HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL THOUSAND OAKS TOURNAMENT : Simi Valley Wins in Final Seconds, 63-61

In a Thousand Oaks tournament game marked by more momentum shifts than a boat swaying across a rough sea, Simi Valley High’s Kevin DeJong hit both ends of a one-and-one with four seconds left Thursday night to give the Pioneers a 63-61 win over Crescenta Valley.

DeJong’s free throws capped a game in which Simi Valley (6-1) jumped to an 11-point lead in the first quarter, fell behind by nine points in the third quarter, then went on a 26-6 run that gave the Pioneers an 11-point lead with three minutes left in the fifth-place consolation semifinal.

That deficit was Crescenta Valley’s cue, and the Falcons (6-2) went on a 12-1 run that was highlighted by eight points from Josh Willis, whose three-point basket tied the score, 61-61, with 20 seconds left.

Simi Valley committed a turnover, setting up Willis (game-high 26 points) for a breakaway lay-in on which he appeared to have been fouled by Luis Lopez with seven seconds left. But the officials ruled the foul occurred before Willis’ shot--a call that infuriated Crescenta Valley Coach John Goffredo--and Willis missed the front end of the ensuing one-and-one.

On the rebound, Crescenta Valley’s Brendan Cowsill was whistled for a foul on DeJong, who converted the one-and-one.

“That call was not right,” said Goffredo, who exchanged words with one official after the game. “The kid makes the basket and (the officials) take it away, then call that foul coming back. I don’t mean to be a crybaby, but that’s not right.”

Gordon Stolla scored 19 points and Danny Alexander added 17 for Simi Valley, which will meet Alemany (4-3) in the fifth-place consolation final Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Glenn Granz scored 14 points and Miller added 13 for Crescenta Valley, which lost its second consecutive game and will meet Hart (3-4) in a seventh-place consolation final Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Simi Valley made 22 of 41 shots from the field and 17 of 24 free throws. Crescenta Valley was 26 of 56 from the field but only five of 10 from the line.

In another game:

Alemany 68, Hart 57--Hart’s warm-up jackets warn opponents to “Prepare To Run”. After the Indians’ sloppy performance Thursday, they should have prepared to hide. Hart (3-4), playing its seventh game in eight days, committed 25 turnovers and hit only 25 of 60 shots (42%) in a fifth-place consolation semifinal.

“We just aren’t a very good basketball team right now,” Coach Greg Herrick said. “We have a bunch of guys who think they’re (Washington Bullets guard) Michael Adams, but they’re more like the Addams Family. Especially Gomez Addams.”

The Indians were spooked throughout, falling behind by as many as 16 points in the second quarter. Alemany (4-3) was nine of 24 from three-point range. Richard Dice scored a game-high 20 points and Chris Walker and Chris Bello each added 12.