SPORTS

FULLER UP

College basketball teams begin practice Saturday, signaling the start of the Tony Fuller era at Pepperdine.

Fuller, who replaced Tom Asbury as coach, will conduct his first practice at 1 p.m. at Firestone Fieldhouse.

“We’re going to do a lot of conditioning and play a couple pickup games,” Fuller said. “I’m really excited to get a chance to work with my team.”

The Waves, however, will be without 6-foot-11 center Gavin Vanderputten and 7-1 center Jamar Holcomb. Vanderputten underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee three weeks ago and Holcomb broke a knuckle on his left hand. Vanderputten is expected to miss a week of practice and Holcomb will be out six to eight weeks.

Fuller says he has a young team and will not expect too much too soon.

“There’s going to be a lot of teaching and a lot repetition,” Fuller said. “I don’t want them to try and get into midseason form by the first week of practice.”

Fuller has been busy scheduling tournaments for future seasons. The Waves will compete in tournaments at New Mexico and Nebraska in 1995, at Syracuse and Arizona State in 1996 and at Brigham Young University in 1997.

RECRUITING TRAIL

Matt Jager, a prized basketball prospect from Vista High of San Diego, lists Pepperdine as one of his semifinalists, according to his coach, Kevin Barbarick.

Jager, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists and was selected to the all-state team by Cal-Hi Sports magazine. He is also a two-time selection to the All-San Diego County team and participated in the Adidas ABCD national basketball camp in Teaneck, N.J.

Jager also is considering Ohio University, Oregon State and Brigham Young.

The early signing period begins Nov. 9.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Culver City can take pride in the fact that it was the only high school football team to beat Mira Costa last season.

The Centaurs defeated the 1993 Division VII champions, 21-20, when Mira Costa running back Phil Fonua fumbled during the closing minutes of the game.

It was the only loss for Mira Costa under Coach Don Morrow, who has a 17-1 record in two seasons. The two teams meet Friday at Mira Costa in a game that could determine the Ocean League championship.

“They like to pound the ball down your throat,” Culver City Coach Robert Moore said. “They have bigger players than we do and they like to play smash-mouth football.”

Last week, the Mustangs beat Beverly Hills, 27-7. Mira Costa had 297 rushing yards, including 164 yards and two touchdowns from standout running back Mike Fikes. Aki Wilson rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns as Culver City beat Morningside, 30-18.

“Their biggest weakness is that they can’t pass,” Moore said. “We just hope they fall behind and have to worry about the clock.”

The Mustangs will be without Fonua and Dino Rossi, two All-Southern Section Division VII all-stars. Fonua, a preseason All-American nose tackle, suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Rossi, a receiver and defensive back, had surgery to repair a torn knee ligament.

SPECIAL K

Kiff Kimber has been selected men’s and women’s swimming coach at Santa Monica College, Athletic Director Avie Bridges said Tuesday.

Kimber has been the Corsair women’s swimming coach the past two seasons and worked with men’s coach Stu Blumkin. Kimber and Blumkin were hired as part-time coaches in 1992 when longtime men’s and women’s coach John Joseph retired.

Bridges said the school made a decision to combine both programs under one part-time coach in the spring because of budgetary reasons.

Kimber, Blumkin and two other candidates were interviewed for the job.

“We’re pleased to have Kiff,” Bridges said. “We feel she has done an excellent job in the past and we’re looking forward to her directing both programs to a new level and new era.”

Prior to arriving at Santa Monica, Kimber was the head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at El Camino College from 1983-88. She was a physical education instructor at UC San Diego in 1991.

Kimber, who has a master’s degree from Long Beach State, is currently a part-time physical education instructor at Santa Monica and East Los Angeles colleges.

QUOTEBOOK

Bob Yarnall, a longtime St. Bernard baseball coach who was pressed into service as a football coach, talked about the difference between coaching the two sports: “In baseball, you pat them on the back. In football, you kick them in the rear. In football, you watch game films to try and find your opponents’ weaknesses and then exploit them. In baseball, you try to find your weakness and hide him in right field. Baseball is a thinking man’s sport. Football is a rah-rah sport.”. . . .

Palisades Coach Russ Howard on his team’s positive attitude despite an 0-4 start: “When I talk, they still keep their eyes up and pay attention. They’re not sulking.”

MISCELLANY

Former Beverly Hills standout David Saraf is an integral part of El Camino College’s offense, which is ranked first in the state.

Saraf has helped El Camino (4-0) average 561 yards and 44 points a game. . . .

In its first home soccer match in history, the Santa Monica College women’s team lost to Moorpark, 6-0, Friday at Clover Field. The Corsairs are 0-2 entering Tuesday’s match against Oxnard. They play host to Bakersfield on Friday.