Sylmar Athletic Director Defends Escoto

Athletic Director Bob Miller of Sylmar High defended the conduct of basketball Coach Bort Escoto, who was ejected Wednesday after picking up his second technical foul in a Valley Pac-8 Conference opener against host Poly.

Miller said Escoto did not deserve a second technical in the second quarter that resulted in a Sylmar (13-4, 0-1) forfeit.

He said Escoto was in the process of sitting down when the official, Jim Schad, called a second technical, ending the game.

“There was no baiting and no trying to make the official look like a fool,” Miller said.

Robert Mozee, the City Section assigner of officials, said the officials informed him that Escoto was twice told to sit in his chair before the second technical was called. After picking up the first technical, Mozee said Escoto lost his privilege to stand in the coaching box during the game.

Mozee said he will comply with a request by Miller that Schad not officiate any future Sylmar games.

Because of the ejection, Escoto is required to miss Sylmar’s home game today against Reseda. Assistants Brady Mertes and Charles White will direct the team.

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Harvard-Westlake or Chaminade have won the last four Mission League titles, but Chaminade Coach Jeff Young cringes when asked about the budding rivalry between the programs.

“You guys keep using the ‘R’ word and I keep trying to tell you that it can’t be a rivalry because they were kicking our butts for about four or five years there,” Young said after Chaminade’s 72-56 victory over Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday.

Harvard-Westlake won three consecutive league titles from 1994-97. Chaminade was undefeated in league play last season.

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Cody Pearson of Notre Dame will sit out tonight’s game against Harvard-Westlake after being ejected Wednesday against Chaminade.

Staff writers Eric Sondheimer and John Ortega contributed to this notebook.