Former St. Bonaventure High cornerback Terrail Lambert ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at Notre Dame, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

"He got everybody's attention," Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis said of Lambert.

A showdown for third place in the Western State Conference's North division Tuesday afternoon developed into Ventura College's biggest baseball win over rival Moorpark College.

A.J. Gallardo and Rey Garcia combined for six hits and nine runs scored and Ryan Plum allowed one run and six hits in seven innings as host Ventura battered Moorpark, 29-1, to win its sixth straight WSC North game.

Plum (2-1) scattered six hits and walked one, a severe contrast to the eight Raider pitchers who combined to allow 17 hits, 13 walks and nine hit batsmen.

Ventura's Colin LaVoie scored four runs without an official at bat. He was walked three times and was hit twice.

Gallardo and Garcia were both 3 for 4. Garcia added a two-run home run. Moorpark's Harrison Kain was 3 for 4 with the lone RBI.

Ventura (11-6, 6-3) opened the day a game behind WSC North leaders Cuesta and Hancock and a game ahead of the Raiders (8-12, 4-5).

Previously, Ventura's best day against Moorpark had been the 11-0 win at the tail end of last season. Moorpark swept a two-game series with Ventura in 2002 with wins of 24-8 and 36-12. It also defeated Ventura 23-2 in 1978.

The largest margin for a Ventura win remains 32-0 over Compton in 1984. Second baseman Dave Patterson was 6 for 6 that day. His son, third baseman Tyler Patterson, picked up an RBI as a late substitution Tuesday.

The two teams play again Thursday at Moorpark.

Ned Mircetic became the first coach from a California school named community college national Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Monday night at a banquet in Salina, Kan.

Also named the California state co-Coach of the Year for the third time and the WBCA Region 8 Coach of the Year, Mircetic will be honored next month at the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in St. Louis.

From today's paper.

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has named Ned Mircetic of Ventura College as the 2009 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Junior College/Community College (JC/CC) Coach of the Year. This year marks the 27th year this accolade has been presented, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1983.

"The WBCA is delighted to present Ned Mircetic with the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National JC/CC Coach of the Year Award," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Coach Mircetic, selected for the award by his peers, has had an outstanding 2009 season and is deserving of being honored for his success."

A Belgrade, Yugoslavia, native, Mircetic just completed his 19th year of coaching at Ventura College where he has competed in 12 state Elite Eight games, appeared in nine consecutive Final Four contests, made seven straight championship game appearances and captured five state titles . His teams have earned 19 consecutive Western State Conference North Division titles and his WSC record of 201-5 gives him a winning percentage of over 98 percent. Mircetic finished the season with a 34-1 record and is the first California Community College coach to receive this award.

In 2007, Mircetic became the fastest coach in collegiate basketball history at any level to reach 500 wins. He has been named the California State Coach of the Year three times and the WSC Coach of the Year seven times. He is ranked second in most wins in California Community College women's basketball history. Within the top 10, he has the highest winning percentage at nearly 87 percent. Mircetic also stresses the importance of academics, and his teams have consistently held a team grade point average of 3.0 and above. In 2002, Ventura College won the COA State Scholar Team Award with a grade point average of 3.37, becoming the first team in any sport to both win the honor and a state championship. Ventura has also been on the WBCA Top 25 Academic Honor Roll for five straight seasons.

This year, Mircetic has not only coached the women's team, but stepped in as interim head coach for the men's team as well. He led the men's team to a 24-9 overall record and a Western State Conference championship. Despite having a strong season on the men's side, Mircetic plans to continue coaching women.

"Russell Athletic is proud to honor Ned Mircetic as the winner of the WBCA's Junior College/Community College Coach of the Year Award. Ned embodies the true values of a dedicated and successful coach," said Catherine Gammon, Sr. Director of Sponsorships, Russell Athletic.

Mircetic is one of six RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA) as well as High School. The JC/CC Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year Committee decided in 2005-06 that they would solicit additional nominations from the committee in order to increase the number of nominations received for this award. They will also eliminate regional winners effective 2006 per a WBCA motion.

Mircetic and the national winners from the other five divisions will be honored at the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year Luncheon on Monday, April 6, 2009, at 1 p.m. CT in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Grand Ballroom. The luncheon is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in St. Louis, Mo.

The 106 points Pasadena City scored Saturday night in its 106-93 state semifinal win over the Ventura College women's basketball team represented just the second time this decade that the Pirates allowed 100 points in a game.

It was a rough way to finish for a sophomore class that took a program that hadn't reached the Great Eight in four years and nearly brought it all the way back to a state title.

"They've taken something that was pretty good to begin with and made it significantly better across a broad front," said coach Ned Mircetic. "This year, with me coaching two teams, they had to do more on their own and they didn't skip a beat.

"It would be hard pressed at any level to find a more mature group of kids. The only issue we had this year was Pasadena's hot hand (Saturday). And they handled that well, too. They played hard. They played with dignity."

Lost in the end of the 34-game winning streak was just how far the team had come in the sophomore's tenure, that began with Jessi Selleh's arrival from Royal High in 2006 and continued with the class of Michelle Santizo, Julie Heurung, Donielle Griggs and Christine McPherson in 2007.

"Selleh being here really stabilized the program and has really made recruiting easier," said Mircetic. "They played their hearts out all year long. I don't have a single complaint."

Ventura freshman Erika Ward, a Royal High product, earned a place on the Great Eight's all-tournament team for her team-high 15- and 31-point performances in the Pirates' games with Foothill and Pasadena.

MVP -- Kinyada Johnson, Pasadena
Melia Basavand, Pasadena
Easter Faafiti, Pasadena
Natalie Montes, San Joaquin Delta
Jessica De La Cruz, San Joaquin Delta
Erika Ward, Ventura
Jazmin Holmes, CCSF

The Great Eight may be coming to Thousand Oaks.

Cal Lutheran University was tabbed as possible site for the California Community College basketball championships in a meeting of Commission on Athletics administrators Sunday, according to Solano coach Matt Borchard, the outgoing president of the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

"It's in the running," said Borchard. "All I can say is that we will probably know something in a couple weeks.

"Cal Lutheran looks like a nice site, but no contract has been signed."

Cal Lutheran athletic director Dan Kuntz said Sunday that the COA had expressed an interested in using the three-year-old Gilbert Center.

"We are trying to work through some details," said Kuntz. "We are in the process. If we can hammer out an agreement, then I think we'll be there.

"It's something that we would really like to do."

The tournament has spent the last decade in Fresno, San Diego, Stockton and Irvine.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Kinyada Johnson had 26 points and eight assists and Easter Faafiti added 17 points and 14 rebounds as Pasadena City followed up Saturday's upset of previously unbeaten Ventura with its first state title, 74-64, over San Joaquin Delta.

The game was a matchup of two recent bridesmaids as Pasadena and Delta were making their sixth and fifth straight Great Eight appearances, respectively, with only three runners-up trophies to show for it.

Only Los Angeles Valley (9), Merritt (8) and Cerritos (7) have made more state tournament appearances without a championship.

The Lancers may even have been an afterthought for head coach Joe Peron coming into the weekend.

Asked last week about making his sixth straight Great Eight trip, Peron answered, "Ventura used to do that, although they used to come out with the trophy.

"I've got an average team doing some extraordinary things this year."

John Smith felt it was his job to bring a title back to Riverside College.

So 43 years after his father, Lucky Smith, helped the Tigers to the 1966 state championship under Jerry Tarkanian, Smith completed the job Sunday afternoon with a wild 69-60 overtime win over Orange Empire Conference rival Saddleback at Selland Arena in Fresno.

"It still hasn't sunk in," said the Riverside coach. "It's a surreal feeling. I feel like I've got a big monkey off my back, wanting to bring a championship to Riverside because of my ties to coach Tarkanian and my father.

"I'm so relaxed right now."

Tarkanian's wife, Dr. Lois Tarkanian, watched from the stands as Riverside (30-7), which eliminated Ventura in the regional semifinals, led 56-46 with 3:23 to play but Saddleback (29-8) tied the game on Aaron Wood's 30-footer with 20 seconds to play.

Former Ventura College star Kevin Menner, who led Saddleback with 22 points to earn all-tournament honors, just missed a chance to win the game with three seconds to play.

The Tigers were not rattled, scoring the first 10 points of overtime, shutting out Saddleback until 14 seconds remained.

"It made me real proud," said Smith. "The resiliency of this team is just ridiculous. This team will never give up."

