SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 3-A Division : HH Wilson and Williams End Season for Valencia

Scott Williams, a blue-chip center for Hacienda Heights Wilson who has signed with North Carolina, proved to be a tall order for Valencia Tuesday in the second round of the CIF Southern Section 3-A basketball playoffs.

The 6-foot 10-inch senior scored 28 points, had 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots to lead the Wildcats to a 63-50 win in Rowland Heights. Williams made 11 of 14 shots, although none was outside the six-feet range.

“I knew he was good, but he was just dominating inside,” said Ray Rodriguez, Valencia coach. “I told my players to attack the basket, and if he blocks the shot, fine. I can’t complain.

“But when we got a couple of two-on-one fast breaks against him in the first half, and he blocked our shots, I knew we were in trouble.”

Williams had 17 points by halftime as the Wildcats (24-3) opened a 36-21 lead. They extended the margin to 42-22 early in the third quarter, but Valencia rallied to cut the deficit to 10 points at the end of the third quarter.

When Kevin Jones scored on a follow shot early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers had cut the lead to eight points, 48-40, and it appeared the momentum was swinging in Valencia’s favor. But that’s when Williams went to work.

He scored on his third dunk of the night and then added a three-point play with 3:19 remaining to push Wilson safely ahead, 57-44, and the season was over for Valencia.

“I told the kids if we could get to within 10 points at the end of the third quarter and get the big guy in foul trouble, we had a chance,” Rodriguez said.

Williams gained his fourth personal foul with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter but avoided his fifth until there were only 37 seconds to play and the game was safely tucked away.

The Tigers (14-10) hurt themselves at the foul line. Valencia managed to make only 4 of 14 free-throw attempts and came into the game with a 58% average.

Valencia was forced to play without its top scorer and rebounder, Dennis Burbank, after he contacted the chicken pox. But the Tigers opened a 5-0 lead and stayed close with the taller Wildcats through the first quarter.

Valencia managed only nine points in the second quarter and trailed by 15 points at halftime, but a spirited rally led by guard David LaRue seemed to catch Wilson off guard.

“We backed off a little defensively,” said Mike Lowe, Wilson coach. “We got into some foul trouble, and they made a run at us. I knew they were the type of team that wouldn’t quit, and they didn’t.”