Round 8 of WSC North basketball arrives today with women's and men's doubleheaders in Moorpark, Woodland Hills and Santa Maria.
I will be at Raider Pavilion, but I will be updating scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
You can listen live to the Ventura at Hancock doubleheader here.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores, Jan. 30
Santa Barbara City 70, Moorpark 64 FINAL Dee Kapil had 20 points and Reyneisha Mays had 11 points for Moorpark. Jake Kelly had 25 points and Francesca DeAngelis had 23 points, including six in the final minute, for SBCC. the game was tied 63-63 entering the final minute. Ventura 73, Hancock 31 FINAL Chanelle Brennan had 18 poits, 7 reboundss; Amanda Padilla had 16 points, 7 assists; Kris King had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks; Erika Ward had 10 points, 3 steals. Brenda Van Someren had 8 points and 7 rebounds and Suzie Faanono and Jordan Clegg had 7 rebs each for Ventura. Los Angeles Pierce 59, Cuesta 34 FINAL
Oxnard, bye
Men's schedule, Jan. 30
Moorpark 98, Santa Barbara City 93 FINAL (OT) Mike Meza had 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting and forced overtime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and Kyle Olandt had 22 points. Spencer Schulte had 17 points, Dallas Rutherford had 12 points and Wendell Antoine had six points and eight rebounds. Daniel Koches scored 27 points and Lucky Teeguarden scored 17 points for Santa Barbara which frustrated Moorpark throughout regulation. Ventura 87, Hancock 70 FINAL Ventura wins behind 25 pts from Pierce Brooks, 18 pts from Jeremiah Slowik and 13 pts and 14 rebs from Mike Melonas. Cuesta 70, Los Angeles Pierce 58 FINAL Cuesta wins the first-place showdown to improve to 6-1 in WSC North play.
Oxnard, bye
Just a few quick thoughts on the SCFA realignment while they are fresh in my head:
1. It may look like a bear, but Ventura is set for a similar schedule to the one in which it went 7-3 in the 2009 season, with the exchange of 2007 state champion El Camino for Los Angeles Valley.
That said, that one upgrade will pit the Pirates against what probably will be considered the toughest schedule in more than 80 years of VC football.
And they will probably have at least one, if not two, crossover games with the Southern Conference (No. 1 Mount San Antonio?)
2. How much would coach Jon Mack been fired up for this challenge?
3. With five conference games, that leaves five non-conference games. For Ventura, two of those games should be the rivalry games against Moorpark and Santa Barbara City. For Moorpark, two of those games should be rivalry games against Ventura and Los Angeles Pierce.
I'd also like to see VC play Glendale, since the two teams have played nearly every year since before World War II.
4. Bakersfield was No. 2 and Hancock was No. 3 in the power point calculations the SCFA used to see the divisions. I guess the Northern Conference was pretty tough, especially at the top, over the past two years.
The SCFA numbers had Ventura at No. 9 and Moorpark at No. 32, which means the Raiders are technically the lowest ranked team in the middle tier over the past two seasons. It looks like the Raiders really may belong in the lower tier, although try convincing coach Jim Bittner of that. The Raiders did, of course, make the eight-team Southern California regional playoffs in the two previous seasons.
5. Moorpark's positioning in the middle tier it looks like Bittner, after a two year wait, should get the two wins he needs to join the state's 200-win club soon.
6. Considering the pressure on community college athletic administrators regarding the state budget, you'd think geography would be a higher priority.
The National Division makes a lot more sense as with Mount SAC/Pasadena and Cerritos/El Camino swapped.
That would look like this: Bakersfield, Hancock, Ventura, Hancock, Pasadena, Mount SAC (North of the 210) and Fullerton, Palomar, Grossmont, Saddleback, Cerritos, El Camino (South of the 210).
Ventura College defensive line coach Ted Lawrence on the addition of a third tier in the Southern California Football Association and the Pirates' placing in the top tier, along with Bakersfield, Hancock, Canyons, Cerritos and El Camino:
"I figured it was fair. I didn't have time to do the math, but they were all on the schedule already, except for El Camino."
Moorpark College football coach Jim Bittner's thoughts on the addition of a third tier in the Southern California Football Association and the Raiders' placing in that new middle tier, along with Los Angeles Harbor, Citrus, Long Beach City, Antelope Valley and Glendale:
"That's going to be interesting."
"I was surprised. I didn't know where we'd end up. I sort of thought we'd be with Glendale. I figured that would be for sure."
"I was in favor of the three tiers but I didn't know how it would shake out."
"They should have put Pasadena in our tier. That would have made more sense.
(on Ventura's placement in the Northern Conference)
Moorpark College women's basketball coach Lindsay Goldblatt on the Raiders (4-2) third-versus-second showdown with visiting Santa Barbara City (5-1) Saturday evening at Raider Pavilion:
"We know it's going to be a tough, physical long game. We need to play good basketball for 40 minutes. Santa Barbara is a really good team and they play really hard.
"I thought we played really hard when we were up there. We have to play with the same type of effort if we want to win. It's going to be a fight, that's for sure.
(on Santa Barbara coach Sandrine Krul, who coached Goldblatt as a Moorpark player)
"I have a lot of respect for her. I learned a lot of from her at one point."
(On Moorpark's bye Wednesday)
"We went through the first round and had a much-needed break. It's a good time to fine tune some things and set some new goals for second half of conference (play).
(What do you hope to improve?)
"Things like our offensive discipline, defensive discipline. Decrease our turnovers, finish little shots that we've been missing. Just sharpening up some things."
At the SCFA Executive Committee today, Jan 29, 2010, the committee voted 9-1 in favor of restructuring the SCFA into three competitive Divisions, beginning in this upcoming 2010 football season. A lengthy discussion of how best to meet the goals and mission of the SCFA preceded the decision. After considering the recent membership poll, where 2/3 of the membership were in favor of three divisions and considering how best to maintain competitive balance it was decided that the three division structure best met the needs of the entire membership. The committee, using a combination of recent two-year records, a 2009 power ranking formula and geographical considerations, placed our 37 member colleges into three separate competitive divisions. (See attachment) The following 4 step process was used to place colleges:
1) The top 12 National Division colleges with the best two-year records were placed in the National Division, The 12 American Division colleges with the poorest two year records were place in the American Division, and the remaining colleges were placed in a new middle division: the Central Division.
2) Within each division, colleges were then ranked by their power-ranking. ( See power ranking attachment)
3) Within each division, the colleges were separated into two conferences - placement was done by serpentine method, to equally distribute colleges by their power rank.
4) Adjustment were made to the conferences for geographical purposes - to help with travel distances.
The final placement of colleges:
National Division
Southern Conference
Mount San Antonio
Fullerton
Saddleback
Palomar
Grossmont
Pasadena
Northern Conference
Bakersfield
Hancock
Cerritos
El Camino
Ventura
Canyons
Central Division
West Conference
LA Harbor
Long Beach
Citrus
Antelope Valley
Glendale
Moorpark
East Conference
Orange Coast
Desert
Chaffey
Golden West
Santa Ana
Southwestern
Riverside
American Conference
Pacific Conference
LA Pierce
LA Valley
Santa Monica
West LA
Santa Barbara
LA Southwest
Mountain Conference
Victor Valley
East Los Angeles
San Bernardino Valley
San Diego Mesa
Compton
Mt. San Jacinto
Criteria for non-conference scheduling was discussed. The committee directed the commissioner to again request that each college indicate who they believe to be their traditional rival outside their new conference, so that may be included into the schedule development if possible. Besides using traditional rivals, the non-conference schedule will include crossovers between division conferences as well as crossover games with other divisions. Basically the National Division will have one crossover game with their division and play other games primarily with the Central Division. Central and American Division colleges will play both intra-divisional and inter-divisional crossover games. The commissioner was asked to strongly consider competitive balance and geographical location when making the non-conference schedule. A draft schedule will be developed by Commissioner Sartoris and then approved by the Executive Committee. Hopefully the schedule will be available by the end of February.
The committee will continue to work on developing a clear and objective procedure for movement between divisions and conferences every two years.
Each conference champion will qualify for a bowl game. With the new CCCAA/COA legislation presently being considered, the National Northern conference champion and the National Southern conference champion will qualify for the So. Cal Regional playoffs, with the next two highest ranked teams in the final CCCFCA/CCCAA poll also qualifying ( Four Team Playoff). Conference champions in the Central West and Central East conferences will play a bowl game for the Central Division championship. Champions of the American Mountain conference and American Pacific conference will play a bowl game for the American Division championship. Three other bowls will be available for teams that are bowl eligible according to CCCAA Championship Handbook. It is hoped that in the future, this three division structure will make it possible to match up with the NCFA's three divisions for statewide bowl games at each level.
New conference meetings will be called in late March, preceding the CCCAA/COA convention, to elect one AD and one Football Coach to the SCFA Executive Committee and Competition Committees.
Please see the attachments and if you have questions please contact your present conference representatives.
The loss of head coach Jon Mack may be a big hit publicly for the Ventura College football team.
But at least three of its key freshmen said this week that the core of the coaching staff that predated Mack and will postdate his departure next month to Crespi Carmelite High will ensure the Pirates continue to compete for the Northern Conference.
"We're going to be a force to be reckoned with," said linebacker Brenden Daley. "The only hit we take is in the recruiting. He did help us out a lot there. But I feel like if everyone stays on board, coach Mack's departure will not be that big of a loss. Although it is a loss."
Daley said his linebacker coach, defensive coordinator Gary Anglin, was every bit as important as Mack to his success.
"Mack was a recruiting coach," said defensive lineman Tommy Stuart. "He got it done. He got everyone fired up. But I still think everything will be fine at VC if the other coaches stay."
Stuart singled out his defensive line coach, Ted Lawrence, for the "motivation and knowledge of most four-year college coaches."
"He just loves the county too much to leave," said Stuart.
"The coaches basically ran practice" continued Stuart. "Coach Mack was there screaming and yelling, getting people fired up, but the position coaches are all excellent coaches, some of the best coaches in the nation for (community college)."
Anglin, Lawrence, special teams coordinator Tom Lawrence and offensive coordinator Tim Gutierrez, who all predate Mack with a combined for 63 years of service at Ventura, are all expected to stay.
"Coach 'G' (isn't) going anywhere," said freshman quarterback Antavius Sims Wednesday, before he faced Oxnard College in men's basketball. "We'll be fine."
Gutierrez, who also coached with Mack at St. Bonaventure, said earlier this week that he still "had a lot to think about," before equating the situation this week to "breaking up with your girlfriend over the phone."
"We're all here and moving on and continuing our recruiting," said Anglin. "We're up for the challenge."
Mack, who held a press conference in Encino Saturday to be unveiled as Crespi coach, visited VC campus Tuesday to meet briefly with the team and file his resignation.
That enabled the VC administration to begin the process of opening the search for his successor.
"I hope that we'll be able to fill it quickly," said Calote. "It's an important time to have a full-time coach."
After interest from Oregon, Arizona and Arizona State, New Mexico State and Nevada this week turned up the recruiting heat on Ventura College defensive lineman Tommy Stuart, who was a force in nearly every position on the defensive front for the Pirates this past fall.
The Westlake High product signed this week with New Mexico State, coached by former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker.
"I'm super happy I'm going there," said Stuart. "I'm being coached by some of the top coaches in the nation and I love the city."
Stuart had 29 tackles, including 9.5 for losses, 4.5 sacks and two blocked kicks for the 7-4 Pirates last fall.
Here is Raul Hernandez's article from today's paper on the the preliminary hearing of former Ventura College men's basketball coach Greg Winslow, which began Wednesday and will continue this morning in Ventura.
Winslow, 45, of Ventura is charged with six counts of grand theft and one count of theft involving misappropriation of public funds. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Hernandez's previous stories on Winslow's case can be found here, here and here.
The March 1, 2009 story detailing the content of Winslow's arrest warrant can be found here.
The WSC North men's basketball race looked like a three-team race as the first rotation of conference play wrapped up Wednesday night.
Cuesta and Los Angeles Pierce won to pull even with Moorpark atop the WSC North standings at 5-1.
And the decisive games will come thick and fast in the second half of conference play as Cuesta and Moorpark travel to Woodland Hills Saturday and Wednesday nights for its visits to Los Angeles Pierce, which has five of its last six games at the newly renovated Brahma Gym.
Hot Dates:WSC North showdowns
Sat., Jan. 30 Cuesta at Los Angeles Pierce
Wed., Feb. 3 Moorpark at Los Angeles Pierce
Wed., Feb 17 Moorpark at Cuesta
The scores were close, 68-62 and 77-74, but the Hancock College basketball teams still dropped a sixth straight WSC North doubleheader Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs are now a combined 5-34 overall, 0-12 in WSC North play.
NOTE: How's this for a horse race? Halfway through the WSC North season, we have a three-way race at 5-1 between Moorpark, Cuesta and Pierce. With it's come-from-behind, overtime victory over rival Ventura, 3-3 Oxnard earned the dark horse tag. It can stay in the race by winning out. Ventura and Santa Barbara are officially spoilers.
Round 7 Scores, Jan. 27:
Oxnard 85, Ventura 82 (OT)
Cuesta 80, Santa Barbara City 66
Los Angeles Pierce 68, Hancock 62
Moorpark, bye
Standings after Round 7, Jan. 30 Conference Overall Team Name W-L PCT W-L PCT
Moorpark 5-1 0.833 13-7 0.650
Cuesta 5-1 0.833 19-5 0.792
LA Pierce 5-1 0.833 11-9 0.559
Oxnard 3-3 0.500 9-12 0.429
Ventura 2-4 0.333 5-14 0.263
S. Barbara 1-5 0.166 5-15 0.200
Hancock 0-6 0.000 2-18 0.100
Round 8 Schedule, Jan. 30
Santa Barbara City at Moorpark, 7 p.m.
Ventura at Hancock, 7 p.m.
Cuesta at Los Angeles Pierce, 7 p.m.
Oxnard, bye
NOTE: With the first swing through the WSC North completed, we are midway through the WSC North season and the standings have a unique look to them. There are no ties. All seven teams find themselves weighted first through seventh, with every team having lost to the teams ahead of them in the standings and having beaten the teams below them in the standings. There has got to be a name for this mathematical phenomenon.
Round 7 Scores, Jan. 27:
Ventura 63, Oxnard 52
Santa Barbara City 80, Cuesta 57
Los Angeles Pierce 77, Hancock 74
Moorpark, bye
Standings after Round 7, Jan. 27 Conference Overall Team Name W-L PCT W-L PCT
Ventura 6-0 1.000 23-1 0.958
S. Barbara 5-1 0.833 13-10 0.565
Moorpark 4-2 0.667 11-10 0.524
Oxnard 3-3 0.500 12-7 0.632
LA Pierce 2-4 0.333 11-12 0.478
Cuesta 1-5 0.167 4-15 0.211
Hancock 0-6 0.000 3-16 0.158
Round 8 Schedule, Jan. 30
Santa Barbara City at Moorpark, 5 p.m.
Ventura at Hancock, 5 p.m.
Cuesta at Los Angeles Pierce, 5 p.m.
Oxnard, bye
Round 7 of WSC North basketball arrives today with women's and men's doubleheaders in Oxnard, Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo.
I will be at Condor Center, but I will be updating scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
You can listen live to the Ventura at Oxnard doubleheader here. You can listen live to the Santa Barbara City at Cuesta doubleheader here.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores, Jan. 27 Ventura 63, Oxnard 52 FINAL Kris King had 20 points, Erika Ward had 11 points and Chanelle Brennan had nine points and nine rebounds for 23-1 Ventura. Oxnard was led by 11 points from Coco Bradley, nine points from Takara Prezzie and Shaniqua Perkins and eight points from Arlene Cortez. Santa Barbara City 80, Cuesta 57 FINAL Francesca DeAngelis had 33 points. Los Angeles Pierce 77, Hancock 74 FINAL Pierce's Tess Wilson had 30 points, including 21 points in the second half. Ashley Bonenfant and Brittany Garcia scored 22 and 17 points for Hancock.
Moorpark, bye
Men's Schedule, Jan. 27 Oxnard 85, Ventura 82 (OT) FINALJames Ennis had 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals; Scooter Holmes had 21 points and six rebounds and Craig Lee and Ryan McLucas added 13 points apiece for the Condors. Jordan Harris had 31 points and Mike Melonas had 18 points for Ventura, which forced OT on Moises Barrera's 3-pointer with a second left in regulation. Cuesta 80, Santa Barbara City 66 FINALCuesta and Pierce won to make it a three-way tie with idle Moorpark atop the WSC North at 5-1.
Los Angeles Pierce 68, Hancock 62 FINAL
Moorpark, bye
The Cuesta College men's basketball team didn't just cede the lead in the WSC North Saturday at Raider Pavilion, the loss to Moorpark dropped the 18-5 Cougars out of the state coaches poll.
The race is also confusing atop the poll, where five schools all received multiple No. 1 votes -- No. 1 Ohlone (13), No. 2 San Bernardino Valley (8), No. 3 Citrus (5), No. 4 San Francisco (2) and No. 5 Riverside (2).
Meanwhile, Cuesta slipped two spots to No. 10 in the Southern California coaches' poll, where Moorpark moved up one place this week to No. 14 .
Ventura College football coach Jon Mack, who took the job at Crespi Carmelite High Saturday afternoon, did not show up to teach his classes in Ventura Monday, choosing instead to live up to the promise to begin his new job bright and early in Encino.
Instead, it was left to Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen to hold the first team meeting of the post-Mack era, where he broke the news to the Pirates players.
"They were pretty emotional," said Cowen. "I encouraged them not to make any quick decisions. Ventura College is a great place with a lot to offer. The program is going to move on with new leadership."
It went on Monday without Mack as Ventura defensive lineman Tommy Stuart, one of the Pirates' top players, had a recruiting visit with New Mexico State at the home of Westlake High coach Jim Benkert.
Stuart, who played at Westlake for Benkert, has received offers from New Mexico State and Nevada.
Although he has reportedly signed a contract with Crespi, Mack officially remains the Pirates' football coach until filling out the proper paperwork.
Tim Harrison, Ventura's Dean of Athletics, said Mack was expected to officially resign Tuesday morning. He will also hold outgoing meetings with administration and players.
"I think the intent is for him to fill out some paperwork and finish out the week teaching here," said Harrison.
There should also be some solid information regarding the imminent head coaching search Tuesday.
"Once we get the resignation, then we'll make some decisions," said Harrison. "We have not make firm decisions on the process."
Cowen and Ventura College president Robin Calote both said they spent much of Monday fielding questions from potential applicants "from around the state" via phone and e-mail.
After making plenty of calls over the past few days, an early list of possible Ventura College football candidates has to include many of the other names linked to the Crespi job, including St. Bonaventure High coach Todd Therrien, former Cal Lutheran University coach Scott Squires and College of the Canyons offensive coordinator Don Fellows.
Therrien, who is set to complete his Masters' this spring and is already local, is an interesting idea, especially considering he'd be following Mack for the second time in three years.
Currently the special-teams coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes, Squires told Star columnist David Lassen Saturday that he was intrigued at the possibility:
"I don't know enough about it right now. I have a pretty good job. We're coming off a Grey Cup season and have most of the same guys coming back.
"But it would be a family decision, the chance to live in the same house with my family and be around my kids year-round, instead of split-shifting like I'm doing now. ... For that reason, if there is interest there and I would be a legitimate candidate, it would be something I would probably have to look at."
Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen on football coach Jon Mack leaving for Crespi High.
"We're thankful for the three years that coach Mack has put into the college. He's done a good job recruiting... He's a great community person, great X-and-O coach and knows how to attract great players.
Round 6 of WSC North basketball arrives today with women's and men's doubleheaders in Moorpark, Woodland Hills and Santa Barbara. Here's the preview that ran in this morning's paper.
I will be at Raider Pavilion and Brahma Gym, but I will be updatings scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores
Moorpark 54, Cuesta 43:Deepika Kapil had 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Bev Lampier had 15 points and Nanice Kollee added 10 points. Oxnard 69, Los Angeles Pierce 55 Santa Barbara City 77, Hancock 51:Francisca DeAngelis had 20 points for SBCC.
Ventura, bye
Men's scores
Moorpark 64, Cuesta 60:Mike Meza had 21 points and five rebounds, Spencer Schulte had 16 points and Wendell Antoine had 14 points and eight rebounds as the Raiders eam dug out of an early 14-point hole. Roger Guardia had 20 points for Cuesta. Los Angeles Pierce 71, Oxnard 66:The Condors fell off the pace in the WSC North despite 21 points from Ryan McLucas and 20 points from James Ennis. Pierce was led by 18 points by Javeal Boykins and 12 points each from Terran Carter and Jeremy White. Santa Barbara City 91, Hancock 78
Ventura, bye
Former Ventura College football coach Jon Mack on his move to Crespi Carmelite High, most of the comments were directed to his new players:
"Overjoyed is the word that comes to my mind.
"I'm excited about the opportunity today. Together we can achieve anything and everything."
"We will be working as hard as I can humanly work. We will start as soon as possible."
"I'll be here early Monday morning, I challenge any of you to beat me here.
"We will work all summer. You will get a small vacation at the beginning and a small vacation at the end.
"Remember tomorrow, a new day dawns. It's time to get to work."
(Mack was asked about his history. He mentioned that he went to high school at rival Sherman Oaks-Notre Dame, which prompted faux clearing of throats around the room)
"I played down the street down here at a small catholic school in Sherman Oaks."
(Mack was asked how many championships he won at St. Bonaventure High)
"I don't remember any of that. I'm only worried about tomorrow."
(Mack was asked if making the playoffs in his first year would be a goal, considering Crespi has missed the playoffs the past two seasons)
"That disgusts me. Don't you guys want to win the whole thing?"
(Mack was asked about putting together a staff)
"There's a lot that has to be done. Obviously, the staff is absolutely critical."
"Give me a week or so to transition
"I have a good friend who's a great offensive mind. I prefer to hire coordinators.
"We're going to try to find a offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator and, most importantly, a special teams coordinator."
(He told the assembled parents that he had all day to answer questions, one on one)
"We have nothing else to do but try to win football games"
Just got an e-mail from Paul Rawate of Crespi Carmelite High, inviting the Star to a news conference at 1:30 p.m. to announce the Celts have hired a football coach.
Would we be invited if the hire wasn't newsworthy to Ventura County?
Ventura College football coach Jon Mack will be unveiled as the Celts new coach this afternoon, according to two sources close to the former St. Bonaventure High coach.
The Ventura College staff has yet to be informed, at least officially.
"I haven't heard anything," said offensive coordinator Tim Gutierrez. "But that's not good for VC."
"No, not a word since Wednesday's staff meeting," said defensive line coach Ted Lawrence.
"The only thing is he told us is he would text us all if it became public," said defensive coordinator Gary Anglin.
The Ventura staff has been in Irvine at the Southern California Sports Clinic, but Mack missed the trip, telling coaches he had some thinking to do.
That's how Moorpark College coach Remy McCarthy described a pivotal Saturday in the Western State Conference North Division men's basketball race.
"To me, when you pick a school to go to, this is why you go," said McCarthy. "To play in a game that really is meaningful."
Second-place Moorpark (12-7, 4-1) hosts first-place Cuesta (18-4, 4-0) at Raider Pavilion this afternoon at 3. Fourth-place Oxnard (9-10, 2-2) visits third-place Los Angeles Pierce (9-9, 3-1) in the first game at the renovated Brahma Gym at 7 p.m.
Depending the results, Cuesta could have a two-game lead, Moorpark could take over the top spot or all four teams could be separated by one game come Sunday morning.
"It really gives us a chance to go into the second round of league with a lot of momentum," said McCarthy, whose team will complete the first round of conference play. "It's just one of those games that you have to look at as crucial."
Behind sophomore guard Roger Guardia, who has scored 23.8 points per game in WSC North play, Cuesta has won its first four WSC North games by an average of 11 points. Only Oxnard (76-74) and Ventura (60-53) kept the margin inside single digits.
The Cougars have also beaten Moorpark in five of their last six meetings, including three straight at Raider Pavilion. But the Raiders may be playing their best basketball of the season, having won three straight, including a two-game sweep of county rivals Ventura and Oxnard last week.
McCarthy called on his team's defense to halt the streaking Cougars.
"You see a team that scores very well, certainly in four positions with a steady point guard," said McCarthy. "You have to sort of take that personally. It's like a guy coming in your back yard and beating you in a game of horse.
"When guys can really score, that's something you can do about that. You can make it tougher on them."
Moorpark College men's basketball coach Remy McCarthy wasn't sure the Raiders could muster a three-game winning streak without forward Ryan Islas, who was leading the WSC North in shooting percentage when he dislocated a thumb earlier this month.
But that's what Moorpark brings into its WSC North showdown against Cuesta Saturday afternoon, when Islas is expected to return.
"I didn't know if that could be accomplished without Ryan," said McCarthy. "Wendell Antoine deserves a tremendous amount of credit. He's really stepped up."
Antoine stepped right into Islas' frontcourt role, averaging 13 points and seven rebounds in wins over Ventura, Oxnard and Hancock over the past two weeks.
"I'm not opposed to playing him, Mike and Ryan together," said McCarthy.
Despite questions as late as Thursday, the Oxnard College basketball teams have the honor of being Los Angeles Pierce's first opponent in its renovated gymnasium, which remains yet to be completed, Saturday night.
"This gym is driving us all nuts," said Pierce athletic director Bob LaFrano Thursday. "Even as of today, we're still hassling over the scoreboard working. But we'll definitely have the game."
Delays in the nine-month-old project, which includes new bleachers, a new floor, a new configuration and renovations to training and office facilities, have already forced the Brahmas to flip flop home dates with Cuesta and Santa Barbara.
"They're allowing us to come in and play the game with the fire marshal there," said LaFrano. "Certain parts of the gym will be off limits."
The Pierce men is enjoying one of its best seasons in recent memory, despite playing all 18 games on the road.
"The experience has really bonded them," said LaFrano.
The Pierce women have used the smaller North gym, which doesn't have room for bleachers, for a pair of tournaments.
"I never envisioned it hosting the doubleheader," said LaFrano.
Down the stretch, Pierce will host six of its last eight games in conference play.
Two tiers may not be enough for the Southern California Football Association, which may vote next week to add a third level of competition.
Designed to match programs of similar competitive levels, the SCFA and its National (upper) and American (lower) divisions replaced the traditional conference structure before the 2008 season.
Two years into the new structure, the divisions were set for a reshuffling this offseason. The only problem was, while several National division teams applied for relegation, no American division teams were interested in promotion.
"One of the reasons why we came together under one umbrella was so we would have the flexibility to look at competition and find ways to balance it," said SCFA commissioner Jim Sartoris. "I think there may be a sentiment after two years of experience that possibility three (tiers) would be better for encouraging movement up and down."
The SCFA executive committee will meet Jan. 29 in Long Beach to come up with a recommendation, although 67 percent of schools approved of the change in a SCFA survey this month.
All seven Northern Conference schools, including Moorpark and Ventura, approved of the three-tiered system.
Despite a winless season last fall, Moorpark was not interested in moving down. But the Raiders might be a good option for a middle tier.
"The middle tier is a much better fit for us, given our size and our program's success," said Moorpark athletic director Howard Davis.
One obvious benefit is a three-tiered system would mirror the structure that's been in place in Northern California, perhaps setting up a trio of state championship games.
"That would be the ultimate goal, if we could get a three-tiered deal going to have those levels of championships," said Sartoris. "But there are a lot of things to consider. We have to fit within the guidelines of the COA constitution.
"We're kind of a hybrid type of situation, in football. There are so many variables, it's hard to predict how this is going to come out."
Greg Wagner of the Antelope Valley Press broke this story earlier this week.
Click the jump for the full results of the SCFA's survey on the subject.
With its head football coach, Jon Mack, being courted by Crespi Carmelite High, Ventura College finds itself playing the waiting game this week.
"We're just waiting to see how this all plays out," said Tim Harrison, the school's Dean of Athletics. "He's done some great stuff here, I sure hope to have him here after this process, but as far as I know he's going through an interview process."
A decision is expected as soon as Friday.
Robin Calote, the school's president, said Thursday that she hopes Mack stays put.
"I have nothing but good things to say about him," said Calote.
It's shaping up to be a three-team men's basketball race in the Western State Conference North Division, with 3-1 Los Angeles Pierce and Moorpark chasing 4-0 Oxnard.
And Ventura College men's basketball coach Will Cowen sounded like he was leaning towards the Brahmas after Pierce handled the host Pirates, 77-61. Wednesday night, despite 19 points from Jordan Harris.
"They're very athletic," said Cowen. "They're scoring is so balanced, they have eight or nine guys that can all hurt you.
"They're a handful. They made it very hard on us to get anything going."
Pierce scored nine of the game's first 10 points on field goals by four different players, then led 38-27 at the half behind nine scorers and four players with a team-high five points. Pierce finished with five players scoring between 12 and nine points.
It wasn't just the rainy weather that made Remy McCarthy wary of his trip to Santa Maria Wednesday night, but his Moorpark College men's basketball team responded with an 84-70 win over host Hancock to pull within a half game of first-place Cuesta in the Western State Conference's North Division.
"We're in the middle of conference (play)," said McCarthy. "If you can't (perform) in the middle of conference you need to find another line of work."
Dallas Rutherford had 23 points, Wendell Antoine had 17 points, Mike Meza had 15 points and Spencer Schulte had 11 points for Moorpark (12-7, 4-1), which had a rare off night at the free throw line, making only 17 of 30.
"It was raining all day," said McCarthy, "but it's nice to come up from here and get a win."
Perhaps the biggest 11 minutes of the Oxnard College men's basketball season was followed by perhaps an even bigger 60 seconds Wednesday night at Santa Barbara City College.
Trailing by 13 points with 12 minutes to play, the Condors kept its season alive by ripping off runs of 14-3 and 15-3 to get back in the game. Then, with the game tied 73-73 in the final minute, Gerald Pitts and Scooter Holmes each made a pair of free throws as Oxnard stopped its two-game losing streak with a 77-73 win at Santa Barbara City.
The win enabled Oxnard (9-10, 2-2), which had nearly dug out of 12-point holes with five minutes to play twice last week in losses to Cuesta and Moorpark, to stay within two games of first-place Cuesta in the loss column.
"We started out the game with four straight turnovers," said Oxnard assistant coach Jeff Perrault. "It was unreal."
"But we really shared the ball in the second half, getting dunks, open shots and layups"
Holmes had a team-high 23 points, James Ennis had 21 points and Ryan McLucas had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Reserve Jason Townsley also came off the bench to contribute some solid minutes, making a first-half 3-pointer that helped pull the Condors within 36-30 at the break.
Round 5 of WSC North basketball arrives tonight with women's and men's doubleheaders in Ventura, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Here's the preview that ran in this morning's paper.
I will be at the Ventura College Athletic Event Center, but I will be updatings scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores, Jan. 20 Ventura 78, Los Angeles Pierce 42 FINAL Amanda Padilla has 17 points and eight assists. Chanelle Brennan has 16 points. Erika Ward has 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Kris King adds 10 points. Moorpark 63, Hancock 54 FINAL Molly Carson had 15 poits, Irene Lopez had 11 points, 17 rebounds, 5 blocks and Dee Kapil added 8 pts, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals Santa Barbara City 65, Oxnard 55 FINAL Oxnard was led by 16 points from Arlene Cortez. Francesca DeAngelis had 20 points for the Vaqueros.
Cuesta, bye
Men's scores, Jan. 20 Los Angeles Pierce 77, Ventura 61 FINAL Jordan Harris had a team-high 19 points, Antavius Sims had 13 points off the bench and Jeremiah Slowik had 13 points, all in the second half, for Ventura. Malcolm Collins had 12 points, Ever Lopez had 11 points and Jeremy White and Terran Carter had 10 points for the Brahmas. Moorpark 84, Hancock 70 FINAL Dallas Rutherford had 23 points, Wendell Antoine had 17 points, Mike Meza had 15 points and Spencer Schulte had 11 points for Moorpark. Oxnard 77, Santa Barbara City 73 FINAL Oxnard's Scooter Holmes and Gerald Pitts each made a pair of free throws in the final minute to break a 73-73 tie. Holmes had a team-high 23 points, James Ennis had 21 points and Ryan McLucas had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Cuesta, bye
Ventura College football coach Jon Mack confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he has agreed to interview for the lucrative head coaching position at Crespi Carmelite, but denied reports that he was on campus today to negotiate his new contract.
"What a bunch of garbage," said Mack in response to the 12:16 p.m. Daily News report. "At 1:30 (p.m.) today, I agreed to interview.
"A buddy of mine called and said 'It's on the Internet.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' That's all I've done is agreed to interview. Crazy."
The Daily News reported earlier today that Mack is not only Crespi's top candidate, he was on campus today to negotiate his contract. It also mentioned interviews were completed Tuesday and that former Cal Lutheran University football coach Scott Squires is among the candidates for the job.
Asked about the rumors a few weeks ago, Mack said he had not heard from anyone at Crespi about the opening. Wearing his Ventura College jacket, Mack did recruit like gangbusters throughout the CIF playoffs for the Pirates and he did speak about the future of the program and California Community College football in general this week.
Mack was asked if he did leave, would he be taking members of his staff with him to Crespi?
"It's so far from that," said Mack. "I haven't even interviewed."
UPDATE at 5:15 p.m.: I just ducked my head into the VC football office and Jon Mack is present, holding his weekly staff meeting. "Told you so," he said.
Here's an interesting article by Greg Wagner of the Antelope Valley Press, who reports that the Southern California Football Association will discuss adding a third tier to its multi-level structure in an annual meeting later this month.
Designed to match programs of similar competitive levels, the SCFA and its National (upper) and American (lower) divisions replaced the traditional conference structure two years ago. An additional division would mirror the three-tiered structure that's been in place in Northern California.
"The ideal thing is to have three divisions, so when a team moves up, you don't move up all the way," Antelope Valley College athletic director Newton Chelette told Wagner. "You have a chance to work up to that level. You don't have to just be thrown in there to get thrown back down."
Wagner reports that a middle tier would allow competition between schools that have been successful in the American Division (like Pacific Conference champion Antelope Valley) and schools that haven't been successful in the National Division (like Moorpark, which at 4-16, is tied for the worst overall record in the National Division over the first two years of the SCFA experiment).
There is no mention of why a multi-tiered system works in this era of budget cuts and cost containment.
UPDATE:Wagner mentions Antelope Valley and Moorpark as two of the programs that would fit a middle tier. Another source I spoke to tonight said Citrus and Glendale would also fit, as both schools applied to drop down to the American Division for the next two-year cycle, but were denied because no American Division teams applied for promotion to the National Division. Confused yet?
On the surface, Wednesday's WSC North men's basketball matchup between Ventura College and Los Angeles Pierce may just look like a game between two teams with a combined 12-21 overall record.
But both teams have shown flashes in winning a pair of conference games through the first two weeks of WSC North play and Wednesday's winner may just yet have a say in this race.
Ventura coach Will Cowen on Pierce:
"Pierce is a very streaky team and they have good athleticism. That combination always gets your attention.
"Much like us, they haven't put enough complete games together this year and that's why their record is what it is. That being said, they can hurt you from any place on the floor.
"They get to the basket well. They have several guys that can shoot the 3. They have a big post."
Wednesday night's Ventura College basketball doubleheader against Los Angeles Pierce will include the VC women's annual "Pink Zone" event, part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's national fundraiser for breast cancer research, which includes more than 1,500 schools.
The event will include a silent auction, a bake sale to benefit "Ribbons of Life," a local breast cancer foundation, and cancer survivors as honorary starters.
"It's a night for awareness," Ventura assistant coach Robin Hester said.
On the surface, it's difficult to find fault with a 21-1 team that has spent the entire season atop the state coaches' poll.
But the Ventura College women's basketball team's health concerns were highlighted last Wednesday, when starting point guard Amanda Padilla returned after missing six games with a severed middle finger, only for the Pirates to watch starting shooting guard Erika Ward carried off the court with a sprained ankle.
Starting small forward Chanelle Brennan has been suffering from a sinus infection for a week. Starting power forward Gabrielle Conn, who has been limited by issues with her airway, is scheduled to have a tonsillectomy Tuesday.
"It's been like that all year," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic. "We've had health and injury issues all season.
"This team has had an incredible resilience. You just wonder how long it can last."
Ward returned to score 13 points in the 64-39 win over visiting Santa Barbara City last Saturday, but the sophomore from Royal High suffered swelling consistent with a high ankle sprain over the weekend and has not practiced this week.
Mircetic expects all five starters to play Wednesday night when the first-place Pirates host Los Angeles Pierce at 5 p.m.
Ventura was carried last week by the play of sophomore center Kris King. It's lone healthy starter made 23 of 30 field goals (76.6 percent) in leading the team with a career-high 32 points Wednesday and 17 points Saturday.
"She was incredible," said Mircetic. "She made all her reads. She made all her cuts. She got the ball in good positions and put the ball in the basket."
While the first-place Cuesta College men's basketball team (18-4, 4-0) rests Wednesday night, second-place Moorpark (11-7, 3-1) hopes to build on a landmark last week, when the Raiders achieved a rare sweep of county rivals Ventura and Oxnard, at the WSC North's basement team, Hancock (2-15, 0-3).
"It was two really good wins last week," said Moorpark coach Remy McCarthy. "But we feel like there were things that we could have done a lot better... There's a lot of room for improvement."
Moorpark's focus will be tested in Santa Maria. McCarthy finds himself on the lookout for a letdown.
"You look at the team's record and you relax," said McCarthy. "You just can't do that. They're going to do anything to get a win.
"We just know we have got to go up there and give the same kind of effort we did last week."
The Ventura College men's basketball team will return to the 16-team Wells Fargo Holiday tournament at Riverside College next season, according to head coach Will Cowen.
The 16-team tournament, held annually in early December, is considered the top regular season tournament in California Community College. Along the way to the state championship, Riverside eliminated Ventura from the Southern California regional playoffs last February.
"Ever since we went there, you can tell that program had great tradition," said Cowen. "It's such a gathering of great competition."
Next year's tournament will actually be held at Citrus College because of work being done on the Riverside gymnasiums.
"Either way, we'll be in it for the long run," said Cowen.
Defending state champion Riverside defeated Sequoias in the tournament final last month. In the process, the Tigers were lifted to the No. 1 ranking in the state coaches' poll.
Cowen said the tournament will replace the single games against Porterville and Long Beach Ventura played this year.
"With the reduced schedule, we decided to add a fifth tournament," said Cowen. "We're trying to get more games."
The Pirates have not participated in the illustrious tournament since the 2005-06 season, when it finished in third place by beating a state tournament-bound San Bernardino Valley team coached by former Ventura coach Phil Mathews.
Erika Ward, Ventura College's star sophomore shooting guard, will sit out practice Monday and Tuesday and perhaps longer this week after the sprained ankle she suffered early in Wednesday's win at Moorpark College flared up after Saturday's key win over Santa Barbara City.
"Her ankle swelled up last night," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic Sunday. "Bummer again."
Three days after being carried off the court at Raider Pavilion, the Royal High product had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 64-39 win.
She is averaging 13.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a sophomore.
Contacted Monday, Ward said the ankle was "sore."
Ward is expected to play Wednesday against visiting Los Angeles Pierce, which finished runners up to Ventura in the WSC North last season, then rest.
Round 4 of WSC North basketball arrives tonight with women's and men's doubleheaders in Oxnard, Ventura and San Luis Obispo.
I will be at Condor Center for the cross-county rivalry doubleheader -- always one of the more enjoyable nights of the year -- but I will be updating scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
The VC-Santa Barbara City doubleheader is being broadcasted on HomefieldSports.com and 1400 AM.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores
Moorpark 64, Oxnard 60 FINALFreshman Deepika Kapil scored a game-high 15 points, including the game-clinching 3-pointer with 1:10 to play, Bev Lamphier had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Molly Carson had 13 points and Irene Lopez added seven points and nine rebounds as Moorpark (9-10, 2-2) evened its WSC record. Nicole Tauaau (11 points), Takara Prezzie (10 points) and Shaniqua Bradley (seven points) led the Condors. Ventura 64, Santa Barbara City 39 FINALKris King scored a game-high 17 points, Brennan scored 15 and Ward and Padilla added 13 apiece. The four sophs had 60 of VC's 64 points. Ward had six rebounds and three assists. Padilla had five assists. King, Faanono and Conn had six rebounds each. Cuesta 62, Hancock 46 FINAL
Men's schedule
Moorpark 77, Oxnard 72 FINALMike Meza and Dallas Rutherford had 23 points and Spencer Schulte added 18 points as Moorpark (11-7) improved to 3-1 in WSC North play. James Ennis had 21 points and six rebounds, Spencer Holmes had 15 points and eight rebounds and Ryan McLucas added 11 points for the Condors. Ventura 86, Santa Barbara City 73 FINALVentura's Jordan Harris had 26, including 21 in the 2nd half and Jeremiah Slowik had 21. Cuesta 80, Hancock 59 FINAL
Men's Standings Conference Overall Team Name W-L PCT W-L PCT
Cuesta 4-0 1.000 18-4 0.810
Moorpark 3-1 0.667 11-7 0.588
LA Pierce 2-1 0.667 7-9 0.438
Ventura 2-2 0.333 5-12 0.250
Oxnard 1-2 0.500 8-10 0.471
S. Barbara 0-3 0.000 4-13 0.250
Hancock 0-3 0.000 2-15 0.125
Women's Standings Conference Overall Team Name W-L PCT W-L PCT
Ventura 4-0 1.000 21-1 0.952
Oxnard 2-1 1.000 11-5 0.733
S. Barbara 2-1 1.000 10-10 0.526
LA Pierce 1-2 0.333 10-10 0.500
Moorpark 2-2 0.333 9-10 0.444
Cuesta 1-3 0.000 4-13 0.188
Hancock 0-3 0.000 3-13 0.200
Ventura College sophomore Jazmarae Strozier will be honored Saturday at the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention in Philadelphia.
Ventura's eighth women's soccer All-American, Strozier will join Joy Berry (1997) and Allie Avina (2004) as the program's third first-team selection.
"That's a pretty good feat," said Hoffman.
Had Strozier been able to attend in frigid Philly, Hoffman would have gladly bundled up for the player who consistently turned up the heat on opposing defenses.
Strozier finished her two-year career with an impeccable goalscoring record, netting 49 times in 51 games. Her 109 career points tied her with Sienna Kluck as the program's all-time leading scorer.
Strozier helped lead the Pirates to their first state Final Four berth, despite suffering a torn meniscus in the regional semifinal win over Santa Monica, and a No. 7 ranking in the final national poll, the Pirates' highest finish.
As a Buena High senior, Strozier verbally committed to USC, where her father, former honorable mention Moorpark College football All-American Clint Strozier, helped win the 1976 Rose Bowl.
"We're working on that right now," said Hoffman. "That's where she hopes to go. It's a good place for her."
Things are moving quickly for Ventura College offensive lineman James Nelson.
The 6-foot-7, 345-pound Buena High product signed a letter of intent to transfer to Texas-El Paso Tuesday night, two days after the Miners offered a scholarship upon his return from a weekend visit.
"It's really nice out there," said Nelson.
Nelson will arrive in El Paso on Monday, one day before the spring semester starts.
"I'm really excited to go out there," said Nelson. "Although I'm a little nervous, because I've never been away from home."
There will be at least one familiar face in El Paso. Ventura safety Travaun Nixon signed with the Miners last month.
Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic was wary of his team's matchup with cross-county rival Moorpark Wednesday.
Which is another reason why Mircetic was so proud of the way his Pirates played in a shocking 82-38 win.
"In all my years, I can't remember ever executing that well offensively," said Mircetic. "Our interior passing was just outstanding."
Behind point guard Amanda Padilla's return to action, Ventura assisted on 24 of its 31 field goals. It missed just three shots in the second half against a team that had begun WSC North play strongly.
What made the Pirates' performance Wednesday even more impressive was that it came (mostly) without shooting guard Erika Ward, who suffered a sprained ankle with 10:01 remaining in the first half and did not return.
Ward is in doubt for the key visit Saturday from Santa Barbara City, which has been Ventura's main WSC North foil in recent years.
"She's not on crutches, but she probably won't practice (today)," said Mircetic. "She's working on it. We'll let (trainers) Mark (Chaney) and Tyler (Hickok) make a game-time decision."
Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College aren't the only teams undefeated in WSC North women's play,
Oxnard (10-9, 2-0) has opened conference play with a 25-point win over Hancock and 30-point Cuesta.
"We're happy where we are," said Oxnard coach Phil Sherman. "They've come a long way. The kids are playing hard. Defensively, I think we're very tough."
Contrary to national reports, UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow will not leave for crosstown rival USC, according to a statement released from the school today.
Chow was reportedly set to join Lane Kiffin's staff at USC.
The UCLA statement:
Norm Chow, perhaps the top offensive coordinator in college football, will continue in that role at UCLA, it was announced today.
"I appreciate the interest from USC and Lane Kiffin, but I feel we are building something special here at UCLA and I am excited about our future," said Chow, who has coached three Heisman Trophy winners during his illustrious career. "We have some outstanding young players in the program and we are working hard on finishing strong in recruiting."
"We are thrilled that Norm is going to continue as our offensive coordinator," said head coach Rick Neuheisel. "As Norm said, we are building something special at UCLA and he is certainly a very important part of the package. We have unfinished business here at UCLA and our coaches and players are very excited about our future. I'm glad Norm wants to finish what he's started. UCLA is a special place to call home."
Round 3 of WSC North basketball arrives tonight with women's and men's doubleheaders in Moorpark, Oxnard and Santa Barbara City. Here's the preview that ran in this morning's paper.
There is plenty more in-depth coverage in the posts below, including a breakdown of how Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic can tie Cerritos' Karen Welliver as the winningest coach in California Community College women's basketball history tonight.
I will be at Raider Pavilion for the cross-county rivalry doubleheader -- always one of the more enjoyable nights of the year -- but I will be updatings scores from around the WSC North on our Twitter page.
I will also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Women's scores
Ventura 82, Moorpark 39: Kris King scored 32 points on 16 of 20 shooting and seven rebounds. Gabriel Conn had nine points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Lacey Escamilla added seven points off the bench as VC shot 63.3 percent. Oxnard 52, Cuesta 22: Danika Edwards had 11 points and Shaniqua Perkins added 10 points. Santa Barbara City 72, Los Angeles Pierce 49
Men's scores
Moorpark 85, Ventura 75 FINAL:Dallas Rutherford had 20 points, Wendell Antoine had 17 points, Mike Meza had 16 points and Matt Mazarei and Kyle Olandt added 10 points apiece. Ventura received 20 points from Pierce Brooks, 14 points from Jeremiah Slowik, 13 points from Jordan Harris and 11 points from Antavius Sims, who continued to provide a spark off the bench. Cuesta 76, Oxnard 74 FINAL:Scooter Holmes had 24 points, Ryan McLucas had 22 points and James Ennis had 14 points as the Condors nearly climbed out of a 13-point hole with five minutes to play. Oxnard held Cuesta to 36 percent shooting, but made only 1 of 20 from 3-point range. Roger Guardia led Cuesta with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Los Angeles Pierce 81, Santa Barbara City 75 OT
Men's Standings (updated) Conference Overall Team Name W-L PCT W-L PCT
Cuesta 3-0 1.000 17-4 0.800
Moorpark 2-1 0.500 10-7 0.563
LA Pierce 2-1 0.500 7-9 0.400
Oxnard 1-1 1.000 8-9 0.500
Ventura 1-2 0.500 4-12 0.267
S. Barbara 0-2 0.000 4-13 0.267
Hancock 0-2 0.000 2-14 0.125
In 6-foot-7 point forward James Ennis, 6-foot-6 power forward Scooter Holmes and 6-foot guard Ryan McLucas, the Oxnard College men's basketball team has the best trio in the Western State Conference's North Division.
At 18.4 (Ennis), 16.0 (Holmes) and 15.3 (McLucas) points per game, they are three of the Top 5 scorers in the WSC North. At 8.4 (Ennis) and 7.8 (Holmes) rebounds per game, they include two of the Top 3 rebounders in the WSC North. Ennis leads the WSC North in blocks (1.8 bpg) and McLucas leads in steals (2.4 spg).
But the Condors (8-8, 1-0) have yet to show they have the consistency to compete with frontrunner Cuesta (16-4, 2-0) for the WSC North title.
After all, the same Oxnard team which rocked defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Riverside 89-79 at the Condor Center Dec. 12 also lost to 6-8 Compton twice, 4-11 Santa Barbara City and 6-11 Orange Coast -- a group that is a combined 16-38 (.296) against teams other than Oxnard.
So which Oxnard team will show tonight in the matchup of the WSC North's two unbeaten teams?
"We discussed that this is probably our biggest game of the year," Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham. "We're playing for something bigger than one game. We're playing for a championship.
"This is the most important game in the first half conference. We want to establish dominance on our home court.
"We want to play the best basketball that we can, play smarter, play with a level of intelligient and intensity."
The Ventura College men's basketball team, which pushed WSC North leader Cuesta all the way in a 60-53 road loss Saturday, suffered a pair of defections this week ahead of tonight's trip to Raider Pavilion.
The Pirates lost center Eysan Toole and wing Jon Keen, who quit the team Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Neither had topped 10 points more than once all season. Toole was averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, as well as shooting 31 percent from the free throw line. Keen flashed some ability in a 22-point, nine-rebound game against Pasadena Nov. 14, but hadn't topped 10 points since.
The timing is strange considering how improved Ventura has played over the past few weeks. But both had seen their minutes cut in the wake of the additions of football players Mike Melonas, a center, and Antavius Sims, a wing.
Ventura first-year coach Will Cowen was disappointed, but undaunted, in the face of the defections.
"No one said that it is easy to be a student athlete in our program," said Cowen. "We have high expectations on a daily basis and I'm very proud of the guys who have bought in 100 percent and continue to work every day."
Toole and Keen could land at Miramar College. Cowen said Miramar coach Nick Gehler had called him to report someone had contacted him about the two players earlier this season.
Note: This post has been corrected to fix a confusion between Miramar and MiraCosta colleges.
The Moorpark College men's basketball team isn't just coming off a 21-point home loss to Los Angeles Pierce, it has some injury problems entering Wednesday night's visit from cross-county rival Ventura.
"We've got some physical problems," said Moorpark coach Remy McCarthy.
Starting forward Ryan Islas, a 6-foot-3 Oxnard High product who had a season-high 14 points last week against Santa Barbara City, is out with a dislocated thumb. Starting point guard Matt Mazarei also missed Tuesday's practice with an apparent hip injury.
Both would be big losses. Islas leads the WSC North and is No. 6 in the state in field goal percentage (69.0 percent). Mazarei, who McCarthy called Mazarei "questionable" Tuesday, is the quarterback of the Raiders' offense.
"You know Matt," said McCarthy. "He's going to say he's ready to go with half an arm."
Sophomore forward Wendell Antoine will step into the lineup for Islas and guard Kyle Olandt, who had 18 points off the bench last week against Santa Barbara, is Mazarei's capable understudy.
Moorpark still has powerhouse forward Mike Meza. The Simi Valley High product is scoring 19.1 points per game to lead the Western State Conference. He's also No. 6 in the state.
With a win tonight at Moorpark, Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic can tie Cerritos coach Karen Welliver as the winningest coach in California Community College women's basketball history.
Mircetic is 583-86 in 20 years at Ventura. Welliver, in her 28th year with the Falcons, who are idle tonight, is 584-296.
It seems we may have a bit of a Paterno-Bowden horse race situation, as both coaches are active. Mircetic trailed Welliver by 22 wins entering last season, but has guided Ventura to a 54-2 record over the past two season with a sophomore class including Erika Ward, Chanelle Brennan, Amanda Padilla and Kris King.
California Community College women's basketball All-Time Winningest Coaches
1. Karen Welliver* Cerritos 28 584-296 .664
2. Ned Mircetic* Ventura 20 583-86 .872
3. Tom Martinez San Mateo 21 563-103 .845
4. Caren Franci Santa Rosa 33 560-316 .639
5. Colleen Riley Fullerton 25 559-147 .792
*Active
Entering Wednesday's visit by No. 1 Ventura College, the Moorpark College women's basketball team has started strong in the Western State Conference's North Division -- falling 56-54 at Santa Barbara City Wednesday and shocking visiting Los Angeles Pierce, last year's runner-up to Ventura, 68-62, Saturday.
"When the schedule came out, we knew we'd have a very challenging first couple of weeks," said Moorpark coach Lindsay Goldblatt. "We knew we'd have to start out strong. If we want to be a top team in this conference we have to contend with the Santa Barbaras and the Pierces and win a couple of those."
A lot of its success has come at the foul line. Moorpark has made 54 of 62 free throws through two games in WSC North play, including 24 of 28 at Santa Barbara and 30 of 35 against Pierce.
Center Irene Lopez was 6 for 6 and point guard Grace Arocha was 5 for 5 Wednesday. Deepika Kapil was 6 for 6, forward Molly Carson was 5 for 5 and Arocha was 5 for 6 Wednesday
Reserve guard Nanice Kollee made six straight free throws down the stretch, part of a9-for-10 night, as Moorpark came from 18 points down to beat the Brahmas Saturday.
"We were facing two of the most physical teams in the conference, so we'd knew we'd have an opportunity to get to the foul line," said Goldblatt. " We knew we'd have to take advantage of that."
Goldblatt doesn't expect those types of opportunities tonight against Ventura.
"I don't think we'll get to the line nearly as much as the last couple of games (tonight)," said Goldblatt. "Knocking down easy shots... those will be must makes for us."
The Moorpark College women's basketball team hosts No. 1 Ventura College tonight at 5 p.m. Moorpark coach Lindsay Goldblatt says the Raiders have to minimize the mistakes:
"Defense is going to win the game. We need to decrease our turnovers. They're very good at capitalizing on other team's mistakes. We're going to try to find any mismatch we can."
The No. 1-ranked Ventura College women's basketball team (19-1) visits cross-county rival Moorpark College tonight at 5 p.m. The Raiders are coming off a big 68-62 win over Pierce, which finished second last season. Ventura coach Ned Mircetic feels it is one of the biggest tests of the WSC North campaign:
"I thought last year, Moorpark's starting five was as good as anybody in the state, they just didn't have the depth to sub when someone got tired or in foul trouble.
"It's still pretty darned good. They have size, they have a point guard, they have a shooter. They have everything you need to be successful."
"I think they have a deeper bench this year, so when they do sub, they don't drop off. They can maintain what they have in there.
"They don't have that explosive scorer, but they have kids that complement each other."
Sophomore point guard Amanda Padilla has missed six games since slicing off the tip of the middle finger of her left hand in a pregame accident Dec. 19.
But the Buena High product will attempt to play tonight as the top-ranked Pirates (19-1) visit cross-county rival Moorpark (8-9) at Raider Pavilion at 5 p.m.
"She put together back to back days (of practice), with no setbacks," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic Tuesday. "If she's feeling as good tomorrow afternoon as she is this afternoon, she's going to play.
"It's a big deal...Over the past year she has clearly established herself as one of the premier point guards in the state."
Padilla was averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 assists per game in Ventura's pick-and-roll offense when she plopped down on a stack of chairs in the Pirates' team room before a game against MiraCosta Dec. 19. The tip of her middle finger, caught between two of the chairs, was immediately severed.
She was rushed to Ventura Community Memorial hospital, where doctors decided not to reattach the fingertip.
The wound has healed enough for Padilla to play with a brace. Mircetic said she made seven 3-pointers from five spots on the floor during a timed drill Tuesday.
Without Padilla, the player the offense was built around, Mircetic turned to sophomore Brenda Van Someren and freshman Suzie Faanono.
"When she got hurt, she was playing really well," said Mircetic of Padilla. "I thought we adjusted pretty quickly. We were rough around the edges, but Brenda and Suzie have done a nice job."
Ventura was 6-0 with its potential All-State point guard. Van Someren had eight points and six assists in last week's win over Hancock. Faanono had nine points in the big win over powerhouse San Bernardino Valley last month.
With Padilla on the cusp of returning, Mircetic believes Ventura is better off having survived her injury.
"Without her, other players were able to get some valuable playing time in some very important games," said Mircetic. "They're all better because of her injury and now we're better because she's coming back."
Looking to defeat cross-county rival Ventura, the state's No. 1-ranked team, for the first time since 1990, the Moorpark College women's basketball team will look inside tonight at Raider Pavilion.
"On paper, they're not as big as us or some other teams," said Moorpark coach Lindsay Goldblatt. ""Height is definitely an advantage for us. Whether we can utilities that advantage, we'll see."
Moorpark features 6-foot 3 center Reyneisha Mays and 6-foot-1 forward Irene Lopez inside. Despite their size, Mays and Lopez don't even lead the Raiders in rebounding. Wing Deepika Kapil and 5-foot-9 forward Bev Lamphier average 7.4 and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Without a 6-footer in its rotation, Ventura (19-1) has struggled to replace 6-foot-2 Julie Heurung, who transferred to Cal State Monterey Bay after graduating last spring. The Pirates were outrebounded by 21 in its only loss of the season Dec. 12 at Pasadena City.
Ventura coach Ned Mircetic was honest about his team's weakness.
"It's been our Achilles' heal all year long," said Mircetic. "We're spending a lot of time in practice on controlling the basket area on the defensive end. Our lack of size, our lack of dominance in the paint area is a problem in each and every game we play.
"We space the floor really well and we can take their bigs away from the basket and
We can put pressure on them in a different way, but it's always better when you can institute the pressure by having a dominant player around the basket."
Mircetic admits that there isn't much the Pirates can do about its makeup at this point of the season:
"We're 20 games into the season and we adjusted about as well as we're going to adjust. We developed our theme and our personality for this team and we're not going to change much down the stretch."
It's official. USC has hired a dream team to replace Pete Carroll, who left Monday to become the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
USC announced Tuesday afternoon that former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who spent last season as the Tennessee head coach, has been named the Trojans' head football coach.
Arrive in tow are Kiffin's father, Monte, and former USC recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who were part of Kiffin's staff in Tennessee.
"We are really excited to welcome Lane Kiffin back to USC," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. "I was able to watch him closely when he was an assistant with us and what I saw was a bright, creative young coach who I thought would make an excellent head coach here if the opportunity ever arose. I'm confident he and his staff will keep USC football performing at the high level that we expect.
"Lane brings a lot to the table. He has a coaching background both in the pros and in the best collegiate conferences. He has a great command of the X's and O's. He is familiar with the Trojan landscape and will be a great representative of our university. He keeps the game fun. And, very importantly, he has proven to be one of the finest recruiters anywhere.
"Lane has surrounded himself with others of similar talent. I can't tell you how delighted we are to have Ed Orgeron back on staff and to have Monte Kiffin join us. They are some of the pre-eminent coaches in the game. Ed did a marvelous job during his previous time at USC and we all know that Monte is a defensive guru. I know Lane will fill out his staff with other outstanding assistants like them, ones who Trojan players and fans will really like."
The Ventura College women's basketball team (19-1) topped the state poll for the 23rd straight poll this week dating back to last December.
The Pirates took over the top spot on Dec. 1, 2008, one day after knocking off three-time state champion Mount San Antonio College in the final of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions.
They won the next 26 games before falling to Pasadena City in the state Final Four. After opening this season No. 1 in the state preseason poll, they have won 19 of 20 games, the only loss coming once again to Pasadena in the final of the Rose City Classic Dec. 12.
Two other WSC North teams, Santa Barbara City and Los Angeles Pierce, received votes in the state and regional polls this week. And perhaps Moorpark should be in that mix after opening WSC North play with a two-point loss at SBCC and a six-point home win over Pierce.
CCCWBCA State Poll
provided by JCScores.com
January 11, 2010
Rank Prev College W-L Pts
1 1 Ventura College (8) 19-1 233
2 2 Fullerton College (1) 18-1 224
3 3 Pasadena City College (1) 15-2 210
4 4 Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (2) 17-0 200
5 6 Mt. San Jacinto College 14-3 192
6 5 City College of San Francisco 15-3 168
7 7 San Bernardino Valley College 13-4 155
8 10 Fresno City College 13-6 143
9 9 Mt. San Antonio College 14-5 142
10 8 Antelope Valley College 14-4 136
11 11 Santa Rosa Junior College 12-5 113
12 13 Riverside Community College 14-5 90
13 14 Irvine Valley College 15-1 85
14 17t Palomar College 11-4 72
15 12 Grossmont College 13-4 66
16 16 San Joaquin Delta College 12-5 54
17 19 College of the Canyons 11-4 51
18 17t Butte College 11-4 44
19 NR Solano Community College 12-4 43
20 15 Cerritos College 12-9 31
( ) - Number one votes
NR - Not Ranked
t - tie Dropped Out (previous rank):
Orange Coast College (20) Also Received Votes (alphabetical order):
Contra Costa College, Cypress College, Laney College, Los Angeles Pierce College,
Orange Coast College, San Jose City College, Santa Barbara City College, Shasta College,
Sierra College
CCCWBCA South Region Poll
provided by JCScores.com
January 11, 2010
Rank Prev College W-L Pts
1 1 Ventura College (4) 19-1 100
2 2 Fullerton College (1) 18-1 97
3 3 Pasadena City College (1) 15-2 89
4 4 Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (1) 17-0 87
5 6 Mt. San Jacinto College 14-3 78
6 5 San Bernardino Valley College 13-4 66
7 9 Mt. San Antonio College 14-5 57
8 7 Antelope Valley College 14-4 56
9 10 Riverside Community College 14-5 42
10 12 College of the Canyons 11-4 35
11t 8 Grossmont College 13-4 33
11t 11 Irvine Valley College 15-1 33
11t 14 Palomar College 11-4 33
14 13 Cerritos College 12-9 16
15 15 Orange Coast College 12-7 13
( ) - Number one votes
t - tie Dropped Out (previous rank):
none Also Received Votes (alphabetical order): Cypress College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Santa Barbara City College
The Cuesta College men's basketball teams slipped two spots to No. 18 in the state coaches poll this week, despite being the only team to open WSC North play 2-0.
Round 2 of WSC North basketball has arrived with women's and men's doubleheaders in Moorpark, Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. Here's the preview that ran in today's paper.
I've arrived in SLO for the doubleheader between Ventura and Cuesta, but I plan to update scores from as many games as I can find on our Twitter page.
We should also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Today's schedule:
Community College men's basketball
Los Angeles Pierce 81, Moorpark 60 FINAL
Cuesta 60, Ventura 53 FINAL
Jordan Harris had 20 points and 10 rebounds for Ventura tonight. Pierce Brooks had 11 points, all in the first half. Roger Guardia scored 21 points, forward Seth Koenig scored 12 points and center Xavier Mylleville added eight points and 10 rebounds for Cuesta.
Oxnard 77, Hancock 75 FINAL
Community College women's basketball
Moorpark 68, Los Angeles Pierce 62 FINAL Molly Carson had 16 points, Reyneisha Mays had 12 points and Nanice Kollee had 12 points, all in the second half, for the Raiders which dug out of a 11-point halftime hole.
Ventura 64, Cuesta 25 FINAL Channelle Brennan had 17 points and six rebounds, Erika Ward had a 14 points, four 3s and 5 assists, and Kris King had 13 points and 9 rebounds.
First, the University of Washington takes its offensive (Steve Sarkisian) and defensive coordinators (Nick Holt), now it looks like the Seattle Seahawks could be the NFL team that pries Pete Carroll from USC, according to ESPN and Sports Illustrated reports.
Carroll is annually brought up in NFL coaching rumors this time of year, but these reports seem a little stronger, considering recent developments regarding, Reggie Bush, Joe McKnight and the NCAA investigation of the athletic department.
Carroll's response to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, "You know I haven't responded to a NFL question in two years."
USC sports information director Tim Tessalone's statement: "Pete's name comes out at this time every year. In the past, he hasn't commented on such reports. He was not expected in today. I've put a message out to him, but haven't heard back yet."
Via Twitter, former Hueneme High and USC star Keary Colbert responded, "This could be a SAD day in TROJAN land."
Against the leading rush defense in the country, which had allowed barely 62 yards per game, Alabama piled up 205 yards and four touchdowns rushing.
Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner, rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns and freshman Trent Richardson rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
"It's an advantage for our team to have two running backs, three, four running backs," said Ingram. "We said we'd both go for 100 yards. We said we'd have our team on our back tonight.
"It's going to be nothing but a headache for other teams for the next year or two."
As a freshman, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy watched from the Rose Bowl sidelines as his predecessor, Vince Young, guided Texas to a legendary comeback over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Four years later, in his final collegiate game, McCoy suffered a pinched nerve in his shoulder that put his arm to sleep and changed the complexion of a matchup of unbeatens with No. 1 Alabama.
"That's a hit I've taken over and over in my life," said McCoy. "Feels like I slept on my arm, woke up and it's just dead."
After completing his first two passes, McCoy was hit on his fifth offensive snap, a short keeper to the left, by Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. He went down on one knee on the Texas sideline and didn't return.
"I didn't really want to hurt him," said Dareus. "It's just a part of the game."
Mark Ingram, the Alabama running back who edged McCoy for the Heisman trophy, was watching from across the field.
"I saw the hit," said Ingram. "I said, 'Ooh that kind of hurt.'
"It's really unfortunate that he didn't get to play."
In McCoy's place, Texas thrust Gilbert, the son of former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert, who holds the distinction of playing for teams that lost five straight Super Bowls from 1991 to 1995.
"I can't imagine what it was like for him," said Texas receiver Jordan Shipley.
Ventura 74, Hancock 65 FINAL Jeremiah Slowik scored a game-high 22 points as the Pirates won without leading scorer Pierce Brooks.
Moorpark 98, Santa Barbara City 92 FINAL Mike Meza had 23 points on 16 for 20 shooting from the field and line and Kyle Olandt had 18 points off the bench. Dallas Rutherford had 15 points and Spencer Schulte and Ryan Islas added 14 points apiece. David Lane had a team-high 22 points for Santa Barbara.
Cuesta 79, LA Pierce 65 FINAL Seth Koenig had 27 points and Roger Guardia had 25 points.
Santa Barbara City 56, Moorpark 54: Bev Lamphier had 22 points, Molly Carson had 10 points and Irene Lopez had seven points and seven rebounds for the Raiders, who were missing 6-foot-3 center Rey Mays. Jake Kelly had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Vaqueros.
Ventura 79, Hancock 45: Chanelle Brennan had 28 points and six rebounds, Erika Ward had 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists and Brenda Van Someren added eight points and six assists.
Los Angeles Pierce 77, Cuesta 65
WSC North Standings
TEAM OVERALL WSC
Ventura 18-1 1-0
L.A. Pierce 10-8 1-0
Santa Barbara City 9-9 1-0
Oxnard 9-4 0-0
Moorpark 7-8 0-1
Hancock 3-10 0-1
Cuesta 3-10 0-1
The WSC North basketball campaigns open tonight at 5 with women's and men's doubleheaders in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
I'm headed up to Santa Barbara for the doubleheader between Moorpark and the Vaqueros, but I plan to update scores from as many games as I can find on our Twitter page.
We should also have postgame final scores and reaction right here on the blog.
Rival Ventura may be going for its 20th straight WSC North title, but Moorpark College women's basketball coach Lindsay Goldblatt says the conference race is much tighter than it may seem:
"We usually have quite a few good teams and it seems like everybody is getting better, making it a challenge night in and night out.
From my quick WSC North basketball preview, which ran in today's paper, here's Moorpark College men's basketball coach Remy McCarthy on the WSC North men's basketball race:
"It's as wide open as I've ever seen it. Certainly, I think you have to put Cuesta as the favorite at this point. But I look at teams like Pierce and Oxnard... I've got to believe they're going to be a problem."
McCarthy pointed out that Pierce (5-8) fell at No. 3 Citrus by one point, 71-70, on Dec. 29 and Oxnard (7-8) beat defending state champion and then-No. 1 Riverside on Dec. 17.
"We're excited going in. We think we match up with everybody reasonably well. For the most part, we've been able to score throughout the year and that's how you win basketball games, pretty much."
Featuring former Simi Valley High star Mike Meza, who is averaging 19.1 points per game, and Cal State Northridge transfer Dallas Rutherford, Moorpark (8-5) opens tonight at Santa Barbara City (4-10).
"From our perspective, there's nobody we can look at and say, 'Well, there's an easy one.' (Tonight) is huge. We're opening on the road. It's one we feel we need to have."
From my quick WSC North basketball preview, which ran in today's paper, here's Moorpark College men's basketball coach Remy McCarthy on the WSC North men's basketball race:
"It's as wide open as I've ever seen it. Certainly, I think you have to put Cuesta as the favorite at this point. But I look at teams like Pierce and Oxnard... I've got to believe they're going to be a problem."
McCarthy pointed out that Pierce (5-8) fell at No. 3 Citrus by one point, 71-70, on Dec. 29 and Oxnard (7-8) beat defending state champion and then-No. 1 Riverside on Dec. 17.
"We're excited going in. We think we match up with everybody reasonably well. For the most part, we've been able to score throughout the year and that's how you win basketball games, pretty much."
Featuring former Simi Valley High star Mike Meza, who is averaging 19.1 points per game, and Cal State Northridge transfer Dallas Rutherford, Moorpark (8-5) opens tonight at Santa Barbara City (4-10).
"From our perspective, there's nobody we can look at and say, 'Well, there's an easy one.' (Tonight) is huge. We're opening on the road. It's one we feel we need to have."
The Cuesta College men's basketball team, which split last year's WSC North title with Ventura at 9-3 apiece, opens conference play tonight against Los Angeles Pierce tonight in San Luis Obispo as the lone WSC North team ranked in the state coaches' poll at No. 16.
The Ventura College women's basketball team (17-1), which topped the state coaches' preseason poll, completed the tournament half of the season atop the poll.
It topped the ninth poll of the season Jan. 4, followed by No. 2 Fullerton (who the Pirates beat), No. 3 Pasadena City (who handed the Pirates their only loss) and No. 4 Los Angeles Trade-Tech (who the Pirates hosted in a crossover but did not play).
No other WSC North teams were ranked, but Santa Barbara City and Los Angeles Pierce did receive votes.
Ventura opens WSC North play tonight at 5 p.m. against visiting Hancock.
Injured Texas tight end Blaine Irby, the former St. Bonaventure standout, was so engaging in his conversation with Star columnist David Lassen earlier this week that Lassen wanted to pass along some of his comments that didn't fit into his Jan. 7 column:
"In case you missed that story, Irby -- who was supposed to start this year at tight end -- has been sidelined since the third game of the 2008 season, when he dislocated his right knee in a game against Rice. His rehab is complete, but damage to the peroneal nerve -- which provides movement and sensation to the lower leg -- continues to keep his right foot from functioning properly, so he's been working as a player-coach, helping instruct the Longhorns' young tight ends.
Anyway, here are some of his thoughts:
On the play when he was injured, which is posted below:
I watched it one time. I wasn't able to watch it. I really wanted to watch it, and I'd always watch it, but right when the play would start, I'd look away.
Finally when I started walking, which was about maybe three months after my injury, finally I had the nerve to watch it.
And the thing that made me mad is I dropped the ball on that play. In the middle of me watching it, I remember I'm like, 'All right, how did I drop the ball?' And then the actual injury happened, and it kind of caught me.
On the support he's received since the injury:
Texas has been so great, Coach Brown and his staff. They've been so great to me since I've been hurt. And all my players and all my friends on the team have been behind me, and my family. ... Right after my injury, I think I was just a little mama's boy. My mom was down there for about two weeks taking care of me. ...
It's amazing to see how many people are behind you during times like this. I remember getting calls from coaches -- Coach Jon Mack, Coach Therrien, Coach Pep and all of them, and all of the players at St. Bonaventure. They'd call me up every day, 'Hey, Boog, how's the knee?' It's awesome hearing from people. Even parents are sending me cards, get-well cards. That helped me a lot get through the whole process of being injured. ...
On how he ended up at Texas:
People ask me that all the time, and I tell them I don't really know. When I saw them play in the national championship (at the Rose Bowl in 2005), I was real interested in them. I sent my tape out there, and they liked it right away, and they offered me.
I honestly had no idea. I knew that they were in Austin, and that was about all I knew. So I went out to Austin, and Austin's a great city. Everyone's been so nice. I've made so many good friendships over there, and so many good relationships.
I figured I kind of wanted to get out on my own, and kind of start a new path. It's been great so far. I have no regrets at all.
(Texas tight ends coach Bruce Chambers on recruiting Irby: "Bobby Kennedy is the coach on our staff that recruits California and Arizona. So he brought this tape to me, and it showed Blaine playing everything but tight end. He was playing fullback, he was playing linebacker, and the thing that I saw on tape that really jumped off the tape at me is that here's a kid that really had good size, was very physical, and could run. And then when I had an opportunity to look at the transcript, he was just lights out academically, and then when I had a chance to meet him, it was just a perfect fit, I felt, for us both athletically, academically, socially, all the way around.")
On the attention you get in Texas as a Longhorn player:
Honestly, I had no idea. It's crazy, because Texas football is the biggest and baddest in Texas. I remember when I got out there on my recruiting visit, my dad and I were in a restaurant, and somebody came up to me and started talking, and they knew everything about Texas football. It seems like everybody, even moms, knows more about Texas football than I do, and they bring up past players I relate to.
It's hilarious, but I love it at the same time, because so many people are around Texas football. The city of Austin with UT with all the sports. It's great just because there's so much support in the state of Texas. I remember we went to El Paso, and I met a couple of people that were big Texas fans. And going back to Arizona -- because I used to live in Arizona before I came to California -- it just seems like everywhere you go, there's at least one Texas fan there, and they know everything about you. They're big time fans. They'll give you the horn, or say Hook 'Em, and you give 'em the horns back.
It's been real fun. When I came there, I wasn't expecting that at all.
Of course, there can be a downside to that kind of scrutiny:
Oh, yeah. It's the old cliché quote: The eyes of Texas are upon you.
I mean, honestly, we've had a couple instances, with college football, with media and the technology, you've got to watch what you're doing. If you're with a group of people, or even if you're just with your friends, people can have a camera on their phone, and that can just go on YouTube right away, or be on Twitter.
So you've just got to be careful of everything you do. And you've just got to be smart.
On what he's learned from his experience:
It was a really hard process, but it's made me stronger as a person, and I feel like when I come back and play, I'm going to be stronger physically -- because I feel like my knee is stronger than it was -- but also mentally. I feel like I'm looking at the game from a different perspective right now, as a player-coach. I'm excited, but I've just got to be patient, and that's the hardest part. ...
I have faith that I'm going to come back. If I don't come back, I'll say, I'm going to be disappointed, but at the same time, it's not going to be the end. I've learned that football isn't everything.
This process has made me stronger as a person just because of the little things. I used to take a lot of things for granted, and now I appreciate the little things. ...
I've got faith. God's got a plan, and I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, you know. It's frustrating, but at the same time I'm enjoying a lot of different things. I'm actually studying to become a physical therapist now, or I'm going to start to. It's really interesting.
I'm excited to see what my knee can do, and when I come back, what kind of player I'm going to be.
In his final news conference before playing No. 1 Alabama for the Bowl Championship Series title game Thursday night, Texas coach Mack Brown said Wednesday morning that Jan. 7 is too late to play a game:
"For the coaches it's probably not. We can use it all. For the players, they lose part of their Christmas, they lose part of their new year, and as we all talk about trying to take care of the players, our guys go back to school here in about a week, and then we have spring practice at the end of February.
"I wish there was a way that we could move this game at least back maybe a week. And I think that when you see for the kids, because of what's at stake, they're excited to be here, so I don't want to insinuate in any way our guys are griping about how much time they've spent. But it's a lifetime experience for them, but I do think that if it could be
cut down, it would be better.
"Our game in the Fiesta Bowl last year was the 4th, and we thought that was even manageable. But when you get to the 7th, it starts getting into the semester. I think Alabama had to call school off for two or three days because they were getting ready to start school before the game. And then a lot of our friends that are teachers and coaches had to start school again and couldn't come out to the game."
In his final news conference before Thursday's Bowl Championship Series title game with Texas, Alabama coach Nick Saban turned the tables on the assembled media during his opening remarks:
"I know somebody is going to ask me what do you do different to get ready for this game. So before you ask me, I'm going to ask you, what do you do different to cover the game?"
One particularly clever member of the media answered Saban's question in coachspeak:
"I just take them one day at a time."
Which might have been the one big-game cliche the Alabama left out of his opening statement:
"Before I finish, I just wanted to put it in perspective for you so you could kind of understand that at this point you want to focus on execution. You want to make things simple for the players.
"It's a little bit like being in the batter's box before you've got to go up to the plate; two out in the bottom of the ninth and you've got to get a hit to win the game. What do you do? You go through the routine you always go through, which is what we're trying to accomplish with our players in terms of how we practiced yesterday, how we'll walk through today, the things that we'll do leading up to the game, make them as same and simple as we can, because the focus right now is on getting the best execution in the game.
"And I think those are the things that the players need to be able to focus on."
Looking for the turnover battle to make a difference Thursday? Both teams are in the Top 8 in the country in turnover margin.
Alabama (No. 5, plus 16) has turned the ball over a national-low 10 times. McElroy has thrown only four interceptions in 314 attempts.
