Sports

LIVIN’ LARGE

At 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, Jim Williamson is often the smallest player on the court in Loyola Marymount basketball games. But the freshman point guard from South Torrance High has been making his presence felt in a big way.

Since Williamson became a starter Jan. 15, Loyola is 3-4 after starting the season 1-11. The Lions beat Gonzaga and Portland last weekend at Gersten Pavilion to win back-to-back West Coast Conference games for the first time since the 1991-92 season.

Williamson’s biggest thrill as a collegian came Friday when he made a running, four-foot hook shot with three seconds left to give Loyola an 82-80 upset over conference leader Gonzaga. It came after he had given the Lions an 80-79 lead on a three-point basket with 45 seconds left. He finished with 10 points and a game-high seven assists.

The next night, Williamson had 10 points and a game-high eight assists in a 91-79 victory over Portland. Loyola (4-15, 3-5 in the WCC) plays at Portland (11-12, 4-4) tonight and Gonzaga (15-5, 7-1) on Saturday.

Despite his lack of experience, Williamson has been doing a good job of distributing the ball--all five starters scored in double figures Saturday against Portland--and helping Loyola cut down on turnovers. He has 45 assists and only 17 turnovers in conference play.

And here’s something for stat freaks to ponder. In games Williamson has started and scored in double figures, Loyola is 3-0.

ATTRACTING A CROWD

The number of four-year colleges recruiting El Camino College forward Joe Zaletel continues to grow.

USC and Cal State Fullerton, two teams in need of a scorer, have already offered scholarships to Zaletel. Washington State has talked to him. And now Kansas appears interested in the 6-7 sophomore, who ranks second in the state with a 29-point scoring average.

Zaletel said he recently talked with a Kansas assistant after the Jayhawks requested a videotape of an El Camino game.

“It has taken me by surprise,” Zaletel said. “I wasn’t expecting any kind of recognition like this.”

The play of the former Torrance High standout, who set an El Camino record with a 50-point game last month, has been the bright spot during an otherwise forgettable season.

The Warriors brought a 5-19 record, 1-5 in the South Coast Conference, into Wednesday’s game at Mt. San Antonio College. Harbor routed El Camino, 120-85, Saturday despite a game-high 30 points by Zaletel, who has carried the load on a team weakened by injury, ineligibility and defection since last summer.

“It’s been really frustrating,” Zaletel said. “Last summer we had one of the nicest teams I had ever played on. It’s been a big turnaround.”

RECRUITING NEWS

The emerging Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team signed two prep seniors to letters of intent last week, but lost a recruit when Torrance High’s Vika Malu changed her mind and signed with Pepperdine. Malu, a 6-1 middle blocker, had given Loyola an unwritten commitment last fall.

That left the Lions with a recruiting class of Tracy Holman, a 5-11 setter from West Torrance, and Sara Noriega, a 6-2 outside hitter from Ulysses High in Kansas. Holman also is a standout basketball player and had 27 points and seven steals Saturday in West’s 51-42 victory over South Torrance.

Some think Noriega, an all-Kansas selection, could contend for a starting spot as a freshman despite the fact that Loyola returns its entire lineup from last season’s 23-7 team that finished second in the WCC.

The addition of Holman gives Loyola five former South Bay prep standouts on its roster. The others are junior Robin Ortgiesen (Mira Costa) and freshmen Suzanne Radcliffe, Kim Blankenship (Torrance) and Tate Medley (Mira Costa). All but Medley were starters for Coach Steve Stratos last season.

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Serra linebackers Milford Kinnard and Cary Martin will play college football in the Silver State. Kinnard, a South Bay all-star, signed with Nevada Las Vegas. Martin signed with Nevada, located in Reno.

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Hawthorne defensive back Omarr Morgan, The Times’ 1993 South Bay back of the year, signed with Utah.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

With most of the boys’ basketball races already decided, the Pioneer League has provided one of the few suspenseful finishes in the area.

First-place Centennial (7-2) controls its destiny, but Torrance (6-3) can gain a share of the title if it beats South Torrance and El Segundo upsets Centennial in league finales tonight.

Torrance stayed in contention by rallying for a 74-73 victory over host West Torrance on Tuesday. The Tartars erased a 69-66 deficit in the last 1:40 and hung on when West’s Ryan Beatty missed one of three free throws after being fouled on a three-point shooting attempt with seven seconds left. Beatty led all scorers with 30 points.

SUNKIST ENTRIES

Several of the area’s top sprinters and hurdlers are expected to compete in the Sunkist Invitational track meet Feb. 19 at the Sports Arena.

Tai-Ne Gibson and Felicia Williams of Morningside are entered in a strong girls’ 50-meter field. The boys’ 50 includes Kaaron Conwright of Westchester and Leguion Ulrich of Gardena.

Rori Kelly of Westchester and Nicole Thomas of Morningside will compete in the girls’ 50 hurdles.

Serra running back Ricky Boyer is entered in the boys’ 50 for football players. Boyer, a junior, is grouped in the same six-man heat with two USC recruits--Bishop Amat running back Rodney Sermons and Muir defensive back Ken Haslip.

RECORD-SETTERS

Chadwick’s basketball team has set the Southern Section record for most three-point baskets in a season, eclipsing the previous mark of 234 set by Rolling Hills in the 1989-90 season.

The Dolphins made three three-point baskets, well under their average, Tuesday in a 50-44 Prep League victory over host Pasadena Poly to raise their season total to 262. They made 17 of 47 three-pointers Saturday in a 75-44 nonleague victory over Mary Star.

Tuesday’s victory moved Chadwick (18-7, 6-1) into a first-place tie with Pasadena Poly in league play. Cameron Falck led the Dolphins with 16 points.

ALOHA SERIES

The Loyola Marymount baseball team will play five games in four days in Hawaii starting Friday. The Lions play Hawaii in three games through Sunday, then face Hawaii-Hilo in a doubleheader Monday.

Loyola (1-1) lost a nonconference game to Cal State Fullerton, 15-8, Tuesday after giving up 10 runs in the last three innings. The Lions led, 8-5, after five innings. Reliever Jesse Ibarra suffered the loss.