Turnovers Leave Canyons at a Loss

Kirby Gardner scored 14 points and made a key steal in the closing seconds as Citrus College snapped College of the Canyons’ five-game winning streak with a 69-68 victory in the first round of the Canyons tournament Friday night.

The Cougars (7-7) had possession with 13 seconds left and inbounded the ball looking for a final shot.

But Gardner intercepted Mike Posey’s pass to Sergio Rascon with two seconds left to seal the win.

Woodley Polynice led Canyons with 17 points and Curtis Wills had 16 points and eight blocks.

Canyons tied the score at 68-68 on a layup by Wills with just over one minute remaining.

After each team failed to score, Matthew Holyfield hit one of two free-throws for Citrus with 23 seconds left.

“It was just one of those games where we couldn’t do the little things right,” Canyons Coach Lee Smelser said. “It came down to the wire just like last time but this time they made the plays.”

Canyons committed 27 turnovers. Earlier this season, Canyons defeated Citrus 102-95 in overtime.

Posey finished with nine points and 11 assists.

“I’m not disappointed with our effort at all,” Smelser said.

In other tournament games:

Moorpark 79, Harbor 62--Freshman Marques Pena scored 25 points and had eight assists and six steals for the Raiders, who raced to a 19-4 lead.

Shawn Williams scored 14 points for Moorpark (7-2), including eight of 10 free throws, and had eight assists and seven steals. Teammate Ben Tryk scored 12 points, including three three-point shots.

Sophomore forward Tarron Williams scored 16 points for the Seahawks (8-6), who never got closer than nine in the second half.

Antelope Valley 76, West L.A. 74--Jonathon George’s two free throws with 19 seconds to play lifted Antelope Valley (14-3).

John Burrell had 23 points for the Marauders and Michael Hamelin scored 15.