Heicke Lifts Glendale to Victory From the Foul Line

Bruce Heicke is pridefully humble. He puts a disclaimer on even the most obvious truths so as not to sound boastful.

But Friday night, after he sank 13 of 14 free throws during Glendale College’s 78-71 nonconference victory over Antelope Valley, Heicke was forced to shoot straight with the facts.

“I don’t miss very many free throws,” he said after making four free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the win. “If they foul me, they’re going to pay for it. And tonight, they paid for it.”

Heicke, a sophomore guard, scored a game-high 28 points as Glendale won its sixth game in a row and improved to 10-5.

Just as they did last week en route to winning the championship of their own tournament, the Vaqueros played suffocating defense, especially inside against the taller Marauders (12-4).

Glendale forward Gary Fowler scored 25 points and also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, but his biggest contribution might have been the way he and fellow forward Dave Swanson clogged the middle. The Vaqueros’ seal-and-help defensive philosophy forced Antelope Valley into several of its uncharacteristic 21 turnovers.

Glendale led, 74-71, with 24 seconds left when the Vaqueros forced Antelope Valley into its most costly turnover.

Antelope Valley, one of the best three-point shooting teams in Southern California, had possession after Vigen Serop missed the front end of a one-and-one. However, as Walter Brooks of the Marauders drove toward the key, Serop tied him up for a jump ball.

Glendale was awarded possession, leaving Antelope Valley no choice but to foul Heicke, who iced the victory with his four free throws.

Paul Ernst led Antelope Valley with 17 points. Steve Walker added 12, Brooks had 11 and point guard Dedan Thomas scored 10 points.

Glendale held a nine-point lead at halftime behind the play of Heicke, who had 12 first-half points, and Fowler and Justin Lord, who scored 11 and 10 points.

Antelope Valley had three turnovers in its first three possessions, allowing Glendale to take a 10-2 lead.

The Marauders trailed, 15-10, when Walker hit three short jump shots to pull Antelope Valley within 17-16. Thomas put the Marauders in front, 18-17, on a layup after stripping Serop of the ball with 11:34 left in the half.

The turning point in the half came with six minutes left when Antelope Valley’s Demetrius Phillips was ejected after committing a flagrant foul against Swanson.

Antelope Valley was leading, 24-21, at the time of the ejection, but Glendale launched a 9-0 run to take a 30-24 lead.