STATWATCH : Stephens, Mauldin Form Prolific Pair

San Fernando Coach Dick Crowell might have the most productive backcourt duo in the Valley area.

Senior guards Tory Stephens and Joe Mauldin combined for 114 points in two games last week as the first-place Tigers improved to 3-0 in the Northwest Valley League.

Stephens, a 6-2 senior, posted the big numbers, registering 37-point games against Monroe and Canoga Park. He also had 10 rebounds in each game. Mauldin, a 6-2 senior, added 40 points and 9 steals during the week. Stephens is averaging a team-high 26 points a game; Mauldin is averaging 17.5.

“I give those kids a lot of latitude,” Crowell said. “They do things you and I can never do.”

Stephens and Mauldin are not the only City Section tandem doing the job. Guards Dedan Thomas and Quincy Watts lead the Taft offense. Thomas is averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 assists and Watts is averaging 20.9 points and 4.9 rebounds.

Cleveland Coach Bob Braswell’s problem is that he can play only two guards at a time. Sharing duties, Damon Greer (10 points and 9 assists), Adonis Jordan (16.5 points, 7.8 assists) and Joey Manliguis (11.7 points and 6.9 assists) have been a productive backcourt brigade for the Cavaliers.

Offense: Notre Dame’s eight-game win streak ended Saturday, but All-Del Rey League guard Bruce Heicke has not slowed his pace. Heicke, a 6-1 senior and co-captain, is averaging 20.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 4.4 steals. . . . North Hollywood forward Dominic Nappi, who averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in his first four games, has increased his totals to 20 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. Rebounding and shot blocking are the strong points of teammate Dana Jones’ game, but the 6-3 sophomore can pass, too. Jones is averaging 8.8 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 3.6 assists.

Before Newbury Park can turn around its 4-10 start, which includes four Marmonte League losses, the Panthers need to improve at the free-throw line. In its three-point loss to Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park made 8 of 20 foul shots. On Wednesday, the Panthers made 14 of 29 free throws against Royal and lost, 67-65. Newbury Park has lost eight consecutive games. . . . Poly averaged 47 points in its first four games and had a record of 3-1. In Poly’s past four games, the Parrots averaged 63.7 points and had a 1-3 record.

Chaminade’s switch from a half-court offense to a fast-break attack paid big dividends last week. After averaging 55.8 points a game in their first 12 contests and shooting 38% from the field, the Eagles averaged 70.5 points and shot 48% in victories over Bell-Jeff and St. Genevieve. . . . Eddie Hill, a sophomore point guard at Burroughs, is shooting 40.8% (29 for 71) from three-point range and is averaging 18.3 points a game.

Defense: There should be an interesting game within a game when guards Dedan Thomas of Taft and Adonis Jordan of Cleveland square off today in a key Valley League game at Cleveland: Thomas is averaging 4.7 steals a game and Jordan is averaging 7.0.