NOTEBOOK / GARY KLEIN : It Was a Week to End All Streaks

Like all good things, the El Monte High wrestling team’s win streak was destined to end.

Cross-town rival Arroyo did the honors last week, defeating the Lions, 38-28, and ending the win streak at 54 matches.

Arroyo improved its record to 14-3 overall and 4-0 in the Mission Valley League. The Knights can win their second league championship in three years by defeating Mountain View today.

Defending league champion El Monte, which suffered its first dual-match defeat since the 1989-90 season, is 20-1 overall and 3-1 in league.

Arroyo heavyweight Steven Ho clinched the victory by pinning Alvaro Goycolea in the final match. Arroyo won eight of 11 matches, including four by pin.

Streakbusters, Part II: Azusa Pacific basketball player Scott Day had his consecutive free-throw streak end at 53.

Day, a sophomore guard, missed during Saturday’s 97-83 loss to Southern California College.

Day, who is second in National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics free-throw shooting at .929%, fell 12 free throws shy of the NAIA record set by John Barone of Monmouth, N.J., in 1969.

Still going strong: The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team continues its drive toward an 11th consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championship with a front line that features three of the top five scorers in the conference.

Forward Leslie Ellis is second with a 16.3 average, and forward Carrie Strittenberg is third at 15.3.

Pomona center Mildred Conston, who averages 13.4 points, is fifth. She also leads the CCAA in rebounding (13.1) and is second in blocked shots (1.9).

Pomona (16-5 overall, 7-0 in conference play) extended its win streak to 11 games last week with a 72-70 victory over Cal State Los Angeles.

The Broncos host UC Riverside Friday and then travel to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Saturday.

On a mission: The Cal State Los Angeles men’s basketball team is tied for last place in the CCAA, but the Eagles have already begun playing the role of the spoiler.

Cal State L.A. (6-13, 1-6) concluded the first round of conference play with a 71-64 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday. Derek Knowles scored 23 points to lead the Golden Eagles.

The loss might prove particularly costly to Pomona (12-8, 4-3), which had moved to within a game of conference co-leaders Cal State Bakersfield and UC Riverside.

Pomona begins the second round of CCAA play Friday night at home against Cal State San Bernardino, then travels to UC Riverside Saturday.

Cal State L.A. hosts Riverside Friday night and San Bernardino Saturday.

Road weary: The Cal State Los Angeles baseball team, which opened its season with three road losses to Santa Barbara, plays 18 of its first 20 games on the road.

Traveling has become a fact of life for Division II programs such as Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona ever since the NCAA began applying power ratings to schedules of Division I teams to determine Division I playoff spots.

Division I programs, therefore, receive no real benefit from playing Division II opponents. And they certainly will not leave home to do it.

“Division II is in serious trouble . . . ,” said Cal State Los Angeles Coach John Herbold, whose team finished 21-34 overall and 12-18 in the CCAA last season. “The one positive of the situation is that it’s an outstanding recruiting tool for us. Kids want to play against the Division I teams. They don’t care if it’s home or away.”

Cal State L.A. plays Azusa Pacific today at home.

That’s all, folks: Jack Nemzek, who led South Hills to 11 Southern Section playoff appearances in 15 seasons, has announced his retirement as football coach.

Nemzek, 54, became the head coach after 11 seasons as the school’s defensive coordinator. He led South Hills to seven consecutive Valle Vista League championships (1979-85), three appearances in the Southern Section semifinals and one trip to the final.

Another World: Anthony Wallace and Tim James were among the selections as the World League of American Football conducted its draft Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wallace, a former standout running back at Pasadena City College, was selected by the Frankfurt Galaxy in the third round. James, a defensive back who played at San Dimas High, was selected by the Ohio Glory in the 10th round.

Staff writer Steven Herbert contributed to this story.