Herrera Driven to Play the Game

The program is on suspension, the players have disbanded and the coach remains AWOL.

But basketball season goes on for Danny Herrera of Ventura College . . . at Oxnard College.

Herrera, among more than a dozen players left stranded two weeks ago by the suspension of the Ventura men’s program, apparently is the only one still dribbling. But there’s a catch.

After attending classes during the day at Ventura, Herrera, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward, drives 10 miles to basketball practice at Oxnard, where last week he became an 11th-hour roster addition.

The state Commission on Athletics granted approval for Ventura players to transfer to Oxnard or Moorpark--schools in the Ventura County Community College District--in the event of Ventura not having a team this season.

Jimmy Sanders, a freshman point guard, also considered Oxnard. But Herrera is the only player to take advantage.

“All the other guys are sitting out,” Herrera said. “I guess they all thought it wasn’t worth it. I decided to play because I love the game too much. That’s the only reason.”

Herrera made his debut as a reserve Friday in a 101-80 season-opening loss to Sequoias. He played only a few minutes and did not score.

Herrera, who averaged 13.5 points and 11.5 rebounds as a senior at Santa Paula High in 1995, is determined to be in the thick of things this season. He convinced Oxnard Coach Ron McClurkin to grant him a tryout and joined the Condors last week.

So far, Herrera has spent practice time becoming acquainted with new teammates.

“[McClurkin] said to me, ‘You have to come in and want it,’ ” Herrera said. “The guys have accepted me. They’ve all told me to come in and go for it.”

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Ventura’s once-proud program, which won state titles in 1995 and 1996, is serving the first half of a two-year probation because of numerous violations of state rules.

Meanwhile, Coach Glen Hefferman, who last month moved to Chicago without resigning, remains incommunicado with school administrators. A replacement isn’t likely to be selected for months, said Dick James, Ventura’s athletic coordinator.

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Pairings for regional junior college football bowl games will be announced Monday by the Commission on Athletics.

Antelope Valley, which concludes its Foothill Conference season Saturday against visiting Victor Valley, will play host to the inaugural McDonald’s Bowl on Dec. 6.

The Marauders (6-3) are in second place at 5-2, a game behind San Bernardino Valley.

Despite subpar performances this season, Valley and Moorpark, which meet Saturday night at Moorpark in a Western State Conference Southern Division finale, remain in contention for a bowl game. Valley is 6-3 overall, Moorpark 5-4.

The inaugural state championship bowl game is scheduled for Dec. 13 at Cal State Fullerton. The game will pit the top team from the Northern and Southern regions of the state.

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Pierce might have blown its chance to end its two-year football losing streak by falling to Glendale, 28-21, in overtime last weekend. But Brahma Coach Bill Norton said he intends to return next season.

Pierce has lost 27 consecutive games, dating to October 1995. The Brahmas finish the season Saturday by playing host to Hancock, 4-0 in the WSC Northern Division.

“We have every reason to give up now, except one--pride,” Norton said. “We want to win so badly.”

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Although it looked extremely doubtful until last week, the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team will spend Thanksgiving Day weekend on the road.

The Matadors, despite finishing the Big Sky Conference season with two losses, clinched the No. 5 seeding for the conference tournament Nov. 28-29 at Eastern Washington or Cal State Sacramento.

The Eagles and Hornets are battling for first place and the right to host the tournament.

Northridge (14-14, 6-10 in Big Sky play) and the sixth-place team--Weber State, Idaho State or Montana--will be the only teams in the tournament with losing conference records.

The Matadors played their final 15 matches without team catalyst Nancy Ma, the junior outside hitter from China who tore ligaments and cartilage in a knee during a match on Sept. 27. She later underwent surgery.

* Staff writers Vince Kowalick and Fernando Dominguez contributed to this notes column.