Despite Loss in CCAA Title Game, Toros Say Program Is Now a Winner

Friday’s 57-45 loss to Cal Poly Pomona in the championship game of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament was not as disappointing as it could have been for the Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team.

The loss will probably keep the Toros out of the NCAA Division II playoffs, but Coach Van Girard and his players are confident the program has finally turned around.

“Regardless of what happened in our last game there’s been nothing but success for us this season,” Girard said. “It was like we were on a mission. They really clicked well into the second and third ball games of conference. These ladies really believed they could achieve these dreams.”

Dominguez Hills went from last in the CCAA in the 1990-91 season to second place this season. It was the Toros’ first appearance in the four-team CCAA tournament and making it to the championship game could be considered as a monumental feat.

“That’s why I’m not crying right now even though we’re not going to the NCAA playoffs,” said senior forward-center Cheri Bullet, who was named to the all-tournament team. “We got this far and we made a name for this school.”

The Toros were not at their best against Pomona. When the teams played Feb. 21, Dominguez Hills put up a fight before losing, 61-60, at Carson.

But on Friday at Pomona’s Kellogg Gym, the Toros set a school record for lowest shooting percentage (24%) from the field in a game. Only one player, Bullet, scored in double figures (12). She also led the Toros with 11 rebounds.

“Everybody was nervous and we didn’t play team ball,” Bullet said. “We kept rushing the ball and we never settled down.”

Senior guard LaRonda Poydras, who will be a graduate assistant next season, says the Toros’ biggest problem was a mental one.

“We were so eager to play and we got so pumped up that we didn’t play well. I think we just tried too hard,” said Poydras, the Toros’ second-highest scorer with eight points.

But Dominguez Hills had already made its point in one of the nation’s toughest Division II conferences.

Three starters will return next season and although replacing Bullet’s 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds a game will be difficult, Girard has big plans.

“We got a lot of people that we’re talking to,” Girard said. “We got a great (community college) player and some freshmen and we have a redshirt point guard, Katina Duncan, who was an All-CIF player at Eisenhower High.”

Pomona Coach Darlene May, who has seen Dominguez Hills struggle in previous seasons, agrees that the Toros will be a force in the CCAA. May, who has led the Broncos to 11 consecutive CCAA titles and three NCAA Division II championships, said hiring Girard from Lynwood High in 1988 was the turning point.

“Since Van got there I’ve taken them very seriously,” she said. “They’ve gotten better and better since he arrived there. There’s been lots of improvement. He’s a great coach.

“I’m not kidding, 10 years ago it used to be like, ‘Oh well, we’re playing Dominguez Hills today.’ Not any more.”

Perhaps the Toros can give Pomona a better challenge next season. Junior forward Dionne Vanlandingham, who averaged 10.6 points a game and 7.2 rebounds, thinks the Dominguez Hills can return to the CCAA championship game.

“Oh yeah, next year we’ll be here,” she said. “We’ll be better next year. We’re already good and now we know what it’s like to be in a championship game.”