Simi Valley to Retire MacLean’s Number 24

Don MacLean, a sophomore forward at UCLA, will return to Simi Valley High to have his uniform number retired before the Pioneers’ game with Camarillo on Feb. 2.

MacLean, who wore No. 24, holds every significant Simi Valley scoring record, including most points in a career (2,343) and single season (1,008).

The 6-foot-10 MacLean led Simi Valley to a Southern Section 4-A Division title as a senior in 1988 and to the 4-A final as a sophomore in 1986.

MacLean was a freshman All-American last season at UCLA.

Glendale women’s basketball coach Robert Hooper resigned effective Jan. 2, and has been replaced by Lee Balkin.

An assistant track coach and world-class high jumper, Balkin was pressed into action with the women’s basketball team during Christmas break. He will be assisted by Dollie Lucero.

“I’m learning as I go along,” said Balkin, who competed in track but not basketball at UCLA. “Right now, (Dollie and I) are sort of co-coaches. We’re working together.”

A former Glendale player, Lucero had also assisted Hooper, who was in his second season as the Glendale coach.

Balkin has been an assistant track coach at Glendale for three years and also teaches some physical education classes.

“Right now my prime concern is just getting the team turned around,” Balkin said. “I just sort of stepped into this position.”

Glendale lost to Pierce, 81-47, in its first game with Balkin as coach.

Former Hart High and College of the Canyons center Mitch McMullen has been released by the Santa Barbara Islanders of the Continental Basketball Assn.

McMullen averaged 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20 games.

Jack Elway, Cal State Northridge’s head football coach from 1976-78, has been named head coach of the London franchise of the new International League of American Football.

The Occidental College men’s basketball team meets Norton Air Force Base tonight at 8 in the first round of the four-team Occidental tournament.

Menlo College plays Southern California College in the other first-round game at 6 p.m.

Occidental (5-7) is coming off a 77-72 loss to Fontbonne College (Mo.) on Tuesday.

The Tigers are led by senior center Chris Anderson, who is averaging 15 points and 7.8 rebounds a game.