Diane Rockwood : Offense Is Her Defense

By her own admission, Diane Rockwood is not the greatest defensive player in women’s community college basketball.

And her coach doesn’t think much of her ball handling or passing ability.

Yet Rockwood, a 5-11 center who grew up in Canoga Park and graduated from El Camino Real High School, did one thing well this season while leading Fullerton College to the women’s community college basketball championships: She put the ball in the basket.

Her 604 points in 29 regular-season games (20.8 points a game) set a school record, and she led the team in rebounding.

While that would be enough for most players, it wasn’t enough for Rockwood.

“My weakness is always defense,” she says. “I’m not that quick. I have to be smarter than the other guy. I’m given a lot of slack about my defense, but I’m improving.”

She improved smartly enough this season, at least, to be named player of the year in the South Coast Conference while heading her team’s drive to a 27-5 record and its 12th-straight conference championship.

The title gives Fullerton a chance to challenge defending state champion L.A. Trade Tech in the state tournament, which runs today through Saturday at Cerritos College. The Hornets open against Sacramento City College at 2 p.m.

It has been a long journey back to the spotlight for Rockwood.

After graduating in 1982 from El Camino Real--where she won first team all-City and West Valley League MVP honors in her senior year--Rockwood accepted a scholarship to Division II power Cal Poly Pomona. But things didn’t work out at the San Dimas school.

“My freshman year, Cal Poly was coming off of a Division II national championship and I was coming off the bench second from last,” she said.

“I learned my fundamentals at camps and during the summer leagues and forgot them during the school year,” she said. “My biggest problem at Cal Poly was that I didn’t know the fundamentals.”

Upset by the inactivity, Rockwood decided to sit out the next season. She continued going to class and kept team statistics, but that was even worse than sitting on the bench.

“It was real frustrating,” she said. “I was gaining weight and wanted to go out and play again. But when I talked to our coach, Darlene May, she said that next year’s team was already set and suggested I look into the JC level.”

Recalls May: “Her assessment is accurate. But that’s what you can expect from her. She’s a very level-headed and honest person.

“We had players coming back who were very good and it would have been difficult for anybody to make the team, much less a freshman. Her defensive abilities were weak, but she is an excellent shooter.”

May suggested she look into the program at Fullerton, one of the most successful in the state. Among Fullerton Coach Colleen Riley’s star graduates are Linda Sharp, women’s basketball coach at USC; Donna Carter, a USC guard; Kathy Gorman, a Cal State Fullerton reserve, and, perhaps not coincidentally, quite a few players who went on to play at Cal Poly Pomona.

“I guess you could say I was returning a favor,” May says.

Rockwood spent the ensuing summer working as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at a Napa County summer camp before finally deciding to enroll at Fullerton.

“It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she says. “Coach Riley has really got a way of communicating with the players.”

At first, Riley shared some of Rockwood’s self-doubts. The center had spent two seasons either riding the bench or not playing at all.

“I didn’t see her play much at Cal Poly and never saw her in practice,” Riley said. “But I saw she could contribute offensively and knew we could field a good team. She has such great confidence in her ability to score. She’s one of the players we want to take the shot. Fundamentally she’s a very good shooter. She has strong hands and wrists.”

Riley isn’t too concerned about Rockwood’s other shortcomings.

“She’s not a good passer or ball handler,” Riley said. “She’s trying to do too many things. Her role is not to handle the ball, but to shoot and get the offensive boards. When she plays out of her role, she doesn’t do as well.”

Rockwood, who would like to become an elementary school teacher, hopes a four-year college will extend an invitation to her after the tournament.

“I’d like to go to Pepperdine,” she said. “They know I’m interested. It’s a great Christian school, has a good liberal arts program and it’s only a half-hour from my parents’ house in Canoga Park. It’s also on the beach.”

“I think she has a good chance to go somewhere,” May said. “She’s a real zone-buster. I think she’ll go to a good school and do well. I think a lot of her as a person. She has her head on straight.”

Riley, understandably, echoes May’s sentiments.

“She’s one of the best offensive players we’ve ever had here,” Riley said. “Success breeds success. We’re balanced around Diane.”