting. They shot 16-of-20 from the line to pull away in the second half.

            “We’re continuing to work hard and that made a difference tonight,’’ Dominguez said. “Good things happen when you work hard.’’

            The Broncos are set to begin the second half of the CCAA season Friday night at Cal State Monterey Bay. They will play seven of their remaining league games on the road.

 

The endorphin rush from 24 hours earlier might not have worn off.

At least, that was the danger the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team faced Saturday against middling Sonoma State, having beaten the No. 17 team in the nation a day earlier. Instead, it was the Broncos’ opponent who didn’t show up.

Cal Poly cruised to its second straight win, the seventh in their last eight games, 66-59 over the Seawolves at Kellogg Gym. At 7-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (8-7 overall), Cal Poly stayed one game behind  Cal State San Bernardino.

“I don’t think we overlooked them,” Broncos coach Greg Kamansky said of Sonoma State. “We didn’t take them lightly at all. They’re in the middle of the pack, we’re in second at this point, but we’re only one, two games from going to sixth or seventh.”

Angelo Tsagarakis and Larry Gordon did most of the scoring damage.

Each finished with 16 points, and Gordon added nine rebounds against the Seawolves (8-8 overall, 4-6 CCAA).
Gordon was coming off a 24-point, 13-rebound effort in Friday’s 76-61 undoing of Humboldt State.

A week earlier, the Broncos knocked off Cal State San Bernardino but followed that up with a tough loss to UC San Diego.

“We didn’t want that to happen again,” Kamansky said.

Added Tsagarakis: “We didn’t want the win against Humboldt to go to waste with a loss against Sonoma.”

The Broncos never trailed after the first four minutes and led 31-17 at halftime. Tsagarakis scored Cal Poly’s final eight points of the first half, including two three-pointers. Sonoma State never got within seven points after intermission.

High-energy shooting guard Andrew Kochevar almost single-handedly kept the Seawolves from getting blown out. Sonoma State’s leading scorer finished with 22 points, including three 3-pointers.

Gordon’s consecutive free-throw streak ended at 29 when he missed an attempt with just under three minutes remaining in the game. It was the 15th straight double-figure scoring night for the Montclair High graduate.

Forward Kaelen Daniels added 11 points off the bench, and guard Rich Collins scored 10 and hit 3-of-4 three-point attempts for the Broncos.

The largest ovation was reserved for Cal Poly guard Jimmy Miyasaka, who checked in with 1:13 left and made his first field goal of the season in the game’s final minute.

 

It might be a bit premature to call a rivalry between Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt State one of the country's best at the Division II level since the Lumberjacks joined the CCAA two years ago. But it is getting there.

The Coyotes struck the most recent blow, beating the Lumberjacks 82-73 Saturday at Coussoulis Arena in front of a season-high crowd of 2,597 spectators.

"You have two good basketball programs going head-to-head year in and year out, a rivalry will definitely develop," Cal State coach Jeff Oliver said.

The teams came in tied for first in the CCAA with both nationally ranked -- Humboldt at No. 17 and Cal State at No. 18.

It was the first meeting between the teams since the Coyotes edged the Lumberjacks in last year's West Region championship 68-66 en route to a berth in the Elite Eight. There might not have been as much on the line but the most recent showdown was equally as thrilling.

"It was a big game, a big statement game," senior Michael Earl said. "There was a lot riding on this. It was a good game, good atmosphere. The crowd really got it into it."

The Coyotes (15-3, 8-2) surged ahead with a run midway through the second half. They led by two at 50-48 with 12:50 left to play. They upped that lead seconds later on a nice baseline drive by Renardo Bass, then got a bucket from Devon Davis to go up 54-48.

Every time the Coyotes threatened to break away, the Lumberjacks (12-5, 7-3) came back. The visitors got within two at 54-52.

They stretched the lead back to nine at 61-52 on a bucket by Earl, only to have the Lumberjacks retaliate with a 3 at the other end by Ernie Spada.

The Coyotes' final run was good enough. They led 66-60 with 5:51 to go. Lance Ortiz drained a 3 from the top of the key to make it 69-60.

Another by Marlon Pierce made it 74-64 with 3:01 left and the Lumberjacks didn't threaten again.
Cal State shot 54.4 percent in perhaps its most efficient offensive outing of the season. Earl and Pierce had 17 each while Ortiz added 14.

Davis helped out with 10 which loomed large when Earl was out with foul trouble. The team shared the ball well with 22 assists, with Pierce tallying seven and Ortiz five.

Oliver said it was his team's best performance, given the opposition.

"Becasue of the opposition we were playing and the quality of the opposition and the significance of it, playing for first place."

Cal State started out strong and led until Humboldt's Efren Del Rio nailed a 3-pointer to put the visitors up 17-16 with 12:38 left. The Coyotes suffered a blow a minute later when Earl was called for his second foul and went to the bench.

Earl, who scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds in Friday's win over Sonoma State, played just six minutes in the opening half. With him sidelined the Lumberjacks dominated in the paint. Cy Vandermeer was the beneficiary with nine points, five rebounds and three blocks.

The Coyotes struggled to get the ball inside and settled for jumper from the perimeter. They took 13 3-pointers, making four. Reichel and Pierce hit back-to-back distance shots with six minutes left that stopped a Humboldt run and closed the gap to 26-23.

A 3-point play by Pierce in the closing seconds sent the Coyotes into the lockerroom down by only two, 37-35.

The Coyotes go back on the road next week to play at San Francisco State and Monterey bay, continuing a stretch of eight of 10 games on the road.

The word is out on the Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team: Make someone other than Larry Gordon beat you.

Gordon had his typical game Friday — scoring 24 points and pulling down 13 rebounds — and the Broncos got contributions from everyone else, stunning No. 17 Humboldt State 76-61 at Kellogg Gymnasium.

“Unbelievable,” coach Greg Kamansky said, shaking his head in disbelief. “What an effort. I couldn’t be prouder. We had a lot of guys step up and for once it wasn’t just one guy carrying us.”

Gordon went 9-for-9 from the free-throw line to stretch his streak of attempts made to 23.
All five Bronco starters finished in double figures, with Donnelle Booker scoring 13 points, Angelo Tsagarakis 11 and Tobias Jahn and Kevin Neveu 10 apiece.

Jahn’s contribution was huge since he started in place of Kaelen Daniels, who was nursing a neck injury. And Jahn himself missed two days of practice this week with a sprained ankle.

Even those  who didn’t reach double figures shined. Guard Rich Collins hit two 3-pointers, including one with two minutes left that stopped Humboldt’s momentum. Seldom-used Kyle Krause hit a couple of clutch free throws in the closing minutes.

“That’s really what we needed,” Kamansky said. “The other guys really came to play tonight. We can’t do it with one guy. Tonight we didn’t have to.”

Cal Poly Pomona (7-7, 6-3) used a run early in the second half to take the lead for good. The Broncos trailed 29-23 at the half but forced 10 turnovers in the first eight minutes of the second half, taking a 48-37 lead in that span.
The run was highlighted by Gordon and Booker slam dunks off Lumberjack turnovers.

A putback by Gordon on the next possession made it 48-37.

The Broncos maintained that lead the rest of the game. The closest the Lumberjacks (12-4, 7-2) would get was six points, that deficit being 48-42 after Mike Kehrig’s lone bucket of the game.

But the Broncos got a 3-pointer by Collins seconds later. Then came a putback by Neveu, helping the Broncos restore order at 53-40 with 8:51 to go.

The visitors were within single digits twice after that, trailing 56-47 with 6:37 to play and 60-51 with 3:11 left.
Collins’ second 3-pointer  of the game made it 63-51 and it was over.

“It may seem like it but I never feel like I have to carry the team,” Gordon said. “The other guys really played hard and came through. That was big for us.”

The Broncos missed a chance to bury the Lumberjacks early when they weren’t playing well. But Cal Poly played only slightly better and held a 12-5 lead eight minutes into the half.

The rest of the half was close with the teams tied five times, the last at 21. Humboldt heated up and closed out the half with an 8-2 run highlighted by 3-pointers from Will Sheufelt and Everett Smith.

Not only did the Broncos force 22 turnovers but they held Devin Peal, the leading scorer in the conference to just seven points and one rebounds.

Next up for the Broncos is another 7:30 home game tonight, this one against Sonoma State.

 

The Wolverines (1-1) split a pair of games against El Cajon Grossmont (1-1), 15-8 and 6-1, respectively.

In the first game the Wolverines won behind the 4-for-5 of sophomore catcher Zach Baker (Rancho Cucamonga).

The Griffins opened the game scoring four runs in the top of the first, the Wolverines responded by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. The Wolverines finished the game with 15 runs on 19 hits and 2 errors.

In the second game, the only run for the Wolverines came in the bottom of the third. Valley freshman third baseman James Fredrick (Rialto) went 3-for-4 and Baker went 3-for-3 in the loss.

In a game it led from start to finish, the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team gave head coach Jeff Oliver no sense of certainty Friday night against Sonoma State.

“I didn’t feel like we were in control at any point,” Oliver said after the Coyotes’ 65-47 victory at Coussoulis Arena.

Yet while the Seawolves were hanging around, never getting behind by more than 10 points until under three minutes remained, Michael Earl was playing with a purpose.

The Coyotes’ center was injured and had to sit out his team’s 76-65 loss to UC San Diego in their most recent outing.

Three days earlier on Jan. 16, Earl rolled his right ankle in a stunning overtime loss at Cal Poly Pomona in his native city.

“Coming off that game, then not playing the next game, I definitely had to show up,” Earl said. “You always want to have a good showing at home. There was a sense of urgency.”

On Friday, it showed. Earl’s 21 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, was his highest point total of the season. He also finished with 11 points, three blocked shots and hit 5-of-6 free throws in a game of inches.
Combined with first-place Humboldt State’s 76-61 loss to upstart Cal Poly Pomona, the win gave Cal State San Bernardino (14-3, 7-2 California Collegiate Athletic Association) the share of first place it had lost last week.

Coming off the ankle injury, Earl had not practiced consistently this week, Oliver said. As a result, the 6-foot-8 senior came off the bench for the sixth time this season.
It didn’t take him long to establish a presence, scoring 11 before the half and staying out of foul trouble on a taped-up ankle.

