Sports

PROTEST AVERTED

Golfers upset with playing conditions at Victoria Park in Carson have called off a planned protest at the course after the lease to operate the county-owned facility changed hands this week.

Resident pro Eugene Hardy said a group associated with Arnold Palmer assumed control of the course Monday, staving off a protest that was planned for Saturday by members of the Victoria men’s golf club.

“We’ve put (the protest) on hold,” club president Benny Nickleberry said. “We need to give the new group a chance to come in and assess everything.

“We all know that Victoria Park has the potential to be the best county golf course. It’s just a matter of getting it in A-1 condition.”

Nickleberry, a regular player at Victoria Park since 1968, said conditions at the course have deteriorated in recent years, prompting the golf club to complain to previous leaseholder Jim Duffin and write letters to county supervisors. Among other things, Nickleberry said the grounds have not been properly maintained and the pro shop offers little in the way of merchandise and services to golfers.

Before learning that Palmer’s group had purchased the lease, Nickleberry said the 150-member golf club was prepared to walk a picket line Saturday morning.

“We’re definitely going to close it down,” Nickleberry said Monday. “We want to make a point. If the county continues to increase the rates and doesn’t provide any additional services to the customer and make improvements on the golf course, we feel we need to hit them in the pocketbook.”

Nickleberry estimated that the course would have lost between $8,000 and $9,000 if the protest was successful in keeping golfers away.

Hardy, the resident pro since 1988, said he is optimistic that the new leaseholders will meet the golfers’ demands.

“They plan on doing a lot of improvements and working with the county and the community,” Hardy said. “I’m enthusiastic about it.”

GEARING FOR FINAL

Jesuit High of Sacramento, which will meet Crenshaw on Saturday in a rematch of last season’s State Division I basketball final, has been getting outstanding play from forward Ben Ammerman, a Loyola Marymount recruit.

The 6-foot-7 senior had 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists Saturday in Jesuit’s 79-72 victory over Oakland Fremont in the Northern Regional final, and he had 15 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals Friday in an 80-58 semifinal victory over top-seeded San Francisco Balboa.

“His presence has been unbelievable,” Jesuit Coach Hank Meyer said of Ammerman, who signed with Loyola in November. “He does so many little things.”

Ammerman’s duties include guarding the opponent’s top front-court player, meaning he will probably match up against Crenshaw’s Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-7 forward bound for California. Ammerman averages 15 points and eight rebounds on a balanced team.

Jesuit (31-6) and Crenshaw (28-2) will meet at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum. Crenshaw won last season’s title game, 73-66.

THE NEW ENGLANDER

Former Peninsula High basketball standout Matt Acres returned home last week for semester break after helping New Hampton prep school of New Hampshire win the New England Class A championship.

Acres, a 6-7 forward, was the third-leading scorer for New Hampton (23-2) with a 15-point average.

“I thought Matt had a great year,” said New Hampton Coach Mark Tilton, whose team was mostly made up of post-graduates. “He was one of the most improved kids we’ve ever had. He really stepped up his game.”

Acres’ family chose to send Matt to a prep school, and pay most of the $18,000 tuition, in hopes of attracting college recruiters. He had virtually no scholarship offers after his senior season at Peninsula.

After a fifth year of prep competition, Acres has received offers from several lower- to mid-level Division I programs on the East Coast, including New Hampshire, Vermont, Rider, Monmouth and Siena. Rider will compete in the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row, and Siena was selected to the National Invitation Tournament.

But Acres said he would prefer to attend college on the West Coast after experiencing a brutally cold New England winter.

“I’m going to wait until after the signing period,” he said. “Something might open up after that.”

ALL-STAR ACTION

Many of the area’s top senior basketball players have been selected to play in the South Bay Athletic Club’s fourth annual all-star boys’ classic and inaugural girls’ classic March 25 at South Torrance High.

The doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. with a girls’ three-point shooting contest, followed by the girls’ game at 5:30, a boys’ three-point contest and dunking exhibition at 7, and the boys’ game at 7:30. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Following are the rosters, selected by the participating coaches:

Boys’ game, Blue All-Stars--Luke Buffum (Beverly Hills), John Terry (Narbonne), Sam Turks (Inglewood), Jason Pickett (Banning), Ricky Price (Serra), Tony DiLeva (Mary Star), Ali Tahmasbi (Mira Costa), Louie Baity (Culver City), Neil Thakur (Chadwick), Trinelle Pollard (Torrance), Cecil Fletcher (Redondo), Charles Perry (Carson). Coaches--Patrick Roy (Inglewood) and Marc Paez (Banning).

