'IT'S ALL PAID OFF' FOR BRACKETT.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

The dream finally has come true for Trevor Brackett from College of the Canyons. He's gone from his home in South Central Los Angeles to COC to a Division I college football scholarship, committing to Nevada last week.

``It's all paid off,'' said Brackett, a receiver who played high school football at Manual Arts and Hollywood before making daily one-hour commutes to College of the Canyons. ``I'm just so excited. I can't wait to go.''

Brackett said he almost got lost in the shuffle at Nevada when his game tapes were lost during the swirl of a new coach being hired.

``I guess they finally found the film and really liked it,'' Brackett said. ``I think it's great to go to a place with all new coaches. And I'd also like to thank (College of the Canyons coach) Chuck Lyon. He had a lot to do with all this.''

--There still are a few chances to catch the Hart-Mission Viejo football television broadcast on replay. It's on Fox Sports Net at 2 a.m. today and Fox Sports 2 at noon today. It will also be shown at noon Wednesday and at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on Fox Sports Net 2.

--Aspiring model Cheryl Stevens, who won a $50,000 contract from L.A. Models last year and has strutted her stuff for such designers as Jill Stewart, Miguel Adrover, Jeremy Scott, Richard Tyler and Michelle Jenk, is playing girls' basketball for Canyon High again this season.

Stevens (6-foot-1) played varsity as a freshman last year - although her season was shortened because of a foot injury - but is on the lower level because of schedule conflicts.

``Because she's a model, Cheryl had to take a lot of time off,'' varsity coach Troy Best said.

--The future of Hart High football could be in the hands of blossoming running back Delano Howell, 14-year-old younger brother of this year's starter Daniel, a graduating senior.

``Right now, I can probably burn him in a race. But eventually he's going to be better than me,'' Daniel said. ``Dalano definitely has some game. I think he's the fastest kid at Placerita Junior High. When he comes up, he's going to break some ankles.''

Another young running back to watch out for is Tyler O'Brien, 13, a younger brother of Valencia High junior linebacker Torrey.

In youth football this past season, Tyler ran for more than 1,300 yards - averaging 14 yards a carry - including 269 yards in one game. At 5-foot-7 and 132 pounds, he might have been good enough to have played varsity this season.

``Tyler is going to be phenomenal,'' said his father, Tom, who played at Burroughs in Burbank, then two years of semipro football.

--Sean Coen, who caught a Foothill League-record 108 receptions for Canyon's football team this past season, probably won't receive any offers from Division I universities because he's just 5-foot-9. But he's taking a visit to Chapman College on Thursday, and he's also planning to check out UC Davis, so expect Coen's football career to continue at a small college.

--Josh Cummings, who kicked a school-record 15 field goals for College of the Canyons' football team last season, took a recruiting trip to Nevada this weekend. He's also planning to visit South Carolina. For the time being, Cummings plans to stay sharp by participating in the second annual National Kicking Contest in Miami (Jan. 10-11) and in Las Vegas (Jan. 17-18).

--The second annual Christmas Softball Clinic, featuring U.S. Olympic team members Crystl Bustos (Canyon High graduate), Nicole Giordano (Saugus) and Jenny Topping, should be quite an event at Newhall Park from Dec. 26-28.

Other instructors include Samantha Ford and Jeanine Giordano, both of whom dominated in college softball. The cost is $50 per session, which includes instruction and a T-shirt. Team discounts are available. The sign-up deadline is Friday, and space is limited, so participants are urged to contact Cliff Slauenwhite as soon as possible. His phone number is [phone], and his e-mail is clifford523(at)yahoo.com.

``We are very excited about the talented coaches that wil be running the clinic,'' Slauenwhite said.

--The fourth annual Holiday Ice Show continues at 7 tonight at Ice Station in Valencia, and the event includes a wide variety of performers - from world class skaters such as Trifun Zivanovic, Debbie Park, Laura Rosenberg and Trevor Bird to local youngsters performing in front of a live audience for the first time.

``This joyous annual event is the highlight of our skating program,'' director Susan Berens said. ``Our skating academy students will be performing to a variety of holiday classics - from 'Winter Wonderland' to 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.' A jolly good time will be had by all.''

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Information: [phone].

--Wendey Dreher, a women's volleyball coach at Santa Monica City College who lives in Santa Clarita and teaches elementary school at Mint Canyon, has been named Southern California Regional Coach of the Year.