“We needed him,” Oliver said of Earl. “(Sonoma State) jumped up defensively and played some nontraditional styles of defense. We needed someone other than Marlon (Pierce) and Lance (Ortiz) to step up.”

In a rare confluence of futility, the team’s two point guards shot a combined 3-for-11 from the field and weren’t a factor on offense.

In their stead, reserve guard Renardo Bass stepped up. His 11 points, on 5-of-7 field goals, were also a season high. He led the Coyotes with three steals and his nine rebounds were second only to Earl.

“We had to get back to what we were doing from the beginning (of the season),” Bass said. “I’ve been playing hard all season long … different guys just step up in different games.”

Sonoma State (8-7, 4-5) had just one win in the two team’s previous eight meetings, but managed to make it interesting with a balanced, inside-out attack.

Cal State didn’t allow a field goal until Andrew Kochevar’s 3-pointer 6:39 into the game, but was unable to solve the Seawolves’ halfcourt defense. Spreading the ball around, nine different players got on the scoreboard but only Bass and Earl managed double figures.

Coming off two straight losses, and with first place on the line tonight against Humboldt State, Cal State will take the win any way it can get it.

“It was good for us to be able to make plays,” Oliver said. “Hopefully that gives guys confidence for tonight''

 

All night long the Humboldt State women’s basketball team made a living in the paint. But when the Lumberjacks needed a jumper or a free throw they delivered and went on to a 72-65  win over Cal Poly Pomona on Friday  at Kellogg Gymnasium.

It looked like an even battle as the teams entered with identical conference records and overall records just one win apart so it is not surprising the contest came down to the last minute. It also makes the loss all the more disappointing.

“We didn’t come ready to play,” Cal Poly coach Scott Davis said. “We weren’t mentally focused and we didn’t play hard. We allowed them to get anything they wanted over and over and over again.”

The Broncos (7-8, 4-5) led 61-60 when Humboldt’s Taylor Kilgore, who came in averaging 3.7 points, hit a 3-pointer with two minutes left for a 63-61 Lumberjacks lead.

Cal Poly Pomona tied it seconds later on a bucket by Natasha Reed with 1:35 to play but had trouble scoring after that. The Broncos misfired on their next two trips down the floor with Andrea Ohlssen missing a layup after a nice feed from Ashley Moody. Ohlssen also shot wildly on a 3-point attempt from the top of the key on the Broncos next possession.

That sealed Cal Poly’s fate as Humboldt put the game away at the free-throw line. The Lumberjacks (9-7, 5-4) connected on nine of 10 tries the last 1:17, and that miss came on the last try with the game in hand .

The Lumberjacks scored 40 points in the paint, many of those coming on easy put backs.

“Our post play has been pretty good that’s why it is so surprising we gave them so much there tonight,” Davis said. “And the post isn’t the strength of their game either. We just made it look like that tonight.”

The teams were even in most statistical categories but the biggest difference was shooting percentage from the field. Humboldt shot 51.9 percent (2-for-54), thanks to the easy chances underneath.

The Broncos managed only 40.7 percent (24-for-59). Katie Franci led the Lumberjacks with 19 points and nine rebounds. She went 6-for-6 from the line down the stretch. Kilgore added 17, including a 3-for-4 showing from 3-point range. Kayla Henry added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal Poly got 17 points and four assists from senior forward Vanessa Dominguez and 13 points from Ohlssen. Reyana Colson was held to six points but did have a team-high six rebounds.

The Broncos led 33-32 at the half. Their biggest lead was eight at 32-24 after two free throws by Porsche Kirksey. But the Lumberjacks scored eight of the last nine points of the half and the game was close the rest of the way.

Cal Poly will host first place Sonoma State (13-2, 7-1) at 5:30 tonight.

Vanessa Wilt was glowing.

The Cal State San Bernardino center’s hair was dyed blonde for the first time all season, she was standing beneath a lone fluorescent light in a dark hallway inside Coussoulis Arena, and her team had just beaten the first-place squad in the conference.

“I’m so proud of our team,” Wilt said, barely containing her enthusiasm after a 70-57 win Friday over Sonoma State. “I knew we could do it.”

After picking up two early fouls, the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association MVP sat out all but six minutes of the first half, yet the Coyotes trailed by just a point at halftime.

Wilt then played all 20 minutes of the second half, scoring 18 of her game-high 22 points, collecting six of her seven rebounds and both of her blocked shots. A close game morphed into a relatively easy victory for the unranked Coyotes (13-3, 7-2) over the No. 25 Seawolves (13-3, 7-2).

“The (most recent) win is always the biggest win,” head coach Kevin Becker said. “It’s nice that they were in first and we showed them we can play, too.”

Wilt lost her streak of 15 consecutive double-doubles to begin the season, but gained something greater in the process: revenge.

“They swept us last year,” Wilt said of Sonoma State. “That kind of hit home for us; that was our main motivation. We had to show we were better than that and we had to take first place in the league.”

Having lost two of their last three games, the Coyotes needed a victory to regain a share of first place. They did so with authority, never trailing over the game’s final eight minutes.

Krystal Urzua scored 13 points off the bench and grabbed five rebounds. For the 5-foot-4 guard, it matched the highest rebound total of any Sonoma State player.

Leslie Pickron was the game’s other surprise contributor. The senior guard had played eight minutes all season before logging 19 on Friday and hitting two three-pointers to double her season total.

Not to be lost was her defensive effort against the Seawolves’ leading scorer, Danae Wellander, who hit 2-of-12 shots for five points, well below her 14.2 season average.

“She got at Wellander,” Becker said, “and did a pretty decent job on her.”

Shanae Blake added 15 points for Cal State San Bernardino, which has a chance to crack the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

 

For Renardo Bass, getting on a plane and moving to Northern California from his native Norfolk, Va. was easier said than done. He knew relocating would be the first step in building a better life, but he didn’t have the financial means to make that happen.

Ohlone Community College basketball coach John Peterson was expecting Bass to play for him, but was concerned after the player seemed reluctant the last time they on the phone.

“I told him he needed to be there when we started practice or we were moving on without him,” Peterson said. “I wasn’t sure if we would see him, but he showed up. He had to sell his car to buy the plane ticket. That showed how much he wanted to come out here.”

After two stellar seasons with the Renegades, Bass took another step up in 2007. He now plays for the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes (13-3, 6-2), who head into tonight’s 7:30 game against Sonoma State (8-6, 4-4) at Coussoulis Arena ranked No. 18 nationally. They host No. 17 Humboldt State on Saturday.

Getting an education and being part of an elite program means a lot to the solidly-built 6-foot junior guard because of what he has overcome.

He is the oldest of seven children, the youngest of whom is now 12. His father has never been part of the picture, so he spent most of his teenage years working construction jobs to support the family, even though it meant dropping out of high school to do so.

His grandmother helped care for the family until she passed away.
His mother went to jail for two years just as he was preparing to leave for Ohlone.

“I am so thankful to be here. It’s like a family and everyone really accepted me,” said Bass, 23. “I think of how things could have been if I stayed there. I am doing what I can do to better myself.”

The fact that Bass plays for a nationally ranked contender is noteworthy, considering he never played high school basketball. He was discovered by a friend of Peterson’s who saw him at a basketball showcase at Atlantic Shores, a prep school in Virginia.

Bass didn’t have to think twice when contacted by Peterson.

“I didn’t have any other offers and I thought it would be good to get away (to) where I could focus on what I needed to do,” he said. “I just dove in — new part of the country, new school, new everything. I didn’t know what to expect.”

Bass turned in two solid seasons at Ohlone, located in Fremont halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. He earned All-Coast Conference and All-state honors both years, helping the school to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance last spring. The Renegades lost their state tournament quarterfinal to Antelope Valley 71-69, which still makes Bass cringe.

“We blew like a 16-point lead in five minutes,” he said, shaking his head.

While Bass was working to improve his basketball skills, he also had to improve his academic standing. California is one of the few states that accepts students into a junior college who don’t have high school diplomas, but he had to get a GED to enroll at a four-year school.

He lived with a handful of other players from out of state, so he also worked various jobs to pay for living expenses.

When it came time to choose a four-year school, Bass could not have found a better situation. Peterson was friends with Coyotes head coach Jeff Oliver. The defensive philosophy that has been the foundation for the Coyotes’ success the last two years was copied from Ohlone.

Over the summer Oliver took game film from last season to Peterson, who helped him fine-tune the system.
Bass said the coaches have similar demeanors and coaching styles, and the family atmosphere fostered at the school is much the same, which made for an easier transition.

“It really was a lot the same, just at a bigger school,” he said.

Bass got a chance to play in an open gym with his future teammates in the late summer and bonded most closely with seniors Joseph Tillman and Jason Gilzene, both of whom contributed to last year’s Division II national semifinal team.

All say that Bass’ quiet demeanor made for short conversations early. In fact, when he was at Ohlone, Peterson put in special rules designed to make Bass talk.

“He’s a loner. He really keeps to himself a lot, so it took a little while,” said Tillman. “The more he gets comfortable with you, the more he initiates the talk. Once you get to know him he really does have a good sense of humor.”
Oliver admits that he handles Bass a bit differently, but not because of the obstacles he has overcome.
“He is a very quiet, reserved kid, so I am not as aggressive with him as some of the others,” Oliver said.

Oliver utilizes 12 players regularly so Bass isn’t expected to put up huge numbers. He has averaged 18 minutes a contest and started seven of 16 games.

Just being part of the program is a big enough reward. Less than a year into his career he is already beaming about his experience, especially the opportunity to play against UCLA at Pauley Pavlion.

“Every kid wants to play at the Division I level. If you can’t, playing against them is the next best thing,” he said. “And being able to play there . . . I will never forget that.”

The fact that he is the first member of his family to go to college isn’t lost on him either. Once his playing career is over Bass said he would like to be a coach or teacher.

“Coming out here was the best thing that could have happened to me,” he said. “Everything has worked out better than I expected.”

Larry Gordon was on Greg Kamansky's radar but the Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball coach will admit there were other prospects he coveted more.

