Valley Forfeits Final 2 Games; Ineligibility of Players Cited

The Valley College basketball team, which forfeited a Western State Conference game against Glendale on Wednesday because only four players showed up on time, also will forfeit its two remaining games, Valley Athletic Director George Goff said Thursday.

Goff said that the decision not to complete the season was made after a review of academic records from the first semester revealed poor attendance and failing grades for several players that would have made them ineligible.

“There’s no alternative,” said Goff, who could not recall a similar situation involving a team sport at Valley during his 17 years as athletic director. “The only thing you could do is get some people from the football team, but that wouldn’t be putting forward a worthwhile program. It’s a sad situation, but that’s the way it is.”

Valley Coach Jim Stephens said that despite multiple warnings, several of his players failed to attend classes regularly or show up on time for practices and games.

Point guard Joey Manliguis left the team last week because of academic problems and forward Earl Davis became ineligible for not paying his out-of-state tuition.

Valley had been in contention for a berth in the Southern California regional playoffs. The Monarchs conclude the season 17-15 overall and 7-8 in conference play.

“It’s sad and disappointing for everyone concerned but at this point it’s the only answer,” Stephens said. “It was my 27th season in coaching and it was a big lesson for me.”

Freshman guard Tory Stephens, the team leader in scoring, said that some of his teammates’ problems were caused by a lack of transportation from their homes in Los Angeles to the Van Nuys campus.

“I feel bad for the sophomores because it was their last year,” he said. “But coach was tired of putting up with people’s . . . I can understand where he’s coming from because there was a lot of stuff that went on this season.”

Valley-area junior college coaches said the problems that plagued Valley this season are indicative of the struggle faced by many programs.

“It’s a never-ending battle,” said Canyons Coach Lee Smelser, whose team was supposed to play Valley on Monday. “We try to communicate the need to get it done in the classroom as best we can. The kids have to accept some of the responsibility.”

Said Glendale’s Brian Beauchemin: “Kids are at junior colleges because they have academic or athletic shortcomings. The kids that do well understand where they’re at and work to get better. Those who don’t overestimate their abilities and they have trouble.”

Goff said that the basketball program would return next season and that he hopes returning and incoming players will learn a lesson from Thursday’s decision.

“If you’re at a place like USC and you’ve got scholarships, you can start wheeling a mallet around,” Goff said. “It’s a little tougher in the JCs.

“These kids are already getting a second chance athletic-wise or academic-wise. How many chances can you get?”