Outnumbered North Might Be Outclassed

Sherri Cvijanovich, the girls’ basketball coach at Santa Clara High, understands that the North team she will coach in the Ventura County all-star game at Ventura High tonight is a decided underdog to a South squad led by Tawnee Cooper of Simi Valley.

What’s confusing Cvijanovich is how she’s going to adhere to rules that require each coach to substitute five players midway through each of the first three 10-minute quarters.

The rules, which allow for free substitution in the fourth quarter, are simple when dealing with a 10-player team, but Cvijanovich’s squad will number only eight.

Cvijanovich said she had commitments from 10 players two weeks ago, but two have backed out and she has been unable to find replacements.

“When I was in high school, this was not the type of game that you said no to,” Cvijanovich said. “But I guess things have changed.”

Buena guard Kori Sebek, an All-Ventura County selection by The Times, is the top player on the short-handed North squad.

Cooper, The Times’ county player of the year the past two seasons, is among four Pioneers on a South team coached by Dave Murphy of Simi Valley.

The South also is favored in the boys’ game.

Pero Vasiljevic of Simi Valley, The Times’ county player of the year, is among eight Marmonte League players on the team.

Ventura’s Charles Dixon is among three all-county picks for the North.

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Ventura County All-Star Basketball Games

* When: Tonight.

* Time: 6:30, girls; 8, boys.

* Site: Ventura High, 2155 East Main St., Ventura

* Admission: Adults $5, students $3, children $2.

* Directions: Take the 101 Freeway to Seaward Avenue. Go north to Main Street. Make a left on Main. Park in lot next to football field.

* ALL-STAR ROSTERS: C15