Riverside's David Norris had 18 points and eight rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors.

It was the first overtime finale since 1984. Southern California has now won 10 of the last 13 state titles.

California Community College women's basketball

State semfinal, Selland Arena, Fresno

Ventura 93 Pasadena City 106 FINAL
7:33 -- Basavand buries a pair of killer 3-pointer in transition.
10:00 -- Johnson dribbles the shotclock down and buries a 25-footer to push the lead to 15 points, 72-57. Ventura is in trouble.
11:16 -- Two Smith free throws pushes the Lancers lead to 12 points, 69-57, its largest
14:55 -- Faafati's putback makes it 61-55 Pasadena.
16:50 -- Pasadena's 9-2 run puts the Lancers ahead 55-51.
19:50 -- After scoring 22 points on 6 3-pointer in the first half, Erika Ward leaves the game with an apparent knee injury.
HALF -- Ward had 22 points on 6 of 8 3-point shooting in the first half. But Pasadena responded with four players in double figures, including 12 points for Melia Basavand and 11 points from both Kim Smith and Kinyada Johnson.
0:03 -- King's putback gives the Pirates a 47-46 halftime lead.
3:15 -- A pair of buckets by Easter Faafiti gives PCC a quick 5-0 run and a 42-36 lead.
5:00 -- Heurung splashes two free throws to pull Ventura within 35-33.
6:51 -- Chanelle Brennan knocks down a 8-footer in transition to pull Ventura within 34-29.
9:15 -- Basavand and Kinyatta Johnson bury 3-pointers to push Pasadena on a 8-0 run and ahead 31-25.
10:45 -- Ward hits her fifth 3-pointer in the first half for a 25-23 lead. That was the halftime score yesterday.
15:02 -- Malia Basavand splashes a 30-footer from Pasadena, but Ward responds with her fourth 3-pointer in less than five minutes
16:50 -- Erika Ward puts on a shooting exhibtion in the opening moments making three straight 3-pointers.

The state semifinal between the Ventura and Pasadena City college women's basketball teams will match perhaps the two top 3-point shooters in the state.

Pasadena's Malia Basavand and Ventura's Erika Ward have both stroked 10 3-pointers in a game this season.

Basavand leads the state in 3-pointers with 111.

The three-time defending state champion Mount San Antonio College women's basketball team will not become the first team in state history, men or women to four-peat.

The Mounties were eliminated 70-55 by San Joaquin Delta College, which will make its second state final appearance in four years.

Mount SAC's state tournament winning streak is snapped at 13, dating back five years.

From Riverside Sports Information:

"Riverside Community College will play in its first state championship game in 33 years tomorrow (Sunday, March 15) after holding off City College of San Francisco, 61-57, in a semifinal game at Selland Arena in Fresno.

Coaching in his first California Community College Athletic Association Championship Final as the Tigers' head coach, John Smith will try to win the district's fourth men's state championship and its first since 1966. Riverside, under legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian, won three consecutive titles - 1964, 1965, 1966. The Tigers are the only college to have won three consecutive men's basketball titles.

In Sunday's final, Riverside will face Saddleback, champions of the Orange Empire Conference and the south's No. 1 seed. Riverside, which also plays in the Orange Empire Conference, split its series with the Gauchos of Mission Viejo. Riverside won its home game, 71-57, with Saddleback edging the Tigers 67-65 in the final game of conference play and thus winning the conference title and earning the south's top seed. Saddleback advanced with a 62-59 overtime win over San Joaquin Delta earlier today. The Gauchos (29-7), meanwhile, will be trying to win its first state title in men's basketball since 2002 when under hall of fame coach Bill Brummel the Gauchos beat Los Angeles City at Spanos Arena at the University of Pacific.

In the 47-year history of state championship tournament, the Saddleback-Riverside championship game will mark just the second time two teams from the same conference have meet for the state title. The first was back in 2000 when Porterville defeated College of the Sequoias, 79-66. Both programs are members of the Central Valley Conference.

In the win over City College of San Francisco, Riverside fell behind 20-10, but used an 8-0 run to conclude the first half to pull within one at 32-31. In the second half, Riverside tied the game at 49-49 and then took the lead for good, going on an 8-2 run over the course of 2 minutes and 43 seconds. The Tigers (29-7) never trailed again.

The game featured strong defense by both teams. The game featured seven ties and the lead changed hands six times.

Riverside, which turned the ball over 19 times, shot just 37.5 percent from the floor and 15.8 from the three-point line. CC of San Francisco responded with 31.8 percent from the floor and 23.5 from the three-point line. Only four players-two from both teams-managed to score in double figures. The Rams were led by Da'Ron Sims, an all-state selection, with 21 points. Teammate Greer Wright added 16. Riverside got 25 points from Kevin Bradshaw and David Norris added 12. Robbie Robinson, who was named to the all-sate team, finished with 9 points on 4 of 10 shooting. The Tigers' bench responded with 17 points, while CC of San Francisco's bench only managed 7 points."

Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic was named the state co-Coach of the Year for the third time this morning at a meeting of the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

San Francisco coach Jamie Wong was honored as the co-Coach of the Year from Northern California.

Ventura and San Francisco have combined to with their first 50 games this season. Ventura is 34-0 and CCSF started 26-0 before finishing 33-3 after Friday's loss to Pasadena City.

Had the Rams prevailed in the overtime contest, the two Coaches of the Year would be matching wits tonight.

Mircetic previously won the award in 1996 and 1998.

California Community College men's basketball

State semifinals, Selland Arena, Fresno

Riverside 61, San Francisco 57
Saddleback 62, San Joaquin Delta 59 (OT)

Community College women's basketball

No. 2S Ventura (34-0) vs. No. 4S Pasadena City (31-4)

CCCAA state semifinal, Selland Arena, Fresno
VC Athletic Event Center, 7 p.m.
Radio: KVTA 1520 AM, KKZZ 1400 AM, Homefieldsports.com
Head coaches: Ventura, Ned Mircetic (19th year, 564-84); Pasadena, Joe Peron (13th year, 322-80).
Quarterfinal result: Ventura def. No. 3N Foothill 60-59; Pasadena def. San Francisco 95-93 (OT).
League finish: Ventura, WSC North champion; Pasadena, SCC North runner-up
Head to head: Did not play.
RPI: Ventura, 4th; Pasadena, 8th.
Vs. Great Eight: Ventura, 6-0; Pasadena 3-2.
Final Four history: Ventura is making its 10th Final Four appearance, but the first since 2003. Pasadena is making its fifth appearance in six years, missing out only in 2006.
Final Four record: Ventura 7-2; Pasadena 2-2.
Team offense: Ventura, 79.3 ppg (2nd); Pasadena 77.5 ppg (3rd).
Team defense: Ventura, 50.4 ppg (2nd); Pasadena 58.4 ppg (26th).
Game Facts: Having survived the two toughest games of Friday's quarterfinals, Ventura and Pasadena have to regroup and play for a berth in the state title game, which would be the Pirates' eighth or the Lancers' third. Shutout in transition against Foothill and dominated inside, 34-14, Ventura turned to the free throw line (19 of 24) and 3-point stripe (7 of 16). Five VC players combined for seven 3-pointers. All-Star PG Kinyatta Johnson has been a force of nature in the postseason, averaging 31.0 points, including 34 points in regulation Friday. But the Lancers revolve around a Big Four of Johnson (17.7 ppg, 6.0 asg), All-State PF Easter Faafiti (17.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg), SG Melia Basavand (11.3 ppg, a state-best 111 3-pointers) and G Kim Smith (12.9 ppg). Although it was the fifth starter, Allegra Kohley, whose putback with 3.3 seconds left in overtime won the quarterfinal against CCSF. The Pirates have five players averaging in double figures, plus All-American PG Michelle Santizo (9.5 ppg), who may have only scored 5 points Friday but made the two biggest shots down the stretch.Two wins away from the third perfect season in program history and the sixth in state history, Ventura is the tournament's best offensive and defensive team, statistically, having been played to a single-digit margin just four times. Before Friday, the Pirates were second in the state in shooting percentage (48.1 percent), third in the state in assists and fifth in the state in free throw percentage (66 percent).

