Fresno Pacific Is Just a Warm-up for SCC, 115-82 : Vanguards Score an Easy Victory in First Round of NAIA Division 3 Playoffs

Southern California College took the lead on the first basket Thursday night and never gave it up en route to a 115-82 victory over Fresno Pacific in the first round of the NAIA District 3 playoffs at SCC.

The victory moves the Vanguards, the NAIA District 3 Southern Division champions, to the second round of the playoffs next Wednesday night. SCC, which has won 12 straight games, will play Westmont, which defeated Azusa Pacific, 75-55, Thursday night.

Leading by as many as 28 points in the first half and 40 in the second, SCC (25-4 overall and 10-2 in conference), did a little experimenting in the game. SCC junior guard Ken Bardsley, who led all scorers with 20 points, was shifted to a post position early in the first half and responded by hitting all six of his shots from the field. Bardsley sparked the capacity crowd of 945 on his third effort when he scored after a series of fast-break passes that saw the ball go from Randy McAllister to Robert Aviles to Neil Anderson and finally to Bardsley, who put in a short jumper.

But it was SCC senior forward Greg Ward who brought the crowd to its feet. Ward, who was selected to both the All-NAIA District 3 and All-Southern Division teams, ignited the Vanguards when he dunked the ball after escaping from two Sunbirds, who had him pinned under the basket.

SCC senior guard Sherwin Durham, who also received both All-District 3 and All-Southern Division honors, was another crowd pleaser as he passed the ball into several Vanguards on the fast break. Durham, who scored 16 points, had an excellent second half, making all four of his shots from the field.

McAllister, who was chosen to the All-Southern Division team along with Bardsley, scored 10 points. McAllister had a tough first half, shooting only 2 of 6 from the field, but was instrumental in several Sunbird turnovers.

The Vanguards varied their defenses, using a full-court press, a 2-3 zone and an aggressive man-to-man to keep the Sunbirds off balance. And Fresno Pacific, try as it might, just couldn’t hold onto the ball. The Sunbirds turned the ball over 16 times in the first half, compared to only four first-half turnovers for the Vanguards.

But if SCC is going to defeat Westmont next Wednesday, it will have to play a different style of basketball. Although the Vanguards easily defeated the Sunbirds, at times they played sloppy.

“It’s a nice warm up for Westmont,” SCC Coach Bill Reynolds said. “But things will be different in style. . . . We’ve got to clean it up a little.”

FRESNO PACIFIC (82)--Schmidt 4, Salata 19, Heinrich 12, Taylor 14, Falls 11, Brooks 17, Weibe 5.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE (115)--Anderson 13, Aviles 4, Bardsley 20, Durham 16, McAllister 10, Ward 13, Tibbs 8, Bruce 8, Reddick 3, Myles 8, Silvers 6, Davis 4, Carbajal 2.

Halftime--Southern California College, 58-30.