Cal State L.A.’s Slow Start Is All Academic

A season expected to be among the best in Cal State L.A. men’s basketball history isn’t off to a rousing start.

The Golden Eagles are 3-3 overall and split their first two California Collegiate Athletic Assn. games last weekend.

The Eagles had been ranked 13th in the preseason NCAA Division II national poll and were picked by a slim margin to win the CCAA title over Cal State San Bernardino by the coaches.

But 3-3 will do, considering that the Golden Eagles’ top player hasn’t been on the floor. Senior guard Quincy Stinson, a preseason All-American, has been ineligible because of academic difficulties.

Junior guard Ricky Smith and sophomore forward Joey Youman are also trying to regain their academic standing.

All three have taken their finals and may get word of their status today. They have been practicing and could play as soon as Sunday at home against UC Davis.

Coach Dave Yanai, in his sixth year at Cal State L.A., said not having the three has been tough but that not playing has been tougher on them.

“They had to understand that they had to take responsibility for their actions,” Yanai said. “The NCAA makes it pretty clear on how many units you need to complete and there’s not going to be any mercy from [the NCAA] or the school.

“Certainly, the pain of not being on the court has been felt by [the players]. But they have been there every day in practice and doing what they can to help this team.”

Sophomore forward Ronald Johnson has stepped up, averaging 14.7 points a game. Senior Ricky Maiden, a 6-foot-7 forward, is leading the CCAA in rebounding and blocks while averaging 10.7 points.

“What happens sometimes when you’re without players because of injuries or, in our situation, because they didn’t get it done in the classroom,

other players have a chance to surface and show

what they can do,” Yanai said. “Ricky has been a force on defense and he has also helped us offensively.”

Freshman Jonathon Levy scored 19 points Sunday against Cal State Stanislaus. Junior guard DeShon Dixon is averaging 7.8 points.

“Jonathon is going to be a very complete player for us,” Yanai said. “You don’t find too many freshmen who can step in like that and produce.”

But the Golden Eagles don’t want to go much further without a complete roster. San Bernardino, which reached the NCAA Far West Regional final last season, has won its first three league games and is off to a 6-0 start.

Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State and UC Davis also are undefeated after the first weekend of conference play.

Yanai has taken notice of San Bernardino but isn’t too worried, what with 22 league games remaining.

“I know some people thought that they were a year away and that they were reloading,” he said. “But they’ve been getting some quality play from the guys they have. They’ve won some tough road games.

“With 22 league games left, we’ll have a lot of say when this conference race ends. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to reel in some of these undefeated teams. . . .

“Athletically, this is as good a team as we’ve had in my time here. That’s all kind of good on paper but this team still has to develop the teamwork and the ability to work as a unit.

“We can be very good.”

HONORS

Basking in the glow of its first NCAA men’s soccer championship, Cal State Dominguez Hills had three players named to the Division II All-American team.

Senior forward Alex Bengard and Juan Carlos Bolanos were first-team selections. They were the leading scorers for the Toros, who won the Division II title last week with a 2-1 victory over Barry University in Miami.

Joe Cartlidge, a sophomore defender, was named to the second team. Cal Poly Pomona senior defender Trevor Persson was named to the third team.

In Division III, two Claremont-Mudd-Scripps players earned All-American status. Senior midfielder Garrett Jansma was named to the second team and sophomore defender Eric Henderson was named to the third team.

In women’s soccer, Ruth Van’t Land-Parkes of Cal Poly Pomona earned her second consecutive All-American selection. Last year, the high-scoring forward was the player of the year.

Cal Lutheran senior forward Betsy Fisch was named to the women’s third team.

UNIVERSITY DIVISION

USC, ranked second in the nation and competing Thursday in the NCAA national semifinals, had two players named to the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. Pacific All-Region team.

Junior middle blocker Jennifer Pahl and freshman outside hitter April Ross were selected.

Freshman setter Nicole Oehlman of Loyola Marymount and teammate Sarah McFarland also were named to the team, McFarland, a senior, for the third time.

UCLA senior middle blocker Elisabeth Bachman and junior outside hitter Kristee Porter were also picked for the third time. Pepperdine sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Fopma earned her first selection.

Long Beach State junior middle blocker Cheryl Weaver was named to the West Region team. It was the second such honor for Weaver, a first-team All-American last year.