Yuba College men's basketball coach Doug Cornelius periodically asks his wife, Vicki, if coaching makes him look haggard. Her rolled eyes say yes.

"Oh yeah, she tells me I look lousy, bags under my eyes," Cornelius said.

Such is the toll of keeping a half-step ahead in a fast-break sport. Cornelius is steering a 29-3 team into a Northern California Community College regional playoff opener tonight against visiting West Hills with a clear view of the finish line. Adrenaline and anticipation keep the coach who goes by "Corn" awake at 3 in the morning. He is inspired by history – of his program and the anemic NorCal success in state tournaments.

The 49ers' basketball team was an afterthought before Cornelius took charge 10 years ago. Yuba College has ascended swiftly, winning six consecutive Bay Valley Conference titles, advancing to the State Elite 8 three times with numerous players going on to four-year schools on scholarship.

The 49ers are seeded second in the state bracket and aspire to win the finals at Cosumnes River College on March 10-11. The only regional team to win a community college state men's basketball championship is Sacramento City with All-American guard Kenny Drummond in 1986.

A state title would be a career highlight for Cornelius, a three-sport athlete at Shasta High School in the mid-1980s.

His résumé includes a stint as video coordinator for the Kings under former coach Garry St. Jean from 1992 to 1994. He helped coach the WNBA Monarchs for three seasons, and he coached semipro teams during the summers.

Community college coaching provides the ultimate challenge, with no binding letters of intent or contracts to secure players.

Still, Cornelius culled talent from the surrounding regions this season. Yuba is led by 6-foot-3 wing Spencer Butterfield from Del Oro High School. He competes with a football mentality, sacrificing mind and body when tumbling for a loose ball. Averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, Butterfield has soaring interest from colleges, including Pacific, San Jose State, Utah State and Utah.

"Toughest kid I've ever coached," Cornelius said. "He has no regard for his body. He is so physically and mentally tough, so banged up and bruised, and if you try to keep him out of a practice to rest, he'll fight with you."

Cody Kale of Rocklin High is the Yuba point guard, a transfer from Cal State Bakersfield averaging 11.2 points. Other key players include 6-8 forward Kevin Crabb of Roseville (8.6 points), wing Anthony Romero of Rocklin (12.9 points) and forward Anto Olah (6.5) of Australia.

Besides talent, teams need a bit of luck to reach the state tournament, never mind win it. Yuba has had its run of bad luck and bounces in the tournament.

In 2004, with a Final 4 spot on the line, the 49ers lost to College of the Sequoias on a half-court buzzer beater. In 2007, the 49ers lost to Ventura – again with the Final 4 at stake. It didn't help when Ventura later forfeited the 2007 season for using ineligible players.

In 2008, Yuba's 32-3 team was derailed by Fullerton a day after losing guard Courtney Tyler to a blown knee.

"It's been hard for the NorCal teams to win it all, but that's changing a little with San Francisco winning it last year," Cornelius said. "There's such a large talent pool in Southern California, a lot more JCs. But we can do it."

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Joe Davidson and Mike Finnerty host the SureWest Sports Radio Show each Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. on ESPN 1320.

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