COC NOTES: COUGARS LOOK HEALTHY AFTER POLYNICE BEATS FLU.

Byline: Rizza Yap Daily News Staff Writer

A bout with the flu last week hampered Woodley Polynice's performance on the road against Cerritos, but the College of the Canyons sophomore guard rebounded the following day to help the men's basketball team record their first home win of the season.

Polynice, who started the year averaging 22.5 points per game, posted just seven against Cerritos, which handed Canyons an 88-72 loss on Friday.

``It wasn't the same Woodley,'' Cougars coach Lee Smelser said. ``He hadn't practiced with us all week.''

On Saturday, however, Polynice came back to record 20 points, second-best on the team behind Bryan Finley's 24. Both sophomore guards led the Cougars' offense in a 78-73 overtime home victory over Orange Coast.

Canyons (2-2) held Orange Coast to a 42-34 halftime advantage but allowed the lead to slip to three in the final minutes. The Cougars then missed two shots at the free-throw line, and Orange Coast hit a three-pointer before the buzzer. But Canyons outshot Orange Coast 6-1 in overtime to earn the win.

Cerritos proved to be too deep a team for Canyons, which returns just two players this season (Polynice from 1996-97 and Finley from 1995-96). Finley led the Cougars with 20 points, followed by forward Moses Lindsey's 15. The Falcons - with four returners and three additional sophomores - were paced by 1997 All-State selection Tony Harvey, who scored a game-high and career-best 34 points. Canyons trailed 46-35 at the half and could not close the gap to less than six points in the second.

``They had too many guns coming off the bench,'' Smelser said. ``They had a little more experience, and we had quite a few possessions where we didn't score.''

This week the team will participate in the three-day Antelope Valley College Tournament. Canyons opens with Mira Costa at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Minus one: Forward Shahann Greene, touted as one of the most promising freshmen for Canyons, has left the squad to concentrate on work and school, Smelser said.

``Shahann left because of financial difficulties,'' Smelser said. ``He has too many financial woes, and it was just too much to work, go to school and play basketball at the same time. We hated to lose him. That was a blow to us.''

Smelser said he expects Greene to return next year. Just two weeks ago, the Palmdale High graduate had 14 points and six rebounds against Antelope Valley, in what Smelser called Greene's best performance of the season.

Not invincible: The women's basketball team learned a tough lesson last Saturday, suffering a 77-66 road loss to Fullerton College for its first defeat of the season.

``I think a lot of us thought we couldn't be beat,'' guard Wendy Gussner said. ``The loss actually was good for us because it will help us to work a little harder and believe what the coaches say in practice. Coach (Greg Herrick) had prepared us for the game, telling us exactly what to do to break down their offense and defense. We just didn't execute his plan.''

Forward/center Laura Tweedy collected a team-best 26 points, while Gussner and forward Zevette Mitchell each scored 10. Canyons (4-1) committed 35 turnovers while Fullerton posted 26. The Lady Cougars, however, out rebounded the Hornets (4-2) by a 49-32 margin.

``We relaxed,'' guard Narineh Hartoonian said. ``We just wouldn't play defense. And we had so many turnovers - five in a row, three in a row, four in a row. It was the worst.''

On Thursday, Canyons squares off against Santa Rosa on the first day of the Sequoias Tournament at Visalia. Depending on first-round results, Canyons will face either Fullerton or De Anza College on Friday.

``De Anza gave us our first loss last year, and Fullerton gave us our first loss this year,'' Gussner said. ``Either way, it will be a redemption game.''