Red All-Stars--Ralph Shelton (Inglewood), Wendell Robinson (Leuzinger), Shane Willis (Mira Costa), Kareem Mutrie (Bishop Montgomery), Jason Crowe (Inglewood), Ryan Beatty (West Torrance), Davon Doral (Centennial), Tony Harvey (Carson), Greg Metoyer (St. Bernard), Matt Sabosky (El Segundo), Damani Washington (Redondo), Lamar House (Gardena). Coaches--Bill Atkinson (North Torrance) and Glenn Marx (Mira Costa).

Girls’ game, Blue All-Stars--Marte Alexander (St. Bernard), Ieesha Donadelle (Torrance), Tanisha Bass (Carson), Stephanie Pfau (South Torrance), Olanike Farodolu (St. Bernard), Adgina Anderson (Narbonne), Mimi McKinney (Peninsula), Tracy Holman (West), Janeen Handy (North), Sandi Woo (Culver City), Nikki L’Heureux (Mira Costa), Shelly Dungo (Bishop Montgomery). Coaches--Wendell Yoshida (Peninsula) and Teiko Nishi (South).

Red All-Stars--Olympia Scott (St. Bernard), Brandi Gray (Carson), Kelli Knapp (Narbonne), Summer Bichimeier (South), Cheryl Dickson (Morningside), Tumika Cantley (Gardena), Kim Fitzpatrick (Peninsula), Felicia Beaulieu (West), Dawn Ishii (North), Julie Tamashiro (Torrance), Julie Saavedra (Redondo), Kena Jackson (Inglewood). Coaches--Steve Brown (Redondo) and Richard Rosato (North).

PILOTS HONORED

At the request of Harbor District Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr., the Banning High boys’ and girls’ basketball teams and their coaches will be honored Friday by the Los Angeles City Council for winning City Section 3-A Division titles.

The teams will be accompanied to City Hall by the Banning marching band, cheerleaders and drill team.

“I am very proud of these young athletes,” Svorinich said. “Their victories have made all of Wilmington very proud.”

It was the second consecutive 3-A title for the Banning boys’ team, coached by Marc Paez. The girls’ team is coached by David DeLaby.

HALL OF FAME

Nine new members will be inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony and banquet May 5 at Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The inductees are Don Baker (golf 1970-71), Jim Carmichael (football 1952-53), Bill Cripps (wrestling 1976-77), Tim Green (football 1981-83), Jerry Wren (football and track 1956), Aviva Kamin (women’s athletic meritorious 1961-80), Pat Knutzen (baseball 1965-67), Dan Matthies (swimming and water polo 1972-73) and Renee Williams (track and cross-country 1980-81).

A day after the induction, El Camino will stage its seventh annual Athletic Alumni Golf Classic at Los Verdes.

Information regarding either the Hall of Fame ceremony of golf classic can be obtained by calling the school at (310) 532-3670.

JV CHAMPIONS

The future appears bright for the Carson High basketball program after the junior varsity team won the Southern League title.

The Colts (12-4) were 7-2 in conference play in their first season under Coach Wesley Green, including a victory over perennial power Crenshaw.

Standouts for Carson included sophomore forward Eric Burris and junior forward Motoa Towers. Both are expected to play next season for the varsity team, which was disqualified from the City 4-A playoffs after reaching the semifinals because of an ineligible player.

THIS AND THAT

* Colleen De Reuck of South Africa won the elite women’s race and $7,500 first prize Sunday at the Mobil St. Patrick’s Day 10-K in Torrance. Her winning time was 32 minutes, 24 seconds.

* Jay Taylor of Rancho Palos Verdes recently scored a hole-in-one on Harbor Park’s 130-yard eighth hole. It was his second career ace, according to starter Ed Sager.

* The third annual Moose McGuillicudy’s Challenge of the Canoes will take place Saturday at King Harbor in Redondo Beach. The event, designed to introduce the public to Hawaiian-style outrigger canoe paddling, consists of five-person teams competing for prizes. The cost is $10 a person or $50 a team. Information: (310) 333-8638.

* The Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Department is offering spring slo-pitch softball leagues for men and women. The entry fee is $415 a team, including a $50 refundable forfeit fee. Information: (310) 545-5621, ext. 321.

* Sign-ups begin Saturday for the Gardena/Carson YMCA indoor soccer league, eligible to boys and girls between 5 and 17. Games begin April 30. Information: (310) 327-0750.