Westchester Appeal Set for Next Month

Westchester will go before a three-person panel Jan. 16 to appeal the City Section’s sanctions against its boys’ basketball program, which has been barred from postseason play for a recruiting violation.

The Comets, two-time defending state Division I and four-time defending City champions, were banned from postseason play for one year on Tuesday after the section’s rules committee ruled that an assistant coach recruited 6-foot-9 center Amir Johnson from Los Angeles Verbum Dei.

After 2 1/2 hours of deliberations, the seven-member panel ruled Johnson ineligible for one year for giving false testimony and barred Comet assistant Marlon Morton from being associated as a coach with Westchester or any other section school for one year. Westchester was also placed on probation for one year.

Barbara Fiege, the section commissioner, said the sanctions were severe because Westchester was already on probation for “pre-enrollment contact” with an athlete in 2002.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Anne Belden had two goals and three steals to lead Newport Harbor, ranked No. 4 in the Southland by The Times, to an 8-7 nonleague victory over No. 8 Corona del Mar in a girls’ water polo game.

Jordan Anae had three goals to lead visiting Corona del Mar.

The game was tied, 2-2, at halftime and 5-5 after three quarters.

Wayne Quigley, an assistant football coach since 1985, has been promoted to head coach at Calabasas, replacing Ken Papotta, who resigned after one season.

Ken Collins has resigned as girls’ basketball coach at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa for personal reasons.

Assistant Dan Debevec will replace Collins.