California Community College women's basketball

State quarterfinals, Friday

Ventura 60, Foothill 59: Great Escape for VC women by Joe Curley, Ventura County Star, in Fresno; Moving on to the state semifinals by David Lopez, the Student Voice; Pirates Survive by VCWePlayHard.com

Pasadena City 95, City College of San Francisco 93 (OT): Kohley's late heroics send PCC women to state semis by Steve Ramirez, Pasadena Star-News

Mount SAC 70, Fresno City 64: Fresno women fall by Ken Robison, Fresno Bee; Mounties move on to semifinals by Steve Ramirez, San Gabriel Valley Times.

San Joaquin Delta 60, Antelope Valley 56: Role Reversal by Mark Godi, Stockton Record.

Previous coverage

San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Mt. SAC opens state tourney play on Friday by Steve Ramirez.
Stockton Record: Guard looks for revenge versus AVC by Mark Godi.
Pasadena Star-News: Deafness hasn't slowed PCC's Faafiti by Keith Larr.
PCC Courier: Women's Basketball heads to sixth straight state tournament by Richard Garcia.
San Gabriel Valley Tribune: Mount SAC takes aim at No. 4 by Steve Ramirez

California Community College men's basketball

Today's coverage

The Stockton Record: Hot hand will be key to solving Saddleback's 'D'

State quarterfinals, Thursday

Riverside 71, Fresno City 67: State No. 1 Rams stunned at men's tourney by Ken Robison, Fresno Bee.
San Joaquin Delta 71, San Diego City 68: Delta parties to semis by Mark Godi, Stockton Record.
City College of San Francisco 92, San Bernardino Valley 87 (3OT): Wolverines fall in triple OT by Steve Ramirez, San Bernardino Sun; CCSF wins in 3 overtimes by San Francisco Chronicle.
Saddleback 62, Reedley 56: Gauchos move onby John Franz, The Saddleback Lariat.

The No. 2S Ventura College women's basketball team (34-0) will face No. 4S Pasadena City College (31-4) in the Saturday's 7 p.m state semifinal.

The Lancers reached their fifth semifinal in six seasons by defeated the North's top seed, San Francisco, 95-93 in overtime, behind 34 points by All-State point guard Kinyatta Johnson.

"That was a heck of a game," said Pasadena coach Joe Peron. "I was surprised with how many points she had, to tell you the truth.

Johnson has gone off for 35 points, 24 points and 34 points in the Lancers' three postseason games.

"She's just a trooper," said Peron. "She's just something else. I'm really proud of the way she's playing basketball. She keeps fighting."

Pasadena's only quarterfinal loss was a 60-56 loss to San Joaquin Delta on March 9, 2006.

After losses to Cypress and Mount San Antonio in the 2004 and 2005 state championship games, Pasadena has dropped back-to-back state semifinals to Sierra and Foothill in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The Ventura College women's basketball team returns to the state Final Four Saturday night at 7 p.m., five years after the Pirates' nine-year streak of Final Four appearances was snapped by eventual champion Cypress at the VC Athletic Event Center.

"I'm feeling forfuntate that we can play one more game," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic. "And then (Saturday) night, we'll be playing to play one more night."

Ventura was 7-2 in state semifinals from 1995 to 2003, falling in the first to eventual champion Los Angeles Harbor and in the last to eventual state champion Orange Coast.

In the decade from 1995 to 2004, Ventura won the state title five times and was eliminated by the eventual state champion five times.

How entertaining was Friday's state quarterfinals? The state's eight best teams by nearly every measure were separated by just 13 points.

And good luck picking the Game of the Day. Pasadena City's 95-93 overtime thriller over San Francisco was every bit as good as Ventura's riveting 60-59 nailbiter over mammoth Foothill.

And somehow, those four teams were in the same four-team grouping, which means
Ventura plays Pasadena today.

Plenty of onlookers were convinced that four of the top five teams in the tournament were in the Ventura-Foothill-San Francisco-Pasadena grouping.

Scouting the Ventura-Foothill quarterfinal to see which team his Lancers would play Saturday, Pasadena coach Joe Peron couldn't decide which team he wanted to win.

"It came down the wire really good," said Peron. "I'm looking at my team and saying, 'I really don't want to play either one of those teams.'

"Foothill is too big. It's ridiculous. They were humongous. They are a Division I-looking team.

"Ventura has one big kid, but they use up so much of the width of the court with their passing."

The Ventura College women's basketball team made 7-of-16 3-pointers in Friday night's 60-59 state quarterfinal win over Foothill and every one was huge, considering:

1. Ventura trailed 13-3 when Erika Ward buried a 25-footer from the Foothill coaches' box for the Pirates' first field goal 8:39 into the game.

2. Three additional 3-pointers by Ward and Selleh accounted for nine of Ventura's final 18 points of the first half.

3. Selleh's right wing 3 with three seconds left in the half gave Ventura an unlikely 25-23 halftime lead.

4. The four combined 3s by Selleh and Ward, two apiece, accounted for 12 of Ventura's 25 points in the first half.

5. After a 12-2 run to open the second half gave Foothill a 35-27 lead, Ventura clawed back to within 39-38 on the back of a pair of Amanda Padilla 3-pointers.

6. Ventura's final field goal of the game was Michelle Santizo's corner 3-pointer with three minutes to play, which gave Ventura its largest lead of the night, 58-55, and put the Pirates in position to grind out the win in the final minutes on single free throws by Chanelle Brennan and Julie Heurung.

The Ventura College women's basketball team is back in the Final Four, having defeated its biggest, toughest opponent of the year despite:

1. Missing its first 15 shots of the field over nearly the first nine minutes of the game.
2. Getting a combined 7-for-35 shooting night from three key players.
3. Shooting 29.3 percent from the field as a team.
(and the biggie)
4. Scoring 0 transition points, which was a point of emphasis against the mammoth Foothill frontcourt.

So how'd they do it?

1. Defense, as allowing 27.6 percent shooting in the first half kept Foothill from building a 20-point lead in the first eight minutes.
2. Shooting 19 of 24 from the foul line, especially 9 of 9 from Erika Ward.
3. Shooting 7 of 16 from 3-point land
4. Kris King, who came off the bench to chip in six key points as Julie Heurung was being asked to carry an enormous burden against the Fresno front line.

California community college basketball

WOMEN

No. 1S Mount SAC (32-3) vs. No. 2N San Joaquin Delta (30-6), 5 p.m.
No. 2S Ventura (34-0) vs. No. 4S Pasadena City (31-4), 7 p.m.

MEN

No. 1S Saddleback vs. No. 3N San Joaquin Delta, 1 p.m.
No. 2N San Francisco vs. No. 4S Riverside, 3 p.m.

California Community College women's basketball

State quarterfinals, Selland Arena, Fresno

No. 4S Pasadena 95, No. 1N San Francisco 93 (OT)
No. 2N San Joaquin Delta 60, No. 3S Antelope Valley 56
No. 2S Ventura 60, No. 3N Foothill 59
No. 1S Mount SAC 70, No. 4N Fresno City 64.

Click the jump for the box score from the Ventura College women's basketball team's 60-59 win over Foothill College in the state quarterfinals Saturday night at Selland Arena.

Ventura triumphed despite holding just six leads, none larger than three points, for a total of five of the game's 40 minutes.

All-State forward Jessi Selleh on the Ventura College women's basketball team's dramatic 60-59 state quarterfinal win over Foothill Friday night at Selland Arena in Fresno.

"They're the best team we've played all year," said Selleh. "On paper, it would have been no match. It just wouldn't have added up to a win."

"That was the most physical game we've played all year."

Forward Chanelle Brennan on the Ventura College women's basketball team's dramatic 60-59 state quarterfinal win over Foothill Friday night at Selland Arena in Fresno.

"We kept it cool, we kept it smooth," said Brennan. "We just went up a level."

Head coach Ned Mircetic on the Ventura College women's basketball team's dramatic 60-59 state quarterfinal win over Foothill Friday night at Selland Arena in Fresno.

The Pirates started the game 0 for 15 from the field.

"Oh-for-15s are pretty scary," said Mircetic. "But this team has character, this team plays defense, this team preserves.

"We were able to overcome tonight against just an outstanding team."

All-American point guard Michelle Santizo on the Ventura College women's basketball team's dramatic 60-59 state quarterfinal win over Foothill Friday night at Selland Arena in Fresno.

"I'm happy we're still in it and I'm so shocked.

"They were an amazing team. I'm so glad we played them and actually beat them.

"I don't know how we survived."

