COLLEGE DIVISION NOTEBOOK / MARTIN BECK : Duplication of Last Year’s Success Tall Order for SCC Basketball Team

The “season after” for the Southern California College men’s basketball team begins Nov. 17. But Coach Bill Reynolds isn’t worrying about a hangover from playing in the NAIA national tournament last year.

The Vanguards qualified for the first time and advanced to the second round before losing to eventual finalist Wisconsin Eau Claire. Reynolds said he believes this team is ready to shoot for similar success.

But he admits it will be extremely difficult. No team has won consecutive NAIA District 3 titles since Biola in 1979 and 1980, and the Vanguards have lost three starters, including second-leading scorer Terry Scruggs and point guard John Mounce.

“I really wonder if most of the kids on our team have a real idea of how tough the competition is going to be for us this year,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds got more evidence at the district basketball media day Monday in Costa Mesa. He heard Mel Hankinson of The Master’s College talk of winning national championships. He noted that three of the players he had most actively recruited--plus Emilio Kovacic, a 6-10 transfer from Arizona State--were on Biola’s roster and another was at Westmont, the conference favorite.

Reynolds talked of his team not having the offensive firepower it has had in previous years, which may force the Vanguards to shoot less off the fast break. He said a point guard needs to step forward.

But in a preseason poll, district coaches predicted SCC--which returns Jeff Bickmore, the Golden State Athletic Conference player of the year, and Mike Henjum, who led the conference in three-point field goal percentage--will finish third in the district, second in the conference.

And Reynolds isn’t downplaying his team’s talent.

“I think we have the capability to compete,” Reynolds said. “But when I see the size and talent of some of the teams in our district, I know it’s going to be an extreme challenge to duplicate our success.”

Add SCC: The Vanguards’ postseason success hasn’t translated into added recruiting clout. Reynolds’ top six prospects went to other teams.

“It’s just as tough as ever,” he said. “And we still lost players to other teams in our district, so I wouldn’t say that winning has ensured (good recruiting).

“There seems to be a perception on the part of others that because of our success, everyone would want to come here, but it is still the same basic situation with all the schools competing for the same type of athletes.”

The Christ College Irvine men’s basketball team, under first-year Coach Greg Marshall, will open the season Nov. 17 against UC San Diego, which is ranked fourth in the preseason NCAA Division III poll. In a poll of coaches, the Eagles were picked for a last-place tie with Cal Baptist in the conference and an eighth-place tie with Cal Baptist in the district.

SCC cross-country runner Sherri Hall will attempt to win her second NAIA District 3 title in three years Saturday at Morley Field near Balboa Park in San Diego. Hall, 39, won the title in 1988 and finished fifth last year after falling early in the race.

Her main competition is again Jenee Ellis of Azusa Pacific. Hall has beaten Ellis in four of their five meetings this year, including the Golden State Athletic Conference finals last month, but Ellis beat Hall on the Morley Field course this year and last year.

“We’re going to try to overcome the mystique of that course this weekend--break the jinx,” SCC Coach Bryan Wilkins said.

Westmont is favored to win the women’s competition and earn the district’s berth in the national championships Nov. 17 in Kenosha, Wis. Point Loma Nazarene is the men’s favorite.

The top five individuals in each race--not including runners from the winning team--will qualify for the nationals. Wilkins said SCC’s Amber Coley has a chance to become the second person in school history--after Hall--to qualify.

Last hurrah: The final game of the season for the Southern California College men’s soccer team was a productive one for four seniors playing for the last time for the school. Ramon Miramontes had four assists, Merl Mireles had two goals, and Alex Weidderich and Toby Ray each had one goal Tuesday as the Vanguards defeated Christian Heritage, 5-0.

Sophomore Gregg Olson also had a goal and an assist, giving him 31 points, second highest total in the district. Joel Ramirez of Fresno Pacific had 34 points.

Payola, NAIA style: Jerry King, Cal Baptist men’s basketball coach, rolling off the one-liners at the District 3 media day, thanked Hankinson of The Master’s for his largess.

“Mel has graciously invited us to his tournament,” said King, “and has given us a great guarantee--two free meals.”

College Division Notes

The Christ College Irvine men’s soccer team got a windfall of sorts when Point Loma Nazarene forfeited all of its games, and La Verne forfeited a few early-season games because it had used an ineligible player. With two extra victories, Christ College finished 5-10-1 and 1-5 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. . . . In women’s volleyball, the local teams finished last and second to last in the Golden State conference. Southern California was 16-19 and 2-10 in the conference, and Christ College was 12-22 and 1-11.