The men's basketball teams started strong over the weekend at the We Play Hard tournament in Ventura.

No. 4-ranked Ventura College is 3-0 for the first time since 2003-04 after winning the tournament for the first time by topping Orange Coast, No. 3 Saddleback and No. 10 Antelope Valley.

And the Pirates did so without a key player. Forward Najee Salaam missed the weekend with a foot injury. Several newcomers picked up the slack, including 6-foot-3 guard Ivan Dooley, who averaged 19.3 points; 6-4 wing Jaylin Airington, who averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds; and 6-6 forward Anthony Mormon, who averaged 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Moorpark (2-1) showed promise by beating Los Angeles Valley and Pasadena City to win the consolation title.

Sophomore forward Sahdi Odu may be the Raiders' lone returner, but the Raiders have some outside shooting with guards Spencer Levy and D.J. Saul, a scorer in former Oxnard High star Matt Ramon and size with 6-8 Jordan Garrett and 6-6 Zach Davis.

Ventura opens the Irvine Valley tournament today at 4 p.m. against 2-0 Canyons. Moorpark hosts East Los Angeles (1-1) Saturday at 5 p.m.

The second-seeded Ventura College women's basketball team (29-1) will host No. 15 Pasadena City (17-12) in the Southern California regional quarterfinals Saturday at 7 p.m.

Freshman guard Stella Ghazarian hit a 3-pointer with 12.7 seconds to play as Pasadena City came from 26 points down to knock off No. 18 Antelope Valley, 67-65, Wednesday night in the first round.

Ghazarian had 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, as the Lancers incredibly won their 17th straight playoff game at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium despite falling behind 28-2 to start the game.

Pasadena has eliminated Ventura from the postseason in three of the last five years, 2007, 2009 and last spring, when Anna Shahinian's decisive 3-pointer with 33 seconds to play was allowed to stand, despite being released after the shot clock had expired.

Southern California regional women's basketball playoffs
First round, Wednesday
No. 15 Pasadena City 67, No. 18 Antelope Valley 65
No. 16 San Diego Mesa 80, No. 17 Barstow 61

Quarterfinals, Friday
No. 14 Moorpark (18-9) at No. 3 San Bernardino Valley (26-3)
No. 13 Irvine Valley (18-12) at No. 4 East L.A (22-6)
No. 10 Cypress (20-9) at No. 7 Long Beach (19-6)
No. 9 Saddleback (19-9) at No. 8 Chaffey (23-6)

Quarterfinals, Saturday
No. 16 San Diego Mesa (21-7) at No. 1 Mount SAC (26-3)
No. 15 Pasadena City (17-12) at No. 2 Ventura (29-1)
No. 12 Canyons (19-10) at No. 5 Cerritos (22-7)
No. 11 Mount San Jacinto (22-7) at No. 6 Fullerton (21-8)

Semifinals, Feb. 29 at higher seeds
Finals, March 3 at higher seeds
CCCAA Final Four, March 9-11 at Consumnes River College, Sacramento

The Ventura College men's basketball team (7-7) will face Antelope Valley (9-2), the No. 4-ranked team in Southern California, in the first round of the Cougar Holiday Classic at College of the Canyons today at 1 p.m.

The host Pirates, who remain unranked but are No. 16 in the state in RPI, lost to Antelope Valley, 83-78, Nov. 11. In its last game, Dec. 18, VC routed 2009 state champion Riverside, 92-63.

The Western State Conference season opens Jan. 4.

Moorpark College punter David Sandler has been named SCFA Western Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season.

The sophomore from Calabasas High had six punts for a 39.3-yard average in the Raiders' 31-24 win over visiting Antelope Valley Saturday, including two punts inside the opposing 20-yard line and one inside the 10.

