SportsScope : West L.A. Oilers Open Conference Season Against Rio Hondo College

The West Los Angeles College basketball team, 6-7 as the week began, will begin its Southern California Athletic Conference schedule when it plays host to Rio Hondo at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Overland Avenue and Culver Boulevard, Culver City.

Forward LaVar Ball is leading the Oilers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20.3 points and 12.7 rebounds, and freshman guard Doyle Balthazar was averaging 12 points and 6.3 assists.

Ball was named the most valuable player of the Cuesta College tournament, which the Oilers won by defeating College of the Canyons, 70-56, in the championship game. Oiler forward Cecil Whitmore also was named to the all-tourney team.

Fifteen members of the U.S. national rhythmic gymnastics team will compete in the eighth annual Los Angeles Lights Invitational Meet from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 17 and from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 18 at Marymount High School, 10643 Sunset Blvd., Westwood. Ticket information is at 204-1980.

University High School distance runner Angelina Haro, whose time of 18:25 earned her fifth place in the recent Los Angeles City prep cross-country championships, will compete in the girls mile at the 28th Sunkist Invitational indoor track meet, which starts at 4:45 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Sports Arena.

Haro’s competition includes Hesperia High’s Robbyn Bryant, who has run a 4:51.3 mile, and Buena High’s Michelle Lewis (4:50.3).

The UCLA women’s softball team will present a clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 31 at the UCLA intramural field. Fees for entrants before Jan. 31 are $20 with a team discount or $25 without one. The fee on the day of the clinic is $30.

More details are with UCLA Coach Sharron Backus at 825-8699 or her assistant, Sue Enquist, at 399-0872.

Trying to snap a three-game losing string, the UCLA women’s basketball team (4-3) will play host to San Diego State at 5:15 p.m. Monday at Pauley Pavilion. The game precedes the men’s contest between UCLA and Cal State Fullerton.

The UCLA women’s three losses have been to some of the nation’s best: Cal State Long Beach, North Carolina and top-ranked Tennessee.

Junior forward Dora Dome continues to lead the Bruins in scoring with an average of 15.6 points a game. Starting freshman forward Sandra Van Embricqs, who strained a knee in practice and did not play last week, is expected to be back for San Diego State.

The UCLA men’s volleyball team will meet the Israeli national team in an exhibition at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 at the John Wooden Center. Last season the Bruins, who have won 11 NCAA championships, lost to defending NCAA champion Pepperdine in the title match of the West Regional and finished with a 30-9 record.

UCLA, Pepperdine and USC are considered strong contenders for an NCAA title this season.