In Brief

Ervin Leaves Artesia’s Girls’ Basketball Team

Lauren Ervin, a 6-foot-3 center at Lakewood Artesia, has quit the girls’ basketball team to focus on her academic studies, according to her mother.

Ervin is one of the top players in the area and one of the top juniors in the country. Artesia (19-5) ) is ranked fifth in The Times’ top 25.

Artesia Coach Scott Roczey said the parting was mutual, but indicated academics wasn’t the sole reason for Ervin’s decision.

Ervin had been disciplined on several occasions, Roczey said, adding that most of the friction between Ervin and her teammates centered on class truancy and teamwork.

Her absence from games last week came at the request of Ervin’s mother, Kim, to allow Lauren to concentrate on her studies.

“Her dad and I decided that she’s going to concentrate on academics, take another SAT class and focus on the rest of the year to get ready for her senior year,” Kim Ervin said. “We took her off the team for her grades and nothing more. If we wanted her to play, she would be eligible to play right now.”

Ervin began her high school career at Torrance Bishop Montgomery, where she helped the Knights to a Division III state title.

She transferred to Artesia for her sophomore season and the Pioneers won the Southern Section Division II-A championship.

Kim Ervin said her daughter will attend Artesia for her senior season and play basketball.

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Marquis Reinstated as Keppel’s Coach

Richard Marquis, put on leave nearly a month ago while the Alhambra School District conducted its investigation, has been reinstated as coach of the Alhambra Keppel girls’ basketball team.

“His presence speaks for itself,” said Lois Nash, assistant superintendent of human resources for the school district. “The investigation is concluded and he’s back, and we can’t say anything further.”

Marquis, a walk-on coach, was put on leave on Jan. 11. Keppel, the No. 23 team in The Times’ ranking, went 7-0 in his absence and won the Almont League title.

Marquis rejoined the team on Tuesday and coached in Keppel’s 55-30 victory over Montebello. The Aztecs (23-2) beat San Gabriel, 86-23, on Friday in their regular-season finale.

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Martin Henderson