La Habra Hires Falconer to Coach Boys’ Basketball

Craig Falconer, formerly of Calvary Chapel, has been hired as boys’ basketball coach at La Habra, Highlander Athletic Director Frank McCarroll said Wednesday.

Falconer was 107-36 in five seasons at Calvary Chapel, where he led the Eagles to appearances in the Southern Section finals the last two seasons. He also has coached at Laguna Beach and Costa Mesa.

“We know he had several other opportunities and we were lucky to snag him,” McCarroll said. “His style of up-tempo, shoot-the-three-and-play-tough defense will fit in well here.”

Falconer, the fourth La Habra coach in four seasons, replaces Dave Ek, who guided the Highlanders to a 14-13 record in 1997-98. Ek resigned after the season and moved to Houston.

Three starters and eight lettermen return for Falconer, who will be a full-time social science teacher at La Habra, McCarroll said.

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Soccer Coach Zhiad Khoury and wrestling Coach Darryl Holiday have resigned their positions at Newport Harbor, a spokesman for Athletic Director Eric Tweit said.

In addition, Sailor girls’ golf Coach Fletcher Olson will not return in that capacity but will remain as the girls’ tennis coach. Girls’ golf is being moved to the fall by the Southern Section, the same time as girls’ tennis.

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Three Laguna Beach Volleyball Club players have signed with colleges, Coach Michael Soylular said.

Huntington Beach High’s Lauren Wilson will attend Cornell. Laguna Beach High’s Jamie Swintek is going to Santa Clara and San Clemente’s Karen Thomas will attend Puget Sound.

All are outside hitters.

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Adam Steckler, third baseman at Calvary Chapel High, will attend Southern California College, Eagle Coach Joe Walters said. Steckler hit .371 with 39 runs batted in for Calvary Chapel, which won the Olympic League title this season.

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Travis Harlan, a wide receiver at Los Amigos High, has committed to play football at Redlands, Lobos Coach Roger Takahashi said, adding that Harlan has been awarded a Presidential Scholarship from the university.

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Joe Cericola, an All-South Coast offensive lineman for Mission Viejo High, has committed to play football at Claremont-McKenna, Diablos Coach Bill Denny said.

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Sara Struhs, a midfielder from Fountain Valley, has made an oral commitment to play women’s soccer at Chapman. She is a two-time All-Sunset League selection.

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The boys’ basketball teams from Los Alamitos and Mater Dei have been invited to return to participate in the second John Wooden Classic high school tripleheader, Dec. 4 at the Arrowhead Pond.

Los Alamitos will tip off the event at 6 p.m. against Vista Rancho Buena Vista, which has won two San Diego Section Division I titles in the past four years.

Mater Dei will face defending Southern Section Division I-A champion Glendora at 9 p.m.

Compton Dominguez, the section’s Division II-A champion, will play Texas 4-A state champion Houston Waltrip at 7:30.

In the college doubleheader Dec. 5 at the Pond, Pepperdine will play Kansas and UCLA will meet Oklahoma State.

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It’s unlikely Arco AM/PM will be back as the title sponsor for all state high school athletic events, Southern Section Commissioner Dean Crowley said at a meeting of Orange County athletic directors recently.

In 1995 Arco agreed to a three-year, $1.5-million contract with the CIF. In return, AM/PM became the exclusive logo on all CIF-related material. The contract expires July 1.