Santa Monica Routs Canyons in WSC Game

Perhaps as a sign of things to come, College of the Canyons cheerleaders hung posters on the wall of the Canyons gym, bearing each player’s name and number.

Those signs served as a fitting memorial for the rout that followed as Santa Monica pounded Canyons, 104-77, Wednesday night in a Western State Conference men’s basketball game.

“It was by far the best game we have played this season,” Santa Monica Coach John McMullen said. “We passed the ball well, and, as a result, we got open shots.”

And lots of them too.

Canyons trailed, 43-30, at the half, but Santa Monica (20-4, 5-1) put the game out of reach early in the second half.

The Corsairs opened the half with a 19-3 blitz in a 4-minute, 52-second span, scoring mostly on layups off the break and short jump shots.

“We didn’t shoot well and Santa Monica did a good job of getting up a hand in our faces on defense,” said Canyons Coach Lee Smelser, whose team lost its third conference game of the season at home. “We needed someone to take charge on offense and nobody did.”

Canyons made a brief run in the second half, scoring 10 unanswered points. Mike Beal scored six of them, including a two-handed reverse dunk on a breakaway, to pull Canyons to within 19 with 12:47 to play. Santa Monica, the two-time defending WSC champion, promptly crushed any Canyons’ comeback hopes with a 13-3 run in the next two minutes to take a 79-51 advantage.

Nick Sanderson, who came into the contest averaging 18 points a game, led Canyons with 17 points.

Canyons stayed close early, hitting four three-point shots to open the game and led, 12-10, with 15:55 to play in the first half.

But that lead didn’t last long.

Santa Monica went on a 20-7 run over the next six minutes to take a 30-17 lead.

Canyons (8-14, 1-4) closed to within eight points twice in the closing minutes of the first half but could get no closer.

In other men’s games:

Antelope Valley 113, San Bernardino 93--Six players--Tony Madison (22 points), Joe Mantashigian (18), Demetrius Phillips (16), Walter Brooks (16), Steve Walker (15) and Paul Ernst (14)--scored in double figures for Antelope Valley (18-6, 4-1) to offset a 34-point performance by San Bernardino’s Curtis Jones in the Foothill Conference game at San Bernardino.

Valley 109, West L.A. 59--Five Valley players scored in double figures as the Monarchs exploded for 70 points in the second half of a Western State Conference game at Valley.

Andre Harrell, Steve Ward and Shawn DeLaittre each scored 19 points to lead the Monarchs (14-8, 5-0).

DeLaittre hit five three-point shots and Ward added two.

Cliff Barnes scored 13 points, Shelton Boykin added 10 and Rick Garrick had 10 assists.

WOMEN

Cal Lutheran 68, The Master’s 51--Senior guard Brenda Lee scored a game-high 18 points and became Cal Lutheran’s all-time leading rebounder as the Regals (10-5) coasted in the nonconference game at home.

Lee grabbed 12 rebounds to raise her career total to 760, breaking Kim Peppi’s record of 753 established from 1984-87.

Dani Elton scored 14 points and Leslie Stevens added 13 for Cal Lutheran (10-5).

Valley 66, Pierce 53--Forward Sandrine Rocher scored a team-high 16 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the field and Claudia Rocha came off the bench to score 10 for the Monarchs in a Western State Conference game at home.

Valley (4-1 in conference) made good use of its reserves. Eight players came off the bench to score a combined 38 points.

Rocher and Rocha, graduates of North Hollywood High, also grabbed seven and four rebounds, respectively.

Pierce (8-12, 1-4) was led by Carol Schoennann’s game-high 20 points and six steals and Michelle Ahnstatt added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Canyons 88, Santa Monica 71--Tressie Millender scored 21 points and freshman guard Diane Hinson added 19--11 in the second half--in a Western State Conference game at Canyons.

Canyons (16-4, 4-1) went on an 18-4 run in the first seven minutes to break a 43-43 halftime tie.