Events on Hold as Damage Is Assessed

Monday’s earthquake left high school athletic administrators scrambling, wondering when and if practices and games will be able to return to a normal schedule.

Because Monday was a holiday and school was not in session, nothing was immediately affected. But administrators were certain many schools would have to cancel scheduled events until all facilities are deemed safe.

The 49 high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed again today, meaning practices for boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ soccer and wrestling will be canceled. Wednesday’s games are uncertain.

“We’ll just have to evaluate things on a day-to-day basis,” said Barbara Fiege, district athletic commissioner. “With a district this big, you try to go on as close to normal as possible, but at this point it’s probable some of our schools will have damage that will prohibit athletics.”

Fiege said that many gymnasiums were being used as emergency shelters, so some activities would probably have to be moved or canceled. Several schools in the San Fernando Valley are known to have been damaged, including Granada Hills Kennedy High.

“I haven’t seen the gym yet,” said Yutaka Shimizu, Kennedy’s boys’ basketball coach. “But I don’t see how we can play basketball right now. Many of my players are bused from far away, so they may have trouble just getting to the school.”

Jeff Halpern, boys’ basketball coach at Reseda, said he spoke with several players whose homes were heavily damaged. He said he had not driven past the school, but assumed that it would be several days before the team could play.

“We’re having a good season, but something like this really puts wins and losses in perspective,” he said.

Dean Crowley, Southern Section athletic commissioner, said his office will be open today, helping schools cancel or reschedule events as necessary.

“We’ll rely on our principals to decide what is possible and what isn’t,” Crowley said. “I’m certain several of our schools in the San Fernando Valley will not be safe enough for games. But we’re not going to have any forfeits. Teams that can’t play will be given the chance to reschedule or have a no contest.”

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With the national signing day for football two weeks away, several of the Southland’s top players are making unwritten commitments.

One of the area’s most highly regarded recruits, quarterback Scott Covington of Dana Hills in Dana Point, committed to Miami on Monday. Covington, 6 feet 4 and 180 pounds, had been heavily recruited by USC.

Covington completed 58% of his passes for 1,700 yards last season, even though the Dolphins finished 1-9.

“They (Miami) have a situation where they need a quarterback and they need one quick,” Covington said. “I’m very excited.”

Another of the area’ top recruits, Glenn Thompkins of Rialto Eisenhower, said reports that he had committed to UCLA were not true. Although he is high on the Bruins, he said, he is also considering Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas.

Thompkins, 5-9 and 165, played quarterback and defensive back for the Eagles, who finished the season 14-0 and won the Southern Section Division I title. He was selected player of the year in the Southland by The Times. He is being recruited as a wide receiver and defensive back.

“I don’t care what I play, as long as I’m on the field,” Thompkins said. “Being able to play right away is a major factor in my decision. UCLA has heavily recruited me since last August, and they’re my favorite right now.”

The Bruins have already received a commitment from another top local recruit, quarterback Steve Buck of Alta Loma. Buck, 6-4, 195, completed 56% of his passes for 1,700 yards last season.

Quarterback Leon Blunt of San Fernando, who committed to Notre Dame last month, said he still plans to sign with the Fighting Irish despite rumors that have him now leaning toward USC.

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The girls’ basketball team at Playa del Rey St. Bernard has been criticized by many of its rivals for not moving up a division this season. The Vikings won the State Division IV title last year and are among the top teams in the area.

St. Bernard competes in the Southern Section Division IV-AA. Division I-AA is for the largest schools and V-A for the smallest. Schools have the option of moving up one or more divisions, but they had to declare a change by Dec. 17.

“Because everyone on the outside thought we should move up, our administration met to discuss the matter,” Coach Lori Pawinski said. “But we opted to try and defend our title. We certainly feel we’re capable of competing with the Division I schools, but I am against moving up and down divisions every season. Some years you might be loaded and others years you won’t be. I feel its best to play schools that are similar in size.”

Pawinski is probably feeling better about her decision after last week. The Vikings lost to Mission Hills Alemany and Torrance Bishop Montgomery, dropping to 16-4.

Prep Notes

Marc Paez, boys’ basketball coach at Wilmington Banning, was ejected from last week’s game against Crenshaw after getting three technical fouls. Since none of his assistant coaches are paid, City Section rules required that the game be called. It ended with 3 minutes 5 seconds left in the first half and Crenshaw leading, 54-14. “(Paez) complained about the hard play because Crenshaw was doing a lot of hand-checking, but that’s going to happen,” said referee Eugene Conner. . . . The Roosevelt girls’ basketball team may have to forfeit nine victories for using an ineligible player, junior Jennifer Brambila. Brambila, a transfer from Wilson, will appeal.

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 19-0 1 2. Crenshaw City 4-A 14-2 2 3. Westchester City 4-A 16-3 3 4. Dominguez SS II-A 15-2 4 5. Fontana SS I-AA 16-1 5 6. Inglewood SS II-AA 15-3 6 7. JW North SS II-AA 16-0 7 8. Los Alamitos SS I-AA 15-3 8 9. St. John Bosco SS II-A 15-2 9 10. Hart SS I-A 18-1 10 11. S. Ana Valley SS I-AA 17-2 11 12. Santa Barbara SS II-AA 16-2 14 13. Manual Arts City 4-A 13-4 12 14. Warren SS I-A 14-4 13 15. Verbum Dei SS IV-A 13-2 15 16. Trabuco Hills SS II-AA 15-4 19 17. Fairfax City 4-A 13-4 17 18. Loyola SS I-A 11-5 NR 19. Glendora SS II-AA 17-2 20 20. LB Poly SS I-AA 12-6 NR

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GIRLS

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Brea-Olinda SS III-AA 16-0 1 2. Lynwood SS I-AA 17-1 2 3. Buena SS I-A 11-1 4 4. Alemany SS II-A 16-0 6 5. Gahr SS II-AA 4-14* 5 6. Woodbridge SS II-AA 16-0 7 7. Peninsula SS I-AA 12-2 8 8. St. Bernard SS IV-AA 16-4 3 9. Carson City 4-A 15-2 9 10. Ch. Islands SS I-A 14-2 11 11. B. Montgomery SS III-AA 15-5 15 12. LB Poly SS I-A 12-2 12 13. Cypress SS II-A 17-2 13 14. Bishop Amat SS II-A 16-1 14 15. Valley Chr. SS IV-A 15-2 16 16. Mater Dei SS II-AA 13-2 17 17. Thousand Oaks SS I-A 13-4 19 18. Apple Valley SS I-AA 14-2 18 19. Villa Park SS II-AA 15-2 NR 20. Santa Ynez SS IV-AA 14-3 20

* Indicates 10 losses by forfeit.