DeLaveaga Blooms but CLU Wilts

As expected, Jeff deLaveaga has been a large part of Cal Lutheran’s offense. The 6-foot-4 senior was expected to play forward, but instead he has averaged 30.3 points at guard in the Kingsmen’s first four games.

DeLaveaga has made 39 of 86 field-goal attempts, 17 of 41 three-point attempts and 26 of 34 free throws. He also leads the team with 11 assists and has grabbed 21 rebounds.

While DeLaveaga has fit in well at guard, the rest of the pieces of the puzzle remain scattered for the Kingsmen (0-4).

“We’re a bits-and-pieces team,” said Coach Mike Dunlap, who added that it will be “a while” before the parts come together.

WIN SOME, LOSE SOME

The basketball season is barely under way, but Dunlap already has juggled his lineup several times.

Simon O’Donnell, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound senior forward, returned to the lineup Friday against Azusa Pacific after missing two games because he had broken school rules.

Kelly Crosby, a transfer from Glendale College, missed the game against Azusa Pacific because of flu but returned for a 15-minute stint against Westmont on Monday. Before the game, Dunlap learned that starting center Mike Fenton, a 6-6 freshman, will be sidelined for at least four weeks because of a stress fracture in his right shin.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Tailback LaShante Parker of Pierce, tailback Terrance Brown of Valley, quarterback Corey Tucker and wide receiver Curtis Marsh of Moorpark, and quarterback Marty Washington and defensive back Wilson Hookfin of Antelope Valley are ranked among the top 10 in the state in various individual football statistical categories.

The final regular-season statistics are compiled by the J. C. Athletic Bureau.

Parker ranks fourth in scoring with 102 points (17 touchdowns) and fifth in rushing with 1,366 yards. Brown is tied for 10th in scoring with 90 points (15 touchdowns).

Marsh, who caught 48 passes for a school-record 1,030 yards, is ranked ninth in yards receiving per game with an average of 103.

Tucker is ranked fifth in the state in passing efficiency with a 151.7 rating and Washington is ninth at 142.4.

Tucker completed 88 of 178 passes for 1,626 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Washington was 72 of 159 for 1,463 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Hookfin tied for fifth in with seven interceptions.

Moorpark’s offense was ranked eighth in the state with an average of 433.0 yards a game, and the Raider defense was fourth at 235.1.

QUIET ENTRANCE

Joe Jon Bryant, a 6-7 senior forward-center for The Master’s College, made a quiet season debut against UC Riverside on Tuesday, scoring just two points in 14 minutes in a 95-74 loss.

Bryant, a transfer from Richmond, had not played this season because of questions about his eligibility that hinged on whether he could gain credit for two independent-studies courses he took during the summer.

On Tuesday, Cal Lutheran ruled Bryant eligible after the NAIA eligibility committee studied the matter and allowed the school to make the decision.

BUGGED

Northridge basketball Coach Pete Cassidy had hoped that the flu bug had run its course after the Matadors returned from their six-day Midwestern trip Tuesday night.

But center Percy Fisher contracted it two days later and was unable to play against Northern Arizona on Friday.

“It’s funny,” Cassidy said. “It hits people overnight. Hopefully, that is the end of it because the schedule right now is very difficult.”

Previously, Ryan Martin, David Keeter and Northridge trainer Bill Miller had caught the flu.

While the Matadors could have used Fisher in their 74-71 loss to Northern Arizona, Cassidy figured that his team could win without him.

RADIO HAM

Cassidy is featured every Monday at 8 a.m. on KMGX (94.3 FM).

If he is as entertaining at home as he is on the road, the show should prove quite lively.

It is Cassidy’s habit to maintain a sense of humor even if the Matadors lose. After Northridge’s 120-62 loss to New Mexico State last season, Cassidy greeted the Las Cruces, N. M., press corps with this question: “Should I stand up or sit down for this firing squad?”

Cassidy’s humor is definitely on the dry side.

When asked his impressions of the CSUN-Evansville game, a contest in which both teams shot below 30% in the first half, Cassidy’s opening remark was, “I thought Reed Jackson made a great gymnastic move over the bench and onto that railing without killing himself.”

Jackson, an Evansville freshman, failed in his attempt to keep the ball from going out of bounds but made a lasting impression on Cassidy.

WEARING LAURELS

Danny Daniels was honored as most-valuable player of the Northridge soccer team Tuesday night at an awards banquet at Porter Valley Country Club. Daniels, a junior, scored 13 goals and had six assists for the Matadors (13-6-1).

Bobby Reyes of Los Angeles and Keith Martin of Palmdale were honored as most-valuable offensive and defensive players, respectively.

Adolfo Perez of Sherman Oaks earned most-improved honors, Armando Valdivia of Ridgecrest was named most-inspirational player and Terry Davila of Reseda was the coaches’-award winner.

Northridge football player Cornell Ward and volleyball player Nancy Nicholls were named Matador athletes of the month. Ward, a senior, was honored for throwing four touchdown passes--on four attempts--from his wide receiver position in November.

Nicholls earned recognition for recording double figures in kills in eight of nine Matador matches in November, including a career-high 27 kills against San Diego. Nicholls, a junior from Reseda, leads CSUN in kills (327) and solo blocks (20).

Staff writers Theresa Munoz, John Ortega and Wendy Witherspoon contributed to this notebook.