AVC NOTEBOOK: AVC ENTERS PLAYOFFS ON HOT STREAK.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

Antelope Valley College takes its eight-game winning streak into the Southern California regional playoffs, which the Marauders open Saturday against visiting Cerritos (18-11) at 7 p.m.

Antelope Valley (22-7) clinched a share of the conference championship with Chaffey and Mount San Jacinto despite starting Foothill Conference play 3-3.

AVC coach Newton Chelette has said jokingly, ``I don't think we're ever going to win another game.'' He admits that part of him meant it, because he hoped his words would make his team challenge the statement.

It appears to have worked.

Antelope Valley, seeded second, is assured of playing the remainder of its playoff games at home. If they defeat Cerritos, the Marauders will host the Ventura/Chaffey winner next weekend.

--Taking the fifth: The women's basketball team is seeded fifth in the Southern California Regional and opens the tournament Friday at 7 p.m. against visiting Irvine Valley (16-9).

``With the team we have, it doesn't matter who we play, it's how we play. We talk about that all the time,'' Antelope Valley coach John Taylor. ``We're 10, 11, 12 players deep and we are a better team because of it.''

There is nothing one-dimensional about Antelope Valley, whose balance served it well this season as it successfully defended its Foothill Conference.

Four players average at least 10 points a game, led by Shacauna Woods with 14 per game. Renita Mitchell averages 13 and Laurie Hodges and Mariqueta Starling average 10 apiece.

And players like Tiffany Spottiswood and Kristal Fox, both of whom average five points and five rebounds per game, are aware of what needs to be done and how to accomplish it.

Division I scouts are interested in Woods, a 5-foot-11 sophomore who also averages a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game, and Hodges, a solid on-ball defender who averages 2.4 steals and 3.5 assists per game.

Both players have received interest from Ohio, Nevada-Reno, Indiana State and Alaska-Anchorage, according to Taylor. But it's players like Sheena Crenshaw and Sarah Williams who do the little things that help the team win.

``We're pretty legit. That's no secret,'' Taylor said. ``There's a little luck involved but when we're getting contributions from everyone and are playing focused with intensity, we're tough to beat.''

--Humbling process: The softball team began the year with six consecutive victories, its best start to open a season in recent memory. Then came back-to-back losses.

And just when Antelope Valley thought its bad luck couldn't get worse, it did.

The team learned its ace, Nikki Secrease, could be lost for the season because of a shoulder injury to her throwing arm. The freshman was working with trainer Jerry Lewis in an attempt to rehabilitate the injury but it didn't get better.

``The injury hasn't been 100-percent diagnosed,'' Lewis said Tuesday. He also added that Secrease was to have an MRI but hadn't heard the results.

``When she pitches, her shoulder dislocates. l believe there is a tear in the labrum. If that's the case, she'll have to undergo surgery.

``We did some treatment on her shoulder and it didn't get any better. We thought it best for her to take some time off. But we'll see what the doctors have to say, they'll know how extensive the injury is and if she can pitch again this year.''

Abby Buffalo is the team's ace and will start at 3 p.m. Friday at Desert.

Sean Ceglinsky, [phone]

sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com