SCC Is Finally Making Some Progress
After flirting with upsets of the conference front-runners last week, Southern California College finally got over the hump Tuesday, toppling Biola, ranked ninth in the nation, 74-66, in a Golden State Athletic Conference game at SCC.
Justin McIntee scored 22 points, Terence Wilborn had 19 and Adam Dzierzynski 18 for SCC. But Coach Bill Reynolds said it was just as important that the trio spearheaded one of the team’s best defensive efforts of the season.
The victory pushed SCC’s record to 16-11, 5-4 in conference, and secured the Vanguards’ hold on fourth place in conference behind fifth-ranked Azusa Pacific (23-4, 8-1), Westmont (18-6, 8-1) and Biola (22-3, 7-2).
“We still have an opportunity to qualify for the national tournament by winning our conference tournament,” Reynolds said. “Hopefully, this will help us get some confidence and a home game in the first round of the GSAC tournament.
“Then if you can win that game and get one of those top teams at a neutral site . . . “
The GSAC tournament semifinals and final are March 7 and 10 at Whittier College. Five conference games remain, and if SCC can finish fourth or higher in conference, it will host a first-round GSAC tournament game March 4.
*
Women’s basketball: All of a sudden, the wheels have fallen off for Chapman. The Panthers were eyeing a berth in the NCAA tournament, but now those postseason hopes are fading.
Chapman lost at Christian Heritage Tuesday, 64-61, following a 65-60 road loss to SCIAC front-runner Cal Lutheran last week. The defeats helped drop Chapman to seventh in the regional rankings. Six teams from the region will make the tournament.
Chapman’s last gasp could be tonight, when it hosts UC San Diego, ranked fourth in the West Region. Chapman defeated San Diego, 62-59, Dec. 30, but lost the Jan. 17 rematch, 90-49.
*
More women’s hoops: SCC fell out of the NAIA Top 25 this week, largely due to a 91-78 nonconference loss to UC San Diego, Feb. 3. But the Vanguards remained atop the GSAC standings, winning two GSAC games to improve to 21-5, 8-0.
Heading into this week’s games, SCC center Elaine Whittemore led the conference in scoring average (16.3 points) and field-goal percentage (60%) and point guard Amee Pina led the conference in assists average (6.8) and three-pointers (53).