State CIF Panel Denies Protest by Ocean View

A State CIF appeal panel has denied a protest on behalf of the Ocean View High School basketball program and upheld Southern Section sanctions barring the Seahawks from participating in the 1986 playoffs, State CIF Commissioner Thomas Byrnes announced Thursday.

A three-member panel comprised of representatives from three other CIF sections heard Ocean View’s appeal of sanctions handed down by the Southern Section Executive Committee at a hearing Wednesday at Ontario International Airport. The panel is expected to present a written decision on the matter within the next two weeks, but a verbal decision was announced by Byrnes Thursday.

“After careful review, it was the judgment of the panel to sustain the Southern Section’s position and deny the appeal based on the sanctions,” Byrnes said.

Ocean View was ordered to forfeit the Sunset League championship and 24 victories from the 1984-85 season after Coach Jim Harris was found to have violated CIF rules pertaining to “undue influence” in retaining players Ricky Butler and Desi Hazely at the school. Ocean View was also instructed to return its Southern Section runner-up trophy from the 1985 playoffs, and was ruled ineligible for postseason play in the 1985-86 season.

Ocean View’s appeal Wednesday concentrated on the sanction barring the Seahawks from the 1986 playoffs, should they qualify. Harris said he was not surprised to learn the appeal panel had upheld the sanctions imposed by the Southern Section.

“It was disappointing, but not totally unexpected,” Harris said. “It’s difficult to expect an organization to overrule itself.”

Harris said after the hearing that he would “carry this to its logical conclusion.” The next step is taking the matter to court, which Harris said he is prepared to do.

Harris was represented by attorneys Raymond Alvarado and John Saginaw at the appeal hearing, and Saginaw said Thursday that legal action may be forthcoming.

“I talked to Mr. Harris and we’re considering exactly how we’re going to proceed at this point,” Saginaw said.

He added that “there has been discussion” about obtaining an injunction to enable Ocean View to participate in the 1986 playoffs, and that a further course of action will be planned when the written decision of the appeal panel is received.

Said Harris: “Simply, we’re going on.”