The coach went to see Gordon's Montclair High School team square off against Colony but it was more because of his interest in some of the Colony players. But Gordon stole the show with 50 points, changing Kamansky's plans.

"It was an under-control 50. That was the amazing thing," the Broncos coach recalled. "It wasn't like he was the only guy taking shots or he was forcing stuff up. That's when I knew how much I wanted him."

The 6-foot-5 forward then became one of Kamansky's priorites and the Broncos were able to lure him away from others including local rival Cal State San Bernardino.

That has paid off as Gordon has led the Broncos (6-7, 5-3) back into contention in the CCAA. They face a formidable foe today as defending champion Humboldt State (12-3, 6-1) comes to Kellogg Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. showdown.

Gordon ranks second in the conference in scoring (17.8 ppg), rebounding (9.2 rpg) and free-throw percentage (.887), is sixth in field goal percentage (.529) and eighth in blocked shots. He should draw consideration for conference player of the year to be handed out later this season.

The Broncos struggled early but have moved into contention by winning four of their last five games. Gordon has been consistent from the start but the Broncos are finally getting contributions from others, most notably senior sharpshooter Angelo Tsagarakis and sophomore forward Donnelle Boooker.

It has been Gordon's play more than his words that have been the catalyst for the recent showing.

"He doesn't say a whole lot but he doesn't have to," Kamansky said. "The guys see how hard he plays. The only bad thing is sometimes they enjoy watching him a little too much. I have to remind them `Guys you can play too.'"

Gordon was a two-sport standout for the Cavaliers, also excelling in football. He played wide receiver which draws a chuckle from Kamansky, who often teases his star player about his "bad hands."
Several lower level Division I schools were interested but Gordon never thought of football as anything more than a hobby. Basketball has always been his first love.

A handful of CCAA schools wanted him. The pivotal factor was the opportunity to play as a freshman. He liked Cal State San Bernardino's track record and its impressive venue but the Coyotes have always leaned heavily on junior college transfers and Division I bouncebacks while the Broncos field a smaller squad and aren't afraid to throw their freshmen into the mix.

"I really wanted to play right away," Gordon said. "I hope it doesn't sound too cocky but I thought I was good enough to play with those guys instead of sitting out a year."

Gordon rewarded the Broncos for their faith in him. He averaged 6.7 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds as a rookie, earning CCAA Freshman of the Year honors.

He thinks one reason he was able to contribute right away was that he has always played with older athletes, whether it was in his neighborhood or at his high school as a freshman. He grew up competing with cousin Brandon Hogan who was six years older and played at Garey.

"I always trying to prove I could play with him and his friends," Gordon laughed. "They would always pick on me because I was younger so I was always had to prove myself."

Gordon had an even better sophomore season, earning first-team All-Conference honors and averaging 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.

That set the stage for the season he is now having. Gordon has scored in double figures 13 straight games with a career-high of 24 coming on the road at Cal State Stanislaus two weeks ago. He has recorded eight double-doubles, with a high of 14 rebounds coming against Cal State San Bernardino. He comes into tonight's contest against the Lumberjacks having made 14 straight free throws over three games.

Not surprisingly he has earned the respect of his adversaries.

"He is one of the premier player in this conference," Cal State coach Jeff Oliver said. "He has expanded his range to where he is now hitting 3-pointers which makes him even more dangerous. And he has always been a terror on the glass."

This weekend's games are crucial in the conference race. Sonoma State follows Humboldt in and will be the opponent on Saturday.

Gordon is happy his team is finally living up to its preseason hype. The Broncos were picked to finish second behind Humbdolt in the conference in a poll of member coaches.

"We got off to a shaky start but we're finally playing hard and playing together," he said. "We almost waited until it was too late but now we're going in the right direction."

Cal Lutheran	4	3-1	0.750	255	219		15	13-2	0.867	964	849	9-1	Won 3
Occidental	4	3-1	0.750	286	235		15	13-2	0.867	1105	893	9-1	Won 3
Pomona-Pitzer	4	3-1	0.750	263	235		15	8-7	0.533	950	965	6-4	Lost 1
Claremont-M-S	4	2-2	0.500	220	207		15	8-7	0.533	891	883	5-5	Lost 2
La Verne	4	2-2	0.500	255	244		15	8-7	0.533	969	1014	5-5	Won 2
Redlands	4	2-2	0.500	290	255		15	7-8	0.467	1050	1060	4-6	Won 1
Whittier	4	1-3	0.250	239	271		15	8-7	0.533	1043	937	5-5	Lost 3
Caltech	4	0-4	0.000	190	332		15	1-14	0.067	804	1226	0-10	Lost 10

Wednesday's games    Occidental 64 Pomona-Pitzer 59    Whittier 59 Redlands 62   Cal Lutheran 55 Claremont-M-S 42    Caltech 48 La Verne 64

1.	Sonoma State	7-1	.875	13-2	.867	W5	6-1	4-1	3-0
2.	Cal State San Bernardino	6-2	.750	12-3	.800	L1	6-0	4-2	2-1
	Chico State	6-2	.750	13-4	.765	L1	6-0	4-3	3-1
4.	UC San Diego	5-3	.625	13-5	.722	W1	5-2	2-2	6-1
5.	San Francisco State	5-4	.556	8-8	.500	W3	4-1	4-5	0-2
6.	Humboldt State	4-4	.500	8-7	.533	W1	4-2	3-4	1-1
	Cal Poly Pomona	4-4	.500	7-7	.500	W1	2-4	3-2	2-1
8.	Cal State Dominguez Hills	3-5	.375	9-6	.600	W1	3-2	4-3	2-1
9.	Cal State L.A.	2-6	.250	5-9	.357	L1	3-3	2-6	0-0
	Cal State Stanislaus	2-6	.250	4-10	.286	L4	3-5	0-5	1-0
11.	CSU Monterey Bay	1-8	.111	2-14	.125	L10	1-5	1-7	0-2

 

Wednesday's game

San Francisco State 78, Monterey Bay 72

Friday's games

Sonoma State at Cal State San Bernardino

Humboldt State at Cal Poly Pomona

Chico State at Dominguez Hills

Cal State Stanislaus at Cal State Los Angeles

San Francisco at UC San Diego

All games 5:30 p.m.

 

 

Men's Basketball standings

1.	Humboldt State	7-1	.875	12-3	.800	W5	6-0	4-2	2-1
2.	Cal State San Bernardino	6-2	.750	13-3	.812	L2	4-1	3-2	6-0
	UC San Diego	6-2	.750	9-4	.692	W2	7-0	2-4	0-0
4.	Cal Poly Pomona	5-3	.625	6-7	.462	L1	4-2	2-3	0-2
5.	San Francisco State	5-4	.556	10-6	.625	L1	5-3	4-2	1-1
6.	Cal State L.A.	4-4	.500	10-5	.667	L1	7-2	3-3	0-0
	Sonoma State	4-4	.500	8-6	.571	W2	5-1	1-4	2-1
8.	Cal State Dominguez Hills	3-5	.375	8-6	.571	W2	2-4	4-2	2-0
9.	Cal State Stanislaus	2-6	.250	3-12	.200	L4	3-4	0-7	0-1
10.	CSU Monterey Bay	2-7	.222	3-12	.200	W1	1-3	1-8	1-1
11.	Chico State	1-7	.125	5-10	.333	L5	4-4	0-5	1-1

Wednesday's game

Monterey Bay 85, San Francisco State 75

Friday's games

Humboldt State at Cal Poly Pomona

Sonoma State at Cal State San Bernardino

Cal State Stanislaus at Cal State Los Angeles

Chico State at Dominguez Hills

San Francisco State at UC San Diego

All games 7:30 p.m.

 

Two Victor Valley College football players will be continuing their collegiate careers together. Running back Isaac Newton and wide receiver Anthony Berry are headed to University of South Dakota.

Berry (Silverado HS) has finished his academic work at Victor Valley and has already headed to Vermillion, S.D. Newton, a native of New Orleans, will follow after this semester ends.

Newton, a first-team all-conference selection, was sixth in the state in rushing the past season with 1,145 yards, an average of 114.5 yards per game.

South Dakota will join the Great West Conference next season.

The Cal State San Bernardino men's basketball team paid the price for road losses last week at Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego, dropping from fifth to 18th in the NABC national poll released Tuesday.

The Coyotes are one spot behind defending conference champion Humboldt State, whom they will host Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Coussoulis Arena.

The top three places in the poll remained unchanged.

NABC/Division II Coaches Poll
Men
1. Bentley (16-0) 197
2. Grand Valley State (20-0) 195
3. Winona State (20-1) 184
4. Drury (14-1) 173
5. South Carolina Aiken (13-1)
6. South Dakota (15-1)
7. Northern State (17-1) 139
8. Rollins (14-2) 135
9. Alaska-Anchorage (14-3) 133
10. West Liberty State (13-1)
11. Findlay (15-3) 110
12. SW Oklahoma State (14-3) 97
13. Augusta State (10-3) 96
14. Abilene Christian (14-2) 90
15. Gannon (15-2) 84
16. Nebraska-Omaha (15-2) 81
17. Humboldt State (12-3) 73
18. CS San Bernardino (13-3) 65
19. C.W. Post (13-2) 56
20. Tarleton State (14-2) 54
21. Southwest Baptist (12-3) 49
22. Florida Southern (14-4) 40
23. Virginia Union (12-2) 31
24. Mount Olive (11-3) 17
25. Northern Kentucky (13-2)

Also receiving votes: Chaminade 12; Alderson-Broaddus 11; Lenoir-Rhyne 8; Augustana 6; Fort Lewis 4; Central Oklahoma 3; Lewis 3; Florida Tech 2; California, Pa. 1; Northwest Nazarene 1; Wingate 1

San Bernardino Valley College has appointed two coaches, although one is not necessarily new. Tricia Rossman, 32, had been named women's volleyball coach while Kristin Hauge has been re-appointed as women's soccer coach.

Both started in their positions on Jan. 14. Hauge had been the Wolverines coach for the last four years but did so as a walk-on. The position was elevated to full-time status so she had to go through the application and interview process again.

Athletic director Dave Rubio said he was pleased with the pool of applicants for both positions.

