Matadors Duck Chance at Braswell Departing

One potential threat to Cal State Northridge in its effort to keep basketball Coach Bobby Braswell was averted Tuesday when Oregon Coach Jerry Green pulled out of the running for the job at Louisiana State. Had Green left, Braswell, a former Duck assistant, would have been a candidate for the Oregon job.

Green said last week there are other jobs he is pursuing.

Matadors honored: The Northridge basketball team handed out team awards at its postseason banquet this week.

Keith Higgins was named most valuable player and most inspirational player; Derrick Higgins was defensive player of the year; Tom Samson was most improved player; and Matt Andrews won the newly titled Pete Cassidy Coaches’ Award for overall contribution to the program.

Starting next season, the MVP award will be called the Andre Chevalier Award, in honor of the Matadors’ all-time leading scorer.

Winning tandem: Paul Holtby of Braemar Country Club and Roger Dunn of Lake Lindero Country Club teamed to win the Southern California PGA Triple Play Championship with a 27-hole score of 14-under par 94 at Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club.

Holtby and Dunn split $1,350.

Mike O’Keefe of El Cariso Golf Course and Chris Harvey of River Ridge Golf Course tied for fifth at 10-under par. They shared $735.

Running Utes: Sarah Ellis of La Canada High, 1996 state Division IV cross-country champion, has committed to Brigham Young.

Ellis is the second state champion from the region to commit to BYU this year. Andrea Neipp of Highland, state Division II champion, committed last month.

Openings: Marc Ward has resigned as girls’ basketball coach at Crescenta Valley High after five seasons and four Pacific League championships.

Last month, John Goffredo stepped down after 19 years as boys’ coach. Jim Smiley, a longtime assistant to Goffredo, is the front-runner for the boys’ job.

Stepping up: Crespi High has named Dick Dornan as boys’ basketball coach.

Dornan led the Celts’ junior varsity to a 20-3 record last season and its first league championship since 1985. Dornan, who compiled a 44-24 record in three years, replaces Pat Yerina, who resigned.

Strong week: Northridge outside hitter Chad Strickland received his second award this week. Strickland, AVCA national player of the week, was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation player of the week Wednesday. He had 51 kills and hit .419 in MPSF matches against Stanford and Pacific.