Sports Shorts

LAWN BOWLING: Neil McInnes--The top male lawn bowler in the United States practiced at Recreation Park in Long Beach last weekend before leaving for an international bowling carnival that begins Monday in Perth, Australia. The carnival is being held as part of the festivities surrounding the race for the America’s Cup off the coast of Western Australia. McInnes, a resident of Glendale, is one of only 21 participants invited to compete in the lawn bowling event, which features competition in both singles and doubles. McInnes chose to practice at Recreation Park because its greens are fast, much like those he will bowl on in Australia. “Recreation Park has the best greens in this country,” McInnes said.

Appointments--Paul Owen, a Long Beach resident, has been appointed chairman of the public relations and membership committee of the Southwest Division of the American Lawn Bowling Assn. He is the area’s foremost historian on lawn bowling. Manning Moore Jr. of Long Beach, a member of the Recreation Park Lawn Bowling Club, has been elected to the board of directors of the American Lawn Bowling Assn. Ray Denol, a member of the Long Beach Lawn Bowling Club, has been elected to a term on the greens committee of the Southwest Division. He is a resident of Long Beach.

CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION: Contract Extended--A new law has extended the contract between the California Interscholastic Federation and the state for overseeing California’s high school athletic programs.EXTENDED FOR HOW LONG? The CIF is divided into 10 geographic sections and governs more than 15,000 sports teams at both public and private institutions. Schools in the Southeast/Long Beach area are affiliated with either the City or Southern sections.

Office Addition--The Southern Section CIF office in Cerritos is being expanded. Included in the plans are new offices and an expanded conference room. The current conference room is scheduled to become the Southern Section Hall of Fame, featuring memorabilia from past sporting events. The building, near the corner of Studebaker Road and Artesia Boulevard, was constructed in 1965.

ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM: Cal-Hi Sports--Several area players have been chosen to the publication’s various all-state football teams. Defensive back Eugene Burkhalter of Poly High School was selected to the large school team. Teammate Leonard Russell, a running back, also was voted to the team, but in the multipurpose category. Immanuel Onwutuebe of Lynwood was voted as the all-star player with the “name of the year.” Sean McQuown of Valley Christian High School was chosen small schools team player of the year. Others voted to the small schools team included running back Chris Martin of Whittier Christian High and linebacker Eric Johnson of Valley Christian. Junior defensive back Lamont Hollinquest of Pius X High was chosen to the all-state underclass team.

BASKETBALL: Clayton Haynes--The Whitney High School point guard injured an ankle in a pick-up tackle football game in December and his playing status is “day-to-day,” according to Wildcat Coach Bruce Carlisle. Carlisle was not happy when he heard about the injury, but he maintained his sense of humor. “The worst thing about the mess is that his team lost the football game,” Carlisle said. Whitney (9-2) was a pre-season No. 1 pick, but was upset by Leffingwell Christian High, 62-56, in an Academy League game that Haynes missed.

Cindy Vyscocil--The Times’ All-Southeast selection from Whittier Christian High School scored 50 points in a game with Capistrano Valley Christian High recently.

Kari Parriott--The 6-2 center for Valley Christian High School scored 46 points and had 15 rebounds in a 64-42 win over Lakewood High School. Parriott missed last Friday’s Olympic League game with Capistrano Valley Christian because of a sprained knee, but returned Saturday to score 27 points in a 63-33 win over Ontario Christian.

Dave Holmquist--The Biola University Eagles’ 75-66 win over Cal Baptist in the Point Loma Tournament last week was his 200th as co-head coach at the university in La Mirada.Currently he is 201-45. Biola is 15-1 and ranked 10th in NAIA polls.

Howard Lyon--Biola University’s veteran coach, who shares duties with Holmquist, has now won 681 games in his career, which includes stints at Avalon, Poly and Millikan high schools.

Keith Billingslea--The former two-time All-Southeast selection from South Gate High School has appeared in 12 of 15 games for the Cal State Fresno Bulldogs this season. He is averaging just 2.8 points a game, although he scored 10 in a loss to the University of Montana in December. Billingslea is a freshman. Cal State Fresno is 6-9.

California High School--With eight seniors returning, the Condors have posted a 7-3 record and appear to be the favorite in the Whitmont League race. Three returning starters are scoring in double figures: Center Cory Hoffert (16.3); guard Pat Saldana (16.2) and swingman Jaiver Nungaray (12.9). At 6-feet-5, Hoffert is averaging 11.6 rebounds a game, while the 6-2 Nungaray averages 8 rebounds a game.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Dr. Vance Nelson--The state president of the California Interscholastic Federation had this to say about new California eligibility requirements for a 2.0 grade-point average for all students to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics: “Some of us (coaches and administrators) may feel that the strengthened requirements will be a detriment to a significant percentage of our students. But this is not really an argument that we face any longer. The Legislature has provided the direction. It is our responsibility to incorporate this law equitably into our programs.”