HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL BOYS’ DIVISION IV STATE FINAL : Hayward Breezes Past Santa Clara

Lou Cvijanovich, the Oxnard Santa Clara High boys’ basketball coach, has hinted in recent weeks that next season might be his last.

He will need at least another season if he wants to try to go out on top. Friday night, his team lost the State Division IV championship game to Hayward, 62-45, at the Oakland Coliseum Arena before 5,587.

Santa Clara, which entered the game as the two-time defending state champions, finished the season 28-5. The loss was its most lopsided in five years.

“They played a great game and we played a crappy game,” Cvijanovich said. “They were a much better team tonight. But we’re still a good team, too. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Hayward, which will move up to Division III next season, finished with a 34-2 record. The title is its first in basketball.

Senior guard Laron Floyd led Hayward with 25 points and junior guard Gerald Walker added 14. Senior center Mike Iglesias grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

Santa Clara, which started four juniors, never really challenged Hayward, which set a fast pace early. The Farmers scored the first eight points of the game on their way to an 18-8 first-quarter lead. Santa Clara cut the margin to 27-21 at halftime, but the comeback was short-circuited in the third quarter, when Hayward built leads as big as 20 points.

Santa Clara was able to slow things down in the second half, but then it had trouble making its shots. The Saints made only 28% of their field-goal attempts, converting 19 of 68. Team scoring leader Art Barron, who averaged 18 points a game this season, was five for 18 from the floor and finished with 13 points.

“The shots went up and hit the rim, but then they just kept coming out,” said Santa Clara forward Stevie Amar, who finished with eight points. “We tried very hard from the beginning, but nothing went our way.”

Cvijanovich said of Hayward: “I’m glad they’re moving up a division next year.”