PG Gino Riney had 17 pts and 7 asts, and Ctr Shaun Johnson had a triple-double with 11 pts, 15 rebs and 11 blocked shots as #14 LA Valley (14-7, 3-2) claimed a 69-56 decision over Canyons (6-14, 0-4) Wednesday night in Santa Clarita.
It was a tough, defensive battle, with both teams shooting less than 40% from the floor for the game. And that played right into the hands of the 6-7 Johnson. The sophomore from West Orange, NJ dominated the paint with the blocks and assists, and also grabbed 3 steals.
Canyons led 14-10 early in the game, but Valley took a 15-14 lead on a 3-pointer from PF Chris Lenik. Baskets by Kemp and Coleman made it 19-14. Canyons rallied to score the games next 6 points, going ahead, 20-19 on a jumper by PF Behrang Behjoo, but Valley went back in front moments later on a bankshot by Lenik and led, 26-24, at halftime.
When the second half began, Valley pushed the lead to double digits when a Riney 3-pointer made it 39-28. Canyons scored the next 9 points of the game to trail by just 2 at 39-37 with just over 11 minutes left, and still trailed by just 5 at 49-44, but then Valley pulled away for good.
Riney hit a spinaround jumper he did a pivot and eventual 360-degree turn before releasing the ball from just inside the elbow with 4:04 left to make it 56-47. He also drew a foul on the play, and made the free throw to make it a 10-point game at 57-47. Then Coleman drained a 3-pointer to make it 60-47 and put the Monarchs in control. A slam by Johnson on a lob from Riney moments later ended any doubt about the games outcome.
Riney, who helped Canyons to a share of the WSC-South championship last season, also had 6 rebs and 3 steals for the Monarchs. SG Codie Kemp had 15 pts while SF Germel Coleman added 12 pts for the winners.
For Canyons, SG Jason Holzwarth led the way with 14 pts, including 10 in the first half. PG Brian Kimble had a double-double with 11 pts and a game-high 10 asts. And Ctr Donjay Kakonde had one of the best games of his season with 4 pts plus team-highs of 12 rebs and 6 blocked shots.
box score
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 7:30 pm
at the Cougar Cage, COC, Santa Clarita
WSC-South
LA Valley Monarchs 69:
3-Demetrius Malone, PF 0/3 fg, 1 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 0 pts
23-Germel Coleman, SF 4/14 fg, 2/5 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 2 pf, 12 pts
24-Codie Kemp, SG 4/9 fg, 4/6 ft, 4 reb, 3 pf, 15 pts
31-Shaun Johnson, C 5/11 fg, 1/2 ft, 15 reb, 11 blk, 3 stl, 1 pf, 11 pts
32-Gino Riney, PG 6/12 fg, 3/3 ft, 6 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 3 pf, 17 pts
22-Michael Nmvoya, G 0/5 fg, 1/2 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 3 pf, 1 pt
40-Chris Lenik, F 3/5 fg, 2 reb, 3 pf, 7 pts
44-Joseph Street, C 2/3 fg, 0/2 ft, 5 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 4 pts
12-Bo Bennett, G 1/4 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 2 pts
33-Chris Horstman, G 0/2 fg, 1 reb, 0 pts
team rebounds: 7
Totals: 25/68 fg (.368), 11/20 ft (.550), 53 reb, 13 ast, 14 blk, 10 stl, 22 pf, 69 pts
3-pt fg (8): Kemp 3, Coleman 2, Riney 2, Lenik
Technical Foul: Nmvoya (hanging on rim)
Turnovers (18): Coleman 4, Johnson 3, Riney 3, Nmvoya 2, Street 2, Bennett 2, Lenik, Horstman
Canyons Cougars 56:
11-Kevin Bruce, PG 0/1 fg, 2 reb, 2 ast, 0 pts
12-Jason Holzwarth, SG 4/10 fg, 3/5 ft, 1 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 14 pts
23/4-Brian Kimble, SF 5/17 fg, 1/3 ft, 6 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl, 2 pf, 11 pts
24-Travis Hayden, C 1/4 fg, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 pts
32-Behrang Behjoo, PF 2/7 fg, 3/4 ft, 3 reb, 1 stl, 1 pf, 7 pts
42-Donjay Kakonde, C 2/7 fg, 0/2 ft, 12 reb, 6 blk, 4 pf, 4 pts
3-Gerardo Zuniga, G 2/5 fg, 3/4 ft, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl, 4 pf, 8 pts
34-Brian Nwaeke, F 1/3 fg, 6 reb, 2 pts
21-Justin Smith, F 4/12 fg, 5 reb, 4 pf, 8 pts
33-Andrey Orlov, C 0 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 21/66 fg (.318), 10/18 ft (.556), 41 reb, 14 ast, 10 blk, 6 stl, 17 pf, 56 pts
3-pt fg (4): Holzwarth 3, Zuniga
Turnovers (18): Kimble 6, Kakonde 5, Nwaeke 2, Bruce, Holzwarth, Hayden, Behjoo, Zuniga
Halftime Score: LA Valley 26, Canyons 24
Updated Records: LA Valley (#14-South) 14-7, 3-2 in WSC-S; Canyons 6-14, 0-4 in WSC-S
Note: Kimble got some blood on his regular #23 jersey, so he switched to a #4 jersey midway through the first half.
