A SHOW OF STRENGTH CANYONS, VENTURA WOMEN READY TO RUMBLE.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. and Ventura have been among the finest women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few games which developed in tandem with men's. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, in large part via women's colleges. teams in the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, community college system over the past decade. The Cougars have reached the state championships in five of the last six seasons, but have not had much luck against Ventura. Canyons is in good company, though. Ventura, the state's top-ranked team, is the defending state champion and has won the state title three of the last five seasons. The Pirates have reached the championship game five consecutive years. At 7 tonight, COC See chip on chip. plays host to the Pirates in a clash of these perennial powerhouses. The Cougars have had some memorable games against Ventura over the years, including the state-championship game in 1997, which COC lost after going 33-5 during the regular season. The Cougars have lost to Ventura in all 10 of their meetings since Greg Herrick took over the program in 1992. ``It's a special game,'' Herrick said. ``How many opportunities do you get to play number one and beat them.'' The Cougars were ranked fourth in the state earlier in the season but have dropped to 17th. The Pirates have won 12 of their last 13, including an 82-17 thrashing of Citrus College According to the Public Policy Institute of California, Citrus College had 632 students who transferred to universities during the 2005-2006 academic year, ranking seventh in the area. Citrus College students are represented by ASCC the Associated Students of Citrus College. earlier in the week. There are no returning players from last season's team, perhaps an explanation of the team's 1-2 start. Ventura, a team traditionally built around a smothering smothering death by asphyxiation. Occurs where poultry are carelessly herded into a corner where they cannot escape and where they are piled four or five birds deep; they will die of asphyxia very quickly. See also crowding. pressure defense and high-scoring offense, is led by freshmen Monique Taylor (15.5 points per game) and Kelly Murray (14.6). COC sophomore guard Natalie Avanecy, one of just six returning players on the team, said tonight's game will be an eye-opening experience for those freshmen who dominate the team's roster. ``You really don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how it is until you've actually faced them,'' she said. ``Then you realize what playing hard and harder is.'' Avanecy said she is impressed but not awed by the Pirates' program. ``They're beatable,'' she said. ``They just play hard, everyone knows that. In order to beat them, we just have to play harder.'' Herrick predicts the game will be decided by the respective teams' ability to execute and play with intensity, and not outstanding individual performances. ``It's a game of systems versus systems,'' he said. ``We know what they're going to do and they know what we're going to do. ``I could probably coach their team and (Ventura coach Ned Mircetic) could probably coach our team.'' Herrick said he's ``always been impressed'' with Ventura's ability to prepare for various opponents. ``I've always respected that about their program,'' he said. ``You're not going to trick them, you've got to outplay out·play tr.v. out·played, out·play·ing, out·plays To surpass (an opponent) in skill or technique or in scoring points. Verb 1. them.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Vonette Lanier will lead College of Canyons tonight against Ventura. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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