SCOREBOARD / FACTS, FIGURES AND COMMENTS FROM AREA EVENTS : PREPS

The San Marino boys’ cross-country team and six individual San Gabriel Valley athletes will compete in the state meet Saturday in Fresno.

San Marino placed third in the Southern Section Division III championships at Mt. San Antonio College last weekend. Richard Chisholm was the Titans’ top finisher in 15 minutes 57 seconds.

Annie Ebiner of St. Lucy’s won the girls’ Division III championship in 18:41. Other girls qualifying for state include Mary Nwaoguakor of Muir (19:10), Allison Twist of San Marino (19:19) and Tracy Maxwell (20.24), who led Maranatha to the 4-A championship.

Jon Liu of Temple City (15:57) and Steve Garcia of Maranatha (16:46) also qualified.

*

The South Pasadena water polo team played Costa Mesa Wednesday for the Division III championship.

In girls’ tennis championship matches, St. Lucy’s lost to Harvard-Westlake in Division III, and Pasadena Poly beat Valencia in Division IV.

*

Three San Gabriel Valley girls’ volleyball teams played in the state tournament on Tuesday.

In Division III, South Hills was defeated by Exeter and La Canada was defeated by Bakersfield Stockdale. Maranatha lost to Bakersfield Centennial in Division IV.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Mt. San Antonio College and Citrus College football teams will play for local bragging--and recruiting--rights when they meet Dec. 4 in the Southern California Bowl at Citrus.

Mt. SAC (8-2) won a share of the Mission Conference Northern Division championship with a 28-3 victory over Pasadena City College on Saturday.

Sophomore running back Leonard Green gained 75 yards and scored two touchdowns, and Ryan Merrill completed 14 of 19 passes for 169 yards and connected with Steve McHenry on two touchdown pass plays. Molech Blythe and Marcus Alridge had 13 and 12 tackles, respectively.

Serrell Rollins gained 157 yards and Art Jimenez kicked a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter for PCC (3-7).

Citrus (8-2) earned its bowl berth with a 49-14 victory over College of the Desert. Citrus intercepted three passes and had six sacks. Kirk Compton gained 154 yards and scored two touchdowns.

*

The Mt. SAC men’s cross-country team finished second at the state meet last weekend in Fresno. Angel Martinez of Mt. SAC finished 14th in 20:17.

COLLEGES

Brad Rusche, a freshman from Brea who played two games for the Cal Poly Pomona soccer team before a congenital heart disorder forced him to end his career, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 18.

Rusche, a defender, played against Colorado School of Mines and Claremont before it was determined that his heart condition would prevent him from continuing his athletic career.

*

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Southwest regional by second-ranked Cal State Bakersfield, 16-14, 15-3, 15-3.

Heather Mathews had 11 kills for the Broncos. Bakersfield advanced to the NCAA championships with a victory over Cal State Los Angeles.

*

The Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball team opened with victories over Southern California Christian and Biola to win the Bronco tournament.

Pomona beat SCC, 123-36, a school record for margin of victory. Matt Mitchell scored 15 points for the Broncos in their 67-63 victory over Biola. Pomona opens play in the Seattle Pacific tournament Friday against Western Washington.

Pomona women’s Coach Darlene May is still searching for her 500th victory after the Broncos beat Biola and lost to Grand Canyon in the championship game of the Bronco Classic last weekend.

Mildred Conston of Pomona scored 18 points in a 67-54 loss to Grand Canyon that left May with 499 victories. Pomona, ranked fourth in Division II, plays host to San Diego Friday and St. Cloud State on Saturday.

*

The Azusa Pacific men’s basketball team, ranked seventh in National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics, plays host to defending NCAA Division II national champion Cal State Bakersfield on Friday night.

Ronnie Winbush scored 25 points for Azusa Pacific in its season-opening 112-62 victory over Bethany. Scott Day scored a game-high 21 points in the Cougars’ 100-74 victory over Christian Heritage.

Bakersfield had a 34-game win streak end Saturday in a 75-73 loss to San Francisco State.

PREP ATHLETE OF WEEK

Annie Ebiner, St. Lucy’s--Ebiner, a sophomore, won the girls’ Division III championship at last weekend’s Southern Section championships at Mt. SAC. Ebiner covered the course in 18:41 to qualify for this weekend’s state championships at Fresno.

COLLEGE ATHLETE OF WEEK

Ryan Merrill, Mt. SAC--Merrill completed 14 of 19 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mounties to a 28-3 victory over Pasadena City College. Mt. SAC (8-2) will play Citrus in the Southern California Bowl on Dec. 4 .

MISCELLANY

The San Gabriel Valley Kids Wrestling Club is staging sign-ups each Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the small gym at Arroyo High in El Monte. The program, open to boys and girls ages 5 to 14, teaches fundamentals and offers the opportunity to compete in tournaments. Information (818) 338-6864. . . . The Glendora Youth Volleyball Club is staging registration for boys and girls ages 7 to 17 for a program that begins Jan. 8. Information: (818) 969-1156.

CALENDAR

A health and fitness clinic conducted by Olympic decathlete Dave Johnson and weightlifting champion Bob Wieland will be conducted on Dec. 11 at the Spirit of America Health and Fitness Center in Monrovia.

The two-hour clinic will stress training techniques, nutrition and motivation. Information: (818) 301-7878.

*

The Foothill-Citrus Umpires Assn. will meet Jan. 23 at Walnut High.

Experience is not necessary; training will be provided. Umpires are paid $46 for one-umpire, non-varsity games. Information: (818) 964-9445.