"I am ecstatic at the quality of coaches we were able to get," he said. "They are really going to help us."

The volleyball position has experience the most turnover. Rubio had been the longtime coach but had to give up that job when he was named athletic director early in the summer. SBVC had trouble finding a successor and finally tabbed former Eisenhower coach Jafna Davies as the interim coach two weeks before the first match.

Rossman, a native of Huntington Beach, graduated from San Diego Christian where she was a two-year starter. She got her master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific and spent the last two years heading Fairmont Preparatory in Anaheim. She was named Express League Coach of the Year the past season.

"I have always wanted to coach at this level," she said. "They have had good teams here in the past so I hope to take the program to the next level."

Rossman said her first priority will be introducing herself to the area high school coaches and recruiting since the team had just two freshman last season.

She is not totally unfamilar with the area since she was active in club volleyball for 11 years.

Hauge, who had been teaching at Colton High School, directed the Wolverines to a playoff berth this season for the first time in school history. SBVC also recorded its first playoff win, beating Foothill conference for Victor Valley 1-0.

Rubio added that Hauge will also coach softball this season, since the previous coach bailed. Hauge has experience in that sport as well, having played it at Cal Poly Pomona where she earned her undergraduate degree.

The California Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAA) had three teams appear in the 2008 preseason Collegiate Baseball Division II Top 40 poll that was recently released. UC San Diego, Cal State L.A. and Chico State all received Top 20 rankings.

UC San Diego begins 2008 ranked No. 15 while Cal State L.A. is No. 17 and Chico State is 19th.

The Tritons are coming off a 37-25 record and an NCAA West Regional Championship appearance in 2007. UC San Diego enters the 2008 campaign led by junior infielder Matt Cantele, who earned first team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-American honors after batting .365 with a conference-leading 23 home runs, .787 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage. He also topped UC San Diego and ranked fifth in the CCAA with 60 RBI.

The Golden Eagles, who won the 2007 NCAA Division II West Region championship and advanced to the College World Series, finished last year with a 45-17-1 overall record.
 
Interim head coach Vince Beringhele inherits only five players from last year’s club. Junior pitcher Isaac Morales (9-3, 3.58), who earned second-team All-CCAA and second-team All-West Region honors, leads the list of returning players. Senior catcher Henry Contreras (.315-0-20), who was part of the West Regional All-Tournament team, is also back and reliable reliever junior John Mitchell (4-3, 3.49) returns as well. Senior infielder Darrick Hale (.263-2-15) and senior reliever Manny Urresti (0-1, 6.75) also return for the Golden Eagles.

Chico State posted a 47-15 overall record, including a 25-11 mark in CCAA play, en route to advancing the NCAA Division II West Region. Despite losing 23 letterwinners, including 11 starters, second-year head coach Dave Taylor returns some quality talent led by senior right-handed starter Kyle Woodruff (7-1, 5.67) and senior first baseman/outfielder Matt Bitker (.341-4-17).

Sonoma State, which finished the 2007 campaign with a 50-12 overall record, including a 29-7 conference mark, is the defending CCAA regular-season and conference tournament champion.

Several teams open their 2008 campaign on February 1. 

 

The close games have been few and far between for the No. 1 Mt. SAC women's basketball team. But the Mounties should be tested tonight as conference rival Pasadena City (20-3) comes in for a 5:30 p.m. showdown.

The Lancers are ranked sixth in the state and have seven players averaging double figures including local product Kinyada Johnson (Diamond Ranch), a freshman point guard.

Defending state champion Mt. SAC (22-1) has won 22 straight since dropping its season opener to Orange Coast. Sophomores Jazlyn Davis (17.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.7 apg) and Carmen Deal (14.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg) have led the charge. Three others players are close to double figures - Etiwanda High graduate Safiyah Brown (9.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Blaire Edgardo (8.9 ppg) and Alexis Brown (8.2 ppg).

Mt. SAC is averaging 76 points a game and is giving up an average of only 51.7, further evidence of lopsided wins.

"We're really looking forward to it," coach Laura Beeman said. "It will be great to play with that kind of energy and atmosphere because we haven't had a lot of close games. It will be nice to be really tested."

Beeman added that the rivalry has developed over the last five years. It intensified in 2004 when the Mounties beat the Lancers in a state championship game between conference foes.

Pasadena is one of the few teams that has been able to compete with Mt. SAC. The teams split games last season with the Lancers winning the first meeting 70-63 and the Mounties the second 69-56.

Beeman added that at least eight Division I colleges will be represented at the game, most notably Auburn, Arizona State and California-Berkeley.

The battle in the post is expected to be the key with the Mt. SAC women having their hands full with the sister tandem of Keisha Phelps and Florence Wilson.

"There will be a lot of great players on the floor, especially in the post," Beeman added. "It's a great chance not just for the coaches to see some good players but see them against other great players."

KELLY GOERES

University of Redlands

Swimming

The lowdown: The sophomore has been a key performer for the Bulldogs in the sprint freestyle and relay events. Posted a second-place finish in the 50 free (26.62) and was part of the winning 200 medley relay in last weekend's 164-71 win over Occidental. Is coming off a stellar freshman campaign in which she qualified for the NCAA Championships as a member of the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 200 medley relay teams. Contributed as a member of the Redlands record-holding 400 free relay team (3:32.19) at the SCIAC championships. Also helped the 200 medley relay (1:50.47) and 800 free relays (7:48.37) to second places. Individually she  won the 100 free (52.72) while taking second in the 200 free (1:56.37) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:11.64).

Age: 19

Hometown: Tigard, Ore.

High school: 2006

Major: Biology (chemistry minor)

Favorite athlete: Michael Phelps

Favorite team: Denver Broncos

Role model: My mom and dad

Can't miss TV show: Amazing Race, So You Think You Can Dance

Most embarrassing moment: There are way too many.

Most memorable sports moment: Touching out another girl at SCIACs last year to win the 100 by 0.02 seconds, hearing my team scream Och Tamale as I stood on the podium and then getting a hug from coach who told me I missed the school record by another 0.02 seconds.

Person most influential in your athletic success: Andy Carlisle (my coach from home). He has been my coach since I joined my club team when I was 12.

Celebrity you most want to meet: Shia LaBrouf

Favorite food: Seafood aldredo

Favorite movie: The Sound of Music (It's a classic)

Last good book you read: Pride and Prejudice

What's in your CD player/iPod: Augustana, Colbie Caillat, Tyrone Wells, My Chemical Romance and the Hairspray soundtrack.

Other hobbies: Napping, eating, reading and watching movies.

Favorite vacation spot: Any of the Hawaiian Islands

Best advice anyone has given you: Make sure you love yourself before you try to love someone else.

Pre-game ritual or superstition: I stand on the block and clap my hands six times (my favorite number). It started when I was in middle school and was swimming on a club team. I thought every athlete had to have some sort of thing to be successful.

What would you like to be doing in five years: I would love to be going to dental school. I am looking at schools in Oregon, California, Colorado and Washington.

DAVID RENFROE

Chaffey College

Basketball

The lowdown:  The 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore forward has helped the Panthers (12-9, 2-3) contend in the always-tough Foothill Conference. He is averaging 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 points for a balanced Chaffey team that uses 12 players. His best showing came in a 114-66 win over Barstow where he contributed 10 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. also had a 10-point game against East Los Angeles. Transferred to Chaffey from Division III Menlo College where he played as a freshman.

Age: 19

Hometown: Pomona

High school: Diamond Ranch, 2006

Major: Kinesiology/sports management

Favorite athlete: Baron Davis

Favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers

Role model: My parents

Can’t miss TV show: Anything on ESPN

Most embarrassing moment: Once I forgot my jersey at home.

Most memorable sports moment: Winning the league title in high school.

Person most influential in your athletic success: My parents

Celebrity you most want to meet: Denzel Washington

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite movie: Boys N the Hood

Last good book you read: Black Boy

Other hobbies: Going out

Favorite vacation spot: South Carolina

What’s in your CD player/iPOD: Naj

Best advice anyone has given you: Never give up

What do you want to be doing in five years: I would love to be going to dental school.

What do you want to be doing in five years: Working or finishing school.

- Compiled by Michelle Gardner

The All-American Football Foundation honored Head Coach Mike Maynard and Offensive Coordinator Jeff Thomas with individual awards at the 89th Banquet of Champions on December 20, 2007, in Las Vegas, NV.  Maynard received the Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award while Thomas earned the Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award for Small Colleges.

In 20 years at the helm of Bulldog football, Maynard owns an overall career mark of 121-62 and an 88-24 record against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foes.  His teams have won 10 conference championships while making five NCAA playoff appearances.  During the 2007 campaign, he led the Bulldogs to an 8-2 overall record with a 5-1 SCIAC mark, resulting in a share of the conference title and a spot at the NCAA Championships.

In 2005, Maynard was inducted into the Bulldog Bench Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame for his coaching success and contributions.  In 1999, the University of Redlands recognized Maynard for his involvement and leadership with the prestigious Frank J. Rice Memorial Award for Community Service.  After guiding Redlands to its first SCIAC title in 10 years and its first-ever postseason berth, Maynard was named the 1990 American Football Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year.

"I join the All-American Football Foundation in applauding and recognizing Coach Maynard's work as a head coach and educator," commented Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez. "The University is fortunate to have him on staff as a faculty member and head coach, and it is outstanding that he has been recognized among his peers."

Following a standout playing career at the University of Redlands, Thomas has served as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs since 2003.  He became the Offensive Coordinator in 2007 and immediately made an impact.  Under his direction, the 2007 Bulldogs earned more than twice the number of points per game and nearly 75 more first downs than their opponents.  In addition, the Bulldogs established a new school record for total offense in a single game with 667 yards against Whittier College.

"In just his first season as the Offensive Coordinator, Coach Thomas did an excellent job of building and bringing our offense together," stated Maynard.  "Redlands' record-setting offense was a direct result of the expertise and hard work of Coach Thomas, the offensive coaching staff, and our amazing players.  It pleases me that he has received this recognition, which he so deserves."

Thomas originally worked with the Redlands receivers and tight ends during the 2003 season.  He moved into a full-time assistant position in 2004 and coached the defensive backs and special teams.

