VALLEY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Valley Ends Skid With 1st-Round Win, 89-75 : College: Accurate shooting from perimeter helps Monarchs stave off East Los Angeles. Steve Ward and Cliff Barnes combine for 46 points to lead victory.

Last week, Valley College took its ball and went home, making an early exit from the Glendale tournament.

But Tuesday night, the Monarchs found that home is where the jump shot is as they ended a two-game skid, beating pesky East Los Angeles, 89-75, in the first round of the Valley tournament.

The Monarchs (7-5) will meet Pasadena at 8 tonight in a semifinal game. Pasadena defeated Citrus, 102-95, in overtime.

In other first-round games, Ventura hammered Trade Tech, 100-57, and Hancock defeated L. A. City, 111-96.

Valley, which whipped East Los Angeles by 25 points earlier this season, had a difficult time shaking the Huskies (5-10) this time around.

The Monarchs led, 46-37, at halftime, as Cliff Barnes scored 14 points and Steve Ward came off the bench for 12.

East Los Angeles, which shot just 33% from the field in the first half and 31% for the game, managed to climb back into the game from the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 23 free throws in the second half. The Huskies also forced Valley into 11 second-half turnovers.

Valley led, 76-73, with just under five minutes to play, then ran off nine consecutive points to assume command.

Ward, who finished with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, had four points during the run, as did Barnes.

Barnes hit nine of 12 shots and had 20 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Guard Andre Harrell added 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for Valley, while teammate McArthur Wells came off the bench for 13 points.

Valley converted 52% of its field-goal attempts.

East Los Angeles was led by Rickey Bell, who had 19 points and eight rebounds. Paul Chavez and Mario Nava each added 13 points for the Huskies.

Valley broke away from an 18-18 tie midway through the first half and went on a 20-9 run.