Mixon Gets 28 as Canyons Sets Stage for Showdown

College of the Canyons, led by James Mixon’s 28 points, beat Trade Tech, 91-83, to set up Friday’s Sports Arena showdown between two of Southern California’s most explosive fast-break teams in a game that will determine the Mountain Valley Conference championship.

Mixon, taking feeds from guards Derek Hughes and Kevin Honaker, scored 20 of his ame-high points in the first half at Canyons Wednesday night. Mixon’s shooting on the fast break, along with the double-figure scoring of Vincent Ray, Ron Stapp and reserve Doug Aitken, baffled the Beavers, who grew tired as the 1-hour, 31-minute game progressed.

Friday’s 4:30 p.m. game, some believe, could just as well be played at Hollywood Park.

“It’ll be a horse race,” Canyons Coach Lee Smelser said. “We’re running the ball just as well as we have all season. We feel that if we run the ball well enough, we don’t have to stop, and that has been good enough to carry us into the championship game.”

The Cougars (8-1, 19-8 overall) will need the same rapid performance they showed Wednesday if they are to avenge an earlier season loss to Southwest. They sped to a 10-2 first-half lead, were caught at 18-18 with 10 minutes left, but regrouped and held 10-point lead for the rest of the game.

Much of the reason for Canyons’ successful fast break is its bench. Aitken, for instance, scored 12 points, Honaker scored six and had seven assists. Hughes, who also scored six points, had 11 assists.

Jesse Spinner had a team-high 25 points for Trade Tech (3-6, 14-12 overall).

TRADE TECH--Jesse Spinner 25; Johnson 19; M. Brown 19; A. Brown 12; Huntley 4; Jerome Spinner 4.

CANYONS--Mixon 28 and 5 assists; Ray 18 and 9 rebounds; Stapp 18; Aitken 12; Hughes 6 and 11 assists; Honaker 6 and 7 assists; Hines 2; McNulty 2.

Pierce 76, Pasadena 75--Kent Young made a driving layup with two seconds left to give Pierce the upset victory in a Metropolitan Conference game at home.

Pierce trailed by 15 points at one point in the first half, but rallied in the second half behind Andy Jercha, who scored 27 points. Tony Thomas scored 17 points.

Pasadena 41 34 -- 75

Pierce 33 43 -- 76

PASADENA--Scott 22; White 10; Love 8; Wood 6; Clark 8; Conaway 11; Osborn 10.

PIERCE--Newton 6; Young 6; Thomas 17; Warner 2; Jercha 27; Purry 7; Italia 11.

Valley (women) 79, Trade Tech 75--With a victory in either of its two remaining games, Valley could clinch the Mountain Valley Conference title for the first time since the mid-60s. Valley (16-11, 8-1 in conference) defeated Trade Tech (16-9, 6-3) for the second time this season by going on an 8-2 run in the overtime.

The game was sent into overtime when Trade Tech’s Johanna Faulkner scored on a desperation 15-footer. Valley’s Maryjo Testa scored six of her 23 points in the overtime.

TRADE TECH--Wiley 26; P. Daniels 14; Faulkner 14; Braggs 11; B. Collins 6; King 2; Wesley 2.

VALLEY--J. Daniels 25; Testa 23; Johnson 16; Rodriguez 9; L. Collins 4; Brown 2.