Boys’ Basketball : Substitutes Spark Sylmar Upset

Sylmar, down to six players because two starters were ruled academically ineligible this week, received key performances from its replacements to upset Van Nuys, 58-53, in a Northwest Valley League game at Sylmar.

Guard Shawn Rucker led Sylmar (9-8, 3-6 in league play) with 24 points and 6 assists. But Coach Billy Reed said it was Henry Myles and Abraham Gonzales--both of whom were making their first start--who responded by filling the void created by the loss of David Baker, the team’s leading rebounder, and Tom Young, the team’s second-leading scorer.

Gonzales scored only four points, two on a crucial steal and basket with two minutes to play that put Sylmar ahead, 55-51. Myles set the tone with seven points in the first quarter and put the clamps on Van Nuys guard Alonzo Galloway, who finished with 20 points, in the fourth quarter.

“The team was upset the kids didn’t pull through in the classroom and played inspired,” said Reed, whose team faced elimination from the playoffs had it lost.

Van Nuys (7-9, 4-5) dropped into a tie for third place in the league with Poly, which defeated Verdugo Hills, 80-56.

Saugus 61, Quartz Hill 54--Quartz Hill was in a position to clinch the Golden League championship at Saugus, but Saugus is not a run-of-the-mill last-place team, despite its 2-20 record.

“I told them before the game, ‘Play for pride and don’t let them dance on our floor,’ ” Saugus Coach John Clark said. Saugus improved to 2-7 in league play. A recent ruling stripped the Centurions of seven victories after it was discovered they had used an ineligible player.

Rick Bilek led the upset with 23 points, including four three-point baskets. Sean Legaux added 17 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Lee White scored 20 points for the Rebels (15-6, 8-1).

St. Genevieve 86, Harvard 73--St. Genevieve does not relish its position, but the Valiants (11-10, 7-6), playing the role of spoiler, have won four consecutive games, two against playoff-contending teams.

St. Genevieve made 35 of 49 shots (71.4%). Ron Nielsen (9 of 12 shots) led St. Genevieve with 21 points, followed by Ruben Aguirre (7 of 8) and Chad Russell (8 of 13) who each added 20. Point guard Mike Cassidy had 5 steals and 23 assists, falling just shy of the Southern Section single-game record (24) held by Troy Dueker, formerly of L. A. Lutheran and now at Cal State Northridge. Ironically, Dueker’s coach at CSUN is Pete Cassidy, the father of Mike.

Rick Osterloh scored 21 for Harvard and Mike Beckwist added 18. Charles Patton, the Saracen’s leading scorer, continued to struggle after returning from a hip injury two games ago, taking one shot and finishing with no points. San Fernando 77, Chatsworth 62--Tory Stephens made 11 of 18 field-goal attempts and finished with 30 points at San Fernando as the Tigers remained undefeated in the Northwest Valley League.

Stephens, a 6-2 guard, scored 10 points in the first and third quarters to lead San Fernando to a 54-35 advantage going into the fourth quarter. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, as did Lance Whitaker.

Senior guard Joe Mauldin added 14 points for the Tigers (15-4, 9-0), who have won 11 consecutive games.

Stuart Thompson scored 18 points to lead Chatsworth (10-9, 4-5).

Granada Hills 90, Canoga Park 73--John Johnson scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting and handed out 7 assists to lead Granada Hills in the Northwest Valley League game at Canoga Park.

Four Highlanders recorded double-doubles in scoring and rebounding for Granada Hills (10-6, 6-3).

Taft 45, El Camino Real 42--Tony Moten scored 12 points and Quincy Watts added 10 as Taft (14-6, 6-5) pulled within one game of third-place Kennedy, which lost to Cleveland. Brent Lofton had 16 points and 12 rebounds for El Camino Real (4-13, 3-7).

Fairfax 61, Reseda 32--Reseda trailed by only 12 points at halftime before being routed by Fairfax (15-4, 9-1), the defending City Section 4-A Division champion. The host Knights (2-16, 0-11) remained winless in Valley League play.

Chaminade 60, Pater Noster 47--Doug Marconet came off the bench to score 13 points and spark the Eagles’ fourth-quarter run in a Santa Fe League game at Chaminade.

Bell-Jeff 82, Salesian 59--The Guards made all 10 of their field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter and 29 of 47 (61.7%) in the Santa Fe league game.

Henry Polee scored a career-high 29 points on 11-of-13 shooting.

L.A. Baptist 55, Village Christian 45--James Hoback scored a game-high 22 points to lead L. A. Baptist to the Alpha League win at Village Christian. The Knights made 22 of 28 free throws.

Christian fell to 6-15, 2-7.

Alhambra 72, Hart 54--Dan Febres-Cordero scored 24 points to lead Alhambra to a Foothill League win at Hart. Kent Wang added 14 points for Alhambra.

The loss knocks Hart (12-9, 4-5) from playoff contention.