SUCCESS A WELCOME THING TO A.V. ANTELOPES OUT FOR ANOTHER GOLDEN LEAGUE TITLE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

A year ago, the Antelope Valley girls' basketball team tasted success for the first time, the players not quite sure what they were in for as they tried to win the school's first league title since 1988.

The Antelopes won the championship, and that experience is now paying off in another title run. Antelope Valley held a one-game lead over Palmdale going into Friday's games, and the Antelopes also are preparing for a playoff run.

``Last year, we really didn't know what we were doing,'' coach April Davenport said. ``We didn't have any experience, and we didn't know what to expect, so we were just happy to be there.''

The Antelopes are led by Crystal McCutcheon, whose scoring average has dipped to 13.6 points per game but who leads the region in assists with 7.2 per game. Sophomore Shaquina Mosley leads Antelope Valley at 14.1 points per game.

--Back to normal: Antelope Valley-area schools will resume normal schedules next week, after the California power problems forced teams to practice under often-adverse conditions.

Teams had just one hour to practice in the afternoon, with limited lighting in the gyms, and games were moved up to 3 p.m.

``It was difficult, to say the least,'' Davenport said. ``We couldn't turn all the lights on, so we were opening doors and windows, but it was really cold outside, too. We were talking to the girls about bringing flashlights and candles to practice.''

Every Golden League team is dealing with the same conditions, but coaches expressed concern about preparing their teams for the playoffs and future opponents who have not had to deal with limited practice time.

--Helping hand: Don't let anybody in purple and and gold know this, but Valencia girls' basketball coach Jerry Mike was pulling for Hart last Tuesday night.

The reason? Hart was playing a few miles away, and the Indians' victory over Saugus pulled the Vikings into a three-way tie for first place in the Foothill League.

``I was cheering for them a little bit,'' Mike said. ``I thought Hart would win, but you just never know.''

That's the theme this year in the Foothill League, which could have tri-champions if the balance isn't changed by an upset.

The big games to watch begin next week. Hart hosts Valencia next Friday, and, in the last week of the season, it's Saugus at Hart on Tuesday and Saugus at Valencia on Thursday.

``It's going to be fun,'' Mike said. ``It could very well come down to that last game, and there could be co-champions or even tri-champions. The big thing is going to be to avoid any upsets.''

The team to watch seems to be Burroughs, which entered Friday's game against Hart with a 1-4 league record but has one of the area's best point guards in freshman Tulyah Gaines. Canyon, with Ashley Palmer and Katie Holdaway, also could pull off an upset.