Van Nuys Puts End to Monkey Business

The El Camino Real monkey that has been perched on the back of Van Nuys High boys’ basketball Coach Kevin Kanemura for the past two seasons was knocked off Wednesday night.

And not a moment too soon.

Jason Fox’s eight-foot jumper bounced off the back of the rim as time expired in the second overtime, allowing Van Nuys to escape with a 84-83 victory in a City Section 3-A Division quarterfinal playoff game at home.

The top-seeded Wolves (15-9), who have won 10 of 12 games, will face Narbonne in the semifinals Friday night at a site to be determined.

El Camino Real (17-10), seeded No. 8, was considered the underdog against Van Nuys, but history dictated otherwise. Van Nuys was winless against the Conquistadores in four games over the past two seasons--or since Kanemura became the Wolves’ coach.

But history did not repeat itself despite Cameron Henderson’s 30 points. El Camino Real’s downfall was its inability to make free throws.

Fox hit the first of two free throws with 56 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it, 74-74. A second might have given the Conquistadores the victory.

In the first overtime, the teams exchanged baskets and two free throws and were tied, 80-80. But El Camino Real’s Ryan Moss missed two free throws with 34 seconds remaining and the game remained tied after Van Nuys set up for a three-point shot by Kris Hurdle and missed.

In the second overtime, the Conquistadores made just one of four free throws but were ahead, 83-82, with 1:01 left. Onaje Longmire of Van Nuys put back a miss by Devon Berry to go up, 84-83, with 15 seconds left. Longmire’s basket on the offensive rebound proved to be the difference.

“I saw the ball come off the rim and I knew it was for me,’ said Longmire, who finished with 21 points, including the team’s four points in the second overtime. “I knew I was gonna score.’

El Camino Real Coach Neils Ludlow said the Conquistadores had only themselves to blame after making just 10 of 26 (38%) free throws.

“We just missed too many free throws,” Ludlow said. “We had several chances to win it at the line.’

The Wolves went out to a 22-10 lead after the first quarter and did not relinquish it until Henderson’s basket on an offensive rebound put El Camino Real ahead, 56-55, at the end of the third quarter.

Tony Costa had 16 points and Devon Berry added 11 in reserve roles for Van Nuys.