Point of No Return : Hamelin’s Switch Pays Off for Antelope Valley

Michael Hamelin wanted to make the point but Coach Newton Chelette had other ideas.

After playing point guard for one season on Chelette’s Antelope Valley College men’s basketball team, and expecting to do the same this season, Hamelin was asked to become a wing in the Marauders’ three-guard offense.

The move was intended to make room at point guard for Trevor Beal, a touted freshman from Victor Valley High.

Hamelin wasn’t thrilled because that was the position he had always played, and played well, first at Gladstone High in Covina and during his junior and senior seasons at Palmdale High.

“I’m a lot more comfortable at the [point],” Hamelin said, “but I figured that I would do whatever it took to get us the Ws.”

He did plenty.

Hamelin averaged 14.8 points and still led the team in assists with 179 during the regular season, helping the Marauders to their third consecutive Foothill Conference Northern Division title.

There were players in the conference, even on his team, who scored more points.

But Hamelin’s all-around play, including 61 steals and 74.8% free-throw shooting, earned him recognition as player of the year in the division.

That’s a distinction Hamelin will try to live up to when he leads Antelope Valley (28-4), ranked No. 2 in the state, in a Southern California Regional second-round home game against Riverside (22-12) tonight at 7.

The Marauders, who set a team season record for victories, are coming off a 100-61 rout of Trade Tech in the first round Saturday and need two more victories to reach the state championships March 13-15 at San Jose State.

Chelette, whose Antelope Valley teams have never won fewer than 20 games during his eight seasons but who has never taken the Marauders to the final eight, knows that Hamelin will do his part to help accomplish that goal.

“He’s been our leader for two years,” Chelette said. “He might be the best defender of the ball I’ve ever coached.

“And it’s hard to defend him because he can score from the three-point line and he can score off the dribble.”

The prospect of shooting more often helped the 6-foot-1 Hamelin, who last season set a school record with 17 assists in a game, come to terms with the position switch.

Going into tonight’s game, he has attempted 326 shots--134 more than last season--and is shooting 50%. He has made 50 of 147 three-point shots, second on the team to guard John Burrell’s 87 of 221.

“I looked at it like I’d get more chances to put up the ball,” Hamelin said. “It really helped develop my shot a lot.”

Hamelin’s shooting gave the Marauders an added weapon and gave Chelette reason to believe, even after two early season setbacks, that the team could go far.

The Marauders started 8-3, losing to Riverside, 81-78, on Dec. 8 in the championship game of the Antelope Valley tournament but avenging the defeat 20 days later, 97-73, in the Canyons tournament. They have won 11 in a row and 20 of 21.

“Our expectations for ourselves were higher than what people thought of us,” Hamelin said.

“I think altogether we’ve done really well.”

In that respect, Hamelin has made his point.

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Junior College Basketball Southern California Regional Tournament

MEN

All games 7 p.m., unless noted

Second Round--Tonight

* No. 15 Riverside (22-12) at No. 2 Antelope Valley (28-4)

* No. 12 Mt. San Antonio (19-11) at No. 5 Ventura (26-6)

* No. 24 Compton (16-7) at No. 8 Valley (24-9), 7:30 p.m.

Third Round--Saturday

* Winners of the four third-round games advance to state championships, March 13-15 at San Jose State.

WOMEN

All games 7 p.m., unless noted

Second Round--Tonight

* No. 15 Long Beach (17-12) at No. 2 Canyons (29-4)

* No. 23 Pasadena (12-13) at No. 7 Valley (23-10), 5:30 p.m.

Third Round--Saturday

* Winners of the four third-round games advance to state championships, March 13-15 at San Jose State.