California Community College women's basketball

State quarterfinal, Selland Arena, Fresno

Ventura 60, Foothill 59 FINAL
Live updates from Joe Curley in Fresno:
0:00.5 -- Foothill isn't able to get a shot off from two inbounds plays.
0:04 -- Foothill ball out of bounds.
0:18 -- Heurung is fouled. Makes the first. Misses the second for a 60-59 lead.
0:40 -- Jones' steal and transition layup evens the score, 59-59.
1:35 -- Brennan goes to the line and makes one to psuh Ventura ahead 59-57.
2:50 -- Kioa's easy putback pulls Foothill within 58-57.
3:00 -- Santizo buries a 3-pointer to push Ventura ahead 58-55.
3:30 -- Santizo's drive pulls Ventura even 55-55.
6:38 -- After Oliver's 3-pointer, Selleh makes two of three FTs to even the game, 50-50.
7:07 -- Ward's free throws give Ventura a 48-47 lead.
8:13 -- Brennan makes a pair of free throws to pull Ventura within 47-46.
12:32 -- Kris King's beautiful up-and-under move around Kioa pulls Ventura within 41-40.
13:15 -- Padilla's 3-pointer from the top of the key pulls Ventura within 39-38.
14:51 -- Heurung drives, Padilla splashes a right corner 3-pointer and Heurung knocks down a jumper to pull Ventura within 37-35.
16:37 -- Foothill opens the second half on a 12-2 run to take a 35-27 lead.
HALF -- Ventura started the game an incredible 0 for 15 from the field and still leads at the half, having made 8 of their last 19 and 4 of 10 from 3-point land. Erika Ward has a game-high 11 points and Julie Heurung has a game-high nine rebounds.
0:03 -- Selleh splashes a 25-foot 3-pointer to give Ventura a 25-23 halftime lead.
2:40 -- Ward's 25-footer gives Ventura its first lead of the game, 20-19.
4:55 -- Brennan in transition ties the game at 17-17.
6:25 -- Selleh buries a 3, Brennan buries a jumper and Ward makes two free throws for a 7-0 Pirates run.
10:51 -- Foothill's key 6-foot-1 wing, Jessica Montgomery, falls to the floor in pain and, after a delay, is carried off the court.
11:15 -- Ward makes a 30 footer for Ventura's first field goal.
14:05 -- After nearly six minutes of shutout basketball, Ventura gets on the board as Erika Ward makes three free throws .
15:35 -- Foothill scores the first six points of the game.

The first quarterfinal went to overtime and the second quarterfinal has been a slog, so the Ventura College women's basketball team will start at least 45 minutes late.

The Pirates are waiting patiently in the east tunnel.

They took the court at about 5:13 p.m.

You can follow along live here with updates from me or listen at 1520 AM KVTA, 1400 AM KKZZ or online at HomefieldSports.com

The buzz at Selland Arena this weekend is that the next venue for the Great Eight might be Cal Lutheran.

A vote to determine the next venue is scheduled for Sunday and the Gilbert Center is one of the potential candidates.

The second quarterfinal pits Antelope Valley, featuring state co-Player of the Year Florida Siaosi, and a Delta team which is the top 3-point shooting team in the tournament.

Down 55-53, Siaoi missed two free throws with 29 seconds to play, but following two free throws by Jessica Delacruz, made her first 3-pointer of the season to cut the lead to one point, 57-56, with 17.5 seconds to play.

The score was tied 53-53 with 3:02 to play and Siaosi has four fouls.

Delta had a 23-21 lead after a slow first half, but Antelope Valley tied the game 31-31 with 14:16 to play.

The game I felt would be the best of the day had a great first half, as Melia Basavand's 30-foot 3-pointer gave Pasadena City College a 45-44 halftime lead over the North's top seed, San Francisco.

Tied at 82-82 after regulation, the teams will head to overtime. The first men's quarterfinal yesterday went to three OTs.

Pasadena builds a six-point lead in the extra session, only to have San Francisco knot the score at 93-93 with 10 seconds to play. Forward Allegra Kohley tips in a miss for Pasadena to win the game, 95-93.

What a way to get the tournament started.

Kinyada Johnson had 19 points in the first half for Pasadena, followed by 11 for Basavand. Johnson had 34 points in regulation and had to be carried off the court after suffering an injury in overtime, but did return.

The Lancer gets the winner of the 5 p.m. game between Ventura and Foothill in tomorrow's 7 p.m. semifinal.

Community college women's basketball

State quarterfinals, Selland Arena, Fresno

No. 4S Pasadena City (30-4) vs. No. 1N San Francisco (33-2), 1 p.m.
No. 3S Antelope Valley (28-9) vs. No. 2S San Joaquin Delta (28-6), 3 p.m.
No. 2S Ventura (33-0) vs. No. 3N Foothill (27-6), 5 p.m.
No. 1S Mount SAC (31-3) vs. No. 4N Fresno City (30-6), 7 p.m.

Community college men's basketball

State semifinals, Saturday

Saddleback vs. San Joaquin Delta, 1 p.m.
San Francisco vs. Riverside, 3 p.m.

Community College men's basketball

San Francisco 92, San Bernardino Valley 87 (3OT): Da'Ron Sims had 24 points and 20 rebounds and Greer Wright 21 points and 11 rebounds as CCSF survived. Warren Fuselier had 18 points and Maurice McGree and Curtis Wilkinson had 16 points apiece.
San Joaquin Delta 71, San Diego City 69: Malcolm Thomas had 23 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks as San Diego closed a double-digit deficit, but Delta prevailed behind 19 points from Walter Jackson.
Saddleback 62, Reedley 56: Former Ventura College star Kevin Menner had 29 points and eight rebounds as Saddleback used a late 9-1 to blow open a tie game.
Riverside 71, Fresno City 67: Robbie Robinson had 18 points and seven rebounds as the Tigers, who eliminated Ventura in the regional semifinals, stopped Fresno's 34-game unbeaten run. Fresno became the first men's team since Los Angeles City in 1956 to reach the state championships unbeaten and lose in the quarterfinals.

FRESNO -- Seven hours before tipoff of its state quarterfinal against No. 3-N Foothill, the Ventura College women's basketball team arrived at Selland Arena for its 30-minute shootaround session.

The California Community College basketball championships arrives today with the men's basketball quarterfinals at Selland Arena.

The hay is in the barn, so to speak, for the 33-0 Ventura College women's basketball team. In search of their sixth state championship, the Pirates are schedule to depart school for the 170-mile trip to Fresno around 9:30 a.m.

We have plenty of preview coverage of the tournament available online (see below) and there is plenty planned for this weekend, including live in-game updates and round-the-clock coverage of all the action in Fresno.

In addition, Danny Page of HomefieldSports and I will be providing live radio coverage of all Ventura games on KVTA 1520 AM Ventura, KKZZ 1400 AM Fillmore and online at HomefieldSports.com.

Page and I also plan to bring Ventura County a special edition of Ventura County Sports Night tonight live courtside from Selland Arena at 5 p.m. We should be able to get coach Ned Mircetic and a few VC players for their thoughts, as well as a few other community college luminaries and updates from the men's quarterfinals. The show runs daily on HomefieldSports.com.

We should be leaving Ventura around midday.

I'll post some Great Eight notes later in the day, and plan to have some Sports Illustrated-style scouting reports on the eight women's teams, in the words of the tournament's eight coaches, tonight.

Community college women's basketball

Jessi Selleh: Strength in a Broken Heart by Joe Curley

Mount San Antonio (31-3)
No. 1 South
Location: Walnut
Nickname: Mounties
Head coach: Laura Beeman (14th year, 361-102)
How it got here: Seeded No. 1 in regional, def. No. 16 Cerritos 76-51, def. No. 9 Fullerton, 51
Conference finish: South Coast North, champion (7-1)
RPI: 2nd
Vs. Great Eight: 3-3
Team offense: 71.3 points per game (9th)
Team defense: 51.2 ppg (5th)
Leading scorers: PF Jordan Kuzma 9.5 points per game, F Ashley Adams 8.7 ppg.
Leading rebounders: PF Jordan Kuzma 5.9 rebounds per game, G Brittany Lewis 5.3 rpg.
Great Eight history: Eighth appearance. Three-time defending state champions, and four of the last five seasons, '04, '06, '07, '08. Finalist in '02.
Note: After joining Ventura ('00-'02) as the only women's programs in state history to three-peat last year, the Mounties can break new ground. No team, men's or women's, has won four straight.
Strengths: Dominant defense. Post presence. Coaching experience. Tradition.
Weaknesses: Backcourt scoring. Outside shooting.
Beeman says: "They want to win. They're not going through the motions. I think we're playing better ball than we've played in a long time. It's going to be an interesting weekend."
Scouts say: "This is her best coaching job. Anybody can win when you have great players. She's getting every ounce out of those kids."
Outlook: They are the champs until they are dethroned.

