CHATTER: MINUS WESTCHESTER, CITY RACE OPENS UP.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Now that Westchester High of Los Angeles has been removed from the City Section boys' basketball championship equation, the door is wide open for a handful of other teams in the section to step through.

Westchester, the two-time defending Div. I state champion, was banned from the postseason for one season by the City Section rules committee for recruiting violations. The committee ruled a Westchester assistant coach recruited 6-foot-9 center Amir Johnson from Verbum Dei of Los Angeles.

The ruling sent shock waves through the section.

``I'm definitely surprised,'' Cleveland of Reseda coach Andre Chevalier said. ``I try to stay out of other people's business, so I can't comment on what may or may not have happened, but in terms of how it affects the rest of the teams, it's pretty shocking.''

Before Johnson's arrival at Westchester, the City championship was considered a wide-open race among Westchester, Fairfax, Dorsey and Fremont of Los Angeles, and Taft of Woodland Hills and Cleveland.

But Johnson, who led Verbum Dei to the Southern Section Div. IV-A title last season, made a difference, and his presence immediately lifted Westchester above the competition. The Comets have won four consecutive City titles, and a fifth seemed imminent.

``Now it's wide open again,'' Chevalier said. ``There are a lot of teams that are pretty excited right now about their chances.''

Sylmar's Bort Escoto takes it a step further.

``It means for the first time (in four years) we'll have a legitimate city champion,'' Escoto said.

Still, Escoto wasn't about to say Westchester's ban means high school basketball suddenly is devoid of cheaters.

``People may not want to admit it, but high school basketball is a dirty business,'' Escoto said. ``Even the ones who say they're clean have some dirty laundry, they just look the other way. To me, that makes them just as guilty as anyone.''

Taft coach Derrick Taylor agreed.

``I think some people are worried right now,'' Taylor said. ``If someone has a bone to pick with you they can raise some allegations, and now you have to defend yourself and deal with them.

``And the thing is, you have some people out there who are willing to do just about anything to get better players so they can win, whether that means lying, cheating or stealing. It's out there, and it happens.'' ...

Calabasas reached into its past to select a new football coach. Wayne Quigley, the longtime assistant to former coach Larry Edwards, was hired Wednesday to replace Ken Papotta, who stepped down at the end of last season.

Quigley was an assistant at Moorpark College last year, but he worked under Edwards for 24 years at Calabasas. Edwards, the school's athletic director, retired from coaching football after the 2002 season.

``We feel Wayne is the best qualified candidate,'' Edwards said. ``Hopefully he'll bring back some of the good times we've enjoyed in the past.''...

Birmingham of Lake Balboa defensive end George Fifita committed to San Diego State while visiting the school over the weekend.

San Diego State was the first school to recruit Fifita, and the first to offer him a scholarship last month. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound standout is young for a senior. He won't turn 18 until nearly the end of his freshman season.

``The trip to San Diego State was better than I thought it would be,'' Fifita said. ``It's close to home, but not too close. They showed us a wall of players who have played in the NFL, and they had a player on every team.'' ...

Cal State Northridge outside hitter Jennifer Fopma was an American Volleyball Coaches Association third-team All-America selection.

Staff Writer Matthew Kredell contributed to this report.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com