Santana Pulls Out of Playoffs

Santee Santana High withdrew from the Southern California Regional girls’ basketball playoffs on Monday, hours after a freshman student allegedly opened fire on classmates, killing two students and injuring 13.

A decision made by school and district officials resulted in Brea Olinda advancing to the second round of the Southern California Regional playoffs on Thursday.

“Three, and possibly four [Santana] players were direct eyewitnesses to this tragedy,” said Dean Crowley, the Southern Regional tournament director and supervising coordinator for state championship.

Monday’s shooting had coaches, teachers and administrators scrambling and negotiating a logistical maze in a chaotic situation. There were three conference calls before determining a course of action.

“In the best interests of their community and their students, they are withdrawing from the tournament,” said Crowley, the former Southern Section commissioner. “As an educator for 45 years, I’ve never been involved in, or witnessed, a tragedy of this magnitude in California.”

Other options were playing the game as scheduled, or postponing it until Wednesday, although the winner would have to play a second-round game against the Bakersfield Centennial-Lakewood Artesia winner on Thursday and been at a competitive disadvantage.

“If we have to play on Wednesday, so be it,” said Brea Coach Jeff Sink before telling his team of the tragedy. He then conducted practice not knowing whether the game would be played or not.

“I think there was genuine compassion and absolute shock from the kids,” said Sink, adding they kept “practice light, talking about what happened, and going home. Basketball is not a worry tonight.”

“It was kind of difficult, and we really feel bad for them, a lot of sympathy,” said Brea sophomore guard Jennifer Katsuyama. “It was devastating to hear. For me, I can’t even imagine dealing with something like that.”