City Section Boys’ Basketball : Reseda Knocks Off Monroe, 61-54, as Halpern Notches 50th Victory

It took 3 years and more schools than Jeff Halpern would prefer to mention, but the Reseda High coach reached the half-century plateau in wins Friday night when the Regents defeated Monroe, 61-54, in a Mid-Valley League boys’ basketball game at Monroe.

“Fifty wins in three years,” Halpern cracked. “And at about as many schools.”

Halpern had coached at Van Nuys and Birmingham--where he took the Braves to the City Section 3-A Division final--before coming to Reseda this season, and the Regents already have experienced a turnaround. After winning 3 league games in the preceding 2 seasons, the Regents are 5-2 in Mid-Valley play and in second place behind North Hollywood (7-0). Reseda is 7-9 overall.

Senior forward Coley Kyman scored a game-high 19 points and cleared 17 rebounds to lead the Regents (7-9, 5-2), who outscored Monroe, 30-17, in the first half.

Mike Basowski had 16 points and Mario Jordan added 15 points and 16 rebounds for Reseda.

Junior forward Jesse Walker scored a team-high 15 points and added 16 rebounds for Monroe (3-11, 2-5).

In another Mid-Valley game:

North Hollywood 74, Van Nuys 55--Junior center Dana Jones scored a game-high 24 points for North Hollywood (12-4, 7-0), which remained in sole possession of first place.

Senior forward Ed Davis had 14 points for the Huskies, who trailed, 19-13, after the first quarter.

North Hollywood intensified its defensive pressure by switching to a halfcourt trap in the second quarter, however, and pulled away to a 38-31 lead at halftime.

Robert McGee scored 15 points and Al Foster had 11 for Van Nuys (3-14, 0-7).

WEST VALLEY LEAGUE

Chatsworth 64, San Fernando 37--Senior point guard Rick Garrick scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Chancellors, who outscored San Fernando, 33-16, in the first half.

Forward Ramon Purvis added 16 points for Chatsworth (11-7, 3-4) and guard Sam Kim added 10.

Junior forward Lance Whitaker came off the bench to lead San Fernando (8-11, 2-5) with 9 points. The Chatsworth starters outscored San Fernando’s starting 5, 60-13.

With the victory Chatsworth, which defeated El Camino Real on Wednesday, remained atop the West Valley standings.

El Camino Real 87, Canoga Park 32--Senior forwards Brent Lofton and Charles Crow combined for 16 points in the first quarter as the Conquistadores rolled to an easy win at El Camino Real.

Senior center Jason Steele had 19 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocked shots for El Camino Real (6-8, 3-4). Twelve of 13 El Camino Real players scored.

Crow scored 21 points and Lofton finished with 16.

Sean Reyes led Canoga Park (2-14, 0-7) with 9 points.

EAST VALLEY LEAGUE

Poly 59, Birmingham 51--John Bruner and Scott Cooper of Poly were held to a combined 3 points in the first half as Birmingham took a 24-21 lead.

But Cooper and Bruner caught fire in the second half, leading Poly (9-8, 4-3) to a 20-point fourth quarter.

Cooper finished with 17 points and Bruner added 9 points and 12 rebounds. Ten of Bruner’s rebounds came in the second half. Birmingham (7-10, 3-4) made only 4 of 24 3-point attempts and was 17 of 44 from 2-point range.

Senior guard Tyrone Craig scored a team-high 14 points for Birmingham and teammate Danny Larson added 7 points.

Grant 73, Sylmar 43--Sean Watkins scored a game-high 18 points for the Lancers, who took a 29-21 lead at halftime.

Nate Conner added 10 points and Setro Terzian had 8 points for Grant (14-3, 6-1), which put the Spartans away by outscoring them, 26-16, in the fourth quarter.