Cooper Resigns Job at Bishop Montgomery

Lisa Cooper, who coached Torrance Bishop Montgomery to three Southern Section and four state titles in girls’ basketball, resigned for personal reasons.

With a record of 159-42 over six seasons, Cooper coached The Times’ two-time player of the year Noelle Quinn, now a standout at UCLA, to state championships from 2000 to 2003.

A guidance counselor on campus, Cooper will take a counseling position with the Hawthorne School District on April 1, and the additional time will allow her to focus on her 3-year-old daughter, Heaven.

“I have to give that time to my daughter,” Cooper said. “I can always go back to coaching.”

Despite its worst record (22-13) this season under Cooper, Bishop Montgomery reached the Southern Section Division III-A title game and the Southern California Regional Division III final.

-- Martin Henderson

Amir Johnson of Westchester has been selected the City Section player of the year in boys’ basketball by a panel of sportswriters.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson led Westchester to its sixth City title in eight years and a berth in the Division I state championship game in Sacramento. He has signed with Louisville.

Football

Bob Johnson of Mission Viejo, Don McKinnon of El Monte Arroyo, Bruce Rollinson of Santa Ana Mater Dei and Kevin Rooney of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame each received the President Gerald R. Ford All American High School Coach Award from the All-American Football Foundation.

Boys’ Volleyball

Huntington Beach, ranked fourth in Southern Section Division I, is competing in the Orange County Championships, which continue today at Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach Edison. Finals are Monday at Edison.

Also competing are Division I powers Newport Harbor, ranked sixth, and seventh-ranked Irvine Woodbridge, both from the Sea View League, along with ninth-ranked San Clemente.

In addition, Pacific Coast League rivals Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar and Irvine Northwood -- ranked third, fourth and ninth, respectively, in Division II -- will compete, along with Costa Mesa Estancia, ranked No. 3 in Division III.

The Dos Pueblos Invitational, a one-day tournament, takes place today at UC Santa Barbara.

Top teams competing include Westlake Village Westlake, Los Angeles Loyola and Simi Valley, ranked second, third and eighth, respectively, in Division I.

Also competing are Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, ranked second and fifth in Division II, and Oxnard and Camarillo, ranked second and fifth in Division III.