Ejection of Escoto Puts Poly on Top

Sylmar High Coach Bort Escoto was ejected after picking up his second technical foul before halftime, and the Spartans were forced to forfeit a Valley Pac-8 Conference boys’ basketball opener Wednesday at Poly.

Escoto was whistled for a technical foul earlier in the game and was hit with another with less than two minutes left in the half and Sylmar leading, 24-18.

City Section rules do not allow a basketball team to continue playing after its head coach is ejected.

“I was in shock,” said Poly Coach Jay Werner, whose team moved to 7-8 after the victory.

“All of a sudden, [the referee] just whistled and said the game was over. It was bizarre. I’ve heard of it happening maybe five years ago, but I’ve never seen it.”

Under City Section rules, Escoto must sit out the Spartans’ next game, Friday against Reseda.

Sylmar (13-4), ranked No. 3 in the region by The Times, can only be coached by a credentialed teacher against Reseda.

Escoto also was ejected from a game in the Bell-Jeff tournament last season.

San Fernando 67, Taft 62--Mike Hernandez scored 12 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to key a victory by the Tigers (4-9) in a Northwest Valley Conference opener at Taft.

Grant 97, Van Nuys 65--Gilbert Arenas scored 33 points and had 10 steals in a Valley Pac-8 Conference opener for the No. 4-ranked Lancers (13-3).

Cleveland 83, El Camino Real 49--Kent Dennis scored 12 of his 22 points in the first quarter to spark the No. 7-ranked Cavaliers (11-4, 1-0) to a Northwest Valley Conference victory at Cleveland.

Chatsworth 84, Granada Hills 69--Five players scored in double figures for the No. 8-ranked Chancellors in a Northwest Valley Conference opener at Granada Hills.

Mark Cannon had 21 points for Chatsworth (9-3).

Chaminade 67, Notre Dame 50--Scott Borchart made 11 of 13 shots, finishing with 26 points, and the No. 6-ranked Eagles (12-3, 2-1) won a Mission League game at Notre Dame.

Simi Valley 101, Royal 58--Rafael Berumen had 34 points with 18 rebounds and the No. 1-ranked Pioneers tied a school record with 34 assists in a Marmonte League victory at Simi Valley.

Branduinn Fullove added 22 points and nine assists for Simi Valley (15-2, 4-0).

Oxnard 74, Ventura 67--Damian Tafoya scored 17 points and the Yellowjackets (12-5) won a nonleague game at Oxnard.

Jeff Staniland led Ventura (10-7) with 24 points.

Crespi 59, Loyola 44--Marcin Jagoda scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half and No. 5-ranked Crespi (12-3) won a Mission League game at Loyola.