The rejuvenated Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team will take the court tonight hoping the momentum it has from its win over No. 5 Cal State San Bernardino Wednesday can compensate for a little fatigue.

The Broncos (6-6, 5-2) will play their fourth game in eight days Friday when they trek to RIMAC Arena on the campus of UC San Diego for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with the Tritons (7-4, 4-2).

Three of the four games in this stretch are road games. Coach Greg Kamansky's team was in Northern California for games last weekend and didn't return home until Sunday. It had one day of practice before facing the always-tough Coyotes. One more day of practice, then a two-hour trip to San Diego.

"It's a very tough stretch," Kamansky said. "I'm sure they can't wait to get their hands on us. There are a lot of factors working against us. We'll see what kind of legs we have under us."

Cal Poly got off to a 1-5 start, but has won four straight games and five of its last six. Things didn't look good after a 50-47 loss to Dominguez Hills two weeks ago. But it chalked up a win over Cal State Los Angeles and has gained confidence with every win.

Players think the mometum will help them battle through the fatigue.

"When you're losing it's tough to play a game and then have sit and think about it for four or five days," leading scorer Larry Gordon said. "When you're playing well you want to go back out there as soon as you can."

The team struggled early with chemistry and leadership issues early but players have settled into the roles and are playing better each time out.

Gordon (17.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) has been the workhorse. He ranks in the top 10 in the conference in four categories and is omcing off a 21-point, 14-rebound showing against the Coyotes.

"Larry isn't a vocal leader but the guys really feed off of him," Kamansky said. "He is out there working hard and getting his 20 or so points and 10 rebounds and the other guys just follow him."

Senior shooting guard Angelo Tsagarakis (15.9 ppg) has also been a key in the Broncos resurgence. The transfer from Oregon State plays with emotion, sometimes too much. He has turned in a steadier effort in recent outings and is coming off an 18-point effort against the Coyotes that included a 9-for-10 showing at the free-throw line.
San Bernardino native Donnelle Booker (7.5 ppg, 5 rpg) is coming off perhaps his best game of the season, although he is still problematic at the line.

In the Tritons, the Broncos will be facing a patient, execution oriented offense that is content wooing the opponent into low-scoring games.

The Broncos own a 12-6 all-time mark against the Tritons. They won both meetings last season but the games were close - 68-65 and 60-54.

San Diego, directed by first-year coach Chris Carlson, has two of the most consistent 3-point shooters in sophomore guard Jordan Lawley (13.1 ppg, 27 3's) and junior guard Kelvin Kim (10.4 ppg, 22 3's). Junior forward Henry Patterson (12.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is also averaging double figures. Senior point guard Clint Allard (9.5 ppg, 5.7 apg) leads the conference in assists.

The squad also includes Ayala graduate Andrew Hatch (7.5 ppg, 2 rpg) who is a key reserve.

"They're tough, they're disciplined. They play well together. This is going to be a very tough game, especially on the road," Kamansky said.

A women's game between the same two schools is set for 5:30 p.m. UC San Diego, the defending conference and West Region champion, is ranked No. 20 nationally despite graduating the conference player of the year and losing its coach to a Division I job.

The Broncos (6-7, 3-4), who suffered a 78-64 loss to Cal State San Bernardino Wednesday, are currently sixth in the conference. Its top players are senior forward Vanessa Dominguez (12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and freshman guard Reyana Colson (13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

TURLOCK - A 15-1 run over the final four minutes of the first half allowed Cal Poly Pomona to break away from Cal State Stanislaus and the Broncos went on to an 82-59 victory at Warrior Gym in California Collegiate Athletic Association women's basketball Saturday night.

Freshman Reyana Colson (Compton) led the Broncos with 17 points and seven rebounds as four Broncos reached double figures. Senior Porsche Kirksey (Los Angeles) posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while juniors Sarah McVicar (Citrus Heights) and Andrea Ohlssen (Pacifica) each scored 10.

The Broncos, now 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the CCAA, have won three of their last four games and six of their last nine.

It was a complete victory for the Broncos, who out-rebounded the Warriors, 45-27 and shot 49 percent from the floor on 31-of-63 shooting. Depth played a big role as the Broncos' reserves outscored CS Stanislaus, 31-14.

Two free throws from the Warriors' Lysandra Williams cut the Broncos lead to 33-28 with 4:13 left in the first half. But the Broncos had five players score before the end of the half - led by Ashley Moody with five points - and Cal Poly Pomona was never threatened for the remainder of the game. They led by as many as 28 in the second half.

The Broncos return to the court Wednesday night when they play host to CS San Bernardino in the annual "Pack the Gym Night.'' Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

The cast of players might have changed, but the road to a SCIAC championship in men's basketball is probably still going through Occidental College.

The Tigers (10-1) are ranked No. 21 in the NCAA D3hoops national poll heading into conference play, which starts today. The Tigers have company in that select group as conference foe Cal Lutheran (10-1) is ranked for the first time at No. 24.

So the four area teams will face a formidable challenge. Three of the four teams will be at home for their openers tonight, with Redlands (5-6) hosting Caltech (1-9), much-improved La Verne (6-5) at Pomona-Pitzer (5-5) and Occidental (10-1) traveling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (6-5).

"They (Occidental) had some seniors last year, but I think people are realizing now that their supporting players from last year are better than people realized," Pomona-Pitzer coach Charlie Katsiaficas said. "Those guys have stepped up in more significant roles this year, and they're off to a great start."

Among the departed Tigers is 2006-07 Player of the Year Sam Betty. Senior guard Connor Whitman has picked up where Betty left off, averaging a conference-best 19.4 points a game. The Tigers also inherited a 6-foot-10 sophomore in UC Riverside transfer Sean Anderson.

Occidental already has a big victory in hand, beating Plattsburgh State (N.Y.), ranked in the Top 25 at the time. Cal Lutheran got an even bigger one, beating then-No. 3 Wisconsin Stevens Point.

"Those games show what those teams are capable of," Katsiaficas said. "You have to look at those two teams as the favorites."

The Sagehens, led by steady senior Jabarri Reynolds, have won three of their past four games.
"We have put together a few solid games, so it is nice to have some momentum going into conference," Katsiaficas said.

All four area teams are within a game of .500, with the most surprising being La Verne, now under the direction of former player Richard Reed. The Leopards already have won more games than they did all of last season and tuned up for their conference debut with a victory over La Sierra on Wednesday.

The biggest question mark in the conference is the University of Redlands. The Bulldogs are in transition, with Jim Ducey taking over from the retired Gary Smith. With that change comes a new style of play as the Bulldogs go from up-tempo to a more conventional set offense.

So no one is quite sure where the Bulldogs will factor in since they haven't played a traditional game with their current personnel. Ducey said he met with the team when he first was given the job and informed his players they would be returning to a more normal game.

"No one was really surprised," Ducey said. "I don't think they expected me to run what they had been running."
Ducey is keeping a busy schedule since spring sports have started; he also directs the women's tennis team. But he still has found a way to scout his upcoming opponents.

"I have seen every team play at least twice. Every team has got some weapons, so it should be interesting," he said. "We have progressed pretty much as I thought we would. We're not as good as we can be, but we're getting better."

The Stags have been on the winning side of some close games -- four of their six victories have come by a total of 14 points, the most recent being a two-point decision over La Sierra on Monday.

Like the women, the men will hold a conference tournament at the end of the season. The winner earns the automatic playoff berth that had previously gone to the regular-season champion.

Try and tell University of La Verne women's basketball coach Julie Kline that her team is the favorite to repeat as SCIAC champion. She doesn't want to hear it. It doesn't matter that she didn't have a senior a year ago, or the returning cast includes reigning conference Player of the Year Trenecca Jones. The veteran coach doesn't want the burden of that kind of pressure.

"I don't like that label," she said. "It's a new year. Teams are different. No one is giving us anything. We have to go out and earn it again."

Practice games are over. The eight teams start their conference schedules tonight. The Leopards (7-4) will have their hands full as Occidental (7-3) makes a visit to Frantz Athletic Court at 7:30.

Other local teams will be in action as Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1-9) travels to Redlands (7-3) and Pomona-Pitzer (1-9) hits the road for a game at Cal Lutheran (4-5).

Kline has seen most of the other teams play and said her team will be challenged, starting with tonight's opponent. Occidental is led by Western Kentucky transfer Brianne Brown and Stacie Roshon, whose 17.8 scoring average is second among conference players.

"Occidental did a great job of recruiting and they're going to be very tough," Kline said. "And Cal Lutheran beat Chapman, which none of the rest of us have done. We lost to them twice."

La Verne returns four key starters in Jones, senior guards Melissa Raya and Lindsey Shiomi and sophomore forward Emily Carrillo. Senior forward Leslie Elrod drew several starts last year but freshman Ashley Paul has worked her way into the lineup. Raya leads the conference in scoring (18 ppg) and scored her 1,000th career point last month.

Only three teams head into conference play with winning records; the other is Redlands. The Bulldogs are directed by first-year coach Rich Murphy. He is replacing Jim Ducey, who now is coaching the men's team.
Murphy, previously an assistant at Division II Humboldt State, isn't sure what to expect but said that doesn't matter.

"I have seen a couple teams in person and seen a couple others on film and I think we can compete," he said. "But I'm not worried about other teams. I am more concerned with what we're doing because that is the only thing we can control."

Redlands, which won its last three nonconference games, does have an easier schedule in the early going. Its first three games are against teams that have won a combined four games.

The Bulldogs are led by steady senior guard Valarie Katayama and sophomore forward Meghan Yetman.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps always has challenged in years past but is going through a transition. All-conference post player Cameron Hanson is out with a torn knee ligament. The Athenas also lost two players who went to study abroad and one who chose not to play. Count two others who graduated, and coach Jodie Burton is without six key players from a year ago.

"We have already gotten better in a short time but we're going to take our lumps," she said. "I have never quite had a year like this. To win a championship, you have to be lucky, not just good and we haven't gotten a break."

The SCIAC, like many other sports, is going to hold a conference tournament at the end of the basketball season that will determine the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III playoffs instead of the regular-season champion advancing.