Ventura (33-0)
No. 2 South
Location: Ventura
Nickname: Pirates
Head coach: Ned Mircetic (19th year, 563-84)
How it got here: Seeded No. 2 in regional, def. No. 18 Citrus 74-56, def. No. 7 Canyons 77-56.
Conference finish: Western State North, champion (12-0)
RPI: 4th
Vs. Great Eight: 5-0
Team offense: 79.3 ppg (2nd)
Team defense: 50.4 ppg (2nd)
Leading scorers: F Chanelle Brennan 13.3 ppg, SG Erika Ward 12.4 ppg, SF Jessi Selleh 11.1 ppg.
Leading rebounders: C Julie Heurung 8.7 rpg, PG Michelle Santizo 4.9 rpg, PF Kris King 4.7.
Great Eight history: Record 13th appearance. State champions in '96, '97, '00, '01, '02 and finalists for seventh straight years from '96 to '02.
Note: Ventura has played three of its 33 games to single-digit margins, the same number as the school's 1996 and 2000 unbeaten state champions.
Strengths: Versatility, teamwork, depth and discipline.
Weaknesses: The lack of a go-to scorer. Not much experience in close games.
Mircetic says: "Obviously, we'd like to be the ones that win it, but I wouldn't be surprised if any of the eight win it. Each one has its own unique style."
Scouts say: "They play really well together. They're such an intelligent team. They are well-oiled machine."
Outlook: The road to Sunday's final is as tough as it could have been, so the Pirates are going to have to earn their place in history.

Antelope Valley (28-9)
No. 3 South
Location: Lancaster
Nickname: Marauders
Head coach: John Taylor (9th year, 212-94)
How it got here: Seeded No. 3 in regional, def. No. 14 Orange Coast 74-41, def. No. 11 Cypress 74-62.
Conference finish: Foothill Conference, co-champion (11-3)
RPI: 5th (tied)
Vs. Great Eight: 3-3
Team offense: 66.9 ppg (25th)
Team defense: 51.2 ppg (6th)
Leading scorers: PF Florida Siaosi 18.3 ppg, F Tijera Mathwws 10.3 ppg.
Leading rebounders: Siaosi 12.8 rpg, Mathews 6.2 rpg.
Great Eight history: Final Foul in 2005.
Note: Siaosi, the state co-Player of the Year, tied a school record with 29 rebounds in the regional final win over Cypress.
Strengths: Siaosi. Quickness. Underrated backcourt.
Weaknesses: Scoring depth. Outside shooting.
Taylor says: "She's just a special player. She finds a way to help us win. I think we have the best player in the state."
Scouts say: "She's certainly one of the great players that's played in the last 10 years. People can put up stats, but very few can score, rebound, pass as well as she does and then defend multiple players."
Outlook: They may have lost nine games, but they have the best player in the tournament and a pair of tough, unselfish guards, which makes them dangerous.

Pasadena City (30-4)
No. 4 South
Location: Pasadena
Nickname: Lancers
Head coach: Joe Peron (13th year, 321-80)
How it got here: Seeded No. 4 in regional, def. No. 13 Chaffey 69-57, def. No. 12 San Bernardino Valley 85-68.
Conference finish: South Coast North, runner-up (6-2)
RPI: 8th
Vs. Great Eight: 2-2
Team offense: 77.5 points per game (3rd)
Team defense: 58.4 ppg (26th)
Leading scorers: PG Kinyada Johnson 17.2 ppg, PF Easter Faafiti 16.8 ppg.
Leading rebounders: Faafiti 10.2 rpg, F Allegra Kohley 6.6 rpg.
Great Eight history: Sixth straight appearance. Finalists in '04, '05.
Note: G Melia Basavand led the state with 107 3-pointers, shooting 38.5 percent.
Strengths: A trio of stars. Johnson's leadership. Basavand's shooting.
Weaknesses: Depth. Lack size. Difficult road.
Peron says: "I've got an average team doing some extraordinary things this year. I have to be impressed with that. I didn't think that they'd win 30 games."
Scouts say: "Pasadena needs to get that monkey off their back. No one's really talked about them, but they can win the thing."
Outlook: Don't forget about the Lancers. With a point guard to control the game, the post player to dominate the interior and the dead-eye shooter to blow a game open, they are the tournament's sleeper.

City College of San Francisco (33-2)
No. 1 North
Location: San Francisco
Nickname: Rams
Head coach: Jamie Wong (8th year, 167-47)
How it got here: Seeded No. 1 in regional, def. No. 16 Sacramento City 63-45, def. No. 9 Skyline 70-59.
Conference finish: Coast North, runner-up (8-2)
RPI: 1st
Vs. Great Eight: 4-1
Team offense: 71.6 ppg (13th)
Team defense: 54.5 ppg (13th)
Leading scorers: G Jazmin Holmes 15.0 ppg, C Courtney buster 12.8 ppg, G Brittney Allen 12.0 ppg.
Leading rebounders: Buster 8.9 rpg, F Monique Cavello 8.6 rpg.
Great Eight history: Second trip in four years.
Note: After winning the first 23 games of the year, the Rams were upset at home in the conference opener by Chabot and finished second to Foothill.
Strengths: Balance. Intelligent guards. Size. Speed.
Weaknesses: Inexperience. Inefficiency. Momentum.
Scouts say: "They're the type of team that can beat anybody, but someone can get them."
Outlook: An eye-popping start was burst by a second-place conference finish. Probably remain the second favorite. They have all the pieces, but have they peaked?

San Joaquin Delta (28-6)
No. 2 North
Location: Stockton
Nickname: Mustangs
Head coach: Gina Johnson (13th year)
How it got here: Seeded No. 2 in regional, def. No. 15 Chabot 86-57, def. No. 7 Ohlone 88-60.
Conference finish: Big 8, co-champion (12-2)
RPI: 5th (tied)
Vs. Great Eight: 2-4
Team offense: 74.4 points per game (6th)
Team defense: 58.0 ppg (22nd)
Leading scorers: G Jessica De la Cruz 12.8 ppg, G Patrice Hunter 9.1 ppg.
Leading rebounders: F Keisha Leggs 6.8 rpg, F Ashante Reid 4.8 rpg.
Great Eight history: Seventh appearance, including five straight. Final Four, '02. Finalist, '06.
Note: Delta is second in the state in 3-pointers (213), behind only Pierce (250).
Strengths: Momentum. Transition game. Outside shooting.
Weaknesses: Lack of interior game. Injuries.
Johnson says: "We're a different team than we were in the preseason. We had to really rotate a lot of difference lineups through. We've been doing a lot of teaching.
Scouts say: "They are kind of a typical Gina Johnson team, in that they play hard for 40 minutes, take more charges than anyone I've seen and when their shot selection is good... they're capable of winning the whole thing."
Outlook: This isn't the same team that fell to quarterfinal opponent Antelope Valley by 29 points in December, or the same team that dropped consecutive games in February, but it may not have enough inside to survive both AVC and perhaps Mount SAC.

Foothill (27-6)
No. 3 North
Location: Los Altos Hills
Nickname: Owls
Head coach: Jody Craig (13th year, 299-129)
How it got here: Seeded No. 3 in regional, def. No. 14 Butte 71-41, def. No. 6 Santa Rosa 64-59.
Conference finish: Coast North, champion (9-1)
RPI: 3rd
Vs. Great Eight: 3-4
Team offense: 70.7 points per game (14th)
Team defense: 52.2 ppg (7th)
Leading scorers: C Jennifer Kioa 11.6 ppg, F Jessica Montgomery 10.2 ppg.
Leading rebounders: Kioa 7.9 rpg, Montgomery 7.2 rpg.
Great Eight history: Fifth appearance. Finalist in '08. Final Four in '00.
Note: Kioa, the state co-Player of the Year, is third in the state in blocked shots (3.5 per game).
Strengths: Ginormous size. Rebounding. Shot blocking. 3-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Lack of speed.
Craig says: "I feel like we have two No. 1 seeds in our bracket."
Scouts say: "They're bigger than any team in the state... and they can create problems for team just because of rebounding and size.
Outlook: Last year's state finalist is capable of getting back to the final, but only if it proves itself with the upset of the season.

