SCOREBOARD / FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMENTS FROM AREA EVENTS

PREPS

Jim Beckenhauer, who led the Crescenta Valley football team to a 12-2 record and the Southern Section Division II semifinals, resigned as coach of the Falcons last week after eight seasons.

Beckenhauer, 44, said he wanted to take a break from coaching. He will continue to teach physical education at the school and did not rule out a return to coaching.

Bob Canfield, the Crescenta Valley boys’ athletic director, will accept applications for the coaching position until March 1. A coach is expected to be hired by the end of March.

Several Glendale-area Southern Section soccer teams are in the midst of outstanding seasons.

The St. Francis boys’ team improved to 11-1-2 and 5-0-1 in the Del Rey League with a 4-0 victory over Pius X. Tim Durkin led the Golden Knights with two goals.

The La Canada boys’ team is 10-2-1 and 3-0 in the Rio Hondo League after a 7-0 victory over South Pasadena. La Canada has won 39 consecutive league games.

The Glendale boys’ team earned its fourth consecutive shutout and extended its winning streak to seven games with a 6-0 nonleague victory over Crescenta Valley. Glendale entered the week 7-2-1.

The La Canada girls’ team is 10-2-3 and 2-0 in the Rio Hondo League after defeating South Pasadena, 1-0, on a goal by Patty Carroll.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Glendale College men’s basketball team entered Wednesday night’s Western State Conference Southern Division game against Santa Monica with a 12-10 record. The Vaqueros are 4-2 in the WSC and 1-1 record in WSC divisional play.

Glendale lost its division opener against College of the Canyons, 87-67. Kenny Collins, the state’s leading free-throw shooter at 91.7%, led Glendale with 17 points.

The Vaqueros evened their division record with an 84-65 victory over West Los Angeles. Will Burr made seven of the Vaqueros’ 13 three-point baskets and finished with 25 points.

Glendale Coach Brian Beauchemin said his team is preparing for a run at a state title. Thirty-six teams will earn berths to the state tournament.

“We need to finish strong, but our strength of schedule has to be highly in our favor,” Beauchemin said. “We played the top three (teams) in the state and nine of the top 15 in the South.”

Glendale, which has seven games left in the regular season, plays at Bakersfield on Saturday.

The Glendale women’s team improved to 9-11 with a 74-67 Western State Conference victory over Pierce.

Stephanie Ball, Denise Dal Ponte and Suzie Woo of Glendale combined for 49 points to help offset the 29-point performance of Pierce’s Yolanda Davidian, a former Times’ All-Glendale player from La Canada High.

Glendale, under Coach Kathy Pudelko, continues its WSC schedule Saturday at Bakersfield.

COLLEGES

The Occidental College men’s basketball team entered the week 10-5 and 3-1 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Assn. after a victory over Pomona Pitzer and a defeat by La Verne.

Occidental’s 67-57 victory over Pomona Pitzer came against the top-ranked team in the Division III West region. Senior forward Phil Engebretsen scored 20 points and had eight rebounds for Occidental. Sandy Brown added 16 points.

Junior center Blair Slattery scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds during Occidental’s 78-76 loss at La Verne.

Occidental plays host to Redlands Saturday and Cal Lutheran Wednesday.

The Occidental women’s team earned its first SCIAC victories last week, improving to 8-7 and 2-2 in conference play.

Occidental defeated Claremont, 64-49, behind the play of Stephanie Francis, who had 17 points. Tanisha White scored 18 points and had six rebounds during the Tigers’ 68-47 victory over Whittier.

Senior guard Michelle Pratt suffered a knee injury against Claremont and will be out for the rest of the season.

The Tigers play host to La Verne on Friday and at Cal Lutheran on Tuesday.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Tim Durkin, St. Francis--Durkin had two goals during the Golden Knights’ 2-1 victory over St. Paul and two goals during a 4-0 win over Pius X.

Durkin, a senior, helped St. Francis take an 11-1-2 record and 5-0 Del Rey League mark into Wednesday’s match against St. John Bosco. The Golden Knights play at Bosco Tech on Saturday.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Betty Lu, Occidental--Lu, a sophomore guard from Napa, scored 16 points and had six assists and five rebounds during the Tigers’ 64-49 victory over Claremont.

Lu had 16 points, six steals, six assists and five rebounds during Occidental’s 68-47 victory over Whittier.

FOR THE RECORD

Roshanda Ervin, who was selected high school athlete of the week last week, was incorrectly identified as a player for Glendale. Ervin is a junior at Hoover.

HOW THE AREA’S TOP PREP BASKETBALL TEAMS FARED

Rank, Team, Record Entering Week and Synopsis

BOYS

1. Crescenta Valley: 16-2; The Falcons ended Muir’s 24-game Pacific League winning streak with a 74-72 victory. Crescenta Valley, Muir and Pasadena entered the week tied for first place. Crescenta Valley plays Pasadena tonight. 2. La Canada: 15-5; Charlie Petit scored 18 points as the Spartans improved to 5-0 in the Rio Hondo League with an 86-48 victory over Temple City. La Canada plays South Pasadena on Friday. 3. St. Francis: 11-7: Dave Craig scored 21 points as St. Francis remained unbeaten at 6-0 in the Del Rey League with a 46-45 victory over Pius X. The Golden Knights play Bosco Tech on Friday. 4. Glendale: 12-7; Ramon Jose scored 14 points for the Dynamiters during a 64-40 loss to powerful Pasadena. Glendale plays Arcadia on Friday. 5. Marshall: 7-5; The Barristers, under first-year Coach Alec Rivers, are tied for first place in the Northern Conference with a 5-1 record. Marshall plays Wilson on Friday.

GIRLS

1. Crescenta Valley: 13-3; The Falcons, under first-year Coach Marc Ward, improved to 5-0 in the Pacific League with a 67-43 victory over Muir. Crescenta Valley plays Pasadena today. 2. La Canada: 12-8; Melissa Lord scored 28 points during a 70-22 victory over Temple City that improved the Spartans’ record to 4-1 in the Rio Hondo League. La Canada plays South Pasadena on Friday. 3. Flintridge Sacred Heart: 13-4; The Tologs opened Sunshine League play with a 61-54 victoryover St. Genevieve. Flintridge Sacred Heart plays today against Immaculate Heart.4. Hoover: 7-10; The Tornadoes improved to 3-2 in the Pacific League with a 44-39 victory over Arcadia. Hoover plays Muir today. 5. Flintridge Prep: 11-4; The Rebels defeated Westridge, 65-18, to improve to 7-1 in the Prep League. Rankings according to Times Glendale sportswriters’ poll.