Community College football
Cerritos 31, Ventura 24
SCFA Northern Conference
Cerritos 0 16 0 15 -- 31
Ventura 14 7 3 0 -- 24
First quarter

VC -- Smith 23 run (Luna kick), 8:36.
VC -- Koman 34 pass from Smith (Luna kick), 1:39.
Second quarter

CC -- Gray 1 run (Valencia kick), 13:17.
VC -- Burton 38 pass from Smith (Luna kick), 6:49.
CC -- Denker 9 run (kick failed), 3:06.
CC -- FG 21 Valencia, 0:01

Third quarter

VC -- FG 29 Luna, 9:49. 

Fourth quarter

CC -- Evans 19 pass from Denker (Evans pass from Denker), 11:10. 

CC -- Livingston 6 run (Valencia kick), 4:07.
Team stats CC VC
First downs 26 16
Rushes-Yards 46-260 36-150
Passing Yards 252 164
Comp-Att-Int 16-25-0 13-21-0
Punts-avg. 3-31.3 5-41.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1
Penalties-Yards 11-102 8-81
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Cerritos -- Gray 18-105, Denker 11-76, Livingston 11-45, Bernard 6-45. Ventura -- Smith 9-55, Craver 10-48, Reed 10-32, Burton 3-14, Caro 2-4, Nixon 1-2, Team 1-(--5).
PASSING: Cerritos -- Denker 16-25-0-252. Ventura -- Smith 13-21-0-164
RECEIVING: Cerritos -- Evans 5-58, Manning 4-48, Abeyta 3-66, Lavula 2-42, Anderson 1-25, Gray 1-13. Ventura -- Burton 6-59, Koman 4-97, Vizzi 3-8.
RECORDS: Cerritos 3-3, 1-0; Ventura 3-3, 0-1.

Moorpark 31, Antelope Valley 24
SCFA Western Division
Antelope Valley 3 13 0 8 - 24
Moorpark 7 10 14 0 - 31
First Quarter
AVC - Steffes 18 FG, 8:12.
MC - Hutchins 42 pass from Owens (Ruhnke kick), 4:32.
Second Quarter
MC - Franklin 13 run (Ruhnke kick), 14:33.
AVC - Brown 3 run (Steffes kick), 12:11.
MC - FG Ruhnke 26, 7:32.
AVC - FG Steffes 22, 2:54.
AVC - FG Steffes 28, 0:10.
Third quarter
MC - Franklin 4 run (Ruhnke kick) 10:30
MC - Elmore 6 pass from Owens (Ruhnke kick) 3:55
Fourth quarter
AVC - Dison 11 run (Brown pass from Cooper), 9:45.
Team stats AVC MC
First Downs 20 26
Rushes-yards 35-178 43-208
Passing yards 239 263
Comp-Att-Int 20-32-0 18-32-0
Sacked-Yards lost 0-0 1-1
Fumbles-recovered 1-0 0-0
Punts-Avg. 7-39.7 6-39.3
Penalties 9-43 6-48
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Antelope Valley -- Dison 10-106, Brown 15-35, Francis 5-26, Steward 3-13, Buteyn 1-(--1). Moorpark -- Franklin 15-87, Robles 11-57, Hall 8-49, Jackson 4-21, Looney 1-1, Owens 4--(2).
PASSING: Antelope Valley -- Dison 20-32-0-239. Moorpark -- Owens 17-30-0-248, Stevens 1-2-0-15.
RECEIVING: Antelope Valle -- Clark 7-53, Evans 4-23, Culver 3-87, Tibbs 3-35, Stovall 2-18, Cooper 1-23. Moorpark -- Hutchins 5-82, Robinson 4-88, Looney 2-38, Franklin 2-28, Moe 2-12, Hanover 1-15, Elmore 1-6, West 1-(--6).
RECORDS: Moorpark 4-2, 1-0; Antelope Valley 2-4, 0-1.

Jim Bittner may not be able to physically be with his team for the rest of the season. But it's impossible to strip the veteran coach's influence from the Moorpark College football team.

"We're still playing this year for coach Bittner," said defensive coordinator Mike Stuart. "Every game for the rest of the year, we're going to try to do something to honor him."

This week, as the Raiders (3-2) open SCFA Western Division play against visiting Antelope Valley at Griffin Stadium, the tribute will come in the form of an offensive play call.

