Finley’s Schooling Came Off the Court

Bryan Finley finally saw the light. And suddenly the future appears bright for the Canyons men’s basketball team.

Four consecutive victories have raised the Cougars’ record to 7-8 entering tonight’s Western State Conference interdivision game at Oxnard. Finley, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Saugus High, is the WSC’s scoring leader with a 21.6 average.

Finley this week was selected conference player of the week after leading Canyons to the championship of its own tournament and an interdivision victory over Santa Barbara.

Finley scored 69 points in three tournament games, including 25 in a 79-77 victory over Antelope Valley, to give the Cougars their first title in their own tournament in six years. He was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

Finley followed with a season-high 27 points in a 70-69 victory over Santa Barbara, including two free throws with one second to play to provide the margin of victory.

“I expected myself to do well this year, but I wish our team was doing a little better,” Finley said. “I didn’t expect to be the leading scorer.”

Finley has played an integral role in Canyons’ turnaround after completing one of his own.

After earning All-Foothill League honors at Saugus in 1995, Finley spent the following season at Canyons, mostly on the bench. His confidence was low and so was his effort in the classroom.

The following spring, Finley became academically ineligible and last season was forced to redshirt.

“I’m really happy because I know how hard he’s worked to fit in,” said Lee Smelser, Canyons’ coach. “I don’t know what happened, but all of a sudden a light went on and he became just as feverish in the classroom as he is on the court.”

Finley, a good student in high school, admittedly became lazy in his first year of college. Finley said his grade-point average is above 3.0.

“I didn’t take care of business and I didn’t pass a couple of classes,” Finley said.

“I know I disappointed my coaches a lot. That made me work hard to get their respect back. I think I surprised them.”

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One week after a terrifying fall to the floor, Gianandrea Marcaccini laughs about the three-point play he was unable to complete.

“The shot went in,” Marcaccini said. “They told me 20 minutes later.”

Marcaccini (6 feet 4, 190 pounds), a sophomore wing for Valley College, was fouled and injured after being submarined while making a layup against Golden West in the Desert tournament.

Doug Michelson, Valley’s coach, said he had never witnessed such a collision.

“It’ll be in my mind forever,” Michelson said.

Marcaccini was helped from the floor, immobilized on a stretcher, then carried from the arena. Marcaccini was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for a badly sprained lower back and released.

“I took two steps toward the free-throw line and had to stop,” said the Crespi graduate. “My legs were a little bit numb. I spent five days in bed, not moving at all.”

Marcaccini, who averages 12.9 points to rank second among the Monarchs, is expected to be sidelined another two weeks.

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Center Leon Brisport of Valley has kept Michelson busy this season. The coach said he is inundated with recruiting letters from Division I coaches inquiring about the 6-foot-9, 225-pound post player.

“There are about 100 schools recruiting him,” Michelson said. “Everyone wants tapes, transcripts. His inclination is to go back East.”

Brisport, a sophomore from Brooklyn, N.Y., averages a team-high 16 points and ranks fourth in the Western State Conference in rebounding at 7.7.

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Valley’s 74-65 victory at Cuesta on Saturday snapped the Cougars’ 23-game home winning streak. Valley was the last team to win at Cuesta, in 1995.

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An encouraging aspect of the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team’s 2-0 start in the Big Sky Conference is that it was accomplished with star guard Edniesha Curry in a shooting slump.

Curry, the Big Sky scoring leader at 15.8 per game, scored only 20 in the two games and shot just 27%. The freshman from Palmdale High did have 11 assists.

Several other Matadors stepped up in the victories over Portland State and Eastern Washington. Tannea Nelson scored 22 points, shooting 47%, and had 22 rebounds. Viveca Lof scored 21 points, making seven of nine shots.

Northridge (5-6, 2-0) already has surpassed its victory total of last season and has an opportunity to establish itself as a conference championship contender on its trip to Montana State and Montana this week. The Matadors face Montana State (5-7, 0-2) tonight and Big Sky favorite Montana (9-4, 2-0) on Saturday.

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Despite losing two of its past three games, The Master’s men’s basketball team is keeping Coach Bill Oates happy.

“I’m pleased with the work ethic and attitude,” Oates said. “We are a young team that’s been slowly developing during the season.”

Sophomore guard Jerome Joseph is averaging 16.7 points to lead the Mustangs (12-6 entering Wednesday’s game) in scoring and backcourt partner Joey Penberthy is averaging 14.6 points.

“Our goal is to be playing at our peak level when we go to the [NAIA Division I Midwest] regional in March in Kansas City,” Oates said.

Staff writers Vince Kowalick, Steve Henson and Fernando Dominguez contributed to this story.