Simi Valley Escapes on a Parting Shot

Kurt Mjoen took only two shots Tuesday night in the championship game of the Hart boys’ basketball tournament, but oh how important the second one was.

Mjoen drilled a jump shot with five seconds remaining, giving Simi Valley a 71-69 victory over San Fernando at Hart High.

It is the third time in the Past four years that the Pioneers (13-2) have won the tournament and the fifth time overall.

The Tigers (13-2) tied the score, 69-69, with 11 seconds to play on a desperation three-point basket by Mike Page.

After a Simi Valley timeout, Mjoen made his only basket.

“He’s a shooter,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “We’re not afraid to let him shoot.”

Devin Montgomery took the inbounds pass on the ensuing play and his six-foot scoop shot bounced off the back of the rim as time ran out.

Simi Valley came to the Hart tournament directly from a tournament in Las Vegas and played 12 games in 15 days. The Pioneers did not want to play an overtime period against an up-tempo team like San Fernando.

“We battled,” Bradshaw said. “We knew we were playing a good team tonight, but every team in Vegas was similar to this. Our schedule has prepared us for this.”

Page scored 34 points on 11-of-14 shooting for San Fernando. He made seven three-point shots and scored 26 of San Fernando’s 31 points in the second quarter to help the Tigers take a 45-38 halftime lead.

Page was benched most of the first quarter because Coach Mick Cady said he wasn’t playing hard.

“I threatened him that he wasn’t going to play the rest of the game,” said Cady, who threw his jacket to the floor in disgust just before benching Page. “I was so angry. He showed me.”

Page, who said his nine three-pointers and 34 points are both career highs, didn’t care to revel in the performance.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “I feel like we should have won. But we did a good job of battling. I think we’re still one of the top teams in the Valley.”

Rafael Berumen of Simi Valley, who was named most valuable player of the tournament for the second consecutive year, scored 25 points. Branduinn Fullove had 21 points and Brett Michel added 13 for the Pioneers.

Sylmar 73, Cleveland 63--Brandon Jacobs scored six of his 16 points in the first quarter and the Spartans (6-5) built a 16-6 lead on their way to third place.

Kent Dennis had seven of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for No. 4-ranked Cleveland (10-5), which rallied from a 58-43 deficit after three quarters but fell short.

Joey Youman had 18 points for Sylmar and George Wrightster added 16.

Hart 67, W.F. West (Wash.) 54--J.T. Stotts had 21 points, and David Neill and Jerry Owens each had 10 for the Indians in the fifth-place game.

Hart (8-7) led, 30-23, at halftime and extended the lead to 48-33 after three quarters.

Canyon 64, Royal 60--Justin Orefice had 15 points and Jerreme Suarez and Everett Bryson each had 10 for the Cowboys in the seventh-place game.

Bryson scored six of his points in the fourth quarter as the Cowboys, who led, 36-30, at halftime, withstood a Royal comeback.

Dusty Cruz had 16 points, including four three-point baskets, and Christian Ronquillo added 15 points for the Highlanders, who outscored Canyon, 21-17, in the fourth quarter.

Valencia 67, Sanger 57--Jerrohn Jordan scored 17 points and Fabian Leon had 16 for the Vikings (12-3) in the ninth-place game.

Glendale 63, Hollywood 53--Tomik Iranosian had 16 points for the Dynamiters in the 11th-place game.