"We're going to run a play that he put together 20 years ago," said Stuart. "We're going to try to make some history out of it and show our respect for him that way."

The 38-year coaching veteran went on leave for the remainder of the reason Oct. 3. Acting head coach Will Thurston said he is guiding the team along the path set forth by the program's patriarch.

"That's my role," said Thurston. "I'm trying to shepherd the team properly like Jim would have done.

"We talk about it every day in practice. Everyone is talking about coach Bittner. We're not ignoring that fact. He's with the coaches in our planning and he's with the players in their preparation."

We're here at Marauder Gym in Lancaster for the Oxnard College men's basketball team's first postseason contest in eight seasons. The No. 20-seeded Condors, boosted by the return of sophomore star Scooter Holmes, visit No. 13 Antelope Valley. The game is being broadcasted on Homefieldsports.com and 1400 AM KKZZ Fillmore. I'll also be updating the game, plus as many scores as we can find here on Twitter.

2011 Southern California regional playoffs, first round

MEN
No. 12 Antelope Valley 100, No. 20 Oxnard 93 (OT)
No. 17 Long Beach City 82, No. 14 Glendale 73
No. 18 L.A. Southwest 93, No. 15 Compton 82
No. 16 L.A. Harbor 59, No. 19 Hancock 52

WOMEN
No. 16 Chaffey 81, No. 17 L.A. Pierce 75
No. 15 Santa Barbara City 77, No. 18 L.A. Trade Tech 59

LANCASTER -- Oxnard College forward Scooter Holmes is in uniform and will attempt to play tonight.

The No. 20-seeded Condors, who lost their last two games of the season with Holmes sidelined with an injury to his shooting hand, look like they will have their star sophomore for tonight's Southern California regional first-round playoff game at No. 13 Antelope Valley.

"I'm not thinking about the pain," said Holmes. "Pain is temporary."

An hour before tipoff at Marauder Gym, Holmes was the first Oxnard player in the team's blue road uniforms as the teams held a pregame shootaround.

"Scooter is so tough," said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham. "He's played with plenty of (problems) before."

Community College men's basketball
No. 20 Oxnard (17-10) at No. 13 Antelope Valley (19-9)
Southern California regional playoffs, first round
Marauder Gym, 7 p.m.
Radio: KKZZ 1400 AM, Homefieldsports.com.
League Finish: Oxnard, WSC North third; Antelope Valley, Foothill fourth
Head to head: Did not play this season. Oxnard leads the series, 11-5.
Team Offense: Oxnard 83.8 (9th), Antelope Valley 79.1 (21st).
Team Defense: Oxnard 79.6 (79th); Antelope Valley 72.1 (35th).
Vs. Playoff teams: Oxnard 4-4; Antelope Valley, 4-9.
RPI: Oxnard, 32nd; Antelope Valley, 15th
Leading scorer: Oxnard, Marcus Falley 18.7 ppg; Antelope Valley, Shelton Boykin 11.7.
Leading rebounder: Oxnard, Codye Hatcher 9.4 ppg; Antelope Valley, George McGrew 7.9.

HomefieldSports.com will be broadcasting the locals three road Southern California regional playoff games this week.

Those interested can listen live to the No. 20 Oxnard College men's basketball team face No. 13 Antelope Valley tonight at 7 p.m., the No. 14 Moorpark College women's basketball team face No. 3 Mount SAC Friday at 7 p.m. and the No. 11 Ventura College women's basketball team face No. 6 Pasadena City Saturday at 7 p.m. on HomefieldSports.com and 1400 AM KKZZ Fillmore.

Eric Evelhoch will have the call.

With potential tournament semifinals against the host school, the Moorpark College men's and women's basketball teams find themselves in similar positions this week.

"We're the spoilers," said Moorpark women's head coach Lindsay Goldblatt.

The Moorpark men (5-5) will face host Glendale (8-3) tonight in the semifinals of the Vaquero Classic.

McCarthy expects Glendale to compete for the Western State Conference's South Division.

