Chaminade’s Rival Changes Divisions

Chaminade High’s chances of winning a Southern Section Division III-A championship in boys’ basketball have improved considerably after its top potential challenger was moved out of the division.

Huntington Beach Ocean View, rated No. 1 in the latest Division III-A rankings, has been forced to move up to III-AA after it was discovered that the school’s enrollment figures were incorrect.

The removal of Ocean View clears the way for Chaminade (22-1) to gain the No. 1 seed when the playoff pairings are announced Sunday.

Several schools called the Southern Section office to question Ocean View’s placement in III-A. After rechecking enrollment figures, Ocean View was moved to III-AA, according to Southern Section administrator Harold Cebrun.

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Investigation: School officials from Campbell Hall and Brentwood are investigating an altercation that occurred at the conclusion of a boys’ basketball game between the schools on Tuesday in North Hollywood.

Brentwood Athletic Director Pat Brown said an adult from Campbell Hall confronted a Brentwood player following the Delphic League game that Campbell Hall won, 54-52.

Coaches intervened to separate the adult from the player.

Brown said he will file a report with the Southern Section office.

Campbell Hall Principal Teresia Cunningham said she is investigating the incident.

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Add investigation: Canoga Park assistant principal Dennis Thompson said the school is investigating an incident at the conclusion of a boys’ basketball game between Grant and Canoga Park on Wednesday.

Grant guard Adir Levy suffered a broken nose when he was punched in the face during the postgame handshake.

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Pioneer pain: Center Rafael Berumen of Simi Valley, the Times’ Ventura County player of the year last season, is listed as questionable for tonight’s Marmonte League finale against Royal because of a sore right elbow.

WRESTLING

Finals: Ventura and Highland will host the Southern Section Division I and Division IV dual meet wrestling finals Saturday.

Ventura (23-2), Channel League champion and ranked fourth in the division, will open against Santa Ana Valley, an at-large entry. Channel League members Hueneme and Rio Mesa also are entered.

Highland (28-4), Golden League champion and defending section dual meet champion, opens against Boron, champion of the High Desert League.

Frontier League champion Moorpark and Quartz Hill, an at-large entry from the Golden League, also are entered in the Division IV finals.

Thousand Oaks, Marmonte League champion, will open against El Toro, an at-large entry, in the Division II finals at Temecula Valley.

BOXING

For the sport of it: Boxing’s return to the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City on Feb. 27 might become a recurring event.

Promoter Dan Goossen of America Presents said he likely will stage as many as six shows a year at Sportsmen’s Lodge. A Jan. 10 program that featured heavyweight Peter McNeeley nearly sold out the 1,000-seat ballroom.

Goossen said America Presents probably won’t return to the Reseda Country Club, where Goossen began as a fledgling promoter in the early 1980s. America Presents last staged a program there in December.

The card will include heavyweight Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills, undefeated in 13 professional fights, against Everett “Bigfoot” Martin in a six-round bout.

The co-main event will feature undefeated former British Commonwealth champion Robert McCracken (30-0, 18 knockouts) against Lonnie Beasley (27-4-2, 8 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout. In another main event, Adan Vargas (25-1-1, 19 KOs) will fight Narcisco Rodriguez (17-1, 10 KOs) for the vacant North American Boxing Federation bantamweight title.