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VICTOR VALLEY BOYS

Southern Section Division I-AA

It’s a safe bet that any discussion of Southland boys’ basketball powers before this season probably wouldn’t have included Victor Valley.

But after the Jackrabbits’ 53-52 last-second victory over Palos Verdes Peninsula in a Southern Section Division I-AA semifinal Tuesday night at Hesperia High, they have suddenly become a topic.

Victor Valley, in the high desert 80 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, has quietly compiled a 27-2 record, including its first Citrus Belt League title. It will play top-seeded Long Beach Jordan for the title at The Pond of Anaheim on Saturday night at 6:45.

The Jackrabbits displayed their skills earlier this season after winning holiday tournaments hosted by Saugus and Arroyo Grande.

“I thought we had a chance to win our league, but I didn’t expect us to have the record we have compiled,” said sixth-year Coach Kurt Herbst, whose team finished 16-10 last season.

Having three seniors helped. Point guard Trevor Beal and forwards Dashmond Sylvester and Joel Franklin have all played on the varsity for three years.

“The confidence and experience of our seniors has made a big difference,” Herbst said. “It’s pretty rare to have three three-year players. They know how to win close games.”

They also know how to create chaos on the floor. The Jackrabbits have taken advantage of team speed by utilizing a full-court press most of each game. Opponents are averaging 21 turnovers.

As a result, transition layups off steals have helped the Jackrabbits shoot 52%.

Beal, who leads the team in scoring (19 points per game), assists (6.3) and steals (3.4), while shooting 58%, said confidence has been building since November when most prognosticators were predicting Fontana to run away with the league title.

“We go eight or nine deep, where most teams only play six or seven guys,” said Beal, who hit the winning free throw in the victory over Peninsula. “We know we can wear most teams down eventually. We don’t think anything can stop us.”

The ball bounced Victory Valley’s way against Peninsula when Phil Belin missed a four-foot jump shot with two seconds remaining.

“Some higher force must have been with us on that miss,” Herbst said after the game. “But it’s been that kind of a year. Everything has gone our way.”