Lost Weekend Uncovers Chapman’s Unity in 73-71 Upset of Bakersfield

This was supposed to have been it for Chapman College’s basketball team. The end . Finis . The Panthers’ lost weekend in central California, where their postseason hopes finally became squashed like so many Napa Valley grapes.

This was to have been Chapman’s two-game death march to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where the Mustangs had not lost in 11 games, and to Cal State Bakersfield, where the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. preseason favorite took up residence. Chapman, teetering in at 1-3 in conference, looked like a sure bet for 1-5.

Wait-Till-Next-Year time seemed at hand.

But somewhere during the Panthers’ long bus ride north from Orange County, their season took a U-turn. Not only did Chapman win once in this hostile territory, but it pulled off the all-but-unthinkable--a sweep.

After surprising San Luis Obispo Thursday, the Panthers absolutely staggered Bakersfield Saturday night, rallying from a 10-point deficit to down the Roadrunners, 73-71, before 2,030 fans at Bakersfield College.

An offensive rebound and a drive to the basket by Chapman forward Johnny Williams tied the score at 71-71 with 48 seconds to play. And after Bakersfield missed a hurried shot on its trip down the floor, Panthers guard Mike Kelly sank two free throws with five seconds remaining to ensure the win for Chapman.

Suddenly, stunningly, the Panthers are back in the CCAA race. Now 3-3 in conference (12-7 overall), they are tied with Bakersfield in the middle of a congested pack, trying to keep pace with front-running Cal State Northridge.

Chapman Coach Kevin Wilson, who kept talking about putting things together despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary (player defections, erratic shooting and a propensity for blowing leads), stopped short of claiming vindication. There is, as they say, still a long way to go.

But . . .

“We’ve won three of our last four, and we lost to Northridge by one point,” Wilson said. “That would have made us 4-2, and we’d be right there. I think we are right there.

“The team is pulling together. No more ‘turbulent Chapman.’ The players are getting along with each other. They’re going to see movies together, they’re going out for pizza together. There aren’t any more minor complaints.

“I’m surprised at how quickly they’ve come around.”

Just one short week ago, Chapman was a team that seemed in complete disarray. Shooters weren’t shooting, defenders weren’t defending. Wilson had stopped talking to the press.

Then, the Panthers take to the road and take on an entirely new personality. Their defense and their foul shooting smother San Luis Obispo. And then their poise finally wears down Bakersfield.

The Roadrunners (15-4 overall) led by 10 points (60-50) with 7:46 remaining and were still ahead by six (66-60) with less than four minutes to play.

But then Bakersfield’s Victor Green, who had carried his team-- dislocated left shoulder and all--through the first 35 minutes of play, got into trouble. After hitting 9 of 11 shots to lead his team with 18 points, Green was first called for an illegal screen and then for travelling. The turnovers helped Chapman pull to within a point, when Mike Brennan sank a pair of free throws, slicing the Roadrunners’ lead to 68-67 with 2:27 left.

A minute later, Bakersfield had boosted its advantage back to four, thanks to two foul shots by Michael Bryant. But then, with 1:18 left, Chapman began The Comeback.

Freshman forward Wayne Briggs was fouled on a drive to the basket and he converted both free throws. Bakersfield led, 71-69.

Then, Briggs dove at halfcourt--”Slid into second,” as Wilson put it--to knock away a Bakersfield pass into the hands of teammate Jerry Ross. Ross passed to Kelly, who pulled up for a short jumper.

Kelly misfired, but Williams broke through the lane to grab the rebound and bank in a shot to tie the score with 48 seconds left.

Bakersfield Coach Jim Parks called for his team to work for the final shot, but that message somehow got lost in the translation. Bryant put up an eight-footer in the key with 31 seconds left that kicked off the rim and wound up in the hands of Williams.

Twenty-six seconds later, Kelly was at the foul line to sink the shots that clinched the victory.

Kelly, with 14 points, was one of three Chapman players to score in double figures. Williams led all scorers with 19, and Karl Cato added 10.

CHAPMAN (73)--Weninger 4, Williams 19, Cato 10, O’Hern 6, Kelly 14, Ross 7, Brennan 5, Jones 2, Briggs 6.

BAKERSFIELD (71)--Setencich 15, Beardsley 8, Bryant 8, Garner 8, Jackson 2, Brown 5, Brooks 7, Green 18.

Halftime--Bakersfield 43-35

Attendance--2,030