STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Golden West’s Goal: Reach the Final

Making the state tournament doesn’t seem to be too difficult for the Golden West College women’s basketball team.

The Rustlers (34-1) will be making their fourth consecutive appearance when they play Merritt at 4 p.m. today in the quarterfinals at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

But if the Rustlers win the tournament--as they are expected to--it would be something new.

In 1987 and 1988, Golden West rolled into the state tournament as the top-seeded team from Southern California, but couldn’t get past the semifinal round. Last season, Golden West was the fourth-seeded team from the south and lost in the quarterfinals.

Of the four, this is Golden West’s most dominating team. The Rustlers already have won a difficult tournament at Sequoias, beating the host team, 68-52, last December to win the 16-team tournament.

“That will help us,” co-coach Dave Stricklin said of the tournament victory. “We know we can win on that floor in front of a tough crowd. That confidence will be important.”

Golden West also has an advantage in experience. Four of the five starters have played in a state tournament.

Center Donna Gondringer and forwards Claudette Jackson and Stacee Johnson started last season. Guard Shawna Armstrong was a starter on the 1987-88 team, but sat out last season. Freshman guard Bits Sirchia is the only starter without tournament experience.

In other first-round games, De Anza plays Los Angeles Valley at 2 p.m., San Mateo faces Cerritos at 6 and College of the Sequoias plays College of the Canyons at 8.

The semifinals are at 6 and 8 p.m. Friday with the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday.