Basketball Hopes for Pierce Rest on Couch

Jim Couch, struggling to rebuild a floundering women’s basketball program at Pierce College, turned to his daughter for help.

“Will you be my assistant?” Couch asked.

“Sorry, Dad,” she replied. “I want to play.”

And so, Carlyn Couch, 26, a former all-Southern Section forward for her father at Bell-Jeff High, has returned to the hardwood after 10 years to provide experience and much-needed rebounding skills for the Brahmas.

Couch, Pierce’s oldest player, has worked her way into the starting lineup and is averaging six points and eight rebounds. But the Brahmas (1-5), who start play Saturday in the Fullerton tournament against Mt. San Antonio, are still struggling.

Carlyn, a former Times’ All-Valley selection and San Fernando Valley League most valuable player, graduated in 1988 and attended Cal State Los Angeles, where she ran track and did not play basketball. She left school before graduating to work.

Her decision to return to school coincided with her father’s move to the college ranks.

“I was planning on going back to school and I was going to attend Glendale,” she said. “But when he got the job, I said, ‘What the heck, I’ll attend Pierce.’

“Although I’m a little older, I think I still have it. I really enjoyed playing for my dad before. I don’t think I’ve gotten it out of my system. [Teammates] forget how old I am. It’s kinda cool.”

Jim Couch, who guided Bell-Jeff to a Division IV title last season, inherited a team that was 1-28 in 1996-97 and finished with only four players.

The Brahmas’ roster this season includes Cheryl and Felicia Flores (no relation), members of Bell-Jeff’s championship team. Couch initially was reluctant to add another former Bell-Jeff player--even if he was familiar with her reputation.

“I hesitated a little bit,” he said. “It’s a little bit difficult coaching your own kid. You never forget that. Once they’re your kid, they’re always your kid. But she’s older and she should be able to handle it. I’m older, maybe I’ll be able to handle it.”

Father and daughter so far have gotten along fine.

“I think we both kind of work well with one another,” she said. “Of course, you know we have our conflicts. But I think we work through them because of the bond. I’m an adult and he has respect for me as an adult.”

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Members of the women’s basketball team of Linn-Benton, a junior college in Albany, Ore., might return home not knowing what to make of local basketball. The Roadrunners play consecutive games Monday and Tuesday against Oxnard and Ventura.

Oxnard is winless in seven games and is coming off a 74-18 loss to Valley.

Ventura is 14-1, ranked No. 1 in the state and two-time defending state champion.

“It’ll be an interesting observation of Southern California basketball,” said Ned Mircetic, Ventura’s coach.

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The Antelope Valley men’s basketball team entered the Sequoias tournament at Visalia ranked No. 8 in the state. The Marauders dropped consecutive games--including one to Monterey Peninsula, 85-84, after blowing a 34-12 lead--extending their losing streak to three.

They also lost a lot more.

Freshman center Le’Tre Kelly, a former standout at Antelope Valley High, suffered torn knee ligaments against Bakersfield and might be out for the remainder of the season. Kelly ranks second on the team in scoring with a 14.2 average and is averaging 7.1 rebounds.

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More tournaments lie ahead for the region’s top teams.

Antelope Valley enters the Canyons tournament Saturday against Moorpark. Canyons plays East L.A. at 7 p.m. The tournament final is Monday at 6 p.m.

Valley plays Mt. San Jacinto on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the opening round of the Desert tournament.