Toros Could Face Tough Fight Early in Cage Season

With an early season showdown looming Saturday night against NAIA power Biola University, Cal State Dominguez Hills opens its basketball season at 3 this afternoon against the University of Manitoba in the Cal Poly Pomona Tournament.

Should the Toros get by their Canadian rival and Biola stop the host Broncos at 7:30, the championship game at 7:30 Saturday night would showcase two of Southern California’s premier small schools.

“I feel good about (the Manitoba) game,” said Dominguez Hills Coach Dave Yanai, who starts his 12th season with a 166-127 record.

A concurrent women’s tournament at Pomona pits Dominguez Hills, under new Coach Van Girard, against Eastern Montana at 1 p.m. and it’s UC Davis vs. Pomona at 5:30.

In men’s competition, a Biola-Dominguez Hills match-up would provide an early indication of how good Dominguez Hills is. Biola is a perennial NAIA challenger. Last season the Eagles (31-5) reached the semifinals of the NAIA national tournament.

Although it was only 13-13 a year ago, Dominguez Hills is being touted as one of the school’s best teams in 5 years, perhaps one of the best ever under Yanai, who has won two consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. Coach of the Year awards.

“We’re better in some ways than teams in the past,” agreed Yanai, “But we’re bad in others ways.”

Yanai hopes the Toros, who won seven of their last 10 games last season, can push the ball up the floor more. Dominguez Hills averaged just 66 points a game last year.

“Usually the execution of your offense is off at this time of year,” Yanai said. “I’m very surprised with the way our offense is going right now.”

Six players, including Division II Player of the Year candidate Anthony Blackmon, return. Blackmon, a 6-7 senior forward/center, averaged 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game last year.

Also back are starting guards Derrick Clark and Robert Barksdale. Clark, a senior, averaged 9.8 points from the point. Barksdale, who won a starting job late last year, is expected to improve on his 7.6-point average.

A key Yanai barometer early in any season is the fortitude shown by new players.

“It’s getting the young ones to surface a little bit that is crucial to the team’s success,” he said.

Four new players should see plenty of action at two available forward spots: freshmen Marty Ward and Segaro Bozart and juniors Kenyatta Kalisana and Brian Johnson.

In the back court, sophomore Bryan Dell’Amico, an early season starter who lost his job to Barksdale, also returns.

In the women’s tournament, Girard hopes to unveil a new run-oriented program.

“We should be able to push the ball up the floor more,” said Girard, who used that running style in posting a 230-48 record at Lynwood High School.

Girard has also switched the Toros to a pressure defense.