Sports

BARFIELD UNDER FIRE

Lynwood High girls’ basketball Coach Ellis Barfield will not be rehired in the aftermath of a fatal accident involving a player on his summer team.

Tracey Myricks, 11, was killed in the July 23 accident near Las Vegas when a van carrying Barfield and 12 players from the Lynwood Running Rebels flipped after Michelle Allen fell asleep while driving. Allen, an assistant at Lynwood who was also helping coach the Rebels, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The trip involving 18 players from the Lynwood Development League, ranging in age from 11 to 17, was not sanctioned by the Southern Section or the Lynwood Unified School District. Barfield has not been allowed to interact with Lynwood players since the accident.

Lynwood Athletic Director Bill Lee asked for Barfield’s resignation last week. Barfield, 29, a walk-on coach, refused and said he will fight the decision.

A Lynwood graduate, Barfield compiled a 62-2 record in two seasons and guided the Knights to the State Division I title in 1992-93 and the state championship game last season.

MILESTONE

Coach Marijon Ancich earned his 200th victory at St. Paul High in the Swordsmen’s 28-7 victory over Redlands Friday.

The victory was only one of many milestones for Ancich, 55, the winningest active coach in the Southern Section with a 32-year record of 266-76-8. Ancich, who coached at Tustin from 1984-92, has guided his teams to seven Southern Section title games, including five at St. Paul.

In 1993, Ancich guided the Swordsmen to a 7-4 record and a third-place finish in the Del Rey League after taking a program that was 8-14 the previous two years. St. Paul (5-0) plays Loyola in its league opener Friday.

“The 200th victory was really a tribute,” said Ancich, who has also served as an assistant coach at Cerritos College and Northern Arizona. “It makes you realize what it takes to survive all those years. All the time and effort to go year to year and to survive week after week with all the ups and downs is really difficult.”

There have been a more ups than downs for Ancich.

From 1967-77, St. Paul did not lose a game. The 1981 team was undefeated in 14 games, set 30 school records and beat Colton in the Big Five Conference championship before nearly 30,000 at Anaheim Stadium.

But Ancich said his most memorable game was a 7-3 victory over Mater Dei in 1967 when the teams were competing in the Angeles League. The victory in the regular season finale secured a postseason berth and was the first of 14 consecutive victories over the Monarchs.

“Mater Dei was the kingpin of Orange County,” Ancich said. “It was a big-school victory and a crucial game to stay afloat. All my victories are separate and memorable, but this was one that really got our program going.”

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Quarterback controversy at Bell Gardens High?

Not after the performance of Eddie Negrete and Guillermo Alvarez in Bell Gardens’ 20-7 victory over El Rancho Friday.

Negrete, a safety who replaced Alvarez at quarterback after the first game of the season, completed 10 of 15 passes for 184 yards.

Meanwhile, Alvarez found his niche at receiver after sitting out three games as the backup quarterback. He caught five passes for 147 yards, including touchdowns of 67 and 22 yards.

“That’s a pretty neat deal,” Bell Gardens Coach Dave Newell said. “It’s a great lesson for the other players too. Guillermo thought he was lost in the shuffle but he came back and played a great game. We feel real good that we have found a spot he can be successful at.”

Bell Gardens (2-3) leads the all-time series against El Rancho, 7-6, but the victory was only the second in the past six years against the former Whitmont League rival.

“We were pumped up for this game, especially El Rancho,” Alvarez said. “They’re always our rival. Eddie came in and did a good job. It’s his turn and I’m planning to play receiver from now on.”

Alvarez, however, shouldn’t rule out playing quarterback yet. Alvarez proved a qualified backup after Negrete suffered an ankle injury midway through the third quarter with the Lancers’ clinging to a 14-7 lead.

“We know all of us can play quarterback and we’re not jealous of each other,” Negrete said. “We’re just here to help each other. We’re a united team.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Long Beach Poly, La Mirada, St. Paul and St. Anthony are 5-0 halfway through the regular season. With league play beginning Friday for most schools, here’s a look at the league races:

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I

Del Rey--St. Paul will have its hands full competing in a league that includes Bishop Amat, the nation’s top-ranked team, and Loyola.

Prediction--1. Bishop Amat; 2. Loyola; 3. St. Paul; 4. St. John Bosco; 5. Crespi; 6. Alemany.

Moore--Long Beach Jordan, the preseason favorite, has been erratic. A third league title for Long Beach Poly is not out of the question.

Prediction--1. Long Beach Poly; 2. Long Beach Wilson; 3. Long Beach Jordan; 4. Lakewood; 5. Compton; 6. Millikan.

Division II

San Gabriel Valley--Dominguez is better than its 2-2 record, but Paramount and Gahr are ready to step in if the Dons falter.

Prediction--1. Dominguez; 2. Paramount; 3. Gahr; 4. Downey; 5. Warren; 6. Lynwood.

Division III

Almont--Alhambra has not won a league title in three decades but this could be the year for the Moors. Montebello, Bell Gardens and Schurr will also be in the hunt.

Prediction--1. Alhambra; 2. Montebello; 3. Bell Gardens; 4. Schurr; 5. Keppel; 6. San Gabriel.

Division VI

Del Rio--La Serna (4-1) has been impressive, but strength of the Lancers’ opponents is questioned. Whittier was also 2-3 at this point of the season last year, but reached the divisional final.

Prediction--1. Whittier; 2. Santa Fe; 3. La Serna; 4. El Rancho; 5. California; 6. Pioneer.

Mission Valley--El Monte is the class of league, but Cerritos has a chance to earn a postseason berth.

Prediction--1. El Monte; 2. Arroyo; 3. Cerritos; 4. South El Monte; 5. Rosemead; 6. Mountain View.

Division VIII

Suburban--It’s a rebuilding year for La Mirada, but the Matadors should not be challenged in their quest to repeat as league champions.

Prediction--1. La Mirada; 2. Artesia; 3. Bellflower; 4. Glenn; 5. Norwalk; 6. Mayfair.

Division IX

Camino Real--Cantwell-Sacred Heart (2-3) has held its own against larger public schools, but so has the rest of the league.

Prediction--1. St. Monica; 2. St. Anthony; 3. Verbum Dei; 4. Cantwell-Sacred Heart; 6. Harvard-Westlake.

Division X

Olympic--No clear cut favorite. Valley Christian is one of five teams capable of winning the league title.

Prediction--1. Valley Christian; 2. Ontario Christian; 3. Calvary Chapel; 4. Whittier Christian; 5. Orange Lutheran; 6. Brethren Christian.

CITY

Southeastern Conference--South Gate has added the passing game to its traditional running attack en route to a 4-1 overall record and 3-0 conference mark. Fremont and Bell are the Rams’ main adversaries.

Prediction--1. Fremont; 2. South Gate; 3. Bell; 4. Garfield; 5. Locke, 6. Jefferson; 7. Huntington Park; 8. Jordan.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Cerritos College football team will put its undefeated record on the line Saturday night against El Camino in a Mission Conference Northern Division game at home. Cerritos (4-0), the second-ranked team in the state, is coming off a 34-19 victory over Fullerton.

Long Beach (4-1) visits Pasadena in a Northern Division game Saturday night. Neo Agoa connected with Joe Johnson on a four-yard pass with four minutes left to lift the Vikings to a 34-30 victory over San Diego Mesa last Saturday.

Compton (3-1) plays Ventura in a Western State Conference game at home Saturday, trying to rebound from a 14-9 defeat to Hancock. Jimmy Perry passed for 161 yards and rushed for 36 in the loss.

Rio Hondo (1-4) dropped its fourth game in a row, falling to Desert, 42-28. Rio Hondo plays host to Citrus in a Foothill Conference game Saturday.