COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL REGIONALS : Women in Finals; Men Will Begin Round 1 Tonight

The Southern California Regional basketball playoffs continue tonight with all six men’s team and two women’s team playing.

The women are playing in regional finals for a berth in the State tournament March 5-7 at Merritt College in Oakland.

The men will open first-round play. The second round is Wednesday and the regional finals are next Saturday.

The State tournament is March 12-14 in San Jose.

In tonight’s women’s games:

Antelope Valley (23-7) at Golden West (26-5), 7 p.m.--Golden West Coaches Dick and Dave Stricklin are hoping for a sixth consecutive trip to the State tournament. The Rustlers have won the past two State titles. Golden West defeated College of the Canyons, 105-76, in the first round Wednesday as Jennifer Harney scored 42, third highest total in school history.

El Camino (17-13) at Saddleback (26-5), 5 p.m.--The game is earlier than normal because of a doubleheader. The men play at 7. Saddleback Coach Jack Single, in his third season, has done an amazing job, considering the program was dropped four years ago because of a lack of players.

In men’s first-round games tonight:

Glendale (13-15) at Rancho Santiago (21-9), 7 p.m.--Rancho Santiago, the two-time defending State champion, has won six playoff games at home over the past two seasons and should make it seven tonight. This is also the fourth time in the past five seasons the Dons have won 20 or more games for Coach Dana Pagett. The winner advances to play either Mt. San Jacinto or El Camino Wednesday in the second round.

Rio Hondo (19-12) at Saddleback (16-12), 7 p.m.--This game matches two of the best defenses in the state. Saddleback allows 63.9 points per game, second fewest in California. Rio Hondo is giving up 66.7, which is sixth fewest. The winner plays Chaffey or MiraCosta.

Fullerton (13-14) at Cerritos (27-4), 7:30 p.m.--If Fullerton plays with the same zest it did in its regular-season finale, a 108-97 victory over Riverside, the Hornets could pull off an upset. Fullerton forward Bob Terry (20.3 points a game) and Garry Hunter (17.1) are in the top 10 in career scoring at Fullerton. The winner will play either Los Angeles Trade Tech or Santa Monica.

L.A. Harbor (18-14) at Cypress (20-10), 7 p.m.--The Chargers have struggled to play a solid game start to finish all season. The winner gets a date with Palomar or College of the Canyons.

Golden West (14-18) at Antelope Valley (19-12), 7 p.m.--Golden West travels to face the leading scorer in the state, D.J. Jackson, who averaged 30 points per game.Golden West had all five starters average in double figures, led by Mark Johnson (18.4). The winner faces Santa Barbara or Imperial Valley.

Orange Coast (11-18) at Long Beach (27-5), 7:30 p.m.--The Pirates have the unfortunate task of going against Long Beach, the South Coast Conference champions and runners-up in the state a year ago. OCC will rely on sophomore guards Agustin Heredia (15 points a game) and Jason Quinn (six assists). The winner plays L.A. Valley or Oxnard.