Finishing Second Was Not All Bad for Coyotes

If losing in the final of the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament has diminished the feeling of accomplishment for Cal State San Bernardino, it should not.

This was the first trip to the tournament for the Coyotes (29-4), and few teams make it to the final on their first try.

North Dakota State defeated San Bernardino, 89-56, in the championship game at Fargo, N.D., for its second consecutive title.

San Bernardino knew ahead of the game that it faced a difficult task.

Playing the defending champion Bison in their home state was difficult enough, but it became even tougher with only eight players on the Coyote roster.

This lack of depth turned out to be a major factor in the outcome.

Felice Logan and Mary Alice Lott fouled out early in the second half, so San Bernardino, which had trailed by 11 points at halftime, was down to six players.

Then, two of San Bernardino’s stars, Kim Young and Tammie Beckley, were injured. Young finished the game despite a twisted ankle, but Beckley had to leave for a second time after she chased a loose ball into the stands and hyperextended a knee.

Chery’ll Few, San Bernardino’s only four-year player, led the Coyotes with 25 points and Young had 22. Both were named to the all-tournament team.

Although San Bernardino’s trash-talking and physical style of play did not win many friends among its opponents, Coach Luvina Beckley should be commended for taking a team of eight all the way to the final.

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Kenny Warren has played in five Final Fours during four years at Cal State Bakersfield.

Well, sort of.

Warren, a senior guard, went to four the traditional way as a member of Bakersfield’s basketball team.

Then he went a fifth time as the only Division II player invited to the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches All-Star game played during Final Four weekend Sunday.

So what if he didn’t play a lot and missed all seven of his shots.He played his style of game--five of those seven shots were three-point attempts.

Hey, it was only an exhibition.

Even if Warren had stood out, his chances of reaching the NBA were as slim as his 6-foot, 175-pound frame.

When it really counted--in the NCAA Division II final against Southern Indiana last week--Warren stood big and tall. He made 50% of his shots, including two three-pointers, for a game-high 21 points. He also had 11 assists.

His three-point shot from NBA range helped spark an 11-2 first-half run that put Bakersfield in command of the championship game.

“I remember feeling great last year, but this year was just indescribable,� Warren said.

Last season’s team was undefeated. This season’s was under pressure.

There wasn’t much talk of a second championship only three weeks ago, after Bakersfield lost in the CCAA tournament final.

During the conference tournament, the defense, which had been ranked second in the nation, gave up nearly 10 more points than its average. The offense was inconsistent at best. Star point guard Tyrone Davis said that even the victories seemed tough.

But the Roadrunners turned it around and ultimately defeated Southern Indiana, 92-86, to become only the third school to win consecutive NCAA Division II titles.

Bakersfield (27-6) is the first to do it in 25 years. The last was Kentucky Wesleyan in 1968 and 1969. Evansville accomplished the feat twice, in 1959 and 1960 and in 1964 and 1965.

Warren holds seven school records, all in three-point categories.