CHATTER: BECKLER GETS SOME BIG LESSONS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Kate Beckler knows high school is supposed to prepare her for college, but not like this.

Beckler, Alemany's point guard, last week orally committed to Rice, which she said ranks among U.S. News and World Report's top academic institutions. She chose to become an Owl over Lehigh, Gonzaga and several Ivy League schools.

``It's called the Ivy League of the South,'' she said.

That Beckler will become an Owl seems fitting, since she has gained wisdom from her days at Alemany. Like many students, she learned the importance of academics as well as athletics, teamwork, socialization, friendship and many other lessons.

But since she attended Alemany, she also learned how inconsistent life can be.

Beckler arrived at Alemany after the Northridge Earthquake destroyed the campus. Beckler never played in Alemany's gym. Instead, she practiced and played in a makeshift gym nicknamed ``The Dome'' or played at L.A. Baptist.

The Dome never was a Beckler favorite.

``I don't know why they don't tear that thing down,'' she said.

Beckler also experienced secrecy within the Archdiocese when it fired her coach, Melissa Hearlihy after a wealthy parent of a player who was cut complained to the Archdiocese that Hearlihy unfairly cut her.

Hearlihy said her termination and subsequent reinstatement affected Beckler, since Beckler came to Alemany in part to play for Hearlihy.

``She's able to overcome issues she can't control,'' Hearlihy said. ``She was very disheartened when it happened. I try to teach them that you learn good will overcome.''

Beckler's latest brush with life lessons came when athletic director Dudley Rooney was fired after it was learned the boys' basketball coach he hired, Darryl McDonald, was a registered sex offender.

``It's like deja vu. What's going one here?'' Beckler said. ``Alemany's gone through lots of tough stuff.''

Beckler said she will miss Rooney's presence at her games this season, standing at the LAB gym door talking with parents.

Hearlihy knows Beckler has dealt with plenty, and she's proud of her 5-foot-8 point guard.

``You have to deal with what you're handed,'' Hearlihy said, ``and maybe something she'll encounter at Rice won't be as bad because of what she went through here.'' . . .

Faith Baptist's football team wasted six hours traveling to Cuyama Valley and back Friday. Cuyama Valley forfeited because the stadium lights failed.

``I think it's safe to say we were pretty upset,'' Faith Baptist coach Greg Weiss said. . . .

Rodney Robinson has seen the proliferation of boys' club basketball teams and wants the same for the girls. To that end, he has created the Next Level Girls Basketball League, which will begin Dec. 6. It's for girls between grades 3 and 8. Cost is $350 per team or $70 per player. Each team is guaranteed 11 games. Information: [phone] or 877-1956. . . .

When he's not racing on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, the Southwest Tour or Winston West series, former Saugus Speedway driver Rick Carelli is a member of the Racers Who Care board of directors. Racers Who Care is a non-profit charitable organization of auto, boat, motorcycle and truck racers. Its purpose is to present children with ways to succeed in life. . . .

Junior forward Lisa Payfer, a Royal graduate now playing field hockey at Ohio Wesleyan, scored the go-ahead goal early in the first half and added an assist to lead her team to a 2-0 victory over Kenyon. . . .

Former Westlake volleyball standout Megan Mullin plays sparingly at Georgetown. Against Maryland-Baltimore County, Mullin had one kill and five digs. . . .

Thousand Oaks' Amanda Armstrong, a freshman runner at UC Irvine, finished three miles in 20:00.8, good for 23rd place, in the meet at UC Santa Barbara.

- Gerry Gittelson contributed