Valley Beats Moorpark, Clings to 1st

This game could have been played by plastic surgeons--it was nip and tuck all the way.

Valley College held on to first place by defeating visiting Moorpark College, 83-80, in a Western State Conference game Saturday night in which the lead changed hands 15 times. The score also was tied more times, 10, than Michael Jackson has had nose jobs.

“That was a good game,” Moorpark Coach Al Nordquist said. “Both teams played well. They hit some shots at the end, and that was key.”

With less than a half-minute remaining and Valley leading, 77-73, Valley’s Rick Garrick broke free for a dunk.

“They got that break there, and that made a big difference,” Nordquist said.

Moorpark’s Bruce Watson came back with a three-point basket to make the score 79-76, but Garrick made four free throws in the last 16 seconds to protect Valley’s margin.

“I knew it was going to be a hard game,” Valley Coach Jim Stephens said.

“The one thing that surprised me, that I didn’t anticipate, was Sam (Crawford) being able to shoot outside on us.”

Crawford, Moorpark’s point guard, made a 35-foot, three-point heave at the final buzzer to finish with 25 points and five three-point baskets.

Moorpark never led by more than seven points, Valley never by more than six, in what was a crucial conference match-up for both teams.

Valley (17-9, 7-1 in conference) won its first six conference games but lost at Santa Barbara on Wednesday and needed a victory to remain a half-game ahead of Santa Monica.

Moorpark (16-8, 4-3) was attempting to bring front-running Valley back to the WSC pack as well as rebound from a loss Wednesday to Canyons.

“You can only try to get the kids up for certain games,” Stephens said. “We knew this was going to be tough.”

Valley led at halftime, 34-33.

“I told them at half the difference was going to be on the boards, and Shelton (Boykin) and Shawn (DeLaittre) got us some defensive boards.”

Boykin finished with eight points and six rebounds. DeLaittre scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“That’s how we got here, him being inside,” said Stephens, who began playing DeLaittre inside more often at the onset of WSC play.

“That’s the best game he’s had.”

Garrick scored 13, and Cliff Barnes and Steve Ward each added 12. Valley’s Andre Harrell finished with 11.

Moorpark’s Roger Thomas broke out of a mild scoring slump with 21 points. Watson made three second-half three-point shots for Moorpark and scored 15.