Valley Routs Canyons in WSC Contest

Wednesday night against Canyons, Valley displayed a two-dimensional attack--strong offense and good defense.

Canyons also displayed a two-dimensional attack--flat.

With its stable of long-range bombers, Canyons can heat up a gym faster than an entrance by Kathleen Turner, but the Cougars never found their range in a 111-91 Western State Conference loss at Valley.

“I thought we were going to play a little harder,” Canyons Coach Lee Smelser said. “We don’t rebound real well, and I felt we would defend better than we did tonight. . . . Everything has to click for us against the caliber of team we played tonight.”

Valley (19-9, 10-1) strengthened its hold on the conference lead with a balanced and powerful attack.

Steve Ward came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points and join four starters in double figures.

Guard Andre Harrell scored 19 points, forward Shelton Boykin and center Cliff Barnes each scored 18 and forward Shawn DeLaittre finished with 15.

“I’m real pleased,” Valley Coach Jim Stephens said. “We’re playing real well. You just can’t let up.”

Valley didn’t Wednesday night, forging a 48-38 halftime lead and topping that with a 63-point second half.

Canyons (12-16, 5-6) could pull no closer than nine points in the second half, and Valley, ranked 14th in the state, led by as many as 25 points.

Aaron Clark scored a game-high 24 points for Canyons. Larry Allbritton and Nick Sanderson added 22 and 17.

Stephens substituted liberally at the end of the game as he attempted to rest his starters heading into the final leg of the conference race. Valley is in the midst of a two-week stretch in which it will play six conference games.

“I want my starters to rest some,” Stephens said. “I don’t want them to peak too soon.”

Valley has four conference games remaining, including a pivotal home game Monday against Santa Monica.

Boykin led Valley with 10 rebounds and Harrell added nine. Starting point guard Rick Garrick had 10 assists and Eric McDaniels handed out nine.

Canyons, trying to remain in state playoff contention, has lost its past two games.