In a Sporting Gesture, North Players Go South : Basketball: Five switch allegiances in effort to keep Ventura County game afloat.

As has been the case in recent years, the South is having trouble fielding a team for the Ventura County Coaches Assn. all-star girls’ basketball game. So, the North squad loaned the South five players for the contest today at 6:30 p.m. at Ventura High. The boys’ game will follow at 8.

The North, coached by Rio Mesa High’s Al Walker, is led by three players who have signed letters of intent with NCAA Division I schools: Buena guard Lianne Ishikawa (Cal State Fullerton), Channel Islands forward Candis Carper (Arizona State) and Buena guard Mia Palkie (Utah).

The South, meanwhile, has not been able to organize a practice session and team members will play together for the first time tonight. Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy will lead the undermanned squad. The North has won seven in a row and 11 of 12.

The boys’ contest will feature South forward Chris Loll, The Times’ Ventura County player of the year who led Thousand Oaks to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section 1-A Division playoffs. The South will be coached by Royal’s Joe Malkinson, who has accepted a coaching position near Sacramento.

The North, coached by retiring Channel Islands Coach Don Salado, will be led by Camarillo guard David Harbour, who averaged 25 points in his three-year career, and Channel Islands guard Stephane Brown.

The South will have a height advantage with 6-foot-6 Royal forwards Kevin Hambly and Jared Byrne.