2nd-Half Surge Paces San Fernando, 56-55

It was feeding time at the zoo, at least for the first half, for the Kennedy High Golden Cougars during their Northwest Valley Conference game Wednesday against visiting San Fernando. But somebody must have found the key to the Tiger pit at halftime.

San Fernando, trailing by 15 at intermission, became the predator in the second half and nipped Kennedy, 56-55.

“This is probably the most exciting moment since my granddaughter was born,” San Fernando Coach Dick Crowell said. “I have never beaten (Kennedy Coach Yutaka) Shimizu before. It’s a real win for our kids.”

San Fernando took the lead for good with 53 seconds to play when Marco Renteria hit a layup and the ensuing free throw after drawing a blocking foul from Kennedy’s Randy Brown. Forward Dana Dotson pulled the Golden Cougars to within 1 with an 8-foot jump shot with 38 seconds to play, but Kennedy (8-4, 1-1 in conference) missed a chance to win when Garret Anderson’s 3-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired.

The Tigers, powered by forward Ben Boyd’s team-high 15 points--12 of which came on 3-point shots--took the lead for the first time, 48-47, with 4:50 to play on Boyd’s 3-point basket from the baseline.

Renteria, a guard, made a 3-point shot and forward Michael Wynn hit a 10-foot jump shot to increase San Fernando’s advantage to 53-49. However, Kennedy tied the score, 53-53, with 1:16 remaining after Anderson made a jump shot and Brown hit a pair of free throws.

Early on, it appeared that Kennedy would polish off San Fernando easily. The Golden Cougars took a 35-20 halftime lead behind 12 points by Brown.

But Renteria hit 2 3-point shots as the Tigers went on a 15-4 run to open the third quarter. San Fernando (7-7, 1-1 in conference) pulled to within 41-40 with 2:39 left in the period before Kennedy extended its lead to 45-40 on a jump shot by Anderson.

Crowell could hardly stay seated as his team outscored Kennedy, 36-20.