Holmes Extends Stay at High School

Alex Holmes, a dominating tight end and linebacker, will stay at Harvard-Westlake High an extra semester and will graduate in January.

Holmes, The Times’ Valley offensive player of the year last football season, was told by Harvard-Westlake administrators that he could graduate this spring, if he wished.

But the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Holmes, whose academic standing had been in limbo, said he felt rushed while scheduling college recruiting trips.

Until recently, Holmes had been listed as a junior academically because he missed a semester of junior high school due to illness. He is considered a senior athletically and will have no eligibility beyond this school year.

“If I had decided to graduate in June, I wouldn’t have been able to make any visits at all,” said Holmes, who is considering UCLA, Michigan and Stanford, among other colleges.

“The visits are going to be a huge part of my decision.”

BASKETBALL

Three Santa Clara High starters have missed practice this week because of flu.

Terrance Dotsy, Mel Angell and Anthony Camper stayed home Monday as the Saints (29-3) prepared for the state Division V championship game Friday at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Dotsy and Angell returned to practice Tuesday, but Camper was absent.

“It’s logical because those kids have played a lot of [games recently],” said Coach Lou Cvijanovich, explaining the rash of illness.

Santa Clara’s opponent, Modesto Calvary Temple (32-5), also has been hit by illness.

Guard Nick Tabari, averaging 27.9 points, missed practice Monday and Tuesday because of flu.

BOXING

Promoter Dan Goossen of America Presents has asked the New Jersey State Athletic Commission to review videotape of a controversial sixth-round knockdown by heavyweight Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills against Lou Savarese on March 6 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Whitaker, undefeated in 18 previous fights, lost a split-decision, despite flooring Savarese with a barrage of punches in the sixth round.

Videotape of the sequence, Goossen claimed, reveals that Savarese benefited from a “long count” by referee Steve Smoger. Goossen also argued that Smoger made inappropriate conversation with Savarese during the count.

Middleweight Carlos Martinez of Oxnard improved to 12-1 with an eight-round victory by unanimous decision over Anselmo Felipe on Sunday in Pueblo, Colo.

VOLLEYBALL

Anna Cota has been selected girls’ coach at Simi Valley High.

Cota, a former assistant at Simi Valley, replaces Toung Nguyen, who resigned after one season.