El Toro Will Not Play in Tournament

The El Toro girls’ basketball team will be kept out of at least four games after a series of fan-related incidents at a recent tournament, a school official said Friday.

The decision, made by girls’ athletic director Sheri Ross, comes after an embarrassing display by fans at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

El Toro supporters allegedly attacked a 15-year-old boy, who filed a police report for battery, after the youngster rooted against the Chargers Tuesday in their 59-58 loss to Chino Don Lugo. According to the police report, the boy was talking to one fan and hit from behind by another, suffering a cut over the eye.

“We have to take responsibility for the actions of us and our fans,” El Toro Coach Vincent Avitabile said. “This is the first step in dealing with it. I don’t know if there will be other steps as drastic as this.

“The team will be suspended until we come up with something that ensures that our sportsmanship, citizenship and integrity is upheld. That’s our No. 1 priority.”

San Diego Rancho Bernardo and several other schools also complained to the hotel management about Charger fans loitering in the lobby and harassing players.

A referee for El Toro’s third-place game against San Clemente warned the fans for using foul language.

Tournament director Steve Kozaki said Wednesday that El Toro, which finished fourth, wouldn’t be invited back to the tournament.

The Chargers, scheduled to play Fountain Valley today at 9 in the first round of the Marina tournament, will be replaced by Dana Hills.

El Toro’s junior varsity team will take Dana Hills’ spot in the Laguna Beach tournament.