BASKETBALL : Late-Blooming Canyons in Familiar Role of Underdog as Regional Playoffs Begin

College of the Canyons opens the Southern California regional playoffs Saturday seeded 21st in the 26-team field. A first-round game against Orange Coast, seeded 12th, could send the Cougars packing early.

But Canyons Coach Lee Smelser isn’t panicking. His team has blossomed in the role of underdog over the past three weeks.

At one point in the Western State Conference season, Canyons was 2-6 and going nowhere. But the Cougars won four of their last five and received an at-large playoff berth when the field was announced Sunday.

Canyons finished in a three-way tie for second place with Glendale and Moorpark but was not a sure bet to earn a playoff position. The Cougars had split with Glendale but lost twice to Moorpark.

Based on its play down the stretch, however, Smelser feels histeam is deserving of a shot in the playoffs.

“I think we’re playing well now,” he said. “Our roles have been identified a little better.”

But Canyons’ shooting is as cold as ever. The Cougars made only 43.7% of their shots this season, including 42% in conference play.

Still, Smelser likes the way his team matches up against Orange Coast (22-9), which finished fourth in the Orange Empire Conference.

“If we get the tempo going, I think we’ll be OK,” Smelser pointed out. “We’re happy to get into the playoffs, and I feel like we have as good a chance as anybody. We hope.”

Main man: CLU guard Steve deLaveaga has been named to the all-conference first team in the Golden State Athletic Conference. DeLaveaga, a 6-4 sophomore, led the GSAC in scoring with a 20.1 points-per-game average. In conference games, he averaged 25.3.

Despite being double-teamed all season, DeLaveaga played a significant role in the Kingsmen offense. He led the team in field goals and attempts, three-pointers and attempts, free throws and attempts, free-throw percentage, assists, turnovers and scoring.

DeLaveaga’s 564 points rank fifth on the school’s single-season scoring list. His 942 points rank 14th on CLU’s career list. And he is on course to break Cal Lutheran’s career scoring record (1,840) set by Gary Bowman from 1971-75.

Heartbreak: After watching Cal State Northridge lose to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 68-67, keeping the Matadors from the CCAA’s postseason tournament, CSUN assistant coach Rusty Smith said he talked with Cal Poly assistant coach Mark Felix, who formerly held the same position at CSUN.

“He said there was no question we were the better team,” Smith said. “They won on a lucky shot at the end. It was clear. He admitted it.”

Add Northridge: The Matadors, who lose guards Jimmy Daniels and Paul Drecksel to graduation, will add Darren Matsubara to their program. Matsubara, a 6-0 guard from Fresno, played at Fresno City College and later transferred to Hawaii Pacific before enrolling at Northridge. Matsubara will be eligible in January, 1988.

“We really like him,” Smith said. “He’s a quick, penetrating guard who can shoot. He can do it all.”

Help wanted: The Master’s College has hired David Montgomery as a full-time assistant basketball coach. Montgomery, 29, played at Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga from 1976-80. He coached at Cedar Grove Academy in Philadelphia for three years, compiling a 66-33 record. Montgomery also spent two years as an assistant at Taft High in Bakersfield.

Said Master’s Coach Randy Stem: “We’re excited to have him. He will be a big help with recruiting and in practice.”

The Mustangs finished with a 5-24 record, 4-13 in the NAIA District III.

Standing pat: Jim Stephens, Valley College women’s basketball coach, is taking a practical approach to the Southern California regional playoffs that began Wednesday night.

“We’re seeded No. 2, so we’re supposed to beat these teams,” he said. “On paper, we should win. If we don’t, we don’t belong here.”

Valley (24-4) is only one victory from advancing to the eight-team state tournament March 6-7 following its first-round win over Citrus on Wednesday night.

Stephens said there will be few changes in store for his team in the playoffs. He will still stress defense and be the same demanding coach.

“Hopefully we’ll play better than we have,” Stephens said. “Actually, I guess we haven’t played that badly.”

Valley has won 13 of its last 14 games, including an 82-43 rout of Chaffey to conclude the Southern California Conference season.