BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Canoga Park Stays Hot, 65-52

How times have changed for Canoga Park High.

After 13 games last season, the Hunters were 2-11 and their best days were behind them. Canoga Park did not win another game and finished the season 2-17.

After 13 games this season under first-year Coach Jeff Davis, Canoga Park is 8-5. The lastest triumph was a 65-52 nonleague victory over visiting Birmingham on Wednesday. The start is the team’s best since the 1983-84 season when the Hunters reached the City Section 3-A Division final and lost to Reseda.

“They’re very upbeat and positive kids,” Davis said. “They’re really starting to believe in themselves. But they are by no means where they want to be.”

Canoga Park senior guard Marcus Reed scored a game-high 19 points and had six steals and senior center Shawn Lewis scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Junior point guard Lindsey Dunbar had six assists in the fourth quarter--three to reserve Wendell Simpson, who buried three consecutive jump shots to account for all his points.

In other boys’ games:

Royal 60, Newbury Park 55--Russell Myers scored a game-high 18 points and Chris Moriarty added 12 for the Highlanders (12-3, 1-0) in a Marmonte League opener at Royal.

Kevin Loveall scored 15 for Newbury Park (6-6) and Shane Gallimore and Brian Smith contributed 10 each.

Simi Valley 74, Channel Islands 47--Simi Valley dominated the boards in the Marmonte League opener at home.

Center Mike Wawryk scored 25 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, and forward Kenny Hood scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds for the Pioneers (9-5 overall). Guard Steve Carnes scored four points and had nine assists.

Kennedy 64, Reseda 57--Josh Etting and Dion Ross each made a basket in the final minute to nullify a late Reseda surge in a nonleague game at Reseda.

Etting finished with a game-high 24 points and Garret Anderson added 17.

Guard Mike Basowski led Reseda (4-6) with 18 points, including four three-point shots. Marquis Wilborn scored 16 points and Mike Hawkins added 13.

Antelope Valley 61, Apple Valley 58--Antelope Valley forced 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter to emerge with a nonleague win at Apple Valley.

Senior guard Jabbar Briggs scored 14 points to lead the Antelopes (12-3). Senior forward Chris Walters (13 points) and senior center John Pletsch (10) also scored in double figures.

Providence 45, Pater Noster 36--Providence, led by senior forward Tim Edgar, outscored Pater Noster, 20-5, from the free-throw line in a nonleague game at Providence High.

Edgar had 18 points and seven rebounds. He made 12 of 18 free-throws.

Glendale Academy 74, Westside Alternative 38--Senior forward Robby Taylor scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the third quarter to pace a 23-9 spurt for Glendale Academy (3-3). Guy Nembhard added 13. Brian Alexander and Nembhard had 15 and 12 rebounds in the nonleague game at Glendale Academy.

Taft 61, Poly 47--Junior guard Cornell Hill scored 19 points, had 20 rebounds and blocked eight shots for Taft (10-4) in a nonleague game at Poly.

Jason Deyoe scored 17 and Devin Martin had 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Marshall 54, Sherman Oaks CES 47--Cleve McWright scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and sophomore Raleigh Henderson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds in a Northern Conference game at Sherman Oaks.

Hank Hou scored 26 for Marshall (7-8, 3-1). Sherman Oaks CES dropped to 6-9, 2-2 in conference play.

L.A. Lutheran 64, Pacific Christian 47--The Lions outscored Pacific Christian, 18-2, in the third quarter to break away in a Heritage League opener.

Stephen Willwever scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for L. A. Lutheran (5-3, 1-0).

Granada Hills 71, Carson 66--Point guard Jermoine Brantley scored a game-high 27 points--12 in a 25-point fourth quarter--and had seven assists to lead the Highlanders (9-6) at home.

Granada Hills’ forward Aaron Lattimore added 18 points and 13 rebounds.

Bell-Jeff 62, Burbank 60--Bryan Camacho scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with five seconds to play to lift the Guards in a nonleague game at Burbank.

Paul Tapp scored 21 and Brad Ainsworth added 14 for Burbank (1-10). Dart Phinnesse contributed 16 for Bell-Jeff (4-8).

Agoura 84, Oak Park 74--Senior guard Josh Atkinson scored a career-high 37 points for Oak Park (6-7) in a nonleague game at home.

GIRLS

North Hollywood 56, Granada Hills 23--Jacinda Sweet scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Huskies built on their 12-0 advantage at North Hollywood.

Rose Thompson scored eight points and Anna Giles added seven and nine rebounds for North Hollywood (4-5).

Birmingham 48, Palisades 45--Senior guard Gayle Fisher scored 19 points to lead Birmingham to a come-from-behind nonleague victory at home.

MEN

Glendale 85, West L.A. 81--Glendale led the entire way in the Western State Conference opener, but had to withstand a late surge by visiting West L. A.

Vigen Serop and Dave Swanson each made two free throws in the final minute to clinch the win for Glendale (13-6). Swanson, who scored 21 points, also grabbed nine rebounds.

Forward Gary Fowler scored 22 points and had five rebounds.

WOMEN

Pierce 81, Glendale 47--Host Pierce won its fourth consecutive game to begin Western State Conference play. Freshman point guard Cynthia Llerenas had 21 points and 11 assists.