Fresno City (30-6)
No. 4 North
Location: Fresno
Nickname: Rams
Head coach: Brian Tessler (2nd year, 65-9)
How it got here: Seeded No. 4 in regional, def. No. 13 San Jose City 75-51, def. No. 5 Sierra 65-52.
Conference finish: Central Valley, champion (10-0)
RPI: 7th
Vs. Great Eight: 0-5
Team offense: 73.3 points per game (8th)
Team defense: 53.8 ppg (11th)
Leading scorers: F Surniya Darden 14.3 ppg, G Blakely Goldberg 12.4 ppg.
Leading rebounders: Darden 8.0 rpg, G Jasmine Noldon 5.6 rpg.
Great Eight history: Fifth appearance. Final Four in '08.
Note: Darden is fourth in the state in shooting percentage (63.9 percent).
Strengths: Offensive spacing. Rare execution of a rare system. Home advantage.
Weaknesses: Free throw woes. Lack of size.
Tessler says: "We're not nearly as talented, but we have been under the radar this year and it's been fun. I'm not going into this thing intimidated at all."
Scouts say: "He doesn't have Final Four personnel, but he has a great system that the kids have bought into and they execute the system."
Outlook: A tough draw because it's a home team that's well coached and effective. But lack of an inside presence and consistency at the free throw line spell trouble against Mount SAC and, perhaps, Antelope Valley.

As the 33-0 Ventura College women's basketball team prepares for the Great Eight in Fresno this weekend three games away from the program's third perfect season, we took a nostalgic look back at the first two unbeaten seasons in school history, the 1995-96 team (35-0) that started it all and the 1999-00 team (38-0) that finished with the best record in state history.

1995-96: Perfectly Good Memories by Joe Curley
1999-00: Reveling in a record that's tough to beat by Joe Curley

There is the potential for history this weekend at Selland Arena in Fresno.

Two of the most successful programs in California Community College women's basketball are three wins away from accomplishing something no program has ever done.

Three-time defending state champion Mount San Antonio College (31-3) is looking to raise its record fourth-straight banner.

If it does, head coach Laura Beeman would join Jerry Tarkanian as the only coach to win four straight California community college titles. Tarkanian won the first three at Riverside from 1964-66 and the fourth at Pasadena City in 1967.

"I don't look at that kind of stuff," said Beeman. "I coach because I want the kids that haven't won a state championship to have that memory the rest of their lives."

Six years after it was the dominant force in the state, Ventura (33-0) brings its third unbeaten team to the state tournament. The two previous entries in 1996 and 2000 left with perfect 35-0 and 38-0 records, respectively.

A third unbeaten champion for the Pirates would be the fifth women's team in state history to accomplish the feat. Under coach Ned Mircetic, Ventura is the only men's or women's program to do it more than once.

Mount SAC dropped a single game in each of the past two seasons and two in 2005-06.

"I have no desire to go undefeated," said Beeman. "I do not want that kind of pressure.

"Ned knows how to handle it, obviously. He knows how to prepare a team for it. He's an amazing coach, one of the best, if not the best, that (community college) ball will ever see."

Since Ventura last won a state title in 2002, the Great Eight has developed into an invitational for the South Coast Conference's North Division, as Mount SAC is making its seven appearance in eight years and Pasadena City is making its sixth straight trip.

Ventura is making its state-record 13th state tournament appearance, including 12 under Mircetic.

Six years since the Ventura College women's basketball team ceased to be the dominant force in the state, Ned Mircetic's peers wasted no time in raising the Pirates, who enter this weekend's Great Eight 33-0, back atop the favorite's pedestal.

"Obviously, Ventura (is the favorite), just because of the way that they're beating teams and the way that they're playing right now," said Antelope Valley coach John Taylor.

"They're such an intelligent basketball team... disciplined on offense and disciplined on defense.

"They take very good shots. They give you no easy shots. You really have to play really well to beat them. They are not going to beat themselves. That's what separates them, they play flawless basketball."

Mount San Antonio College coach Laura Beeman has brought the favorite to the Great Eight in each other past three seasons.

"There's only one undefeated team in the state, that's Ventura," said Beeman. "Rightfully so, everybody has to go get them.

"They're playing head and shoulders above everybody be else."

No. 2S Ventura (33-0) will face No. 3N Foothill (27-6) in the state quarterfinals at Fresno's Selland Arena at 5 p.m. Friday.

Three-time defending champion No. 1S Mount SAC (31-3) will follow against No. 4N Fresno City (30-6) in the marquee 7 p.m. game.

No. 4S Pasadena City (30-4) and No. 1N San Francisco (33-2) get the day started at 1 p.m. with No. 3S Antelope Valley (28-9) and No. 2S San Joaquin Delta (28-6) following at 3 p.m.

The festivities in Fresno will tip off a night early for Ventura, as former star Marina Torres-Reyes, who led the Pirates to their first perfect season in 1995-96 will be inducted into the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

That her school is on the cusp of repeating the accomplishment of her and her teammates only makes the honor more special for Torres-Reyes.

"Can you imagine?" asked Torres-Reyes Sunday. "It's very exciting. I can imagine how they feel. It's amazing.

"In those days... I was just focused on the basketball. It was very hard. But we did it. It's like a dream. I still cannot believe it."

The 1995-96 state co-Player of the Year, Torres-Reyes amassed 13 steals in the state semifinal win and 14 steals in the 69-62 state final win over previously undefeated Saddleback.

As Ventura takes an unbeaten women's basketball team to the state tournament this weekend, the most popular DVD in the state may be the game film of Ventura's 84-81 overtime win over Santa Barbara City.

Santa Barbara City coach Sandrine Krul knows how it feels to work at Blockbuster. Krul said "about 15" coaches have requested the DVD from her.

"I only give it out to a select few," said Krul. "If (Ventura coach) Ned (Mircetic) said to me 'Don't give it out,' then I wouldn't give it out."

Reached for comment, Mircetic said he has no problems exchanging films with opposing coaches.

Krul has some advice for any coach looking for film on Ventura.

"Nobody in California executes the way Ventura does," said Krul. "I just think it's hilarious. Don't watch the tape and say they can be beaten, because they can't.

"You need two-years preparation. They are well-oiled machine. They're so good it's irritating."

It looks like the Ventura College women's basketball team is going to have to think big if its going to keep its dream alive for a sixth state title and third perfect season.

In Friday's state quarterfinals, the 33-0 Pirates will face a Foothill team that features a starting lineup that includes 6-foot Tierra Jones, 6-foot-1 Jessica Montgomery and 6-foot-4 Jennifer Kioa.

Those three, plus 6-foot-2 Kindra Jonesa, all average more than five rebounds per game for the Owls.

Foothill seems very different from last year's guard-orientated state finalist, which featured guard Jasmine Lowe and won in Ventura despite a 18-0 Pirates' run.

"This year has been hard," Foothill coach Jody Craig told the San Jose Mercury News Saturday. "I felt that we had the talent, especially with all our front line size, but I wasn't sure how everyone would mesh on the court. Early on it didn't look good."

"This year started off rough," said Montgomery. "Once league started the chemistry started to click and we played a lot better together. Its definitely been a transition."

The 61-54 loss was the Pirates' lone loss in a 20-game span that stretched from Dec. 8 to the state quarterfinal against Fresno March 13.

In search of its fourth-straight state championship, the Mount San Antonio College women's basketball team showed which side of its game can get the job done, allowing just 11 points in the first half of its 62-44 regional final win over Fullerton Saturday night.

"Our defense in the first half held them to what, 11 points?" Mounties coach Laura Beeman told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "Only six of them came from the floor. We gave up too much in the second half but you can't hold a team like Fullerton down."

WOMEN

Southern California

No. 2 Ventura 77, No. 7 Canyons 51: Perfect balance puts VC in state tournament by Joe Curley and Cougars corralled by Pirates by Kevin Damore, Santa Clarita Signal.

No. 1 Mount SAC 62, No. 9 Fullerton 44: Fresno is next stop for Mounties by John Honell, San Gabriel Valley News.

No. 3 Antelope Valley 74, No. 11 Cypress 62: Antelope Valley Press story to come.

No. 4 Pasadena City 85, No. 12 San Bernardino Valley 68: Pasadena City puts away SBVC by Mario Aguirre, Pasadena Star News.

Northern California

No. 1 San Franciso 70, No. No. 9 Skyline 59

No. 2 San Joaquin Delta 87, No. 7 Ohlone 60: Delta earns twin trips to state by Mark Godi, Stockton Record.