La Verne would appear to be one of the teams with the most to lose, but Kline is taking the change in the playoff system in stride.

"We'll see how it plays out because I might change my mind," she said. "The season should count for something, but it is also good to have the team that is playing best at the time go on."

Murphy agreed.

"It is what it is. We know what we have to do," he said. "If we're good enough, then we're good enough."

Men's basketball teams kick off conference play on Saturday with all eight teams in action.

SAN BERNARDINO - San Bernardino Valley College's Lewis Leonard didn't start the game on Wednesday night, but he finished it in fine fashion, boosting the Wolverines men's basketball team to a 96-93 upset of Chaffey in Foothill Conference play.

 

Leonard entered the game as the state's leading scorer at 25 points per game, but was benched in the first half by coach Gerry Wright for disciplinary reasons. He came back in the second half and scored 18 points, including a key basket in the last seconds, and then blocked a Chaffey shot to preserve the win.

"He's a great player and he knows how to get it done," Wright said. "It's not how you start the first half, it's how you finish."

San Bernardino Valley (5-11, 1-1) took its first lead, 90-89, on a pull-up jumper by Johnny Barnes with 2:41 remaining. Chaffey retook the lead and was ahead, 91-90, when Leonard scored inside with 46 seconds left to put the Wolverines up, 92-91.

On Chaffey's ensuing possession, Leonard swatted away a 15-footer by Brandon Clemons and Barnes grabbed the rebound with 30 seconds to play. The Wolverines then secured the victory at the free-throw line in the final minute.

The Wolverines got a stellar effort from freshman Jason Hurns, who had a career-high 19 points, making his first start of the season in place of Leonard. Hurns was one of five Wolverines in double figures. Barnes had a team-high 23 points with 15 rebounds, Jacob Letson had 14 points and Netsanet Hailu had 10.

Chaffey (11-7, 1-1) was led by freshman guard Jordan Block with 17 points. Troy Allen had 13, Jamal Sloan 12 and Winston Robinson 11.

"We needed this to stay in the hunt," said Wright, whose team lost its Foothill Conference opener last Saturday against Antelope Valley. "There are a lot of good teams in this conference, so every game is going to be important."

Nine of SBVC's 11 losses have been by single digits.

Chaffey came in as the top scoring team in the state at 96 points per game. They were coming off what is believed to be a school-record 133 points Saturday against Barstow.

San Bernardino Valley College will play Saturday at Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m. Chaffey hits the road to play College of the Desert on Saturday.

SAN BERNARDINO - The last thing the San Bernardino Valley College women's basketball team could afford was to get off to an 0-2 start in Foothill Conference play. After dropping its opener to Antelope Valley on Saturday, that's what coach Sue Crebbins faced.

But the Wolverines bounced back, beating neighborhood rival Chaffey 71-57 on Wednesday at Snyder Gymnasium.

The teams came in as favorites to fight it out for the Foothill championship, along with Mt.San Jacinto. So Crebbins was pleased to see her team bounce back from defeat.

"Our focus was a lot better tonight," she said. "Sometimes we get complacent and we stop working hard in practice, and that's what happens. We're hard-headed that way, but the lesson was learned."

The Wolverines (12-5, 1-1) let a 16-point lead dwindle down late in the second half, after leading by double digits much of the way. SBVC led 48-37, but the Panthers scored 10 of the next 12 points, creeping within three on a driving layup by Tamesha Jackson that cut the lead to 50-47.

The Wolverines answered on their end with Shy Walter getting loose inside for a basket that put the lead back to five, 52-47. Chaffey (15-4, 1-1) was limited to one missed shot on three of its next four trips down the court. The Panthers missed both free throws on the other possession, and was not in striking distance again.

The Wolverines' defensive pressure set the tone in the first half as the Panthers committed 10 turnovers, many leading to easy opportunities on the other end.

"We did a good job frustrating their guards to our pressure. We didn't shoot very well, but were able to make things happen with our defense and get a lead," Crebbins said.

SBVC led from the start, surging out to an 11-3 lead on a 3-pointer by La'quita Jordan. Its biggest lead in the half was 16 points, that edge coming on a 3-point play by Walter that made it 27-11 with 7:04 left.

Chaffey scored the next six points to cut the lead to 27-17. The half ended with SBVC up 34-23.

Chaffey shot just 31.7 percent in the half. SBVC wasn't much better, at 37.5, but it benefitted from a 31-19 advantage in rebounding.

"I can count on one hand the number of good possessions we had in the first half," Chaffey coach Gary Plunkett said. "It was our worst half of basketball all season. We were lucky we weren't down by more."

Sophomore point guard Jasmine Marshall led the Wolverines with 24 points. Jordan added 16, and Ronisha Edwards chipped in with 12.

 SBVC will travel to Mt. San Jacinto Saturday while Chaffey treks to College of the Desert.

Six players from the Foothill Conference champion Victor Valley College women's soccer team have signed with NAIA Kansas Wesleyan, in Salinas. The group is led by conference player of the year Jackie Osuna and also includes Sarah Macy, Brittnie Bernardino, Teresa Candelario, Courtney Eargle and Anna Flores.

Rams coach Mike Bradbury has developed a rapport with Coyotes coach Mike Dibbini, who is a native of Palmdale. Last year's team included two past VVC standouts as well seven from Mt. SAC.

"We have a trust," Bradbury said. "If I am going to send players that far away, I want to know they will be well taken care of."

The group helped the Rams to a 17-7-3 overall record and a 9-0-1 mark in conference play.

Kansas Wesleyan competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. It has won two straight conference titles and three straight conference tournaments. Among the players on last year's team were former Rams standouts Nikki Ware, Marina Crittenden and Marylou Casillas.

.

SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State San Bernardino's men's and women's basketball teams both appear in national polls in the same week for perhaps the first time since the program moved up to NCAA Division II.

The men's team, 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the CCAA, moved up from No. 10 to No.6 this week in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll released today. The women's team, 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the CCAA, earned 12 votes in the USA TODAY/ESPN national poll, not quite enough to get it into the top 25. It is the first time since 1997-98 that the women's team has been listed in the national poll.

In addition, another poll called the 2007-08 College Basketball Computer Ratings, coordinated by David Wilson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Computer-Aided Engineering Center, ranks the Coyotes men as co-No. 1 in Division II with a power rating of 706, the same as Drury University, Mo. The poll is located at www.talismanred.com/ratings/hoops
The NCAA Division II Championships Committee West Region poll, the one that counts in terms of seeding teams for the NCAA tournament in March, won't be published until Jan. 24 for the women and Jan. 30 for the men. NABC/DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
1. Bentley (12-0) 198
2. Grand Valley State (16-0) 194
3. South Dakota (14-0 184
4. Winona State (16-1) 173
5. Rollins (11-1) 164
6. CS San Bernardino (11-1) 160
7. Drury (11-1) 149
8. South Carolina-Aiken (10-1) 131
9. Findlay (12-2) 116
10. West Liberty (9-0) 112
11. Florida Tech (11-0) 106
12. Nebraska-Omaha (11-1) 105
13. Southwestern Oklahoma (11-2)104
14. Pittsburg State (10-1) 91
15. Northern State (14-1) 85
16. Northwest Missouri State (9-2) 79
17. Seattle (8-2) 60
18. Gannnon (12-1) 53
19. Alaska-Anchorage (11-3) 46
20. St. Cloud State (11-3) 43
21. Texas A&M Kingsville (11-2) 36
22. Augusta State (7-3) 33
23. Brigham Young-Hawaii (7-3) 28
24. California (9-2) 22
25. St. Augustine's (8-2) 18
Also receiving votes: Tampa 13; Humboldt State 13, Seattle Pacific 13; Washburn 11; C.W. Post 9; Tarleton State 8; Central Oklahoma 7; Mount Olive 7; Augustana 6; Lenoir-Rhyne 5; North Alabama 5; Assumption 3; Benedict 3; Abilene Christian 2; Southern Indiana 2; Wingate 1.    

SAN BERNARDINO -- Recognized for one of the most dominating performances in the history of the Cal State San Bernardino women's basketball program, senior center Vanessa Wilt today was named the Wilson/California Collegiate Athletic Assn. women's basketball player of the week. It was the fourth such honor for Wilt already this season and her seventh selection in the past two seasons. The former Sultana High School (Hesperia) star averaged 29.5 points and 12 rebounds a game in the Coyotes' back-to-back home wins over Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills as the Coyotes improved to 10-1 overall and a conference-leading 4-0 in the CCAA. In an awesome display of her dominance in the post, Wilt tied the all-time single-game scoring record of 39 points in the team's 81-52 win over Cal State L.A. She made 14 of 17 shots from the field and sank 11 of 16 free throw attempts to equal the mark set in 1993-94 by Kim Young. Wilt also had three assists, three blocked shots and three steals in the game while playing 36 minutes. Against the pre-season CCAA favorites from Dominguez Hills, Wilt ran into foul trouble and sat out 16 minutes of the 40-minute contest. Yet, in the 24 minutes she played she produced 20 points and 14 rebounds with two blocked shots as the Coyotes won in overtime 64-60. She was eight-for-11 from the field against the Toros, four-for-nine at the foul line. Amazingly, she has produced a double-double in points and rebounds in all 11 games this season and leads the CCAA in scoring (23.3 ppg), rebounding (13.8 rpg) and blocked shots with 29 (2.6 per game). Wilt is averaging 30.75 points a game over her last four games. The Coyotes will be on the road this week facing Cal State Stanislaus on Friday and the nation's No. 22 team -- Chico State -- on Saturday night. The team's only loss this season was to No. 8 Seattle Pacific last month.

JASMINE MARSHALL

San Bernardino Valley College

Basketball

The lowdown: The 5-foot-5 sophomore point guard is averaging 10.6 points, 5 steals, 3.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds for the Wolverines (11-5), who are ranked 18th in the state and 10th in Southern California. Season high of 20 points came in Saturday’s Foothill Conference opener against Antelope Valley. Had 11 steals in one gmae this season. Was Most Valuable Player at the Barstow tournament earlier this season. Averaged 9.4 points, 2.8 steals, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a freshman, earning all-conference honorable mention and leading SBVC to an 18-10 record.

