Santa Clara High Might Face Sanctions for No-Show

Santa Clara High School faces possible sanctions for failing to appear at its consolation-round boys’ basketball game in the South Coast Christmas tournament Thursday, Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas said.

Santa Clara, located in Oxnard, did not show for its game against Laguna Hills at Estancia High in the wake of its 39-38 second-round loss to Edison on Wednesday. Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich blamed the loss on the officiating, which he felt favored Edison.

Cvijanovich would not comment Thursday.

Santa Clara’s refusal to play breaks a contract it had with the tournament and violates Southern Section rules governing athletic contracts, said Thomas.

“This is a serious, serious violation and he’ll (Cvijanovich) be accountable to his school’s principal and the Southern Section,” Thomas said. “He (Cvijanovich) knows better than to violate a contract.”

Laguna Hills Coach Joe Reid put his team through an intrasquad game Thursday evening in which junior guard Todd Peterson sustained an injury to his left ankle.

“We were going to write them (Santa Clara) a nasty letter anyway,” said Art Perry, Estancia activities director. “This (Peterson’s ankle injury) just adds fuel to the fire.”