High School Basketball Roundup : Valhalla Rallies to Upset Santana

Santana High School finally appeared ready to pull away from pesky Valhalla midway through the final quarter of a boys’ basketball game Tuesday to decide who would take possession of first place in the Grossmont League.

Instead, Valhalla’s “Mr. Inside” and “Mr. Outside” turned third-ranked Santana inside out.

Eighth-ranked Valhalla rallied from a 64-56 deficit with 4:39 remaining in the fourth quarter to upset the Sultans, 80-75, at Santana. The victory put Valhalla (10-4, 8-0) in first place at the midway point of league play. For Santana (13-2, 7-1), it was only the second defeat of the season; the other was by three points to No. 2 Lincoln.

Valhalla’s Rafid Kiti (“Mr. Outside”) and Tony Clark (“Mr. Inside”) were mostly out of sight until the fourth quarter. Kiti sat on the bench with three fouls before the first quarter ended and Clark couldn’t get his shots to fall. By halftime, they had a total of six points as Valhalla and Santana were tied, 31-31.

But Kiti scored 17 of his 19 points and Clark 12 of his 16 in the second half to rally Valhalla. Dan Chase kept Valhalla in the game, scoring a team-high 20 points. Joe Church scored 21 points and Stu Back added 17 for Santana. Tim Barry, Santana’s leading scorer (18.8) had three fouls in the first quarter and finished the game with nine points.

Santana took a 64-56 lead by outscoring Valhalla, 11-2, early in the fourth quarter. Then Kiti and Clark finally took their cues.

“That happens to us all the time,” Kiti said. “Teams get runs on us and we have to fight back.”

The fight began with Santana leading, 64-58. Kiti scored off a steal and Clark hit a turnaround jumper inside to pull Valhalla within 64-62. After a Santana free throw, Kiti hit a three-pointer from the top to tie the score, 65-65.

Santana answered with an inside basket by Andy Heacock. But Kiti answered louder when he popped another three-pointer from the top as Valhalla took a 68-67 lead. Valhalla never trailed again.

With 1:35 remaining, Santana pulled to 72-71. But Clark scored from the left side and Rob Tubman stole the ball and fed Kiti for a basket inside. Clark put a resounding end to Santana with a slam to give Valhalla an 80-73 lead with 20 seconds remaining.

“Patience,” said Manny Silva, Valhalla coach. “We just took our time. Chip away, chip away.”