COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Valley, Without Boykin, Falls in Title Game, 85-78

Valley Coach Jim Stephens cannot overemphasize the importance of sophomore forward Shelton Boykin, the Monarchs’ leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer.

In the five games in which the 6-foot-5 transfer from Texas El Paso has played, the Monarchs are 5-0.

Without Boykin, who missed Saturday night’s 85-78 loss to Santa Monica in the Antelope Valley tournament championship game because of an ear infection, the Monarchs are 0-3.

“I’m really proud of (my team),” Stephens said. “I didn’t think we had a prayer, but we hung in there. What do you do when you lose the best athlete on your team?”

Boykin missed the first two games of the season because of an eligibility problem.

Steve Ward had 19 points and Andre Harrell had 13 points and eight rebounds for Valley. Center Cliff Barnes chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Forward Cornelius Bank had a game-high 28 points, and forward Mark Moton and guard Donald Smith each contributed 15 points for Santa Monica (8-2).

Dana Harris of Santa Monica, the tournament’s most valuable player, added 10 points and seven rebounds.

In other Antelope Valley tournament games:

Antelope Valley 90, L.A. Harbor 74--It’s not uncommon to have streak shooters in basketball, but the Antelope Valley and Harbor squads turned into streak scorers during the third-place game.

Antelope Valley (7-2) scored the first 10 points of the contest, but the Seahawks (8-3) turned the tables with a 13-3 streak to tie the score with 12 minutes left in the first half.

After Harbor took its only lead of the game, 28-26, on forward George LeDay’s layup with 5:30 to play in the period, the Marauders scored 16 of the next 18 points en route to a 42-30 halftime lead.

Harbor managed to cut the lead to 47-42 early in the second half, but Antelope Valley put on another spurt, outscoring the Seahawks, 12-2, for a 59-44 advantage with little more than 14 minutes remaining.

Marauder guard Paul Ernst led all scorers with 22 points. Forward Steve Walker added 19 points and eight rebounds and forward Joe Mantashigian contributed 17 points, 15 in the second half. LeDay and forward Terry Nelson paced Harbor with 14 points each.

Antelope Valley could have broken the century mark had it not missed 20 of 52 free throws. Harbor made 19 of 30 free throws.

Canyons 94, Glendale 90--The Cougars snapped an 11-11 tie with nine consecutive points midway through the first half and never relinquished the lead in the fifth-place game.

The Cougars (4-4) led by as many as 10 points early in the second half, but Glendale (4-4) cut the lead to 93-90 in the final minute. The Vaqueros had a chance to tie with five seconds to play on a three-point attempt by forward Justin Lord. His shot missed, however, and Aaron Clark clinched the win with a free throw.

Free throws made the difference as Canyons made 21 of 25 to 12 of 26 for Glendale.

Guard Steve Valenzuela led Canyons with 24 points, including four three-point baskets, and guard Nick Sanderson added 20 points. Forwards Gary Fowler and Dave Swanson paced Glendale with 24 points each.