Hankinson Convalesces by the Book

The Master’s College basketball Coach Mel Hankinson has been bedridden since doctors determined in October that he had diverticulitis, an infection of the colon, but he has been far from inactive.

While confined to his bed with the intense pain and fever caused by the infection, Hankinson, a self-described Type A personality, has finished writing three books on basketball: “Developing Championship Thinking,” “Bench Coaching--Defensive Strategy” and “The Numbered Motion Offense.”

All were in the form of raw notes before his illness and each is at least 150 pages, said Hankinson, who has written several other books.

“I thought I could lie on my back and rest, but I just couldn’t do it,” Hankinson said. “If I’m laying awake on my back at 2:30 in the morning, I might as well do something. I guess they need to put me in a coma to get my brain to shut down.”

Hankinson is taking antibiotics but he might require surgery. If so, he would be unable to return to coaching until at least January.

HAPPY ENDING

A season that began under troubling circumstances ended in personal triumph for Deena Drossin of Arkansas in the NCAA cross-country championships in Bloomington, Ind., on Monday.

Drossin, a 19-year-old sophomore from Agoura High, timed 17 minutes 12.7 seconds over the 5,000-meter course to finish second behind junior Carole Zajac (17:01.9) of Villanova.

Led by Drossin, the Razorbacks (130 points) placed second behind Villanova (123) in the team standings.

“I really hadn’t set an individual goal going into the race,” Drossin said. “I was more focused on the team aspect of the race. I was hoping to finish in the top 10.”

Drossin’s performance was satisfying for two reasons. First, she had been sidelined early this season because of a strained arch in her right foot and then by an ulcer. Second, she had been Arkansas’ No. 1 runner most of her freshman season before being sidelined for two weeks because of a stress fracture in her left foot. The missed training resulted in a frustrating 44th-place finish in the NCAA championships.

“It was nice to end the season with a good race,” Drossin said.

ADD CROSS-COUNTRY

Jean Harvey of Arizona concluded her first cross-country season at the Division I level with a 24th-place finish that brought with it All-American honors. Harvey, the 1991 state junior college champion for Antelope Valley, led the Wildcats to a 14th-place finish.

WELCOME TIDINGS

The Northridge men’s basketball team, victim of a long string of misfortune, finally received some good news. Victor Camper, a 6-foot-8 recruit from Long Beach, could have his eligibility restored sooner than expected. Camper is academically ineligible until he passes a junior college math course.

It first was believed that Feb. 1 was the soonest he could become eligible. However, Coach Pete Cassidy recently learned that Camper could be cleared to play as soon as Dec. 19, in the team’s home opener against Cal State Fullerton.

IT’S A DATE

It seemed like an obvious matchup. Northridge was rated high among Division I baseball teams last spring and Cal Lutheran was top-ranked in the NAIA.

However, though close in proximity, the teams never met on the field.

Northridge, a Division I independent, feared that scheduling another NAIA opponent would adversely affect its chances of an NCAA playoff invitation; NAIA member Christ College was already on the Matadors’s schedule.

Strength of schedule is a factor in determining postseason bids and Division I programs are downgraded for playing teams--even those highly regarded--from lower levels of competition.

But now Northridge is part of the Western Athletic Conference, and as long as the Matadors perform well against conference opponents a playoff berth should be easier to come by.

In light of that, Northridge Coach Bill Kernen called Cal Lutheran Coach Rich Hill with an offer to play. The game is set for Feb. 24 at Matador Field.

Staff writers Kennedy Cosgrove, Mike Hiserman and John Ortega contributed to this notebook.