ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: MARAUDERS FACE PASADENA IN REGIONAL OPENER.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley College's women's basketball team opens its postseason against a team that last season ended the deepest playoff run in Marauders history.

It is among several intriguing storylines surrounding Saturday's California Community College regional semifinal between 12th-seeded AVC (22-9) and No. 5 Pasadena City (22-5).

The game also features former Lancaster High teammates Kelli Edwards-Valentine and Desire Butler, on opposite sides. Valentine, a sophomore forward for AVC, has posted double-doubles in eight of her past nine games.

Butler, a sophomore point guard, is Pasadena City's only non-freshman.

The winner of Saturday's game plays the winner of Friday's Cypress 26-5)/El Camino of Torrance (16-14) regional semifinal for a chance to go to the March 9-12 state tournament at Fresno's Selland Arena.

Edwards-Valentine is critical for AVC, which clinched a share of its fourth consecutive Foothill Conference title with an 83-75 victory over Barstow in Saturday's regular-season finale. She leads the team in rebounding (8.3 per game) and is third in scoring (9.7 points per game).

``I think she knows it's her last hurrah, and she's just been playing great lately,'' AVC coach John Taylor said.

Taylor says Edwards-Valentine's physical playing style ought to help against a PCC team that features two 6-foot-2 post players. Edwards is 5-10.

Sophomore forward Angela Conde's return from a broken left hand that sidelined her for a month also figures to help AVC. Conde averages seven points and 7.8 rebounds.

Conde scored three points and grabbed six rebounds in limited minutes against Barstow, her first game back.

Perhaps the Marauders' biggest edge is experience. Butler is the only remaining player the PCC team that beat AVC in the state semifinals. AVC has five sophomores.

``Experience might play into our hands,'' Taylor said. ``At least that's what we're hoping.''

--All conference: Edwards-Valentine was among five AVC all-conference selections. Edwards-Valentine, sophomore guard Jennifer Lee (Palmdale) and freshman guard Sade Bunch also were first-team selections. Freshman guard Juliet Masei (Desert) and sophomore forward/center Andrea Houston (Antelope Valley) were honorable mentions.

--Add golf: Former Marauder Brett Pape has returned to his alma mater as coach of the newly reinstated men's golf team. Pape played for AVC in 1989-90; he was a member of the last Marauders team to make the state tournament, in 1989. The program is back for the first time since 1992.

``We're really excited to have the program back,'' Pape said. ``I'm just glad to be able to say golf is back at AVC.''

--Call it a career: AVC men's basketball team defeated Barstow 75-68 in retiring coach Newton Chelette's last game. Chelette compiled 379 victories in 17 years in a Marauders coaching career highlighted by 10 conference titles and two state final-four appearances.

--Pepsi scholar: Former AVC football standout Keith Noonan became the 25th player in school history on the prestigious Pepsi Scholar Honor Roll.

Noonan, who graduated with a 3.98 GPA, was the team's leading tackler in 2004. He was the team MVP and was also named to the JC Grid-wire scholar/athlete All-American team that year.

More than twice as many AVC athletes have been on the Pepsi Scholar Honor Roll than at any other community college in the state. At least one AVC athlete has been on the honor roll in 15 of the past 16 years.

--Haller honored: AVC sports information director Glenn Haller received the 2006 California Community College Sports Information Association's BRASS TOP award.

Gideon Rubin, [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com