High School Basketball : Quick Start Enables Santa Clara to Breeze Past Simi Valley, 77-64

Santa Clara High vaulted to an early lead and coasted past Simi Valley, 77-64, Tuesday night in a nonleague game at Santa Clara.

“Our first 12 minutes of play stunk the place up,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. Santa Clara (5-0) opened a 19-point lead midway through the second quarter before Simi Valley forward Kenny Hood scored 6 points in the last 2 minutes of the half to cut the Saint lead to 38-27.

Hood and guard Steve Carnes each scored 12 points for Simi Valley (2-2).

Junior forward Shon Tarver had a game-high 25 points to lead Santa Clara, the champion of the Simi Valley tournament last weekend.