Valley’s Victory Over Moorpark Is an Outside Job, 81-50

By the time the Valley College men’s basketball team was done taking long shots, Moorpark was a longshot to win.

The Monarchs defeated Moorpark, 81-50, in a Western State Conference interdivisional game Tuesday night at Valley on the strength of their outside shooting.

LaMarr Thompson scored 18 points, Vernon Simmons added 16 and Nate Conner had 13 to lead Valley (11-4).

The Monarchs broke Moorpark’s zone defense by making 12 of 31 three-point shots in the game, including seven of 11 in the first half.

Nine of Conner’s points came on three-point baskets. In addition, Will Ruffin nailed three from long range and Simmons had two.

“The outside shooting opened everything up for us,” Thompson said.

Indeed, with a little more than seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Raiders (5-8) were within 23-20 after a three-pointer by Tim Nunnery.

However, Valley scored 11 consecutive points in the next 3:20 to take a 34-20 advantage. Simmons and Thompson scored four points each in the run and Conner drilled a three-pointer.

Valley outscored Moorpark, 18-4, in the last seven minutes of the first half.

Simmons and Conner each scored 11 points in the half.

Tomer Yachini had eight rebounds for Valley. Simmons and Conner each had seven.

Nunnery and Shawn Williams each scored 10 points for Moorpark.

It was the third consecutive victory for Valley and the third loss in a row for Moorpark.