COC NOTEBOOK; ALL-AROUND ALLEN ENJOYING SUPER SOPHOMORE SEASON.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Ever since last season, when she averaged 15.8 points per game, College of the Canyons women's basketball player Tasha Allen has been on a tear. It continues.

Averaging 24.2 points per game this year for the Cougars (19-6, 7-0), who sit atop the Western State Conference, Allen has been nearly unstoppable. A more perfect example could not have been seen in COC's 99-84 victory against Bakersfield on Jan. 23.

Allen scored 40 points and had seven assists as well. She conjured up this performance after breaking her nose about three minutes into the game. It happened while she was fighting for a rebound and a Bakersfield player inadvertently elbowed her.

``I was in crying pain,'' Allen said. ``My nose hurt, my head hurt, my vision was blurred. That didn't stop me.''

Allen came out of the game for about five minutes to have her nose attended to. She also sat out another five minutes in the second half because of foul trouble. Then, with about a minute left, she sprained her left ankle and came out for the remainder of the game. Thus, Allen scored her 40 points in fewer than 30 minutes.

``It was pretty impressive,'' coach Greg Herrick said. ``She's 100 percent better than she was a year ago and she was pretty good then.''

Herrick can't explain Allen's improvement and neither can she. Allen only suggests that she is more focused because she is now a sophomore playing for a scholarship.

And there are plenty of schools who would love to have the 5-foot-8 shooting guard who can also play the point. Herrick said Northern Arizona and North Texas are sending representatives to watch her play, and game tapes have been requested by UNLV, Southwest Texas State and San Marcos.

``She sees the light at the end of the tunnel and understands the importance of playing well to impress colleges,'' Herrick said. ``For instance, our trainer didn't want her to play Wednesday (against Glendale), but there may have been people coming to watch her play.''

In that Glendale game, won 66-36 by COC, Allen only had 10 points. She had sprained her right ankle in the game that time. Still, with both ankles suffering, Allen played in the following game and had another brilliant performance to lead COC to a 68-60 victory against Valley on Saturday.

Allen had 24 points but played an even better defensive game, holding Chante Gifford to just eight points. Gifford had 24 points the first time Valley played COC, and Herrick told Allen she had to stop Valley's leading scorer for the Cougars to win.

The true leader and perfectionist she is, how did Allen react after her performance against Valley? Naturally, she gathered her teammates together in the locker room and apologized. She thought she played poorly.

--Reunited at next level: When the University of Mississippi and Arkansas State football teams play next season, two former teammates will be brought back together.

COC's All-American offensive lineman Jason Youngs accepted a scholarship to Mississippi and is prepared to arrive there at the conclusion of this semester. He will face All-Western State Conference receiver Mark Hamilton's new team. Hamilton is already at Arkansas State and is adjusting to his new surroundings in Jonesboro, Ark.

``I saw my first snowfall the other day, it was about five inches,'' Hamilton said via a telephone interview. ``It was cool; I had to call home. . . . They said it hadn't snowed in about three years so it was cool for a lot of the guys on the team; we all went out and played football in the snow.''

Youngs was so enamored with the situation at Ole Miss, he canceled his remaining recruiting visits to Auburn, Kansas State, Indiana and Louisville.

``They have a senior running back who's up for the Heisman next year; that'll give me the chance to block for a Heisman candidate and both tackles were drafted (into the NFL),'' Youngs said. ``(The coaches) told me right tackle is my spot to lose. And both guards and the center will be there while I'm there, so I just feel really comfortable with it.''

Added COC offensive coordinator Garret Tujague, Youngs' mentor and a former offensive lineman at Brigham Young University: ``I'm sorely going to miss him as a player and a friend. . . . The way he attacked every day, he refused not being the best. That will make him successful in life.''

Perhaps the best part about Youngs' new situation is the proximity of Ole Miss and other Southeast Conference schools to his family in St. Mary's, Ohio. He will play games at Tennessee and Kentucky, which he says are both about a two-hour drive. Mississippi is about 10 hours away.

With Youngs' father dying when Youngs was only 8, he said his oldest brother took on the role of father-figure to him and his other brother and sister. Youngs said he expects his siblings will probably attend most, if not all of his games.

``Two years ago, when I got (to COC), I set a goal for myself and I'd talk about it with my family,'' Youngs said. ``I can't believe it's going to happen. I wish every day (my father) was here to see it. He loved football; I grew up around it. But I know he's watching. He's with me every time I'm on the field.''

When Arkansas State and Ole Miss get together, Youngs will share a field with Hamilton once again. Hamilton felt bad that he left COC abruptly and was unable to speak with a lot of his former teammates.

On vacation, Hamilton said he only had enough time to return home and pack before leaving for Arkansas. He only found out about the impending reunion during his phone interview.

``That's awesome,'' said Hamilton, who expects to start next season, perhaps at inside receiver. ``He was a good friend of mine. I'm definitely going to see him during the game.''

Added Youngs: ``That's going to be pretty weird. It's the same guy I played with for two years and hung out with. Now we'll be on the other side of the country playing against one another.''

Asked to make a prediction, Youngs said, ``Oh yeah, we'll put a whipping on him.''