Finalists Selected on Friday

It’s out with the pretenders and in with the contenders for Cal State Northridge’s vacant football head coaching job.

The school’s search and screening committee formed to find Jim Fenwick’s replacement will decide Friday which candidates to interview next week.

Paul Bubb, Northridge’s athletic director, said the committee met Wednesday but did not choose the finalists.

“I think we’ve got a better idea right now,” Bubb said. “It’s been a good process. . . . I think it’ll be between three and five [finalists].”

Fenwick resigned Jan. 5 to become offensive coordinator at New Mexico.

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When the Moorpark women’s basketball team was in the state playoffs last season, Janim Halsey was a soldier in Texas, studying physical therapy.

“They all wrote me letters a couple of times about it,” said Halsey, a 5-foot-7 sophomore forward. “I kinda missed out. But, hopefully, we’ll all get there again.”

Halsey, who enlisted in the Army as a senior at Newbury Park High, is on active duty on the basketball court this season. After spending last season serving her country, Halsey has returned to provide much-needed rebounding for the Raiders.

Moorpark, which has emerged as a formidable program in three seasons under Coach Sherry Ruter, was 13-7 entering a Western State Conference North Division opener Wednesday night at Santa Barbara.

Halsey, who played for Moorpark two seasons ago, averages 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, second to teammate Melissa Shoden’s averages of 14.2 and 8.7.

Halsey, who remains an Army reservist, relishes the role of power forward, where she battles the opponents’ tallest players. An aspiring physical therapist, Halsey isn’t one to avoid getting physical.

“I’m only 5-7, so I try to use my quickness,” Halsey said. “I have to guard the other teams’ big girls. Sometimes it’s a mess.”

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With the return this week of wing Gianandrea Marcaccini and a six-game winning streak, the Valley men’s basketball team will be tested in a WSC South Division opener Saturday night against visiting Santa Monica.

Santa Monica (18-2) is ranked No. 1 in the state. Valley is ranked No. 12 in the state and No. 6 in Southern California.

Marcaccini, a 6-4 sophomore from Crespi High, suffered nerve and muscle damage in his lower back when he fell three weeks ago in the Desert tournament. Marcaccini was cleared to play in the Monarchs’ division opener Wednesday night at Canyons.

“He’s a little tentative right now,” Valley Coach Doug Michelson said. “But he’s very tough and that’s half the battle.”

Center Leon Brisport ranks among conference leaders in scoring (16.3 points a game) and rebounding (7.8).

Santa Monica, which was defeated by Moorpark in December, has a balanced attack led by sophomores Darwin Carter, Calvin Criddle and Alex Carcamo.

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