Camino Beats PCC but Coach Drops Fighters

El Camino College Coach Paul Landreaux had no time to savor his team’s 87-77 victory over Pasadena City College on Wednesday night in the Warrior gym.

He had more pressing matters.

Landreaux announced after the game that starters Charles White and Arlandis Rush had been kicked off the team for a shoving match with Pasadena players toward the end of the contest.

White went up for a layup on a fast break and was fouled by Pasadena’s Darren Gipson. White grabbed the ball and threw it at Gibson, precipitating the shoving.

“They don’t understand what it takes to become successful,” Landreaux said. “They try to play and work hard on the court, and we try to show them to do the same off the court. They were getting to the point where they were not responding the way we like.”

White, a 6-7, 190-pound sophomore headed for Purdue, was apologetic.

“I was just frustrated,” he said, “I apologized to the coach and the players from Pasadena. I know a lot of them, because I’m from that area. I was frustrated the whole game.”

Rush said, “I’m disappointed in myself. I’m embarrassed. This is a high-class program, and the actions of myself and Chuck were deplorable, definitely not called for.”

Both players said they would ask for reinstatement, but Landreaux said he was steadfast in his decision.

Kirkland Howling led Warrior scorers with 21 points, while Rush and White chipped in 16 points apiece.

El Camino, ranked first in the state polls, improved to 22-2 overall and 6-1 in South Coast Conference play, while Pasadena fell to 2-5 and 14-8 overall.