Friar Lineman Makes USC Early Choice

Joey McGuire, a second-team all-county offensive lineman as a junior at Servite last fall, has committed to play football at USC, said Vince Lombardo, Servite assistant athletic director.

McGuire, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound junior, wanted to make his decision before the start of his senior season, Lombardo said.

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Capistrano Valley’s Mike Stowell has signed to play basketball at Utah State, but before he reports to school, he will go on a two-year Mormon mission, high school officials announced Tuesday.

Stowell, a Times Orange County first-team selection this past season, is a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 16.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and shot 51.4% from the field.

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Dana Hills catcher Elizabeth Lefler has been accepted at Brown, where she will play softball, her father, Steven, said.

Lefler has a team-high 12 runs batted in for the fourth-ranked Dolphins (15-2-1).

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Lionel Horn has resigned as the Santa Ana Valley girls’ basketball coach. He said Tuesday he left because of philosophical differences with the school’s athletic department.

“I didn’t always feel the school administration and the athletic department have the best interest of student athletes at heart,” Horn said.

Girls’ Athletic Director Terry Orbona agreed there were differences between Horn and the athletic department but declined to elaborate. “I’m hoping this is behind us now,” she said.

Horn was the boys’ assistant coach at Santa Ana Valley from 1992 to 1996, and became the girls’ coach in 1996. In three seasons, Horn compiled a 23-54 record.

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Jocelyn Manderino, a water polo player from Newport Harbor High, has signed with USC, her father said Tuesday.

Manderino, who helped lead the Sailors to the Southern Section Division I championship, led Newport Harbor in assists and steals and was second on the team in goals. She was an All-Sea View League selection and a Times Orange County second-team all-county selection.