STATISTICAL WATCH : Van Nuys Is Playing Too Close for Comfort

Van Nuys basketball Coach Ken Duford doesn’t get caught up in the numbers game, but the Wolves have posted statistics that have him scratching his head and chewing his fingernails. Van Nuys (2-4) has played in four games decided by three points or less, and another was decided by five. To make matters worse, the Wolves lost three of those five games. Duford hopes to turn his team’s fortunes around when Van Nuys faces Reseda for the second time this season in the Birmingham tournament on Saturday. Reseda won round one, 62-60.

Scoring: Buckley is averaging 83.5 points per game. The Griffins scored more than 100 points in their first two games and more than 90 in the third and fourth games. Buckley (9-1) has scored 89 or more points six times and has five players averaging more than 10 points per game. . . . With leading scorer Greg Paskwietz sidelined by foul trouble, Jeff White of Canyon scored a career-high 24 points in the Cowboys’ 57-55 victory over Jordan in the consolation semifinal of the Bakersfield North tournament last Friday.

Shooting: Mike Michelson of Hart is has made all 14 of his free throw attempts this season. Hart is shooting 70% from the foul line. . . . Chris Buck of Burbank has made 9 of 12 shots in each of his past two games. Most were beyond 15 feet, according to Burbank Coach Russ Keith. . . . In Granada Hills’ 85-75 win over Taft on Saturday, Gary Gray, Sam Puathasnanon and Terrell Smith scored 83 points. The other two points were scored on a last-second basket by David Dahan.

Girls basketball: Canoga Park (1-4) got its first victory of the season with a forfeit Monday over Bishop Diego in the Simi Valley tournament. . . . Sandi Thomsen of Calabasas had 22 points, 22 rebounds and seven steals in the Coyotes’ 91-68 loss to Newbury Park on Saturday. . . . Calabasas missed 15 free-throw attempts in a 69-49 loss to Simi Valley last week.