No. 3 Foothill 64, No. 6 Santa Rosa 59: Owls return to Elite 8 by Greg Lydon, San Jose Mercury News.

No. 4 Fresno 65, No. 5 Sierra 52: Fresno City men have X on back by Ken Robison, Fresno Bee.

MEN

Southern California

No. 1 Saddleback 63, No. 8 Chaffey 61: Long shot sinks Chaffey men's season by Martin Henderson, Daily Bulletin, and Gauchos head to State Championship on the back of T.J. Lipold by John Franz, Saddleback Lariat.

No. 7 Riverside 72, No. 2 Citrus 71: Citrus unable to rally past RCC by Nathan Cambridge, San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

No. 3 San Bernardino Valley 98, No. 11 Miramar 88: SBVC punches ticket to state by Doug Padilla, San Bernardino Sun.

No. 4 San Diego City 69, No. 5 Mount San Jacinto 66: "Also, Melvin Goins' three-pointer at the buzzer did not fall as Mt. San Jacinto College lost to San Diego City, 69-66," by Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Northern California

No. 1 Fresno 98, No. 8 Cosumnes River 70: Fresno City men have X on back by Ken Robison, Fresno Bee.

No. 2 San Joaquin Delta 54, No. 7 San Jose City 50: Delta earns twin trips to state by Mark Godi, Stockton Record.

No. 3 San Francisco 98, No. 6 Yuba 87: 49ers ousted in San Francisco by Ryan Klocke, Yuba Appeal-Democrat.

No. 5 Reedley 58, No. 4 Ohlone 57: Fresno City men have X on back by Ken Robison, Fresno Bee.

From Pasadena City College Sports Information:

"Easter Faafiti grabbed a PCC playoff record 17 rebounds and PCC made 11 of 21 shots from 3-point range to send the Lancers to their sixth straight CCCAA Championship Tournament with a 85-68 regional final win over San Bernardino Valley. Kinyada Johnson scored 18 of her 24 points in the 2nd half and added 8 assists. Kim Smith scored 19, Faafiti 14 and Melia Basavand scored all of her 15 points (5 treys) in the 1st half. SB Valley was led by Dwayanna Pullum with 20 points."

No. 4S Pasadena will play the North's top seed San Francisco in the Friday's quarterfinals and could see Ventura Saturday should both teams win Friday.

Saturday night's regional final win over No. 7 Canyons allowed Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic to draw even with former San Mateo College coach Tom Martinez as California Community College women's basketball second-winningest coach.

Mircetic is 563-84 (.870) in 19 seasons coaching Ventura. Martinez, who coached multiple sports and was also known as Tom Brady's personal quarterback coach, was 563-103 in 21 years at College of San Mateo.

"It's an honor to be in that type of company," said Mircetic. "With all that he's accomplished, not just basketball, but all the sports that he's coached, he's one of the best coaches in multiple sports.

"I think if he had concentrated on basketball he might have 1,000 wins."

Martinez was credited with more than 1,100 wins in football, softball and women's basketball at San Mateo until his retirement in 2005. During a five-year span in the mid-1980s, he coached all three sports simultaneously.

Martinez entered the season as California Community College women's basketball's all-time winningest coach. He was passed in January by Karen Welliver, who is 572-287 in 27 years at Cerritos.

Mircetic began the year in the fifth position, but moved past Colleen Riley, who won 559 games in 25 years at Fullerton, and Caren Franci, who was 560-316 in 33 years at Santa Rosa JC.

To read more about Martinez, click here and here.

California Community College women's basketball state championships

Friday's quarterfinals, Fresno
No. 1S Mount SAC (31-3) vs. No. 4N Fresno City (30-6)
No. 2S Ventura (33-0) vs. No. 3N Foothill (27-6)
No. 3S Antelope Valley (28-9) vs. No. 2S San Joaquin Delta (28-6)
No. 4S Pasadena City (30-4) vs. No. 1N San Francisco (33-2)

California Community College men's basketball state championships

Thursday's quarterfinals, Fresno

No. 1S Saddleback (27-7) vs. No. 4N Reedley (25-6)
No. 2S San Bernardino Valley (27-7) vs. No. 3N San Francisco (28-5)
No. 3S San Diego City (28-4) vs. No. 2N San Joaquin Delta (28-5)
No. 4S Riverside (26-7) vs. No. 1N Fresno City (34-0)

WOMEN

Southern California
Bracket I: No. 1 Mount SAC 62, No. 9 Fullerton 44
Bracket II: No. 2 Ventura 77, No. 7 Canyons 51
Bracket III: No. 3 Antelope Valley 74, No. 11 Cypress 62
Bracket IV: No. 4 Pasadena City 85, No. 12 San Bernardino Valley 68
Northern California
Bracket I: No. 1 San Franciso 70, No. No. 9 Skyline 59
Bracket II: No. 2 San Joaquin Delta 87, No. 7 Ohlone 60
Bracket III: No. 3 Foothill 64, No. 6 Santa Rosa 59
Bracket IV: No. 4 Fresno 65, No. 5 Sierra 52

MEN
Southern California
Bracket I: No. 1 Saddleback 63, No. 8 Chaffey 61
Bracket II: No. 7 Riverside 72, No. 2 Citrus 71
Bracket III: No. 3 San Bernardino Valley 98, No. 11 Miramar 88
Bracket IV: No. 4 San Diego City 69, No. 5 Mount San Jacinto 66
Northern California
Bracket I: No. 1 Fresno 98, No. 8 Cosumnes River 70
Bracket II: No. 2 San Joaquin Delta 54, No. 7 San Jose City 50
Bracket III: No. 3 San Francisco 98, No. 6 Yuba 87
Bracket IV: No. 5 Reedley 58, No. 4 Ohlone 57

Click the jump for the box score from Saturday night's 77-51 regional final win over No. 7 Canyons.

WOMEN

Southern California regional final

No. 2 Ventura 77, No. 7 Canyons 51 FINAL
8:50 -- A Padilla 3-pointer and two Heurung free throws give Ventura it's biggest lead of the night, 63-42.
12:33 -- Brennan picks up her fourth personal foul.
15:10 -- Two Heurung putbacks and a Griggs transition layup from Ward gives Ventura a 56-38 lead.
HALF -- Ventura was 17 of 30 shooting, including 6 of 11 from 3-point land. Selleh has a game-high 14 points, with Brennan adding 10 points. Santizo and Heurung sat for much of the first half with two fouls.
3:21-- Selleh's move on the right block completes a 7-0 run for a 40-28 VC lead.
7:39 -- Padilla comes up with another steal and Kris King runs the break to put in an offensive rebound for a 10-point Ventura lead, 33-23.
8:13 -- Padilla and Ward combined to splash three 3-pointers in four possessions to push Ventura ahead 30-23. Ward's second trey came from 25 feet.
10:30 -- Selleh splashes a trey in transition for a 19-18 lead.
11:17 -- Bradley finishes her second 3-point play of the first half.
11:55 -- Ward suffers her second personal foul.
12:10 -- Padilla finds Ward with a beautiful 50-foot fast for another transition layup and a 16-15 Ventura lead.
14:04 -- Amanda Padilla finds Donielle Griggs and Chanelle Brennen for breakaway layups to tie the game, 14-14.
15:00 -- After Jessi Selleh scores in transition for Ventura, Canyons center Charity Smith scores inside on two straight possessions as Canyons makes it 12-8.
16:45 -- Ashley Wakefield's 3-point play makes it 8-4 Cougars.
19:00 -- Britney Bradley's 3-point play gives the Cougars an early 5-2 lead.

Antelope Valley 74, Cypress 62 FINAL
Mount SAC 62, Fullerton 44 FINAL
Pasadena City 85, San Bernardino Valley 68 FINAL

The 32-0 Ventura College women's basketball team will host No. 7 College of the Canyons in a Southern California regional final tonight.

If you can't be at the Athletic Event Center, I'll be posting updates live here and you can listen live on KVTA 1520 AM Ventura, KKZZ 1400 AM Fillmore and online at HomefieldSports.com

Ventura College forfeited six Western State Conference North Division men's basketball titles won under head coach Greg Winslow from 2002 to 2007 this morning.

College President Robin Calote also placed the men's basketball program on probation for the 2009-10 season, although the program will still be able to participate in postseason play.

WSC commissioner Aviva Kamin called it "disappointing," but said there would be no further penalties to the school.

Winslow was arrested last week on five counts of felony grand theft and one count of felony public officer crime, which involves the misuse of public money. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

There will be more as the day goes on.

