Canyons Secures a Share of Division Title

College of the Canyons locked up at least a share of the Western State Conference Southern Division basketball title Wednesday night with an 83-69 victory over host Glendale, thereby fulfilling a prophecy the Cougars had been making to one another since division play began in January.

After finishing its pre-division schedule 10-11, Canyons lost its Southern Division opener before winning eight consecutive games to head into the final regular-season game assured of at worst a tie with Valley for the championship.

It was the first title for Coach Lee Smelser since he led Canyons to the Mountain Valley Conference title in 1985.

And as he has throughout Canyons’ surge, sophomore guard Nick Sanderson led the way, scoring 17 first-half points and finishing with a game-high 26.

“I just came in conference and said, ‘Hey, this is my team. I’m going to get everyone involved and do what it takes to win,’ ” Sanderson said.

While Sanderson picked up Canyons (18-12 overall, 8-1 in division play), Glendale (10-19, 2-7) continued to struggle through a season in which its go-to guys have gone.

Glendale, which still has not recovered from the loss of all five starters off last year’s state playoff team, remained as close as two points early in the second half but allowed Canyons to gradually pull away for the victory.

Leading, 34-32, Canyons reeled off a 21-8 run, and Dan Murphy, nursing a tender ankle, came off the bench to make five consecutive shots. He scored all 10 of his points during the outburst. Reggie Bell scored 10 of his 20 points in the final seven minutes to help Canyons maintain its lead.

“I thought defensively we played great,” Glendale Coach Brian Beauchemin said. “We just didn’t make some shots.”

Glendale, which was two for 11 on three-point shots, was slowed by the loss of fourth-leading scorer Alfonso Pule. He was held out of the game because of disciplinary reasons.

Kelly Crosby led Glendale with 21 points. Enoch Mack added 14, and Osiris Nalls scored 12.