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BACK FROM THE GLOOM : COUGARS' STAR GUARDS BROWN, CLARK TO LIGHT UP BASKETBALL COURT.


Byline: Bryan Winchell Daily News Staff Writer

Last season is best forgotten for Kyetra Brown and LaCresha Clark of 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.  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.  team.

Both sophomores, Brown spent the season on the sidelines On the sidelines

An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty.


on the sidelines

Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds.
 because she was academically ineligible. Clark played for a University of Evansville team that won only three games.

Brown spent the year working on her grades and working at a fast-food restaurant. Clark often called home in tears, telling her family about how the team was struggling.

``I loved the school,'' said Clark, who got a scholarship to play there. ``The only thing I didn't like was the basketball.''

Said Brown: ``The job was terrible. I just kept looking forward to this year.''

Canyons coach Greg Herrick was looking forward to this season as well after his Cougars went 20-13 and lost Brown and all-conference forward Stephanie Labor in the team's first conference game.

``We went from having the best point guard in the country (in Brown) to `Who's going to play point guard?' '' Herrick said.

Brown, Clark and Herrick hope to put last year behind them and focus on their goal this season: winning the state championship. Official practice will start Oct. 15, and the Cougars will warm up in an all-day jamboree next Saturday at Ventura College Ventura College is a California-state funded community college located in Ventura, California. Established in 1925, the college has a 112-acre campus with an enrollment of 13,000 students. The college is part of the Ventura County Community College District. .

Two years ago, Brown led the team to a 30-6 record and an appearance in the semifinals of the state tournament. Now, with the addition of Clark, who will play shooting guard The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards.  while Brown plays point, the Cougars' back court is even stronger.

``It would be hard to find two better guards,'' Herrick said. ``They're going to wreak wreak  
tr.v. wreaked, wreak·ing, wreaks
1. To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person.

2. To express or gratify (anger, malevolence, or resentment); vent.

3.
 some havoc if they stay healthy.''

For Brown, the question isn't health as much as academics. An extremely talented point guard whom Herrick calls ``the best passer I've ever seen - in the league of Magic Johnson “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. For the Milwaukee Bucks center, see Ervin Johnson.

Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan), nicknamed Magic
,'' Brown had to attend summer school every day to be eligible to play.

While keeping a close eye on her grades can be a struggle, Herrick hopes that Brown's commitment to summer school carries over to the school year.

``I told her I was proud of her demonstration that she can do it,'' Herrick said. ``A year ago, she probably would have said, `I can't do it; it's too hard.' But she followed through.''

Said Brown: ``When I was a freshman, I had the attitude of, `Hey, I'm out of Mom's house and I'm on my own.' I didn't take going on to a university seriously. Now, I feel like I let the coaches down, and I don't want to go back to that dead-end job.''

For Clark, the daily struggles with last year's coach, the team's losses and the fact that Evansville's assistant coach Bo Browder, who recruited her, wasn't rehired, made coming back to 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,  an easy choice.

And she's looking forward to playing with Brown, with whom she has played pickup games.

``We've always connected so well,'' said Clark, a two-time Foothill League most valuable player when she was on the Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
  • Hart High School — Newhall, California
  • Hart High School — Hart, Michigan
  • Hart County High School — Munfordville, Kentucky
  • Hart County High School — Hartwell, Georgia
 team.

For Brown, having Clark around ensures that, when she's taking a breather, the team's talent level won't drop.

``I feel like so much pressure is off of me,'' said Brown, a three-time all-city performer from Jefferson High School Jefferson High School is the name of numerous high schools in the United States, most named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, including:
  • Jefferson High School (Colorado) in Edgewater, Colorado
. ``It's always good when there's someone else on the team who is as good as you are.''
COPYRIGHT 1996 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Oct 5, 1996
Words:562
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