Here's the developing story.

The Moorpark College men's volleyball team swept the San Diego and Orange County schools in winning the first seven matches of the season for the first time in the seven-year history of the school.

The Raiders did not drop a game in sweeping the San Diego quartet of San Diego Mesa, Palomar, Grossmont and San Diego City, then dropped just three games in completing the Pacific Coast Conference sweep in wins over Orange Coast, Irvine Valley and Golden West.

"It's the first time in the history of the program that we won every game (against the other conference)," said Moorpark coach Steve Burkhart. "I'm just proud of the fact that we have all Ventura County kids and we beat the four programs in San Diego County and the three programs in Orange County, which is always considered such a volleyball Mecca.

"It's just the stamp of what I know, that Ventura County has good volleyball players."

The Raiders, who didn't start as strong in their state championship season of 2005, fell to 7-1 Wednesday night after dropping their Western State Conference opener to Long Beach City (7-1).

"We ran into a storm last night," said Burkhart Thursday. "Long Beach is just way good."

Moorpark, which was hitting .371 as a team entering this week, has been boosted by the play of Ryan Trauger. The outside hitter from Royal, who was limited Wednesday by an ankle injury, leads the WSC by hitting a gaudy .513.

"He's been the best player that I've seen in the conference," said Burkhart. "He's been unbelievable."

Former Moorpark High setter Adam Quinn, 6-foot-8 middle blocker Sean Martin, a Buena High graduate, and libero Brendan Keane, an Oak Park High product, have been key in the Raiders' fast start.

"We've got a few weapons, a few tools, but our conference is so strong," said Burkhart.

Ventura College thrower Randi Hicks broke the school javelin record twice last month.

The former basketball and volleyball player tossed the apparatus a school-record 142 feet, 8 inches on Feb. 12 at Moorpark and broke her own mark a week later by throwing 143-5 inches at the Cerritos Invitational.

It remains the state's top mark. Hicks finished second in the state in the event last May.

With such a big weekend approaching in both prep and local college sports, it's nice to see everybody working together.

The Thousand Oaks High and Ventura High boys' basketball team, who each contest CIF sectional finals Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, both found local college venues in which to prepare for the larger court this week.

The Lancers practiced at Cal Lutheran and the Cougars practiced at Ventura College.

"It's nice to have friends at the college," said Ventura assistant Felix Cortez.

Saturday's regional final at Ventura College should be quite a game.

Perhaps nobody has been better in transition this year than the 32-0 Ventura College women's basketball team. Certainly, no team in California has been tougher to stop on the break over the past decade than College of the Canyons.

The two teams, who have 10 players averaging in double figures combined, have also combined to win their last 46 games.

Ventura coach Ned Mircetic this week called the Cougars one of the Top 3 teams in Southern California.

It all adds up to the best of the eight regional final matchups across the state Saturday, a game that would have fit right in at next week's state championships in Fresno.

"I wish we were in another bracket," said Canyons coach Greg Herrick Thursday.
"When they're complaining about playing us, we're complaining about playing them."

It just may be the toughest game of the Pirates' season.

"I don't think we played very well (in Saturday's win over Citrus)," said Ventura guard Erika Ward. "We're going to have to play a lot better if we want to win Saturday.

"They like to run. We like to run. I think we're going to go back and forth until one team wears out."

Oxnard College men's soccer coach Ross Greaney breaks down Friday night's All-Oxnard CIF final between top-seed Channel Islands and Rio Mesa at Pacifica High, as interviewed on Ventura County Sportsnight Thursday with Danny Page.

Perhaps nobody has been better in transition this year than the 32-0 Ventura College women's basketball team. Certainly, no team in California has been tougher to stop on the break over the past decade than College of the Canyons.

Ventura guard Erika Ward summed up Saturday night's matchup.

"They like to run. We like to run. I think we're going to go back and forth until one team wears out."

"We're going to have to play a lot better if we want to win Saturday."

Former Ventura College star Indira Kaljo, averaging 9.2 points per game for Tulane despite playing the sixth-most minutes on the team, was named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year Wednesday.

Former Ventura College men's basketball coach and athletic director Greg Winslow entered a "not guilty" plea during his arraignment Wednesday morning at Ventura County Superior Court.

Winslow was arrested last week on five counts of grand theft and one count of theft of public funds.

"Winslow's lawyer, Ron Bamieh, said his client isn't responsible for any wrongdoing. He said he is "extremely confident" that Winslow will be cleared of the allegations when the facts are known."

Winslow's next court date is April 15.

The same day the temporary association of Ned Mircetic and Will Cowen with the Ventura College men's basketball team ended, the Ventura County Community College District began advertising for their full-time successor.

The No. 10-seeded Pirates completed a 24-9 season with perhaps its only lopsided loss of the year, 83-66, at No. 7 Riverside Friday night in the Southern California regional semifinals.

Only hours before, the district posted an advertisement for a full-time coach on its website, http://www.vcccd.edu.

"It's going to be a normal hiring process," said Ventura president Robin Calote. "The district screens for minimum qualifications. There's a standard hiring committee that narrows down the pool and then I do the same."

Applicants must apply by March 29. The district lists the requested start date as Aug. 11.
Calote was asked if the events of the past 16 months would influence the type of candidate for which she was looking.

"I'm looking for a person who has both ability as an instructor and as a coach, and who has an impeccable reputation, strong ethics and commitment to student success," said Calote.

"(Someone who) understand that it's important to do so by working within college and district procedures and Commission on Athletics bylaws."

Ventura officials are preparing for a deluge of applicants.

"I think we're going to have a great pool and there's going to be a number of great applicants from in and out of the state," said Tim Harrison. "I'm sure we'll have a wide variety."

The job became open only two days after the man who filled the position for nine years, Greg Winslow, was arrested Wednesday on five counts of felony grand theft and one count of felony public officer crime, which involves the misuse of public money, allegedly stemming from his actions as men's basketball coach and athletic director.

He remains on non-disciplinary, paid leave.

Cowen begins his new role as the school's athletic director today.

Mircetic, convinced by Calote to steward the program for one year, until the school could fill the position with a full-time hire, returns full-time to his women's program, which is 32-0 and four wins from its sixth state title.

Which, once again, leaves assistant coach Jon Wyers as the only off-season face of the program.

Riverside coach John Smith made an interesting comment in complimenting Ventura's three coaches hours before tipoff Friday.

"They play as a team," said Smith. "They play like Ned's (women's) team."

"He has the men playing with that type of unselfishness you see in the women's game... That's hard to prepare for."

The beginning of the fallout from the 32-0 Ventura College women's basketball team failing to be seeded No. 1 in the Southern California regional playoffs arrived Friday, when College of the Canyons won its 14th straight game to advance to Saturday's regional final at Ventura.

"It's exciting to be in a regional final, never mind trying to beat a team that's undefeated," said Canyons coach Greg Herrick.

The fallout continued when the second-highest seeds in the other three brackets, No. 5 Palomar, No. 6 Los Angeles City and No. 8 Rio Hondo were all upset by a trio of teams the Pirates have beaten by an average of 19 points.

So Saturday just got interesting. Instead of a team it has already handled, the Pirates will face a showdown of the two dominant teams in the Western State Conference's two divisions.

"Of the top four seeds, we have the top remaining seed," said Ventura assistant Robin Hester. "So it is a tougher draw.

"Canyons is a very difficult team. They're going to be tough."

No embarrassment for the Moorpark College men's basketball team for bowed out of the postseason with a 67-47 regional quarterfinal loss at No. 13 Antelope Valley Wednesday.

The Mauraders went to powerhouse San Diego City and nearly won Saturday, falling 80-78 in overtime to a pair of buzzer beaters.

To advance, San Diego needed Nehemiah Simpkins' game-tying 3-pointer off a loose ball with 2.9 seconds left in regulation and Marquintice Davis game-winning left-hander with 0.8 seconds left in overtime.

Forward Malcolm Thomas, who Dave Roghan of JCHoops.com predicts will play in the NBA, had 30 points and 14 rebounds for San Diego City.

It was a big couple days in the Ventura County district attorney office's investigation of the Ventura College men's basketball program:

Today: Warrant tracks where coach spent secret funds by Joe Curley

Thursday: Former Ventura College coach Greg Winslow arrested by Joe Curley

Community College women's basketball

Ventura 74, Citrus 56: Ventura gets big lift to stay perfect by Joe Curley in Ventura

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