"They'll be right in there with Santa Monica and Citrus to win that league," said Moorpark men's head coach Remy McCarthy, "you mark my words."

If the Raider women (7-2) were able to get past Cypress Thursday's quarterfinals, they looked set to face No. 11 Antelope Valley (6-4) for the second time in a week tonight in the semifinals of the AVC Holiday tournament.

The No. 15-ranked Moorpark College women's basketball team reached the semifinals of its Moorpark College Classic with a 74-46 bruising of Santa Ana Friday at Raider Pavilion.

The Raiders (6-1) face No. 7 Antelope Valley Saturday at 6 p.m. for a place in Sunday's final.

2010 Moorpark College Classic

Friday's quarterfinal
No. 11 Santa Barbara City 74, Imperial Valley 58
No. 14 Los Angeles Valley 84, No. 5-North Laney 61
No. 7 Antelope Valley 61, Citrus 57
No. 15 Moorpark 74, Santa Ana 46

Saturday's schedule
Consolation semifinals
Imperial Valley vs. Laney, 12 p.m.
Citrus vs. Santa Ana, 2 p.m.
Championship semifinals
No. 11 Santa Barbara City vs. No. 14 Los Angeles Valley, 4 p.m.
No. 7 Antelope Valley at No. 15 Moorpark, 6 p.m.

Despite 18 points from James Ennis and 17 points from Eric Mitchell, the Ventura College men's basketball team fell to No. 11-ranked Antelope Valley, 68-65, in the championship game of the "We Play Hard" tournament Saturday night at the VC Athletic Event Center.

"As long as we respond to it, we'll be fine," said Ventura coach Will Cowen. "We need to fix a few things and we'll be OK."

With a run that included two Ennis highlight-reel dunks, No. 13 Ventura (2-1) built a 36-17 lead on Austin Ramljak's 3-pointer with 6:10 left in the first half.

But the Marauders (3-0) responded behind their twin towers of 6-foot-8 George McGrew (19 points) and 6-7 Kyisean Reed (18 points), pulling within 41-30 at the half and 52-51 with 9:22 to play.

"We always seemed to be in foul trouble, especially inside," said Cowen. "And you can't afford to be in foul trouble with your bigs against Antelope Valley because that's their strength... It took almost every foul to stay in the game."

Ennis fouled out with 54 seconds to play. But despite trailing 65-61 with 30 seconds to play, Ventura earned a shot to tie at the buzzer.

"As poorly as we executed, we had a shot at the end to be in it," said Cowen. "I was
proud of that."

For third place, No. 7 Bakersfield held off Orange Coast, 93-87, in overtime. Pasadena City beat Los Angeles Valley, 90-82, in the consolation final.

Reed was named tournament MVP. McGrew, Mitchell, Ennis and Bakersfield's Stevie Howard joined him on the All-Tournament team.

The Pirates face Cerritos in the first round of the Irvine Valley tournament Thursday.

Moorpark College's defense front may have suffered a huge loss in the Raiders' fourth straight victory, 26-12 win over Antelope Valley Saturday.

Defensive tackle DeAndre Robinson, a key playmaker who leads the team with three sacks and eight tackles for losses, left the game with a knee injury and didn't return.

"He's been one of the leaders of the Raiders," said Moorpark coach Jim Bittner. "He's just been a force on that defensive line."

Bittner expects Robinson to miss the rest of the season with a ligament injury, but Robison isn't so sure.

"When I talked to him, he said, 'I'll be OK for the next game.' " said Bittner. "But I don't expect him back unless there's some type of miracle."'

