By Greg Murphy
Los Angeles Valley College won its second tournament in two weeks and
moved into a tie for #2 in the COA/CCCWBCA State Poll. Mt. San Antonio
College remained #1 for the 2nd consecutive week while Lassen College
suffered its first loss and fell into the #2 tie with Valley.
LA Valley made the trek to Merced College and took the tourney with 3
double-digit wins and nabbed the best record (6-0) and longest winning
streak (6 games) for the state. Reedley improved to #19 after losing the
title game. Meanwhile, host Merced fell from the slate after dropping
their semifinal match with LA Valley.
In the Tourney of the Week, two-time defending COA champion #8 Ventura
College got its first win of the season and snowballed the success into
the Glendale Community College Tournament championship. San Diego Mesa
College took the runner-up spot. Fullerton College nearly sent Ventura to
the third-place game, 65-60, and was rewarded with a #20 ranking.
#12 Riverside Community College only dropped three spots after going 1-2
at the Long Beach City College tournament. Los Angeles Trade-Technical
College took the title and reentered the poll at #17 after two squeakers.
Imperial Valley College continues to impress the voting panel after taking
2nd place, 80-76 score in the championship game.
After #14 San Joaquin Delta College took care of Lassen, Cosumnes River
College upset Delta to take its own tournament. Chabot College enjoyed
the consolation championship championship.
#4 Contra Costa College asserted its position by defeating #10 Butte
College, 68-62 in the two-round Butte tourney. Both teams benefitted as
both made small improvements in their rankings from last week, two and one
spots, respectively. #21 College of Marin was the only team to win all
three days at the Fresno round robin event. Fresno City College and West
Los Angeles College won two of the three days. Fresno fell from the state
ranks.
Cuesta College enters the poll at #25 after sweeping all-comers at the
8-team College of the Sequoias tourney. Yuba College placed second. The
second day of the tournament proved to be the most exciting with all four
games having a single-possession difference in the score. Cuesta was
nearly sent to the third-place game, but eked by the host by a single
point, 57-56. Cuesta's Heidi Wittstrom, a 5'10" freshman guard from Paso
Robles, was awarded Most Valuable Player.
In last week's Games of the Week, College of the Siskiyous upset Solano
Community College 73-48. Solano dropped to #24 while Siskiyous rose to
#13. Mt. San Antonio College held onto their #1 ranking by the slimmest
of margins as #4 College of the Canyons took them into overtime. Mt. SAC
wound up with the win and successful defense of their ranking, 68-64.
Tournament of the Week: Ventura College plays host to four of the top
eight teams Friday through Sunday. A possible rematch with Mt. SAC could
happen in the title game.
North Region Game of the Week: Undefeated #7 Sierra College (4-0) puts
its perfect season on the line as they travel to #10 Butte (3-2) on
Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
South Region Game of the Week: #9 Cerritos College makes the short trip
to #20 Fullerton College Saturday at 5:00 PM
