Pasadena Wrings Twice as Moorpark Falls Again, 64-46

There are two reasons why Moorpark College’s basketball team isn’t undefeated this season: Pasadena once, Pasadena twice.

The Raiders (10-2) came up 18 points short in their bid to avenge an earlier season loss to Pasadena, losing Thursday to the Lancers, 64-46, in the second round of the Crown City tournament at Pasadena City College.

“That’s what you call getting your tail whupped,” Moorpark Coach Al Nordquist said. “Pasadena did an excellent job shutting down our offense and shutting down our passing game.”

Pasadena, which has made it to the final five times in the seven-year history of the tournament but has never won it, will play Mt. San Antonio for the championship tonight at 9. Moorpark will play Rio Hondo for third place at 7 p.m.

The Raiders, who are one of the area’s best outside shooting teams, perhaps shut down their own shooting game. Danny Berryman scored 16, but Moorpark can usually count on him for more than 20. Danny Camp, who went into the game as Moorpark’s No. 2 scorer, was held to just eight points. It’s possible that Camp had other things on his mind; he leaves today for West Palm Beach, Fla. to spend Christmas at home.

“If he wasn’t thinking about that,” Nordquist said, “then I don’t know. He didn’t look like he was thinking about his shots. I think he was really rushing his shots.”

Moorpark, which plays better as a team rather than as a group of individuals, apparently let John Clark and Jock White boggle their minds.

Said Nordquist: “Our guys got frustrated and decided to go one-on-one with Pasadena.”

Bad move. Pasadena’s White and Clark seemed unstoppable. Each scored 16 points, mostly inside the key. It wasn’t that the Raiders were weak inside--both Darrin Channels and Dave Inemer played well. It was that the Lancers proved to be faster.

“Those guy took us out of our game,” Nordquist said.

The Raiders were never really close. Moorpark took the lead once, 23-22, with five minutes left in the first half, and were then outscored, 14-2, before the half came to a close. The Lancers took a 36-25 lead into the locker room at the break.

Unfortunately for Moorpark, the second half was more of the first. Clark scored 12 of his game-high total after halftime, giving White, who had four second-half points, a breather.

“The secret for us is to come out and play a great game tomorrow,” Nordquist said. Pasadena will take an 8-4 record into tonight’s finale.

Valley 61, MiraCosta 58--After trailing by nine points at halftime, the Monarchs came from behind to earn a spot in today’s 5 p.m. consolation final today.

John Windham scored 12 for the Monarchs and Fred Lewis added 11 as Valley won its sixth game against seven losses.

VALLEY--Windham 12; Lewis 12; Harden 9; Lopez 7; Fontenette 6; Stephens 6; Wright 4; Andrews 2; Goodrich 2.

MIRACOSTA--Phillips 14; Henderson 11; Blas 8; Prim 5; Perry 4; Sherman 3; Moore 3; Nowakowski 2.

PASADENA--White 16 and 6 rebounds; Clark 16 and 10 rebounds; Scott 12; Conoway 6 and 9 rebounds; Osborne 4; Wallace 4.

MOORPARK--Berryman 12; Channels 12; Camp 8; Abraham 6; Inemer 4; Staples 4.