Ball Is Not in Dana Jones’ Court, So He Will Wait for His Shot

Unlike past basketball seasons, Dana Jones spends a lot time sitting and waiting these days. The player who was such a vital part of the North Hollywood High and Pepperdine programs finds himself without a team.

The NBA didn’t draft him, the Continental Basketball Assn. cut him and, so far, there has been scant interest from foreign teams. So, Jones patiently waits for the call that will revive his career.

“It has been disappointing, but I’m never going to give up,” he said. “I just have to take a different route, as opposed to getting drafted and having a foot in the door.”

Jones, a 6-foot-6 forward who was West Coast Conference player of the year last season and City Section 3-A Division player of the year in 1990, has kept busy by finishing work on a sociology degree, working out and scrimmaging with Pepperdine’s basketball team.

When the NBA passed him over, Jones tried out with the expansion Mexico City Aztecas of the CBA. After being cut, he expected to get an offer from abroad, but it never came.

“Nothing is really going on right now,” he said. “I’ve been talking to a guy from Japan. That’s about it.”

Jones hopes to attract the attention of either NBA or foreign scouts by participating in the Pro Summer League at UC Irvine.

*

The real shocker: Perhaps it’s not surprising that Cuesta was the team that ended Ventura College’s 29-game winning streak in men’s basketball with an 89-81 victory on Saturday, handing the state’s top-ranked team its first loss of the season. Cuesta upset the Pirates last year, 72-71, also ending a 29-game winning streak, and that game stands as Ventura’s last loss at home.

However, Cuesta’s victory Saturday night over the Ventura women’s team was a shocker. Ranked No. 2 in the state and an one-sided winner over Cuesta earlier this season, the Pirates fell, 60-57, ending a 21-game winning streak.

At least the women have an excuse. Coach Ned Mircetic did not make the trip Saturday, missing a game for the first time in his 13-year coaching career. Mircetic was at home with flu when assistant Brian Marshall called with the bad news.

“He told me we lost and I just said, ‘You’re kidding.’ It was a unique experience,” Mircetic said.

The coach hopes the loss was in fact unique. The Pirates risk losing the Western State Conference North Division title. A loss to Hancock tonight would cost Ventura the title for the first time since 1990.

*

One-track mind: Ron Hornaday Jr. got to run at Daytona after all.

Hornaday, a Palmdale resident who in recent years has competed on the NASCAR Winston West and Southwest circuits, recently signed to drive for stock car ace Dale Earnhardt’s racing team.

The thing is, Hornaday will drive in NASCAR’s new truck division. The truck division doesn’t race again until March 18 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, so Hornaday this week is in Daytona Beach, Fla., where the granddaddy of stock car races will be held Sunday.

He won’t only be on the sidelines, though. Today, Hornaday will drive Earnhardt’s trademark black Monte Carlo at Daytona while a television commercial for Chevrolet is filmed.

*

One-track mind II: After competing in two or three sports throughout his high school career, Ventura High’s Ramsey Jay says he’ll focus his attention on track during his freshman year at USC.

Jay, who will sign a letter of intent with the Trojans on April 1, made his comments after winning the boys’ 500-yard run in the Sunkist Invitational at the Sports Arena on Saturday.

“It’ll be a full track scholarship with the option of playing football,” he said. “But right now, it looks like I’m going to concentrate on track the first year. I’m interested to see how I’ll do if I dedicate myself to track year-round.”

Jay, who ran a personal best of 47.49 seconds to place fourth in the 400 meters in last year’s state championships, competed in football, basketball and track as a freshman and sophomore, and in football and track the past two years.

*

Baker over Minor?: Canyon High’s Greg Minor averages 27.4 points a game--which makes him the leading scorer in the Valley-area.

Burbank’s Carlos Baker checks in at 9.3. Could Baker possibly get Foothill League player-of-the-year honors over Minor?

From one standpoint, bet on it.

Burbank Coach Jeff Davis claimed Canyon Coach Greg Hayes will vote for Baker, who is not the leading scorer for the league-champion Bulldogs but is considered the team’s most valuable player.

Explained Davis: “We made a pact last year that the (player of the year) will come from the championship team.

Stats

With its 120-75 victory over College of the Desert in a Foothill Conference game Saturday night, the Antelope Valley men’s basketball team established season highs for points and margin of victory.

It was the seventh 100-point game for the Marauders and fifth in seven games.

Westlake High junior point guard Steve Aylsworth has made 78 three-point shots this season, breaking the school record (73) set by Jason Bedell last season.

Things to Do

Valley College (18-11, 7-1) will play host to Santa Monica (22-8, 7-1) tonight at 7:30 in a men’s basketball game that probably will determine the Western State Conference South Division championship.

Cal State Northridge will play at Pepperdine today in a nonconference baseball game at 2 p.m.

* Compiled by Irene Garcia. Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Dave Desmond, Steve Elling, Rob Fernas, Jeff Fletcher, John Lynch and John Ortega.