Innocence Lost: High Schools Deal With Threat of Violence

The innocence of high school sports continues to fade in a society that has become increasingly violent.

The latest example occurred last Friday night at Dominguez High in Compton. In the waning minutes of a boys’ basketball game between Dominguez and Lynwood, a fight among several fans broke out in the bleachers. A security officer on duty rushed to break up the fight, carrying a pistol in his right hand aimed toward the ceiling, according to several eyewitnesses.

When a loud sound followed shortly thereafter, many in attendance thought the officer had fired, causing pandemonium among the 1,500 in attendance.

No arrests were made and no injuries reported, the Compton Police Dept. said. Compton Unified School District police continued their investigation into the matter Monday, but still have made no public comment.

The game was stopped with 4 minutes 50 seconds remaining and Lynwood leading, 65-64. San Gabriel League officials will meet today to decide the outcome.

It was a frightening end for those who went to see two of the top teams in the Southland. Unfortunately, it was not an isolated incident.

Gunfire ended the Dorsey-Crenshaw football game in October of 1991, sending fans and players running for cover and causing officials to stop the game in the fourth quarter.

Fear of gang violence and brawls have ended other contests early as well.

School districts attempt to provide necessary security, but administrators cannot control outside elements.

“We live in a very violent society these days,” said Hal Harkness, City athletic commissioner. “Luckily, our athletic events have been pretty neutral territory for much of what happens outside on the streets. I’m thankful my biggest fears have not been realized. But no one can predict the chain of events.”

Harvey Kitani, boys’ basketball coach at Fairfax High, consoled players and turned into a counselor last Thursday, hours after a 16-year-old student was shot at the school while attending class.

Demetrius Rice, a football player, was shot and killed when a classmate’s gun accidentally went off in his backpack, hitting the left side of Rice’s body.

As the news spread, Kitani said is was difficult for him to concentrate on basketball. Although practice was held, it was shortened after only five players showed up.

“A lot of the parents were so upset, they told their children to come home immediately,” Kitani said. “I was not about to argue.”

Kitani, who has been at Fairfax for 11 years, met with his team Thursday and again Friday to discuss the incident and answer questions.

“The main thing I told my team if that I hope we can all learn something by this,” Kitani said. “Kids are growing up in a difficult time, and unless they start doing something to make it better, it will not get any better.”

Stanford football Coach Bill Walsh continues to get oral commitments from the top recruits in the Southland. Running back Eliel Swinton of Van Nuys Montclair Prep picked the Cardinal late last week, joining three other prominent local players.

Swinton, 5-feet-10 and 185 pounds, chose Stanford over Notre Dame. He rushed for 2,384 yards last season, leading the Mounties to the Southern Section Division IX championship.

“Even though Notre Dame has a football tradition, Stanford has a great academic tradition,” said Swinton, who plans to major in pre-med.

Swinton will be joined at Stanford by Tim Carey of Los Alamitos, the most recruited quarterback in the state.

Players can sign letters of intent beginning Feb. 3.

Bob Seagren, owner of Marketing and Financial Management Inc. in Woodland Hills, is excited about the possibility of becoming a key player in future business endeavors for the California Interscholastic Federation.

M&FM; is the leading candidate to replace School Properties, Inc., of Yorba Linda as the marketing arm of the CIF. A decision will be made at a council meeting Friday in San Francisco.

Seagren, who attended Pomona High and USC, won a gold medal in the pole vault in the 1968 Olympics and a silver in 1972.

“The CIF definitely needs some help,” Seagren said. “They need some new sponsors. Our focus will be more on the non-traditional sources of revenue. It has to be a win-win situation for everyone.”

The CIF’s main sponsors, Reebok and Pepsi-Cola, recently announced they will be reducing their financial involvement.

Prep Notes

John Robinson received his first major commitment last week when running back Saladin McCullough of Pasadena Muir picked USC. McCullough, 5-10 and 180, gained 2,142 yards and scored 36 touchdowns last season. . . . The City soccer finals will be played Friday at Birmingham High in Van Nuys. The girls’ final, between Chatsworth and Van Nuys Grant, begins at 2 p.m., and the boys’, teams to be determined, is set for 4:30.

Times’ Top 20 Basketball Polls

The Times’ top 20 high school basketball polls, with teams from the City and Southern Sections.

BOYS

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Mater Dei SS I-A 21-1 1 2. Dominguez SS II-AA 15-1 2 3. Crenshaw City 4-A 12-2 10 4. JW North SS II-AA 19-0 4 5. Morningside SS III-A 18-4 5 6. Artesia SS II-A 15-3 6 7. N. Hollywood City 4-A 16-1 7 8. Hunt. Beach SS I-A 17-3 8 9. Thousand Oaks SS I-A 17-1 12 10. Washington City 4-A 14-2 3 11. Fremont City 4-A 12-4 11 12. St. John Bosco SS II-AA 15-2 13 13. Pasadena SS I-A 16-5 14 14. Cres. Valley SS II-AA 16-2 NR 15. Muir SS II-A 17-5 9 16. Manual Arts City 4-A 13-5 16 17. Lynwood SS I-AA 13-6 NR 18. B. Montgomery SS III-AA 14-2 18 19. Fontana SS I-AA 17-2 19 20. Trabuco Hills SS II-AA 17-4 20

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GIRLS

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Lynwood SS I-AA 16-0 1 2. Thousand Oaks SS I-A 19-0 2 3. Buena SS I-A 11-2 3 4. Brea-Olinda SS II-AA 17-2 4 5. Perris SS I-A 19-0 5 6. Morningside SS III-AA 14-2 6 7. Crenshaw City 4-A 12-2 7 8. St. Bernard SS IV-AA 16-4 9 9. Millikan SS I-AA 14-4 13 10. LB Poly SS I-AA 16-3 15 11. Santa Ynez SS IV-AA 18-1 11 12. Ventura SS II-A 12-3 17 13. Hunt. Beach SS I-A 16-3 14 14. Marina SS I-A 14-3 19 15. Costa Mesa SS III-A 17-4 NR 16. Gahr SS II-AA 15-4 16 17. Nordhoff SS IV-AA 16-0 18 18. HH Wilson SS II-AA 17-1 20 19. Alemany SS III-AA 17-4 10 20. Ch. Islands SS I-AA 16-4 12