Sports

PYRAMID SCHEME

Tickets for Long Beach State men’s basketball games at the Pyramid--the new $19-million campus arena--are a hot commodity.

The 49ers’ home opener is against Detroit Mercy on Nov. 30, but school officials say ticket sales in the “gold” sections have surpassed the 50% mark. As of last week, 515 of the 1,024 seats in that section have been sold.

The total surpasses last season’s mark of 490 in the on-campus Gold Mine gym and is the highest sales figure in more than two decades. The Pyramid will seat about 5,000 on opening night but is designed to eventually accommodate 7,000.

Long Beach State also offers “platinum” and “silver” season ticket plans. Proceeds from the Pyramid’s preferred seating package will benefit the 49er Athletic Assn. and its efforts to fund scholarships for all Long Beach State athletic programs.

Here’s a look at the seating plans, which do not include the $185 cost for a season ticket:

* Platinum. It offers preferred parking and floor-level, chair-back courtside seating with table space and food service. An annual minimum donation of $2,449 to the 49er Athletic Assn. is required for the first seat and $2,000 for each additional seat.

* Gold. It offers preferred parking and chair-back seating. An annual donation of $249 is required for the first seat and $200 for each additional seat.

* Silver. This level requires an annual donation of $149 and earns access to bleacher seating.

The school is also offering an All-Sports Pass for $300. The pass, available to alumni at $250, provides admission to all Long Beach home athletic events, including men’s basketball.

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The eighth-ranked Long Beach State women’s volleyball team will open defense of its Big West Conference title with matches at Utah State Friday and Saturday.

The 49ers (4-2) finished third in the 12-team UC Santa Barbara tournament with a 15-8, 15-3, 17-15, 15-7 victory over the University of San Diego on Saturday. Brita Schwerm had a career-high 27 kills and Nichele Burton had 26.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Long Beach City College and Rio Hondo football teams opened the season with victories. Cerritos and Compton start their seasons Saturday.

Long Beach is coming off a 9-2 season--the school’s best record in nearly three decades--and is third in the state junior college rankings. Receivers Joel Rosborough and Jeremy Calhoun, and linemen Greg Jones, Keith Hopkins and Doug Loeser return on offense.

The defense boasts returning linebackers DeMarco Ford, Kasun Charles and Marlon Briser, safeties Richard Washington and Richie Ashlie and lineman Matt Reynolds. Naeem Mills played on the offensive line last year. Cornerback Carl Marshall is a converted running back.

The Vikings coasted to a 35-14 victory over Golden West at home Saturday.

Quarterback Neo Agoa, a former Long Beach Poly High standout who transferred from Utah, completed 16 of 30 passes for 209 yards and also scored on a seven-yard touchdown run. Patrick Norris rushed for 94 yards in 15 carries and two touchdowns. Long Beach visits Saddleback Saturday night.

Rio Hondo edged San Diego Mesa, 14-13, in a nonconference game Saturday. Quarterback Joel Duarte from St. Paul High is one of six returning players from last year’s 3-7 team.

Offensive lineman Robert Graves was an All-Foothill conference selection in 1993.

The team also includes tight end Jesse Rafanan and lineman Juan Jimenez of California High, who are returning to football after a layoff.

Rafanan, the 1990 Whitmont League Player of the Year, transferred to Rio Hondo from East L.A. after missing most of the 1991 season because of a broken leg. Jimenez sat out last season after playing in 1992.

Cerritos Coach Frank Mazzotta needs three wins to reach 100 for his career. Mazzotta, in his 16th season as a coach, has a record of 97-64-4.

The Falcons will play host to Orange Coast Saturday night. Cerritos, ninth in the state rankings, returns 14 starters from last season’s 7-3-1 team.

Charles Ephriam and Taliv Tryalor return at running back. Ian McCutcheon, Damon Adams, Jim Dewald are back on the offensive line. Derek Winston and Andrew Hosley are returning cornerbacks. Ramsey Alexander and Skinner Avinger played safety last season. Freshman quarterback Gary Tessitore is a transfer from Utah State who played at Fontana High.

Compton will open its season at home against Victor Valley Saturday afternoon at 1.

The Tartars return 13 starters from last season’s team, which finished 2-8. Blaze Austin, Jaschon Ramseur, Deon Hampon, Jemel Ford, Terrence O’Bannon and Tony Lock are returning All-Western State Conference selections.

OVERACHIEVERS

The Lynwood High girls’ volleyball team defeated St. Margaret’s, 15-13, to win the Artesia tournament title after finishing 6-1 in pool play. Glenn beat Valley Christian, 15-8, in the consolation championship.

Lynwood’s Natalie Flores and Angie Baca were named to the all-tournament team. Other all-tournament selections included Christine Stiglbauer of Cerritos, Amber Oliver of Valley Christian and Diana Garcia of Mayfair. . . .

Bell Gardens High was honored at the third annual Southern Section/Rams Cavalcade of Champions Awards before the Rams’ game against the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 4.

The program recognizes the top 10 Southern Section schools for achievements based upon playoff competition during the 1993-94 school year. Winners were determined by a point system, which provides for five points for a division championship, three for a second-place finish, two for a semifinal appearance and one for fourth-place finish.

Bell Gardens, which won the Division III soccer title and advanced to the Division III football and Division II water polo semifinals, finished ninth with 11 points. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, Mater Dei, Riverside Poly and Sunny Hills tied for first with 13.