NOTEBOOK : Tarver Holds Off College Decision After Narrowing Choices to Three

Shon Tarver came close to signing an early letter-of-intent, but the midnight Tuesday deadline passed without the Santa Clara basketball star making a decision.

“I wanted to sign with one school and then I changed my mind and wanted to sign with another,” Tarver said. “I felt if I make a decision now I would be rushing it and this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Tarver, a guard who averaged 22.1 points last season and was the State Division IV player of year, said he will make a decision between Syracuse, Nevada-Las Vegas and UCLA.

The next signing period will be held in April.

Lost appeal: Oxnard High had a hearing with the Southern Secton office Wednesday and lost its appeal to receive an at-large berth in the Division II playoffs.

Oxnard Coach Jack Davis and Oxnard Union High School District officials presented their case to a special appeals committee.

“The final judgement by the appeals committee was the at-large selection committee made the correct decision,” said Bill Clark, a Southern Section administrator in charge of football.

Oxnard finished fourth in the Channel League, but was passed over for the Division II at-large berth in favor of Santa Monica of the Bay League.

Record setters: Santa Clara running back Kwinn Knight set the Ventura County record for points in a season.

Knight had four touchdowns to increase his total to 174 points this year, breaking the previous mark of 168 set by John Johnson in 1987. . . .

Oxnard High quarterback Johnel Turner tied a school record by scoring six touchdowns in a 61-46 loss to Santa Barbara. Norris Fletcher, the first-year coach at Bishop Diego, set the mark in 1950.

More records: Buena quarterback Jason Isaacs and receiver Tony Williams teamed to set or tie eight team records.

Isaacs set a new mark for career yards passing (4,158), career touchdown passes (21), and career completions (291). Jerry Dunlap, now a backup quarterback at Nebraska, set the previous marks for yardage (2,320) and completions (193) in 1984 and ’85 seasons.

Denny Moore threw 14 touchdowns in 1968 to set both the career and single-season mark. Isaacs needs four more touchdowns to tie Moore’s single-season record.

Williams set a career records for touchdowns (20), receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,097). Marty Cherrie held old mark for touchdowns with 16 in 1972-73 and Dan Swainston the reception record with 67 during the 1967 and ’68 seasons. Jim Collins’ record for yards (1,030) was established during the 1987 and ’88 seasons.

Williams also surpassed two single-game marks. He had three touchdowns and two extra points against Oxnard to set the school mark for most points in a game (22) and tied the record for most touchdowns in a game. Pat Fitzsimmons had 19 points against Rio Mesa in 1966.

Beef squad: With his team trailing, 34-8, in the fourth quarter and heading for its ninth loss, St. Bonaventure Coach Damian Wilkerson decided to allow his players to have fun in its season finale against Oak Park.

Wilkerson called for the senior power I offense and the linemen took charge.

Ryan Garcia, a 5-10, 240 pound center, led the way with eight carries for 48 yards. Senior linemen John Kistler, Martin Gacasan, and Eddie Alvarez also got a chance to carry the ball.

But it was Garcia, nicknamed “The Chooch,” who got the most sideline cheers.

“Our team chanted Chooch, Chooch, Chooch,” Wilkerson said. “He was so tired after carrying the ball, he couldn’t move.”

“We lost, but we went out feeling good about ourselves and had fun at the end of the game.”

Ventura sinks: For the second consecutive year, Ventura High’s water polo team lost in the quarterfinals of the 2-A playoffs.

Ventura, which led, 5-2, when center Tim Norton was disqualified with his third foul, dropped a 9-8 decision to third-ranked Whittier (12-3) on Tuesday at Ventura College.

Ventura, ranked fifth, finished 19-4.

The Cougars set a school record for winning percentage (.826) and matched last year’s school-record with 19 victories.

Cardinals flying: The Ventura Cardinals (11-1) will play host to the Orange County Rhinos in the semifinals of the High Desert Football League playoffs Sunday at 1 p.m. at Oxnard High.

Ventura County beat San Fernando, 35-0, in a quarterfinal game last Sunday. Quarterback Joe Davis, an assistant coach at Oxnard High, completed 18 of 26 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rhinos (6-4) defeated the Riverside Rams, 44-0, last Sunday. Quarterback Rick Tedford threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns. Riverside was second in the league standings and Orange County was fourth.

The Orange County Cowboys play the West L.A. Falcons in the other semifinal game Sunday.

Answer man: Ventura College Coach Phil Passno’s answering machine summarizes every football coach’s desires:

” . . . If you are 6-8, weigh 280 pounds, and run 4.6 in the 40, definitely leave a number...”

Ex-Pirate update: Cal State Fullerton’s Cedric Ceballos, a former Ventura College player, is a pre-season All-Big West selection by Street & Smith’s magazine.

Ceballos, a 6-foot-7 senior, led the conference with a 21.8 scoring average last season and was second at 8.8 rebounds.

Former Pirate Tony Walker is playing at Loyola Marymount this season.