No. 13 Ventura (3-2) at No. 4 Cerritos (4-1)
Falcon Stadium, 7 p.m.
TWO WEEKS AGO: Ventura 33, Pasadena City 29; Saddleback 28, Cerritos 24.
SERIES HISTORY: Cerritos leads 3-0, including a 36-35 win last year at Ventura.
GAME FACTS: The line of scrimmage is the focus as the Pirates open the new-look Northern Conference. Featuring RB Daveon Barner (58 att., 436 yards, 4 TDs), Cerritos is No. 2 in SoCal in rush offense (247.2 ypg) and Ventura is No. 4 in rush defense (104.8 ypg). Featuring QB Antavius Sims, Ventura is No. 6 in rush offense (210.8 ypg) and Cerritos is No. 3 in rush defense (100.6 ypg). Sims (86-of-138 passing, 964 yards, 5 TDs) is No. 3 in SoCal in total offense (1,520 yards) and No. 6 in rushing (113 att., 556 yards, 6 TDs). RB Michael Davis (397 rush, 225 receiving, 330 returns) is No. 2 in all-purpose yardage.
Stay seated when Ventura kicks off, as Cerritos is No. 1 in kickoff returns (29.6 ypr). Ventura LBs Kenny Breaux and Brendan Daley are No. 5 (48) and No. 8 (46) in total tackles. Cerritos DB Keith McGill is No. 2 (4) in interceptions with a 65-yard TD return.

No. 17 Moorpark (3-2) at Antelope Valley (1-4)
Marauder Stadium, Lancaster, 6 p.m.
TWO WEEKS AGO: Moorpark 39, Compton 7; Antelope Valley 31, East L.A. 17.
SERIES HISTORY: Moorpark leads 6-2 dating back to 1968. The Raiders won the last meeting 33-19 in 1997.
GAME FACTS: Behind WR Chris Gant, who leads SoCal in receptions (44), receiving yards (634) and leads the state in touchdowns (10), Moorpark is No. 7 in pass offense (244.2 ypg). But perhaps the most surprising part of the Raiders' turnaround has been its defense, featuring LB Tim McAnany (41 tackles, 4.5 for loss), DE Connor Benado (27, 4.5) and DT DeAndre Robinson (20, 7.0). Having forced 20 takeaways, Moopark is No. 2 in turnover ratio (plus 8) and No. 9 against the run (116.8 ypg). Zach Shultis (81-of-141 passing, 904 yards, 7 TDs) or Dalton Botts (25-of-50 passing, 284 yards, 6 TDs) are still sharing the QB position. Antelope Valley is averaging only 13.2 points and 267.0 yards per game, but the Marauders are coming off their first win of the season. RB Ron Scott (64 att., 349 yards, 3 TDs) gives AVC a ground weapon and Isaiah culver is averaging 25.1 yards pre kickoff return.

The proposal that would have shifted three Western State Conference schools into a Northern California conference was halted before it was brought to a vote before the Commission on Athletics' board Friday morning at the COA Convention in Ontario.

"They didn't even bring it up," said Moorpark College athletic director Howard Davis. "It's over."

The WSC could have lost five of its 15 schools as part of the controversial new structure, which would have moved Cuesta, Hancock and Bakersfield to the Central Valley Conference. All three schools opposed the plan.

"They basically dismissed the whole thing," said Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen. "There was no vote needed."

Antelope Valley College is still expected to petition to move to the WSC from the Foothill Conference.

"I would not be surprised if that happens," said Davis. "They're a good match for our conference."

Antelope Valley College men's basketball head coach Dieter Horton, who guided the Marauders team to the state final in 2007, has resigned his position, according to the Antelope Valley press.

Horton also led Fullerton College to a perfect 37-0 state championship season in 2005-06.

The Ventura College men's basketball team falls to No. 3 Antelope Valley 69-59 in the consolation final of the "We Play Hard" tournament.

The Oxnard College men's basketball team currently trails 41-39 to Orange Coast at halftime of the third-place game.

Sophomore guard Ryan McLucas had 20 points, 10 rebounds and the game-clinching free throws and sophomore wing Craig Lee added 18 points and nine rebounds as the Condors shocked No. 3 Antelope Valley, 69-65, Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the "We Play Hard" tournament at Ventura College.

"It's a new year," said Lee.

"And we're changing things around," said McLucas.

Oxnard (1-1) had dropped the opening game in the eight-team November tournament in each of the past six years by an average margin of 84-60.

"This just goes to show that we're a pretty good team," said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham.