SCC Faces Biola Without Guards

Southern California College opens the toughest and most important part of its schedule tonight at 8 o’clock against Biola University in La Mirada at an inopportune time.

Things wouldn’t be so bad for the Vanguards if it weren’t for the absence of starting guards Sherwin Durham and Ken Bardsley. Durham, a 6-0 senior, has been benched because of academic problems. He could be eligible to play on Jan. 18 if he passes a course in the school’s interim semester. Bardsley, a 6-4 off guard who missed several games earlier this season with back problems, is out of the lineup because he is suffering from a foot infection. He does not know when he will return.

SCC (11-2) won its first 11 games, but has been struggling without Durham and Bardsley. With Durham on the bench, the Vanguards fell to the University of Portland, 75-67, on Jan. 3 and unknown Warner-Pacific of Oregon, 80-65, the next night.

The game against Biola, the perennial NAIA District 3 power and longtime SCC rival, is only the first of what will be a difficult schedule this month. The Vanguards will face their four toughest opponents of the season in their next five games.

Besides Biola (14-1), SCC will play Pt. Loma-Nazarene (12-3) next Tuesday, NAIA District 3 defending champion Westmont (10-3) next Saturday and Cal Baptist (8-7) on Tuesday, Jan. 22.