COLLEGE BASKETBALL ANTELOPE VALLEY TOURNAMENT : Time on Canyons’ Side in a 73-71 Victory Over Merced

Battling Merced College and the clock Thursday night, Canyons won its opening-round game of the Antelope Valley basketball tournament in the nick of time.

The Cougars recorded a wild 73-71 victory after a 30-foot, three-point basket by Merced guard Kevin Traylor was nullified because it was ruled to have been shot a split-second before the buzzer.

“That was a close call,” said Canyons forward Marquis Wilborn, who turned in a solid effort with 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals. “I was hoping it would miss. But it was no shot.”

Don’t tell that to the Blue Devils (2-4), who stormed onto the court to protest.

“We should have won,” said Traylor, who lost out on his seventh three-point basket of the night but still led all scorers with 25 points. “He (the referee) was confused on what call to make.”

Regardless, the shot did not come in time to thwart a determined second-half comeback by Canyons (5-1), which will play at 7 tonight in the semifinals against Antelope Valley, a 100-86 winner over Palomar on Thursday night.

Canyons beat the Marauders, 89-76, in a nonconference game last Saturday in Valencia.

Trailing, 65-56, with 7 minutes 22 seconds to play, the Cougars intensified their pressure defense and rallied on offense. Wilborn was supported by David Langley (14 points, five rebounds) and Reggie Bell (12 points, nine rebounds).

Cougar guard Mike Basowski closed the gap to 67-66 with a three-point basket at the 5:07 mark and Canyons went on to take advantage of consecutive Merced turnovers to make it 72-69 with 1:48 left on a layup by Jeff Dorst.

Merced’s Darrel Davis closed the gap to 72-71 with an inside shot and Langley hit the front end of a one and one with six seconds left to set the stage for Traylor’s ill-fated three-point attempt.

Canyons, the defending Western State Conference South Division champion, hit 31 of 63 shots from the field. The Cougars received a big lift from 6-foot-9, 260-pound center Jason Joynes, who scored 10 points and blocked five shots in his first start of the season.

In another tournament game:

Antelope Valley 100, Palomar 86--Six-foot-8 forward D.J. Jackson had 37 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Marauders to a comeback victory in their tournament opener.

Trailing, 46-44, at the intermission, Antelope Valley (3-3) hit its stride in transition and in the half-court game en route to a 40-of-85 shooting night against the Comets (5-6).

All nine Marauder players contributed, including former Antelope Valley High star Chris Walters who had 24 points.

“I think this will be a very good team in January and February,” Antelope Valley Coach Newton Chelette said of his team.