Monroe Sidelines 5 AWOL Starters

Monroe High boys’ basketball Coach Paul Graber said that he will take disciplinary action against his five starters, who were absent from practice Thursday with no explanation.

However, Graber added they will probably be eligible to play in Friday’s City Section playoff opener.

The players are Shaka Steiner, Tim Johnson, Bobby Reed, Quincy Brooks and Terrence Cain.

Graber used only two of his starters in a 53-24 Valley Pac-8 victory over Reseda on Friday. Monroe (16-6, 7-3) clinched a tie for second place in the conference.

“Let’s put it this way, they’re going to be in great shape for the playoffs,” Graber said.

Brooks and Cain played but didn’t start. Steiner and Reed showed up at halftime in street clothes. Johnson didn’t attend the game.

Baseball

The Antelope Valley Ravens have intensified their search to find a site for the upcoming Class-A Golden State Baseball League.

The season is scheduled to begin May 10.

Possible sites that the Ravens have looked into are Desert Sands Park and several high schools in the Antelope Valley Unified School District.

According to Steven Solomon, a spokesperson for the Ravens, time is running out.

“Unfortunately, if we can’t find a site by next Friday, we will have to look elsewhere,” Solomon said.

“The city of Palmdale wants to have baseball here and we want to play here. However, our time frame has become somewhat limited.”

Solomon said that Desert Sands Park would be an ideal location for the Ravens because it has lighting capabilities.

The city is reluctant to let the park be used by the Ravens because it would displace 10 adult softball teams.

Raven owner Bob Weinstein said it would take contractors about six weeks to complete a temporary playing site to the team’s specifications.

* Contributing: Dana Haddad and Bryan Rodgers.