OCC Players Avoid Disciplinary Action After Incident

An incident in the aftermath of a men’s basketball game between Orange Coast College and Grossmont will not result in disciplinary action against Pirate players or coaches, Orange Coast Athletic Director Jane Hildgendorf said Monday.

Players from both teams had to be restrained from pushing and shoving during postgame handshakes Saturday after Orange Coast defeated Grossmont, 98-88. Hildgendorf said Orange Coast players became agitated when Grossmont players remained in the middle of the court during pregame introductions.

Four players received technical fouls during the game, which Hildgendorf said was marked by physical contact and trash-talking. Emotions were still running high at game’s end when the shoving began, but no punches were thrown, she said.

“We agreed that what happened was unfortunate, but it wasn’t any situation that coaches or players should be suspended,” Hildgendorf said.

CHAPMAN ON A STREAK

The Chapman men’s basketball team is off to one of the best starts in school history, so it’s not too early for Coach Mike Bokosky to think in terms of the postseason.

“Every game is like a playoff game for us,” he said.

Chapman (9-1), a Division III independent, could put itself in the front-runner spot for an at-large berth in the Division III regional playoffs if it is successful at 2 p.m. Saturday against Cal Lutheran. The Panthers, who have won four in a row, already have victories over some of the area’s most competitive Division III teams, including Whittier, Occidental, La Verne and Claremont. Their only loss was to Concordia, Minn., at the Redlands tournament.

Anything short of a total collapse the rest of the season should keep Chapman in the hunt.

But there is still reason to be cautious.

Under Coach Rich Rider, Chapman began the 1981-82 season 9-1, but finished 15-11.

The season before that, the Panthers started 10-0, but wound up 18-9.

This year may be different. Chapman has a good mix of veteran players and a handful of underclassmen, all of whom worked on their own during the off-season to get better. Unlike Division I or II programs, Division III programs cannot host off-season or summer workout classes.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have most of this group together for several years,” said Bokosky, who is in his eighth season and has a record of 108-75. “Any coach would love that, and they’re all good people.”

Senior guard Tim Werdel (14.1 points), junior guards Matt Poutsma (8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds) and Greg Vecchione (5.2 assists) and junior swingman Mike Gartner (10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds) are the veterans in the four-guard starting lineup. Sophomore Brian VonDerahe (9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds) is the lone post player.

The Panthers have also gotten good contributions off the bench from senior guard Sammy Bell and freshmen guards Brian George and Ryan Keller. Defense has been a strong point.

“Some years you don’t get the full potential out of your players and you don’t know where you failed,” Bokosky said. “This year, it seems like we are getting the potential out of them. We’re not doing anything different, so it must be something with the team.”

SOCCER COACHES QUIT

Ray Haas and Greg Morales have resigned as soccer coaches at Cypress and Concordia, respectively.

Haas, 59, who had double bypass heart surgery last year, said he was stepping down as coach of the Cypress women’s team for health reasons. He has been at the school for 33 years, the last 10 as soccer coach. He won two state titles and had a record of 205-14-18. Previously, he coached wrestling, where he produced 16 state individual champions and 57 All-Americans.

Morales, 28, said he quit as coach of the Concordia men’s team to spend more time with his family. Before the 2000 season began, Morales quipped that “we’re done having terribly down years.” But the Eagles went 3-16 in the Golden State Athletic Conference this fall and were 6-34 overall in his two seasons at the helm.

TITANS AWAIT CASTLETON

Coach Donny Daniels expects his Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball team to get a boost when point guard David Castleton becomes academically eligible.

Daniels had hoped that Castleton, a transfer from Orange Coast College, would be available to play Saturday against Baylor, but Castleton can’t become eligible before Sunday, according to a rule clarification issued Monday.

Athletic department spokesman Mel Franks said the school’s final examination schedule doesn’t end until Saturday, and Castleton can’t gain eligibility before the following day. Barring other problems, Castleton would be eligible for the game at Eastern Kentucky Dec. 20.

Castleton has practiced with the team during the first semester.

“It will help to have another guard in the rotation,” Daniels said. “That way [Kevin] Richardson and [Ryan] Dillon can play more rested and be more efficient.”

Richardson played 38 minutes and Dillon 36 in the Titans’ loss to Wyoming last weekend. Dillon has averaged 34 minutes, Richardson 31 this season.

“Richardson has been having to play out of position at point guard,” Daniels said. “We expect him to be more effective in the No. 2 or No. 3 spots.”

Titan guard Brandon Campbell is still sidelined because of a sprained knee. He isn’t likely to return before the Northern Arizona game Dec. 30.

The Titans are 1-5, with their only victory coming against College of Notre Dame, an NAIA team.

IGLESIAS DRAFTED

Cal State Fullerton softball player Brenda Iglesias was selected by the Florida Wahoos in the fourth round of the Women’s Professional Softball League draft of seniors.

Iglesias, who played at Baldwin Park Sierra Vista High, was the 13th player selected.

The league, created in 1997, consists of two teams based in Akron, Ohio, and two in Plant City, Fla. Teams play a 40-game schedule beginning in June.

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Staff writers Lon Eubanks, Paul McLeod and Peter Yoon contributed to this report.

If you have an item or idea for the College Report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us atpaul.mcleod@latimes.com. or lon.eubanks@latimes.com.