By Jon Haber

Special to the Daily Press

SMC For 27 years, the Santa Monica College women’s basketball team has been on the outside of the California State Championship Tournament picture looking in. That streak is over.

For the first time since 1981, the Corsairs women will advance to the postseason after wrapping up the Western State Conference title last Saturday in a 79-70 victory over West Los Angeles College.

The Corsairs won their final eight games of the regular season to clinch the conference title and a trip to the tournament.

“The first day of practice, we had the girls turn around and look at the empty [championship] banners in the gym,” SMC head basketball coach Lydia Strong said. “They wanted to be the first team to win it.”

No. 16-seeded SMC will take their first step toward that season-long goal tonight against No. 18-seeded Antelope Valley in Santa Monica at 7 p.m.

“We have a lot of excitement, I really can’t explain it,” said SMC forward and league MVP Zedra Slaton.

SMC will rely heavily on four stars that have led the Corsairs through their late-season playoff push. Slaton (16.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg), center Jasmine English (14.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and point guard Dakiya Cunnington (12.5 ppg, 6 apg) all received Western State Conference first team honors. And forward Jewell Morris (11.1 ppg, 8 rpg) received honorable mention.

“There will be no change when we play in the tournament,” Strong said. “We need everyone to play hard as possible and play together.”

STRONG HONORED

Strong, after 23-years of coaching experience, including seven at SMC, received Coach of the Year honors Saturday at the end of the regular season.

Strong coached her team out of a tough pre-season record and into the state tournament. She couldn’t be more proud of her players.

“I’m very happy about (the honors) but more happy about the team of course,” she said. “It’s nice to get it, no question. It’s great for the program.”

“I’m happy for her,” Slaton said. “She deserved it.”

MEN’S TEAM GETS IN TOO

After six hours of waiting Monday, the SMC men’s basketball team received word they also made it into the California State Championship Tournament.

The team compiled a 17-14 record under first-year head coach Jesse Teplitzky, who is proud of what his team accomplished in just one year.

“It was the first winning season for the program in five years,” he said. “So for me, it was a success to get the program back into being a winner.”

The SMC men’s team will play Cerritos College at Cerritos Wednesday. Tip-off time is set for 7 p.m.

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