Ancich Leaving St. Paul for Cerritos College

Marijon Ancich, California’s winningest high school football coach, has resigned at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul to take the position of defensive coordinator at Cerritos College.

Ancich, 70, coached at St. Paul from 1961 to ’81 and from 1993 to 2005 and at Tustin from 1984 to ’92. He compiled a record of 344-127-10.

His teams won 19 league championships and appeared in eight Southern Section finals, winning the Big Five Conference title in 1981 and Division AAAA championships in ’72 and ’68.

“The most enjoyable part of coaching is when former players and alumni call or visit,” Ancich said. “Each one of them has made me proud to be a part of their lives.”

Ancich, who has had more than 35 former players become head coaches at the high school, college and professional level, will continue teaching at St. Paul and run his annual youth camp.

“Coach Ancich has been a major factor in St. Paul High School’s athletic programs’ success,” Principal Frank Laurenzello said. “Certainly, Coach [Ancich’s] direction and tutelage has touched the lives of many young men.”

-- Dan Loumena

Boys’ Basketball

The turning point for Alex Jacobson came three weeks ago, when the 7-foot-1 junior center for Santa Ana Mater Dei was held scoreless in a tournament game in South Carolina.

Mater Dei coaches pulled Jacobson aside afterward and said he wasn’t playing to his ability. Ever since, he has been the force they expected when he transferred from Bellflower St. John Bosco midway through his freshman year.

Jacobson, who has committed to Arizona, scored in double figures for the eighth consecutive game Friday night in a Serra League game against Anaheim Servite, producing 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in an 80-60 victory at Concordia University.

“In South Carolina, I hit a little bit of a slump,” he said. “I kind of bounced back from that and I’m doing better now.”

Against the Friars, ranked No. 25 in the Southland by The Times, Jacobson scored seven points in the first half as No. 3 Mater Dei (19-2, 3-0) surged to a 14-point advantage and then scored the first basket of the second half to make it 37-21. Taylor King, who had a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, later made a three-point basket, stole the ball and laid it in on a fastbreak for a 46-26 lead.

Kyle Wallace kept the score close in the second half for Servite (14-7, 2-1), making five of six three-point shots and finishing with 20 points.

-- Dan Arritt