SMALL SCHOOLS NOTEBOOK: BLAME ME, SAYS THE COACH A.V. CHRISTIAN HOPES TO REBOUND FROM LATE-SEASON SLUMP.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LANCASTER - At a team meeting Sunday, Antelope Valley Christian boys' basketball coach David Nurse acknowledged his own mistakes might have cost the Eagles a fourth consecutive Agape League title.

The Eagles struggled in league play at the end of the season, losing three of their final five games. They had won 46 consecutive league games until Jan. 22.

Nurse said his failure to make defensive adjustments, noting his unwillingness to switch to zone defenses against quicker teams, as well as his reluctance to exploit his team's speed by running the court more often, were significant mistakes.

``When you're wrong, you're wrong,'' Nurse said. ``That's all there is too it. If you want to get better you have to willing to looking at your mistakes.''

Nurse is hoping he caught his mistakes in time.

The Eagles, who are seeded third in the Southern Section Division V I-A playoffs, opened postseason play Wednesday night against Wilson Creek.

The Eagles have reached the Southern Section championship game two of the past three years, and are three-time defending semifinalists.

Among the Eagles' biggest concerns entering postseason is inexperience. They returned just one senior, backup center Brian Pugh. Their only other senior, forward Tony Uebelhardt, is a transfer from Vasquez.

Uebelhardt is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. Philip Okanma, a 6-foot-9 junior center, averages 13 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks, and sophomore power forward Eun Sik Yoo averages 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore shooting guard Jeremiah Nurse averages 13 points, and junior point guard Percy Pickett averages nine points and three assists.

--No respect, no problem: The Desert Christian boys' basketball team was ranked 10th in its division in Southern California in a recent SoCal Hoops polling. However, the Knights enter the Division IV-AA playoffs unseeded.

That's despite a 17-3 record and a 14-game winning streak entering postseason.

And that's no big deal, Desert Christian coach Devin Thomas said.

The Knights open the postseason Friday night, when they play host to Kern Valley at 7:30 p.m.

``I don't know how CIF decides it (the seedings),'' Thomas said, ``but it's OK, I have no problem with it.

``Respect is earned, and I told my players, `Don't you dare complain, just suck it up and do the best you can.' ''

The Knights are in a new division after previously playing in Division V-A. They now are the second-smallest school by enrollment, with just 323 students from 10th to 12th grades, in their new division, where some schools have nearly 900 students.

Desert Christian never has gotten past the second round, and this season's team is not as talented as in previous years - ``Not even close,'' Thomas said.

However, Thomas likes his team's chances this season. He cites cohesiveness and unselfishness as key factors that helped his team go unbeaten in Desert Mountain League play (10-0) for the first time in school history. The Knights have won three consecutive league titles.

``I attribute the success of our team not to our athletes, but to our parents,'' Thomas said. ``They were taught how to be good teammates and it shows.

``This team has brought back a passion for me to teach basketball that I haven't had the past few seasons.''

Most impressive, he said, is that players understand their roles. Scorers are allowed to score without being viewed as ``ball hogs.''

Seniors Brian Waugh and Mike Spears have made use of the free hand they've been given to shoot. Waugh, a small forward, leads the team, averaging 23.7 points and 9.8 rebounds. Spears, a shooting guard, averages 19.3 points.

Other key players for the Knights include senior center Will Jackson (9.3 rebounding average) and senior point guard Adam Erby, the team's defensive specialist.

--Rematch: The Paraclete boys' basketball team (9-14, 5-3) finished Alpha League play tied for second place, which helped the Spirits qualify for the Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs. Paraclete opens postseason play on the road against La Salle of Pasadena on Friday night at 7:30.

The Spirits upset La Salle in an opening-round playoff game three years ago, when coach J.R. Chatman served as an assistant.

Repeating history would be important for the team on several levels, Chatman said, mostly to give the strong junior class something to build on for next season.

Paraclete is led by senior shooting guard Drew Gill, who averages 19 points, and junior small forward Matt Marquez, who averages 14.

--Challenge: Last season, the Desert Christian girls' soccer team was seeded entering the Southern Section playoffs, and it was coming off an unbeaten High Desert League championship. The Knights lost in the first round.

This season, Desert Christian (15-5, 10-2), which finished second in league, enters the Division V playoffs under no pressure.

The Knights open postseason play against fourth seeded Flintridge Prep of La Canada on Saturday at 3 p.m.

``I think it'll be a challenge for us, but we've met challenges before,'' Desert Christian coach Rachel Edwards said.

Among the Knights' most significant accomplishments this season was a 2-1 upset victory over Paraclete.

Key factors for Desert Christian could be the play of goalie Johnna Klohoker, who recorded 10 shutouts in league play, and center midfielder Mandi Morrow, who leads the team with 24 goals.

However, sophomore midfielder Melissa Martin is out for the season with a slipped disc. Seniors Tami Marchbanks and Joy Gilliland are her most likely replacements.