SF Tron Smith scored 21 pts and SG Jeremy Black came off the bench to add 13 as #11 Citrus (14-7, 2-0 in WSC-South) topped visiting LA Valley (6-12, 0-2), 64-51, Saturday night in Glendora.
Citrus led the whole way, jumping to a 6-0 lead in the opening minutes on baskets by Ctr Daniel Fleming and Smith and a pair of free throws by Smith. PF Brandon Burnside finally got Valley on the board 3:15 into the game, but Citrus stretched its lead to 10 at 14-4 after SG James Reynolds blocked a shot at one end of the floor and drained a three at the other end just under 8 minutes into the game.
Citrus then went 6-1/2 minutes without scoring, but Valley was only able to close the gap to 4 at 14-10 during that time. Though Citrus increased its lead to 12 at 20-8 after a FG+FT 3-point play by SF Daryl Jones, Valley closed the gap to 6 at 23-17 at halftime.
But once the second half began, Citrus quickly re-established a double-digit lead and held it pretty much the rest of the way. After SF Simon Brown had brought Valley to within 4 points with a pair of free throws to make it 23-19, Smith banked home a fallaway jumper and moments later threw down a loud jam on a tap-out pass from Fleming. After PF Chad Allan made a free throw for Citrus, Smith was fouled attempting a dunk and made a pair of free throws to give the Owls an 11-point lead at 30-19.
The lead reached as much as 15 at 48-33, and Valley never threatened again. A three by SG Gus Valle brought the Monarchs briefly to within 9 at 57-48 with just under a minute left, but that was as close as they would get.
In addition to his game-high 21 pts, Smith also grabbed a team-high 6 rebs for the Owls. Black was the only other scorer in double figures. Allan made both of his shots from the floor and finished with 5 pts, 5 rebs and 4 asts.
For Valley, PF Kevin Thomas scored 16 pts and grabbed 9 rebs. Ctr Jean Regis added 8 pts and a game-high 11 boards. PG Rai Colston had 8 pts and 4 asts though he suffered through a rough 2-for-13 shooting night.
The win keeps Citrus tied atop the WSC-South standings while Valley falls to 0-2.
box score
Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 7:30 pm
at the Owls' Nest, Citrus College, Glendora
WSC-South
LA Valley Monarchs 51:
10-Rai Colston, PG - 2/13 fg, 4/5 ft, 3 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 8 pts
23-Charles Streater, SG - 1/4 fg, 1 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pts
35-Simon Brown, SF - 0/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 pts
44-Brandon Burnside, PF - 1/3 fg, 2 reb, 2 pts
45-Jean Regis, C - 4/7 fg, 0/2 ft, 11 reb, 2 blk, 8 pts
22-Billy Swain, G - 0/3 fg, 0 pts
33-Kevin Thomas, F - 7/12 fg, 2/7 ft, 9 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 16 pts
42-Edan Barouch, C - 2 reb, 0 pts
21-Michael Bobby, G - 0/2 fg, 1 stl, 0 pts
3-Sterling Wilson, G - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
12-Gus Valle, G - 3/9 fg, 1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 7 pts
31-Adam Nicklas, F - 2/3 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 6 pts
30-Corey McElroy, G - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
team rebounds: 20/60 fg (.333), 8/16 ft (.500), 40 reb, 10 ast, 4 blk, 8 stl, 51 pts
3-pt fg (3): Nicklas 2, Valle
Turnovers (23): Thomas 5, Colston 4, Regis 4, Brown 3, Barouch 2, Streater, Swain, Bobby, Wilson, McElroy
Citrus Owls 64:
15-James Reynolds, SG - 1/3 fg, 3 reb, 3 blk, 3 pts
20-Phil Friesen, PG - 0/4 fg, 5/6 ft, 3 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 5 pts
23-Tron Smith, SF - 7/20 fg, 6/6 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 21 pts
30-Chad Allan, PF - 2/2 fg, 1/2 ft, 5 reb, 4 ast, 5 pts
34-Daniel Fleming, C - 1/5 fg, 4/4 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 6 pts
25-Jeremy Black, G - 2/5 fg, 7/10 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 13 pts
3-Shaughn Hull, G - 2/5 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 4 pts
45-Deonta Black, C - 0/1 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl, 2 pts
10-Lester Cole, G - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 2 stl, 0 pts
40-Daryl Jones, F - 1/1 fg, 3/3 ft, 1 reb, 1 blk, 5 pts
44-Andre Payne, F - 1 reb, 1 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 16/47 fg (.340), 28/33 ft (.848), 35 reb, 12 ast, 5 blk, 14 stl, 64 pts
3-pt fg (4): J.Black 2, Reynolds, Smith
Turnovers (19): Reynolds 5, Smith 3, Friesen 2, J.Black 2, Hull 2, Allan, Fleming, D.Black, Cole, Payne
Halftime Score: Citrus 23, LA Valley 17
Updated Records: Citrus 14-7, 2-0 in conf; LA Valley 6-12, 0-2 in conf