Age: 19

Hometown: San Bernardino

High school: Arroyo Valley High School, 2006

Major: Undecided

Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant

Favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers

Most embarrassing sports moment: I airballed a free throw my junior year of high school.

Role model: My grandmother

Person most influential in your athletic success: My coaches Sue Crebbin and Julia Smith.

Last good book you read: The Bible

Favorite movie: Friday After Next

Can’t miss television shows: I Love New York

Favorite vacation spot: Bahamas

Favorite food: Barbecue

Celebrity you most want to meet: T.I. (Actor and rapper)

Best advice anyone has given you: Believe in yourself

Pre-game ritual or superstition: Pray

Other hobbies: shopping, talking on the phone

What do you want to be doing in five years: Spending money

- Compiled by Michelle Gardner

TODD MARTIN

Azusa Pacific

Basketball

The lowdown: The 6-foot-7 senior power forward has started 10 of 14 games and is averaging 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds for the NAIA Cougars (9-5). Is coming off an 18-point, 8-rebound showing in an 87-57 win over Hope International. Had season highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds Dec. 28 against Warner Pacific. Averaged 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds with a season high of 19 points against Cal Baptist last season as a junior. Spent his freshman season at Division I Albany and sophomore year at Troy (Ala.). Carries a 3.5 GPA. Was an all-Baseline League and all-CIF selection at Upland, helping the Highlanders to a CIF title as a sophomore in 2001.

Age: 23

Hometown: Upland

High school: Upland High School, 2003

Major: Poltical science

 Favorite athlete: Pete Maravich

Favorite team: USC football:

Most memorable sports moment: Playing for coach Justin Leslie and his wonderful sidekicks this year.

Most embarrassing sports moment: Many crowds have called me Will Ferrell because they think I look like him.

Role model: My father (Paul Martin)

Last good book you read: The Autobiography of Winston Churchill

Favorite movie: The Departed

Can’t miss television shows: The Office, House, The Amazing Race, Kitchen Nightmares

What’s in your CD player/iPod: Rush, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys

Favorite vacation spot: Maui

Favorite food: My girlfriend’s taco salad

Celebrity you most want to meet: Vince Vaughn

Best advice anyone has given you: Never Give Up

Pre-game ritual or superstition: I joke around and practice my stand-up comedy routine with my teammates because it loosens the tension.

Other hobbies: playing guitar, watching movies, playing cards

What do you want to be doing in five years: Hopefully playing pro ball overseas. If not, fixing cars as a mechanic.

- Compiled by Michelle Gardner

REDLANDS -- The teacher taught the students well. Maybe a little too well.

The University of Redlands posted a 108-100 nonconference win over visiting Grinnell College Sunday at Currier Gymnasium.

The contest marked the return of former coach Gary Smith, who directed the Bulldogs for 27 years but is now a volunteer assistant at Grinnell, a Division III school in Iowa.

Under Smith, the Bulldogs adopted a run-and-gun offense that produced a national scoring record of 132.4 points per game in 2005-2006.

Grinnell actually ran that system first and led the country in scoring for 11 straight years before Redlands broke its record.

Redlands (5-6) runs a more traditional offense now under Smith's successor Jim Ducey, but that didn't make Sunday's game, arranged by Smith before he retired, less interesting.

Smith was acknowledged before the game to a standing ovation. He was greeted by several friends and former players right up until tipoff and remained in the gym long after the finals seconds ticked off the clock.
He admitted it felt different standing on a court that bears his name as a visitor.

"It was a little bit surreal," he said. "You think once the game starts you can put that out of your mind. But then you see (Dave) Thomas, (Daniel) Markus, (Matt) Loretz, guys you coached. It does pull at you."
Appropriately enough the game was tied at 48 at the half, with Dave Thomas completing a 3-point play in the closing seconds.

Grinnell's last lead came at 82-81 with 8:25 to play, but Thomas nailed a 3-pointer, the only one for Redlands, to give the Bulldogs an 84-82 edge.

The host team led by as many as 13 at 102-89 with 2:36 to go. The Pioneers (8-2) got closer with three 3s but Redlands secured the game at the free-throw line, with Thomas making two and Patrick Coffey hitting 4-of-4 over the last minute.

"We never thought the game was over," said Thomas, who played for Smith for three years in the uptempo offense. "We know how fast a 10-point lead can go away."

Ducey said his team didn't do much to prepare for Grinnell, although it likely helped that his players knew what to expect, having played that system themselves.

"We worked for 15 to 20 minutes a day on our press break but that was about it," Ducey said. "As much as we wanted to win this game, we have conference play coming up and none of the other teams we're going to be facing play like this. We were more worried about that than this one game."
Smith and Ducey both credited Redlands assistant Donald Brady with coming up with the game plan. Brady played in the offense under Smith and coached with him after he graduated.
The Bulldogs' strategy was to go with the tempo, but kick the ball back out if no high-percentage shot was available.

The Bulldogs scored 82 points in the paint to 22  for Grinnell. Redlands also benefited from a huge 49-30 lead on the boards with Loretz and Matt Dietrich snagging 10 each.

"We didn't think that just running with them would work," he said. "We were going to take the easy shot if we had a fast break or even a 2-on-1 but if it wasn't there we didn't want to force it. That is what the teams that beat us would do."

Redlands shot 67.2 percent (43-for-64) and were led by Loretz with 25 and Daniel Markus with 16. Dan Selway had 13 points and eight assists.
Grinnell shot 41.5 percent (34-for-82), including 21-for-52 from long distance. John Grotberg managed his season average of 30 points and was 8-for-20 from long distance.

"It was great to see coach Smith again and it was fun to run that offense," Thomas said. "But it is also nice to go back to more normal basketball."

POMONA -  The Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Los Angeles men's basketball teams have both had their issues this season. So something had to give when the two squared off in CCAA action Saturday at Kellogg Gymnasium.

The Broncos prevailed  thanks to some timely shooting by senior guard Angelo Tsagarakis.

The Broncos (3-6, 2-2) were picked to finish second in the conference but are off to their worst start since 1981.

 The intangibles have hurt with team chemistry and leadership coming into question. Coach Greg Kamansky also has questioned his team's competitive spirit. While the Broncos were far from flawless, he did see some improvement in those areas.

"We did much better, especially in the second half," he said.
"We eliminated a lot of our turnovers in the second half and were able to get some possessions and put the game away."

The Eagles (7-4, 1-3), coming off a loss Friday at San Bernardino, struggled without two of their three leading scorers. For the second time in as many nights they played without Louis Hamilton and Demetrius Hazelton who are averaging 26 points between them but are sidelined for what coach Stephen Thompson called "personal issues."

The Broncos led the majority of the first half, thanks to a better performance from the field. Cal Poly shot 52.9 percent (9-for-17) while the visitors were a woeful 30.8 percent (8-for-26). They also did poorly at the free-throw line , making only four of nine attempts.

The Broncos have been subject to long scoring droughts in most games this season but didn't falter for a long period of time against the Eagles, whose only lead of the contest came at 3-2. Cal Poly's biggest lead was eight points on two different occasions, the last at 21-13 on a pair of free throws by Larry Gordon with 4:57 left but was up by just four at the half, 26-22.

They maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half and took a commanding 55-36 lead on eight straight points by Tsagarakis, six of those coming on two 3-pointers.

Tsagarakis had 25 to lead the Broncos. Gordon added 15 with 10 rebounds and Kaelen Daniels delivered 12.

"There were a lot of positive tonight. I was very pleased with our defense. Now we need to build on this," Kamansky said.

The Broncos will be on the road next weekend for back-to-back games at Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus. They return home Jan. 16 to host local rival Cal State San Bernardino.

By J.P. Hoornstra

Staff Writer

 

SAN BERNARDINO - They were trying to play team basketball, trying to bounce back from an ugly game and trying to separate themselves from the rest of the California Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Cal State San Bernardino men's basketball team did all that Saturday night in a 65-57 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills, ironically, because they weren't trying to do too much.

"The effort was outstanding," said head coach Jeff Oliver, who has often been hesitant to compliment his team's effort.

The result was a hodgepodge of open shots, backdoor picks and the usual stifling defense that allowed Cal State to hold off a late rally by the Toros in the second half.

The Coyotes (11-1, 4-0 CCAA) moved into sole possession of first place with the victory, thanks to Humboldt State's 80-69 win over UC San Diego earlier in the day.

The 8-point winning margin belied an outstanding defensive performance that produced 13 steals (to the Toros' 1), led by four from Lance Ortiz. Ortiz also had six assists and pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, which the point guard said was a career-high.

"For us playing how bad we did yesterday, one of our main goals is to separate ourselves from the rest of the conference," Ortiz said. "Whoever we play now, it's their biggest game of the year."

A night earlier against Cal State Los Angeles, Oliver called his team's post play "atrocious," and also criticized the backcourt, despite a 72-56 margin of victory.

But on Saturday, Michael Earl and Devon Davis had a much easier time in the paint - despite facing a taller Toro defense - scoring 12 and eight points, respectively. Marlon Pierce led the Coyotes with 15 points and Reggie Brown added 11 in a balanced effort.

Jerrell Smith's 15 points led Cal State Dominguez Hills (6-4, 2-2 CCAA), which trailed by as many as 13 in the second half before clawing back to 61-57 with 1:37 remaining.

With the opponent closing in down the stretch, the Coyotes didn't panic and didn't let up on defense, either.

Brown got a shooter's bounce on a 20-foot jumpshot to push the lead to 63-57. On the other end, Pierce collected one of his three steals to set up a free throw that made it a 7-point game. Earl sealed the win with one of his three blocks.

"This was definitely a big win for us," Brown said. "We knew coming in we were going to have to come out more aggressive."

Brown went 3-of-5 from 3-point range, a welcome touch since downtown specialist David Reichel was sidelined with a hand injury earlier in the week. Oliver said after the game that Reichel is targeting next Wednesday for a possible return to practice, which would be earlier than initially expected.

"He brings the ability to stretch the defense, which helps our spacing," Oliver said of Reichel. "We definitely need him (Jan. 19) against (UC) San Diego."

