No At-Large Berth for Thousand Oaks

The Thousand Oaks High boys’ basketball team will not be considered for the at-large berth in the Southern California regional playoffs, the school learned Thursday.

Thousand Oaks (26-2) lost to Huntington Beach, 58-50, Wednesday in a Division I-A semifinal. Coach Ed Chevalier indicated afterward that the team would continue to practice and petition for the at-large berth.

But the CIF office said the at-large berth will be given to a team from outside the Southern Section, according to Jim O’Brien, assistant athletic director at Thousand Oaks.

Hart Coach Mike May and senior swingman Matt Steffe have been selected the Foothill League’s coach and player of the Year. In his first season at Hart, May led the team to an 18-8 record, the league title and the second round of the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs. Steffe led the league in scoring (21.4) and rebounding (9.8).

Moorpark High Coach Tim Bednar has been selected the Frontier League’s coach of the year. Nordhoff junior swingman Mark Sebek was chosen player of the year. Bednar led the Musketeers to third place in league and to the quarterfinals of the Division III-A playoffs. Sebek led the league in scoring (17.8) and rebounding (11.4).

Volleyball

The Cal State Northridge men’s volleyball team, winner of its last four matches, will participate in the UCLA/J.P. Mitchell Classic beginning today at Pauley Pavilion.

The third-ranked Matadors open against USC today at 5:30 p.m. Top-ranked UCLA (9-1) meets fifth-ranked Hawaii (12-2) at 7:30.

Northridge has only one victory over USC (4-4) in 24 previous meetings, but the Matadors (11-3), led by seniors Coley Kyman, Matt Unger, Ken Lynch and Axel Hager, are expected to advance to Sunday’s 4:30 p.m. championship match. The third-place match will be played Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Sandy Ford, a two-time All-Western State Conference player at Ventura College, has accepted a scholarship at Alabama next fall. Ford, a 5-9 outside hitter, is a Rio Mesa High graduate.

Nordhoff senior Allison Kerr has signed a letter of intent to play at Alaska-Anchorage next fall. Kerr, a 5-7 outside hitter, earned All-Southern Section and All-Frontier League honors. Alaska-Anchorage competes in NCAA Division II.

Football

Eliel Swinton, Montclair Prep’s all-time leading rusher, had his uniform number retired at the team’s football banquet on Wednesday night. A Swinton has worn No. 9 at Montclair Prep for nine of the previous 10 seasons, with the three brothers--Rich (1983-85), Jamal (1986-88) and Eliel (1990-92)--combining for 11,389 yards rushing.

Eliel, who is third on the state all-time list with 5,904 yards, has signed to play at Stanford next season. Rich played at Washington State and Jamal at Colgate.

Max Kim of Viewpoint School in Calabasas has been chosen the state’s top lineman in eight-man football.

“I think this is an indication of he respect that Max earned from other coaches,” said Steven Sherman, coach at Viewpoint.