Prep Basketball Playoffs : 4-A Semifinals : Santa Ana’s Joyce Is Ejected During Fight-Marred Loss

What should have been something to see developed into something to forget Tuesday night at Chapman College. Simi Valley High School defeated Santa Ana, 76-61, in the semifinals of the Southern Section 4-A boys’ basketball playoffs.

Simi Valley will play the winner of today’s Capistrano Valley-Santa Barbara game in the 4-A final at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Tuesday’s game matched two of the state’s finest players, Simi Valley center Don MacLean and Santa Ana center Bobby Joyce, but it soon degenerated into a fight- and foul-marred affair.

The 6-foot 7-inch Joyce, who averaged 21 points a game in the regular season, committed two fouls in the first 1:30 of the game and had three before the first half was through.

Early in the third quarter he was ejected for punching Simi Valley’s Steve Carnes in the face.

MacLean fouled out in the fourth quarter, his performance ranging from exceptional to sleepy. MacLean, who averages 32 points a game, managed only 16 points against Santa Ana, a team that played most the second half without a center. MacLean scored two points in the second half.

As MacLean fluctuated, Simi Valley forward Shawn DeLaittre was solid, scoring 22 points, including 12 in the second half when Simi Valley outscored Santa Ana, 43-29.

Santa Ana held the lead once, 9-8, with 2:57 left in the first quarter. But Simi Valley went on an 11-0 run in the next two minutes, using a 2-2-1 press that caused turnovers and created high percentage shots off the transition.

Trailing, 19-12, after the first quarter, Santa Ana rallied to outscore Simi Valley, 20-14, in the second quarter and pull within one at the half, 33-32.

Joyce, who picked up his third foul midway in the quarter on a player-control call as he led a break, scored eight points in the quarter.

Simi Valley broke out quickly in the third quarter, taking a 41-34 lead early on two three-points shots by point guard Butch Hawking and a fall-away by DeLaittre.

After Hawking’s second three-pointer, he and Joyce became tangled up at halfcourt and Joyce eventually pushed Hawking to the ground. The referees apparently did not see the push, and play continued.

After a Santa Ana miss, Hawking brought the ball down and made an exceptional no-look pass to MacLean inside for a basket. The pass and shot brought the capacity Simi Valley crowd of 2,280 to a thunderous ovation and caused a Santa Ana timeout.

As the teams went to their respective benches, Hawking approached Joyce, pointing his finger at him and shouting. Hawking then patted Joyce in what appeared to be mock consolation and headed toward his own bench. Joyce followed Hawking, and players from each team met in front of the scorer’s table.

Santa Ana guard Leo Leon pushed Hawking, causing Carnes to rush forward. Joyce punched Carnes in the face, cutting Carnes’ lip. Players rushed toward each other and a few spectators came out of the stands, but coaches and officials quickly calmed the situation.

Joyce (11 points) was ejected and Santa Ana faded quickly. Simi Valley went on a 13-5 run and took a 54-39 lead by the end of the third quarter. Santa Ana could get only as close as 11 points in the fourth quarter.