Notebook / Sam Farmer : Oregon St. Big Winner in Battle for Garrett

John Garrett made the decision as soon as he saw the school.

The Glendale High tackle knew he was going to give representatives from Oregon State a verbal commitment to play for their school next fall as soon as he visited the Corvallis, Ore., campus.

But he wasn’t about to let on right away.

“I just wanted to make them sweat,” said Garrett, an All-Pacific League offensive lineman and The Times’ 1988 All-Glendale Lineman of the Year.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get treated like that forever and I just wanted to suck it up.”

Garrett (6-4, 255 pounds), knuckled under Monday and announced his intention to sign a national letter of intent with Oregon State.

Garrett says the desire to play at a Pacific 10 school was a big factor in his decision.

“It’s the best football in the country and if you want to be the best you can be, the Pac 10 is the way to go,” he said.

Garrett also made trips to Brigham Young University and Utah.

Hoops hoopla: Michael Epps, an Eagle Rock High forward who recently broke the school’s career scoring record, says the mark had haunted him for much of the basketball season.

“I changed my shot because I wanted to get it off my mind,” said Epps, a 6-3 senior. “Everyone was bugging me and once I got it over with I could play like I can.”

In 2 seasons, Epps, who is averaging about 24 points a game, broke Hugo Mendoza’s 3-season record of 892 points.

Epps’ next hurdle?

“Now everyone’s telling me to score 1,000,” he said. “And I’m pretty sure I will.”

He’s probably right. Epps has scored 935 points and the Eagles (9-9, 5-4) have 4 regular-season games to play. They are likely to qualify for the City Section 3-A playoffs as well.

Promises, promises: The Hoover High basketball team has had little to smile about this season. But in a recent game against Arcadia, the Tornadoes (6-13) reached a goal set by Coach Kirt Kohlmeier--they held a team to less than 45 points.

The Apaches were limited to 43 points, thus obligating Kohlmeier to take his team out for pizza.

One problem, though. Hoover only scored 41 points.

Nevertheless, Kohlmeier says he’ll stick to his promise.

“I still can’t believe it, but it happened,” he said. “That’s the first time we’ve ever held a team to 45 and still lost.”

Winning ways: The Crescenta Valley High basketball team’s win over Muir last Friday did more than improve the Falcons’ record, it ensured the school of its 26th winning season in the 27 years it has had a senior class.

If Crescenta Valley makes the Southern Section playoffs, it will be the Falcons’ 18th post-season appearance in 21 years.

Life of Reilly: Pepe Reilly, 17, who just missed qualifying for the 1988 U. S. Olympic boxing team with a loss to Michael Carbajal, will embark on his first international trip Friday.

Reilly, a junior at Hoover High, will travel to Canada with a 12-member American Boxing Federation team and will fight in the 119-pound class.

The trip will serve as a tuneup for the U. S. Amateurs competition, which begins Feb. 11 in Anaheim.

Reilly is looking forward to flurrying on our northern neighbors.

“I’ve seen the Canadians fight,” Reilly said. “They’re not that good but they’re real tough.”

Spartans sputter: The La Canada High basketball team is 19-2, but Coach Tom Hofman is worried that his team is losing its intensity.

“I don’t think we’re real sharp right now,” Hofman said. “We start slow and have to have a big third quarter.

“Instead of getting better in league we’re kind of falling back a little bit.”

Hofman can’t be too concerned, however--La Canada is 6-0 in Rio Hondo League play, which puts it 2 games up on second-place Blair.