After Laurels, SCC Coach Needs Rest

Southern California College clinched its first Golden State Athletic Conference women’s basketball title with a 63-58 victory Tuesday at Fresno Pacific. But Coach Russ Davis was a little too weary to fully enjoy the moment.

“It hasn’t hit me because I’m so stinking tired,” Davis said Wednesday, after traveling home on a bus late Tuesday. “I never thought we’d be 10-0 in conference.

“Obviously, this is a good basketball team. But the thing I love about them is that they’re better people than they are players.”

SCC (24-5, 10-0) earned a first-round bye and home court advantage throughout the GSAC tournament. The GSAC semifinals are March 6 and the final is March 11. The winner of the GSAC tournament earns a berth to the NAIA nationals.

“It feels pretty awesome to win conference,” said Davis, in his second year at SCC. “I didn’t think we’d get it going this fast.”

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Injury update: The Vanguards have been without reserve guard Kathy Hernando, a freshman from Beaumont, for the last three games. She tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a recent practice and is out for the season.

Concordia’s baseball team suffered a minor injury in only its fourth game when ace pitcher, sophomore right-hander Jeff Sybesma, left Tuesday’s start because of a twinge in his elbow.

Sybesma gave up a leadoff single in the top of the first against Albertson (Idaho), then came out of the game after a pickoff throw to first. It has been diagnosed as elbow tendinitis and Sybesma should return in one week.

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Notes: SCC’s Alana Kempton was named the GSAC women’s basketball player of the week after averaging 25 points in two victories.

Kempton made 13 of 17 three-pointers last week, including an eight-for-nine performance in a 77-41 victory over Cal Baptist to set a conference record for single-game three-point percentage (88.9%).

Chapman women’s swimmer Nicole Mardaresco set school records last week in the 50 freestyle (25.17 seconds) and 100 backstroke (1 minute 6.13 seconds).

The Chapman baseball team won its first four games, scoring an average of 10 runs, before Wednesday’s 8-2 loss to Concordia. Through four games, third baseman Jason Moeller was eight for 12 with six runs batted in and first baseman Robert O’Brien was eight for 13 with six RBIs.