Colleges : SCC Gets Top Seeding in Playoffs

Southern California College is the No. 1-seeded team in the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics’ District 3 playoffs.

The Vanguards (27-3), who won the Golden State Athletic Conference title, have a bye in the first round. Biola is seeded second, Christian Heritage third and Cal Baptist fourth.

The seven-team playoffs begin Tuesday. Azusa Pacific plays at Biola, Cal Baptist plays Christian Heritage at Point Loma Nazarene College and Fresno Pacific plays at Westmont.

The second round will be Saturday at Whittier College, with Southern California College playing the lowest remaining seeded team at 8 p.m. The other two teams will play at 6 p.m.

The District 3 championship game will be March 7 at Whittier College. The district winner advances to the national tournament.

“We’re happy to be the No.-1 seeded team, but I’m somewhat surprised that Westmont isn’t the No. 3,” said Vanguard Coach Bill Reynolds, whose team is ranked 16th in the NAIA poll. “If all goes to form, we’ll play Westmont in the second round.”

Westmont finished second to Southern California College in conference play. The Vanguards beat the Warriors twice, both times by two points.

“We’re certainly not in awe of them like we may have been in the past,” Reynolds said. “But we could conceivably be playing somebody else. At this point it’s a blessing just to have some time off. The kids are going to have two days off in a row for the first time since Christmas.”

Reynolds was named the District 3 coach of the year, district officials announced Sunday. Reynolds, in his eighth season at Southern California College, guided the Vanguards to the best record in the school’s history.

The Vanguards placed three players on the all-district team. Senior guard Todd Dixon, sophomore center Todd Bickmore and senior guard Kyle Lundy all were selected.

Steve DeLaveaga of Cal Lutheran was named the district’s player of the year.

The rest of the all-district team included:

Mark Kraatz (Christian Heritage); Kevin Hood (Biola); Brandle Studevan (Biola); Donnie Johnson (Fresno Pacific); Michael Banks (Cal Baptist) and Michael Benton (Azusa Pacific).