PROMISING SEASON ONCE AGAIN TURNS SOUR FOR MARAUDERS.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The declaration was made by Newton Chelette. In the middle of a game, no less.

The Antelope Valley College men's basketball coach, watching his Marauders lose during what was a subpar 1998-99 season, turned to the press table and made a prediction. He was going to bring in players who could compete with Mt. San Jacinto, which was in the process of routing AVC on its home floor.

Chelette was true to his word, landing a Division I recruit in Wyoming transfer Jimmy White and a talented freshmen class that included Littlerock High standout Tony Mayes and Chelette's son Brady from Quartz Hill.

Forward Michael Calloway and guard Nick O'Neill also came aboard and, combined with returning standout forward Jeronne Saxton, gave the Marauders reason to think they'd return to their usual brilliance under Chelette. But AVC, which failed to win 20 games for the first time in Chelette's 10 seasons last year, didn't reach that plateau again.

The Marauders (19-14) also ended a run as Foothill Conference champions at five years, tumbling to third place, with the conference united as one league rather than split into divisions.

Still, AVC got a favorable draw to open the state playoffs. The 22nd- seeded Marauders faced an Oxnard team they'd beaten 80-68 at the Condors' tournament on Nov. 28.

``I think it's a good matchup for us,'' Chelette said of meeting the Condors again.

But this was a different Oxnard team. The Condors won 15 of 18 games following their loss to AVC and shared the Western State Conference championship. Oxnard, behind Omar McCarter's 22 points and 14 points and 11 assists from point guard Tellys Knight, rallied to a 68-57 win.

``It's been disappointing because we've played sporadically (this season),'' Chelette said late in the year.

Here is proof to support Chelette:

--The Marauders have never won a road playoff game in six tries under Chelette.

--AVC hadn't lost back-to-back conference games under him until this year.

--For the first time in six years, Antelope Valley lost a conference game at Marauder Gym. AVC lost three conference home games.

--An 0-4 start was the worst for a Chelette-coached team.

But there is reason to be optimistic again. The loss of Saxton leaves a void in leadership as well as his physical play in the frontcourt. But White, a 6-6 swingman whom Chelette compared to former AVC star and current Atlanta Hawks guard Isaiah Rider, shook off a rusty start to lead the team in scoring (18 points per game) and rebounding (7.5).

Brady Chelette figures to be more of a factor next season after struggling through an injury-plagued freshman year.

And the Marauders could get another marquee player if Littlerock's Gene Myvett decides to play at AVC. The 6-foot-5 forward is being heavily recruited by Cal State Northridge but has yet to qualify and is considering playing for Chelette.

Staff Writers Rich Hammond and Scott Magoloff contributed to this story.

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Photo: (color) Tony Mayes was one of several talented freshmen, but the team did not realize its potential, falling to Oxnard in the playoffs.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer