College Basketball : Valenzuela Sparks Canyons’ 2nd-Half Comeback, 71-57

Steve Valenzuela hit 5 of 7 3-point shots in the second half Saturday night as College of the Canyons rallied to defeat Cuesta, 71-57, in the consolation championship game of the Mid-State Bank Holiday tournament.

Trailing, 31-22, late in the first half, Canyons outscored Cuesta, 9-2, to pull within 33-31 at intermission.

Valenzuela took control in the second half, hitting 3 consecutive 3-pointers to propel Canyons to a 44-37 lead.

Cuesta pulled to within 46-43, but Canyons put together a string of 8 points followed by a another of 10 points--including 2 more Valenzuela bombs--to put the game away.

Valenzuela led all scorers with 23 points, and teammates Myricks (15) and Larry Allbritton added 15 and 12.