Sports

SHOW TIME

The City Section boys basketball pairings were announced Saturday.

If the anticipated showdown between Westchester and Crenshaw is to take place, it will be in the semifinals.

“We have to get there first,” said Westchester Coach Ed Azzam, whose Comets will play host to Jordan in the first round Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The last four City 4-A titles have been won by either Westchester or Crenshaw, this season’s top-seeded team.

“I thought Crenshaw deserved the No. 1 seed because they played in the toughest conference,” Azzam said. “But I still say there are a bunch of teams that could win the title regardless of the seeding.”

The Cougars, winners of the Southern Pacific Conference, are followed in the seedings by Fairfax, Fremont and Westchester. But according to Azzam, those are not necessarily the teams with the most talent.

“I think in no particular order the teams with the most talent are Crenshaw, Washington and us,” Azzam said. “But all three teams have not played to their capabilities.

“I think Fairfax is one of the best teams because they play very well together. They execute what Coach Harvey Kitani wants.”

ANOTHER SHOT

For the third consecutive season, Beverly Hills has made the Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs.

The Normans received an at-large bid after beating Culver City, 66-59, Friday night at Beverly Hills. They finished fifth in the Ocean League with an 8-6 record.

“The fact that we beat Morningside and Culver City during the second round of league really helped us get an at-large bid,” said third-year Coach Jason Newman. “I think the key was battling and contesting for every rebound.”

Frank Brown led the way with 15 points and nine rebounds and front-court teammate Kenneth Harvey added 10 rebounds. Brown also had two blocks in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win.

Guard Luis Turcios led the Normans with 23 points. Point guard Charlie Johnson had four points, seven rebounds, eight assists and six steals.

“I think Johnson is the motor that drives the team,” Newman said. “He sets the tone for how hard we play.”

Beverly Hills made a quick exit in the playoffs, losing to fourth-seeded Crescenta Valley, 81-67, in the first round Tuesday night.

TURNAROUND

During the 1991-92 season, the Palisades girls’ basketball team struggled to a losing record and lost a game to Washington, 108-23.

Three seasons later, the Dolphins finished tied with Westchester for the Western League championship.

Second-year co-coaches Joi Tanita and James Payton have put together a balanced team that is seeded fourth in the City 4-A playoffs.

“Our team didn’t quit despite losing our first two league games,” Tanita said. “We put pressure on ourselves and we handled it well.”

The Dolphins are led by forward Nicole Codd, a member of The Times’ 1994 Westside all-star team, center Lisa Shakiban, point guard Miatta Rice and Kelly Peden.

Peden and Rice transferred from Hamilton.

Last season, Tanita and Payton guided the Dolphins to the 3-A playoffs, but they lost to Garfield in the first round.

The Dolphins (16-6) play host to Sylmar (12-4) at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

If they win their first two games, the Dolphins hope to play two-time defending champion and undefeated Crenshaw in the semifinals.

TURNAROUND II

The St. Monica girls’ basketball team went from 2-19 in 1993-94 to 10-12 this season under second-year Coach Alan Mindell.

St. Monica also won five of its last six games to finish 6-4 and tied for second in the Sunshine League. They qualified for the Southern Section Division IV-A playoffs and played host to Whittier Christian on Wednesday.

The Mariners are led by three sophomores: point guard Stephanie Seiler, forward Ruth Rhea and guard Monica Rayes. Seniors Becky Botello, Stephanie Galvan, LaRissa Neal and Mary Girgis have played pivotal roles.

“They showed great guts, courage and determination during the last part of the season,” Mindell said.

FOOTBALL SIGNINGS

Culver City running back Aki Wilson will sign a scholarship with Howard University in Washington D.C.

Wilson, who gained 1,354 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, is hoping to be the featured back for the Bisons, who are coached by former NFL player Steve Wilson.

Wilson was also recruited by Nevada Las Vegas, who signed Centaur teammates Damon Williams and Jasiri Rodell.

Beverly Hills quarterback Chris Wallace signed Saturday with Weber State.

Wallace, who was selected to The Times’ 1994 Westside all-star team, passed for 2,284 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He also received a scholarship offer from New Mexico State.

“I was really excited when I got there,” said Wallace, who took a campus visit two weeks ago. “I like their coaching staff and their style of play.”

SIGNING RETROSPECT

Although Westchester and Culver City fared well, the number of football players receiving football scholarships was down this season throughout Southern California.

“The really top-caliber players got the scholarships they deserved,” said Dick Lascola, who runs the Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. “But I think a lot of mistakes were made this year in recruiting.”

St. Monica Coach Norm Lacy said he had at least three players worthy of Division I scholarship consideration, but only one lineman, Adrian Klemm, earned a scholarship. Klemm will attend Hawaii.

Lascola said that since the NCAA passed a resolution in 1994 which eliminated recruiting coordinators as a paid position, many schools were caught unprepared to evaluate potential candidates from smaller programs.

“Some schools saw it coming and hired one of their assistants to do the job,” Lascola said. “Other schools handed the job to old Joe who didn’t do the preliminary stuff like make initial contact with schools, write letters and do follow-ups.

“The result was some schools tried to stuff nine months of recruiting into four weeks.”

Overlooked were players such as Mariner receivers Jason Jones and Dwight Carter, who are capable of playing at the Division I level, according to Lascola.

Said Lascola: “I sent out a lot of film on St. Monica players. I had plenty of requests.”

Although they are both about 5-foot-10, Jones and Carter had more than 1,000 yards in total offense.

“I think the size of Jones and Carter also was a problem,” St. Monica Coach Norm Lacy said. “Everyone seems to be looking for the next Keyshawn Johnson or J.J. Stokes. Jones and Carter do not fit that description.”

Lacy said he sent out about 20 games each for his players, including linebacker Mike Bailey, who led the Southern Section in tackles.

“I can’t believe they are not getting offers from any Pac-10 schools,” said Lacy, who was an offensive lineman at USC.

MISCELLANY

The Beverly Hills American Youth Soccer Organization Division 5 team won the Area P tournament Sunday in Culver City.

The team, composed of girls ages 9 and 10, beat West Los Angeles, 2-0, at Culver City High.

Sharon Pearlman, 10, and Laurie Housman, 10, scored the goals for Beverly Hills, which advances to the Section I tournament in Upland.