"One of the things we preach is taking care of the football," said Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.
Behind Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Texas (No. 8, plus 13) has forced 35 turnovers, the best figure among teams from BCS conferences.
"Coach Muschamp has really emphasized... forcing turnovers and how those change games," said Texas defensive end Sam Acho, "so we focus in practice and in games on trying to get at least three turnovers every single practice, every single game."
NEWPORT BEACH -- First he left the state, now Southlake, Texas product Greg McElroy will attempt to foil Texas in the BCS title game Thursday, as Alabama quarterback.
"It sometimes feels like you're breaking the law by looking out of state, but eventually you have to do what's best for you," said McElroy, who originally committed to Texas Tech before signing with Alabama.
McElroy was actually born in Los Angeles where his father, Greg Sr., worked in marketing with the Kings and Dodgers.
"I grew up in the locker room," said McElroy, "so that always helped me."
But he moved to the Dallas area when he was 10 and, like most Texas fans, is hopeful of the first Dallas Cowboys postseason victory in more than a decade this week.
"Hopefully, I'll have my favorite memory (as a Cowboys' fan) this upcoming week," said McElroy.
NEWPORT BEACH -- Texas safety Earl Thomas isn't just a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Thorpe Award who will lead his No. 2-ranked Longhorns into the Bowl Championship Series title game Thursday against No. 1 Alabama at the Rose Bowl.
The sophomore from Orange, Texas is also a "miracle baby" and Renaissance man.
His mother, Debbie Thomas, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 1987. Doctors recommended a hysterectomy, but within two years Thomas was cancer free and had her "miracle baby."
"So every time the church door was open," said Thomas, "she had me in there."
Thomas often played piano, organ and drums at his grandfather's church. He wasn't just an all-state selection at West Orange Stark High. At halftime, Thomas would take off his helmet and shoulder pads and play tenor saxophone with the marching band.
"You have to do everything at a (small school)," said Thomas.
He now plays jazz piano in the Austin music scene with a jazz band called "Bad Bones."
From Star colleague David Lassen at the first day of media days for the Bowl Championship Series title game Thursday in Pasadena:
NEWPORT BEACH -- There's a school of thought -- particularly, it seems, among those from the Southeastern Conference, which relentlessly promotes itself as the best conference in college football -- that Alabama might somehow have a hard time getting up for the BCS championship game after beating Florida for the SEC title.
To that end, Alabama coach Nick Saban -- apparently big on sporting analogies --has invoked the 1980 U.S. hockey "Miracle on Ice." After that team beat the Soviet Union in its historic upset, it still had to play another game, against Finland, and if it lost, it could have finished without a medal.
This might not be the ideal reference for a bunch of young men in the South, as was pointed out when defensive back Javier Arenas was asked about it.
"I don't watch hockey," he said.
After drawing a big laugh, he added, "but of course you hear what he's saying. ... I don't watch hockey, so I don't know exactly what he's talking about, but I get the concept of the story. And it's effective."
Before the SEC title game, Saban's analogy of choice was the Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran boxing match.
"That was something I could relate to," Arenas said, approvingly.
"Each and every player on this team understands what he's saying, no matter sport it is, who he compares, who he throws in there. We get it. We understand it. We take it in. And we're going to use it."
Other quotes of note from Sunday's BCS media session:
Learning French: Arenas, on the complexity of the Crimson Tide defensive scheme: "When you first come in, you think it's like trying to learn French. ...
"For a lot of guys, it won't take that long, but for me, I've never been part of a defensive scheme such as this one. So it took me just a tad longer. But once you get it and understand it, it's very fun to be in."
Big problems: Crimson Tide defensive lineman Terrence Cody, on the challenges of life when you're 6-foot-5, 354 pounds: "You go to theme parks, you can't get on rides, because of how tall you are and how big you are. Some of those straps and pull-downs don't come down the way. ...
"I had to use the restroom on the airplane, and it was terrible. It took a while to get in there because it's not that big of a door to get in, and then once I got in, it was like, 'This is it?' "
Socked away: Texas receiver Jordan Shipley has a championship ring from the 2005 BCS title game at the Rose Bowl -- the sixth-year senior was a medical redshirt that year, sidelined by a knee injury -- but hasn't really worn it.
"Part of the reason is I'm just not real good with keeping up with my stuff," he said, "so my mom keeps it locked away."
The University of Southern California today announced that it has implemented self-imposed sanctions on its men's basketball program for violating NCAA rules.
The sanctions are a result of a university investigation that found NCAA rules violations related to O.J. Mayo, who played for the USC's men's basketball team during the 2007-2008 season.
"USC takes allegations of NCAA rules violations very seriously. When allegations were made regarding our men's basketball program we immediately began an investigation and worked closely with the NCAA and the Pac-10 in an attempt to ascertain the truth," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. "When we've done something wrong, we have an obligation to do something about it and that is exactly what we are doing here."
The self-imposed sanctions for the men's basketball program include a one-year ban on post-season competition following the 2009-2010 regular season, including the Pac-10 Conference basketball tournament; a reduction of one scholarship for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 academic years; a reduction by one of the number of coaches permitted to engage in off-campus recruiting activities during the summer of 2010, and a reduction in the total number of recruiting days by twenty days (from 130 to 110) for the 2010-2011 academic year.
In addition, because of Mayo's involvement with Rodney Guillory, whom under NCAA rules became a USC booster due to his role in Mayo's recruitment, USC will vacate all wins during the 2007-2008 regular season, which was when Mayo competed while ineligible. USC will also return to the NCAA the money it received through the Pac-10 Conference for its participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball Championship Tournament.
These self-imposed sanctions impact only the men's basketball program, and do not affect any other program.
"We have very high standards for our faculty, athletic department, staff and students," said USC senior vice president Todd R. Dickey. "We expect and demand that everyone associated with the University live up to these standards. Nothing is more important than the integrity of this institution and its people."
Mr. Garrett said, "We believe the self-imposed sanctions are consistent with penalties imposed at other NCAA member institutions which have been cited with similar rules infractions. Although we are disappointed that rules were violated, we look forward to moving past this matter and to the future success of our men's basketball program."
Kevin O'Neill, head men's basketball coach for USC added, "I think the university did the right thing in self-imposing sanctions. I respect and understand the action that was taken. Our players have risen to many challenges already this season and I am proud of what they have accomplished. I am confident that they will rise to this latest challenge.
"As their coach, I will do everything in my power to make our program better on and off the court every day," he said. "Our job as a team now is to move forward in a positive manner. We have 16 games left to play this season. I have no doubt that our players will prepare and play well in those games. While it is unfortunate that our players won't have the chance to compete in the post-season, that just makes every game for us now a post-season game."
Mr. Garrett concluded, "While we recognize there may be additional questions about our announcement today or other alleged NCAA infractions, until the NCAA concludes its inquiries, we cannot make any further comment."
Sophomore Jordan Harris' spectacular tip from Jeremiah's Slowik's 50-foot inbounds pass at the first half buzzer completed the Ventura College men's basketball team's comeback and spurred a 72-56 win over visiting Porterville Saturday night at the VC Athletic Event Center.
Harris had a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds, Pierce Brooks had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Mike Melonas added 12 points as the Pirates (3-10) snapped a three-game losing streak entering the opening of Western State Conference play next week.
Ventura trailed 23-15 midway through the first half, but responded behind Harris, who had 14 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two steals at the half, when no other VC player had more than four points.
Harris' electrifying alley-oop at the end of the half brought the Ventura crowd to its feet.
"At first, I was going to dunk it, but I couldn't get my hands on it," said Harris. "I just hit it and it went in."
Guard Antavius Sims, the Pirates' quarterback during football season, sparked a game-clinching run after Porterville pulled within 47-43 with 11:22 to play.
"He has the ability to make a quick play," said Ventura coach Will Cowen.
Sims had eight second-half points, as well as an assist to Melonas and two key steals during an 8-1 run that put the game to bed.
"I think I played good, but I can still be better," said Sims. "Whether or not my shot is falling, coach just wants me to bring energy on the floor."
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has often been compared to former Texas quarterback Vince Young. But that doesn't mean many expected Pryor's breakout performance Friday night in the venue that Young made history.
"The plan was to make him throw the ball," said Oregon defensive end Kenny Rowe said. "But when he threw it that good, the plan didn't go well."
Pryor completed 23 of 37 passes for 266 yards -- all season highs -- and two touchdowns in Ohio State's 26-17 win over Oregon in the 96th Rose Bowl game.
"He certainly beat us throwing the ball," said Oregon coach Chip Kelly.
Pryor hadn't topped 17 passing attempts since injuring a knee in a win over New Mexico State on Oct. 31, but he threw passes on eight of 10 plays in marching the Buckeyes to a game-opening 74-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Saine.
"We felt that we needed to be balanced against this team," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. "I thought TP made good decisions. He not only made good decisions as to who to go to, he made good decisions when to throw it away and when to step up and run.
"He was engaged in the game, talking int the game between series, he knew what they were doing and why they were doing it."
The sophomore from Jeannette, Pa. put forth his best Vince Young impression by piling up 338 yards of total offense, throwing for two touchdowns and guiding scoring drives of more than six and eight minutes as Ohio State (11-2) set a Rose Bowl record by possessing the ball for 41 minutes, 37 seconds.
Devin Barclay's 30-yard field goal and Aaron Pettry's 45-yard field goal 65 seconds apart at the end of the first half give Ohio State a 16-10 lead over Oregon at halftime of the 96th Rose Bowl Game.
Ohio State is the first Big Ten team is lead the Rose Bowl at the half since 1999, when Wisconsin led UCLA.
Terrelle Pryor was 15-of-24 passing for 149 yards and a TD and a team-high 31 yards rushing in the first half.
Oregon head coach Chip Kelly to ESPN radio at the half, "We keep shooting ourselves in the foot."
Huge roar for LeGarrette Blount entering the Rose Bowl in the red zone for Oregon, trailing 10-3 midway through the second quarter.
He immediately carries the ball on second and goal from the Ohio State 3-yard line, running over Buckeyes safety Kurt Coleman in the hole. .
Initially ruled down inside the 1-yard line, Blount earns a touchdown via review.
The senior running back missed nearly the entire season after being suspended for punching Boise State's Byron Hout after the Duck's season-opening loss at Boise State.
Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews and cornerback Anthony Gildon both played parts on the opening series of the 96th Rose Bowl, which ended with Ohio State taking a 7-0 lead on Terrelle Pryor's touchdown pass to Brandon Saine.
Both locals played at Oaks Christian School.
Matthews, an Agoura Hills resident, nearly intercepted Pryor across the middle on the first play from scrimmage. Gildon, a Simi Valley resident, defended Pryor's second-and-10 pass in the end zone.
UPDATE: Matthews made back-to-back tackles on third and fourth down carries by Pryor and Taurian Washington inside the Oregon 5-yard line to keep the Buckeyes from taking a 14-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
Ventura County Star sports writer and columnist Joe Curley covers college sports and soccer for this Star. This is the place to click
for local college football and basketball coverage, including USC, UCLA,
Moorpark College, Ventura College and Cal Lutheran.
Curley will update from
live events and also interject with periodic comment on both international
soccer and the local Ventura County Fusion.
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