SAN BERNARDINO -- Ask Cal State San Bernardino men's basketball coach Jeff Oliver where his team stands and you get a good news, bad news sort of answer. The team's trademark defense has been stellar but the Coyotes have not been productive enough offensively so Oliver is ecstatic at being 9-1 heading back into CCAA play.

"Defensively I am very pleased but we're relying too much on that," he said. "We have to start knocking down some shots because we're putting too much pressure on the defense. I am completely frustrated with our offense."

The Coyotes (2-0 in conference), ranked No. 10 nationally, return from the holiday respite tonight with a 7:30 p.m. game at Coussoulis Arena against Cal State Los Angeles (7-2, 1-1), one of the up-and-coming teams in the CCAA.

A women's game between the same two schools gets underway at 5:30 p.m.

Oliver's point is driven home by glancing at the conference statistics. The Coyotes rank first in defense, giving up a conference-low average of 60.9 points a game. They are also first in field-goal percentage defense (.384). Foes are also hitting just 23 percent from long distance. Cal State is also first in blocked shots and second in steals.

But flip the page to the offensive categories and it's a different story. The Coyotes are a respectable fifth in scoring (71.9 points per game) but they are last in field-goal percentage (.441), 10th out of 11 teams in 3-point shooting (.320) and last in rebounding margin.

"We're getting the shots we want," Oliver said. "It's time for some of our guys to start knocking some down."
The Coyotes will be without their most consistent 3-point shooter for at least the next two weeks. Senior David Reichel (7.4 ppg) dislocated the thumb on his shooting hand in practice earlier this week. Oliver said he thought Reichel could be out as long as six weeks but further tests showed there was no ligament or tendon damage, which means a quicker return.

In Reichel's absence, Oliver will be looking for more out of juniors Steve Gaston and Reggie Brown.

"Our depth really pays off in a situation like this but they had to respect David's shot and that really spread the defense. We need other guys to step up and make those shots."

The Coyotes are led by senior guards Lance Ortiz (13.4 ppg, 5.4 assists pg, 2.8 steals pg) and Marlon Pierce (10.2 ppg, 4.3 apg, 4.9 rebounds pg). Senior center Michael Earl (12.4 ppg, 6 rpg) is leading the conference in field-goal percentage (.703) and blocked shots (30).

Cal State Los Angeles finished 10th in the conference a year ago but had an outstanding recruiting class and was picked to finish fourth in a voting of member coaches.

The Eagles rank first in the conference in scoring offense (79.3 ppg), second in field-goal percentage (.481), second in 3-point percentage (.415), second in offensive rebounding and first in defensive rebounding.

Dejean Prejean (17.8 ppg, 5 rpg), a Compton native who transferred from Florida International University, leads the Eagles but three others are also averaging double figures -- junior forward Louis Hamilton (14 ppg), senior guard Vincent Camper (12.2 ppg) and junior forward Demetrius Hazel (12.1 ppg).

"They have offensive weapons galore. That's for sure," Oliver said. "If the regional rankings were coming out this week, they would probably have a piece of the top eight."

The Coyotes host Cal State Dominguez Hills (5-3, 0-2) on Saturday, then will play eight of their next 10 games on the road.

 

It was announced late last month that the University of Redlands men's water polo team gained two members on the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-American First Team. Senior center Ryan Hall (Bellevue, WA) and junior driver Andrew Becskehazy (Surfside, FL) gained the honor after helping the Bulldogs earn a solid sixth-place finish at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships with an overall record of 22-14.

Hall concludes his impressive career at Redlands with his fourth-consecutive First Team selection. He finished the 2007 season with a team-leading 52 goals, ranking 37th in the nation, while also topping his teammates as the best defensive player with 53 steals and 32 ejections drawn. In addition, Hall was the only Redlands competitor to receive WWPA All-Tournament accolades with his spot on the Second Team.

After three stellar seasons with the Bulldogs, Becskehazy stepped into the spotlight in 2007 with his inaugural All-American award. He notched 39 goals to go along with a team-leading 33 assists, which helped Redlands rank eighth in the nation offensively. Becskehazy also garnered 31 steals and 18 ejections drawn on defense, revealing his well-rounded abilities.

In addition, Bulldog senior driver Tony Rona (Mercer Island, WA) and sophomore center Brendan Meaney (Palm Desert, CA) were also recognized as Honorable Mentions.

For a complete list of the ACWPC All-American teams, please log onto www.collegewaterpolocoach.org.

SAN BERNARDINO -- A slow start may have been enough for most critics to write off the San Bernardino Valley College men's basketball team. But the Wolverines showed they might not be dead yet, finishing nonconference play with a 76-59 win over visiting Long Beach City on Wednesday.

SBVC (4-10), the 2006-07 Foothill Conference champion, begins defense of its title Saturday when Antelope Valley, one of the favorites, makes a visit.

Second-year coach Gerry Wright stopped short of saying his team had turned the corner, but he was satisfied.

"I haven't quite gotten my finger on the pulse of this team yet," he said. "Just when I think they've got it, we go out the next game and we haven't got it. But some of the things I have been driving home seem to have finally gotten through."

One of those things is the importance of the supporting cast. Lewis Leonard entered the game as the state's leading scorer at 26 points a game and Johnny Barnes was 11th at 21. Both of those players held up their end with Lewis scoring 18 and Barnes 16. But it was the others that carried the team to just its fourth win in 14 tries.

Sophomore point guard Jacob Letson had a season-high 23 points, 14 of those coming in a first half in which he hit 6 of 8 field-goal attempts. He also had five rebounds, four steals and five assists.

His former Redlands East Valley High School teammate, Bo Harrison chipped in with 13 points, four steals and four assists.

"Those guys (Barnes and Leonard) are going to get theirs," Letson said. "It is up to the rest of us to contribute, too."

The Wolverines were never really challenged, something that was probably unexpected because they had lost to the same team three weeks ago, 84-75.

The game was tied at 6, but the Wolverines surged ahead with 18 of the game's next 22 points and never looked back. Lewis had seven points in that run, which also featured a three-point play by Letson and ended with a fastbreak layup by Harrison that came after a steal at midcourt.

The Wolverines led, 41-28, at the half and the Vikings (11-9) were never within single digits.

Wright's team also played smart. It had been averaging 84 points a game, but slowed the pace in the second half after Barnes picked up his fourth foul with 9:17 left and SBVC ahead, 63-48. Later, Lewis was called for his fourth foul with 5:16 to go and the Wolverines up, 67-51.

"Coach has been after me about knowing the situation and managing the game," Letson said. "That's something I have really been trying to focus on."

While the Wolverines' record is sub-par, Wright has never lost faith. Eight of their 10 losses have been by single digits.

"We have had games where we were up by seven, eight points and were racing up and down the court putting shots up," he said. "We did a much better job of playing under control tonight. I don't want to pull back the reigns altogether, but you have to understand the situation."

The Wolverines shot 58.5 percent (31 for 53) in the game, including 69 percent (18 for 26) in the opening half.

Long Beach shot 50 percent (21 for 42) in the game. Sophomore Matt Richard had a team-high 26 points and six rebounds and Wynton Johnson had 16, 10 of those from the free-throw line. Barstow native Cameron Herbert, out of Silver Valley High School, had six points and two assists.

By  Michelle Gardner

POMONA - Right now Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball coach Greg Kamansky will take small improvements. So he is stressing the positive in Sunday’s 68-64 nonconference win over LeMoyne.

The Broncos (2-5, 1-1) return to CCAA play this weekend at Kellogg Gymnasium, hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills (5-2, 0-2) Friday and Cal State Los Angeles (7-2, 1-1) on Saturday.

Kamansky also is aware that Cal State Los Angeles beat the same LeMoyne team by 20 but says his focus right now is only on his team.

“We have enough to worry about with our own team. We can’t worry about any other team,” he said. “We’re trying to make adjustments and be smarter in how we play. If we can do that, we’ll be competitive. If not we won’t be. It’s that simple.”

The Broncos are off to their worst start since 1981 but four of those losses came in nonconference play so they still have a chance to live up to their lofty preseason billing. Cal Poly was picked to finish second in the conference behind defending champion Humboldt State. Kamansky admits he hasn’t yet figured out his current team which he said has looked better this week in practice.

“I’ve had crappy practice teams that came out and played great in games and I have had great practice teams come out and look crappy in games,” he said. “We looked better this week but I said that before we went to Las Vegas too.”

The Broncos are close to full strength with 6-foot-7 senior center Kaelen Daniels returning from a one-game suspension that followed his ejection from the second game in Las Vegas.

Senior Kevin Neveu filled in capably with a career-high 10 points against the Dolphins.

The exception is reserve forward Bill Forelli who had surgery Wednesday on a broken nose and is out indefinitely.

The bright spot in the otherwise dismal performance early in the season has come from junior forward Larry Gordon who was named CCAA Player of the Week for his showing against LeMoyne. He ranks third in the conference in scoring (17.9 points per game), second in rebounding (8.9 rpg), fourth in free-throw percentage (.854) and seventh in field-goal percentage (.547).

Senior guard Angelo Tsagarakis (14.7 ppg) is also coming off a solid performance against LeMoyne.
Both this weekend’s foes will provide a challenge. Both are expected to contend with the traditional foes thanks to solid recruiting classes.

The Broncos are last in scoring offense (64.3 ppg) and seventh in defense (69.4). They are third in field-goal percentage (.473) but have been a woeful .612 from the free-throw line.

The Toros rely on their balance. They don’t have a player averaging double figures but have four above nine points a game. Junior guard Jonathan Toliver (9.7 ppg) is the leader with former Ontario High player Jerrell Smith (9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) also a key player. Smith and junior forward Rodney Yearby (9 ppg, 5.6 rpg) are both transfers from Riverside Community College.

Kamansky has been experimenting with his lineup and said he won’t make any decisions until game day.
“It’s one of those things that will probably keep changing until we find out what fits best and we really haven’t found that yet,” he said.

The Broncos will need a good showing at home because after this weekend they will play seven of their next 10 on the road including two tough road trips against the northern teams.

“This is a big weekend for us,” Kamansky said. “We’ll know where we stand after these two games.”