SPORTSCOPE : Cal State L.A. Sets Sights on Playoff Berth

It has been quite a turnabout for the Cal State Los Angeles men’s basketball season.

After posting forgettable records of 4-48 overall and 0-28 in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. over the previous two seasons, the Golden Eagles have rebounded with a 14-11 overall and 7-5 in the CCAA this year.

The Golden Eagles, tied for third in the conference with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, hope to complete their transformation by reaching the conference’s postseason tournament.

To qualify for the four-team tournament, Cal State L.A. will need another strong performance in its final two regular-season games against visiting Cal State Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo.

Cal State L.A. faces Bakersfield at 7:30 p.m. Friday and San Luis Obispo at 8:05 Saturday.

Neither opponent is expected to be easy for the Golden Eagles. Bakersfield, ranked No. 14 in the NCAA Division II, enters the final week of conference play in first place at 10-2 and 22-3 overall. San Luis Obispo is 7-5 in the CCAA and 17-8 overall.

Bakersfield has been led on offense by center Marvin Redeemer, who averages 15.6 points and 6.5 rebounds and guard Wade Green, who averages 15 points and 5.1 assists. The Roadrunners, who have reached the Division II playoffs the last two seasons, have won nine of their last 10 games.

San Luis Obispo has also played well recently, having won four CCAA games in a row. The Mustangs have been sparked by center Stuart Thomas, a 6-8 junior transfer from Stanford who averages 16.5 points and 7.6 rebounds. Another leader in a strong front line for San Luis Obispo is forward Coby Naess, who averages 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles lost to both teams in the first round of conference play, falling by scores of 85-59 to Bakersfield and 82-72 to San Luis Obispo. But Cal State L.A. has played well since then, winning six of its last seven games.

The leader all along has been senior center LaVar Ball, a 6-6 transfer from Washington State who averages 16.4 points and nine rebounds. Two other top players are senior swing man Bruce Turner and junior guard Mike Varos.

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team, having already clinched its unprecedented ninth consecutive conference title, wraps up its regular season with California Collegiate Athletic Assn. games by visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills and Chapman on Friday and Saturday.

Pomona will face Dominguez Hills at 5:45 p.m. Friday and Chapman at 5:45 Saturday. Dominguez Hills is 3-7 in the CCAA and 11-13 overall and Chapman 5-5 and 17-8.

The Broncos, 10-0 in the CCAA and 21-3 overall, head into this week’s play ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II behind Delta State of Mississippi.

Pomona, which has a 14-game winning streak, clinched the conference title last week with a 72-60 victory over Cal State Los Angeles. The Broncos also defeated second-place Cal State Northridge, 61-38, last week.

The victory over Cal State Northridge was also significant because it was the 100th conference victory for longtime Bronco Coach Darlene May. The coach, who has a brilliant 418-94 record in 16 seasons, has a remarkable 101-4 record in nine seasons in the CCAA.

Pomona has been led on the court by senior All-America center Niki Bracken, who averages a conference-leading 19.3 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Marcine Edmonds, who averages 13 points and seven rebounds. Two other top offensive players are junior guard Stephanie Coons and freshman center Danielle Carter, the team’s top reserve.

The Broncos should receive their strongest challenge this week from Chapman, which has a strong front line that features 5-11 forward Bethel Trice with a 14-point average. Another top performer is senior guard Julie King with a 13.9-point average.

Dominguez Hills is paced by senior center Khyra Anderson and senior guard Julie Scott.