La Habra’s Ek Resigns as Coach After One Season

David Ek, La Habra boys’ basketball coach, has resigned after one season to move with his family to Clear Lake, Texas, Athletic Director Frank McCarroll said Friday.

Ek guided La Habra to a 14-13 record, a third-place finish in the Freeway League and into the first round of the Southern Section Division II-A playoffs, where the Highlanders lost to Whittier, 66-44.

Before taking over at La Habra, Ek last coached at Paramount in 1993. He guided the Pirates to three consecutive section playoff appearances from 1990-93.

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The Mission Viejo Diving Invitational will be today beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Mission Viejo Aquatics Center.

The event, which will feature top high school divers from San Diego to Ventura, is the only major varsity diving competition before the league championships in May.

Girls’ competition begins at 9:30 a.m. and boys’ competition at approximately 11:30.

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Tickets for the Lakers’ fall exhibition doubleheader at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim go on sale Monday at the Pond box office and through Ticketmaster at (714) 740-2000.

The Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets will play the exhibition games Oct. 31.

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USA Hockey named Greg Smith its athletic trainer and Mark O’Neill the equipment manager for the U.S. National Team. Both work in that capacity for the Mighty Ducks. Keith Allain (Centerville, Mass.) and Moe Mantha (Middletown, Ohio) were named assistant coaches.

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The Orange County Badminton Club has been designated the second national training center by USA Badminton, the sport’s governing body. The executive board approved the site during the U.S. Nationals tournament two weeks ago.

Within the next two months, six players will begin training full time at the Orange facility and rotate with other players at the primary training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.