Valley Turns Canyons Inside Out, 89-72

Offensive weaponry--inside and outside--and a top-ranked defense paced Valley College to an 89-72 victory over Canyons in a Western State Conference South Division men’s basketball opener Wednesday night at Canyons.

The Monarchs (17-5), ranked No. 12 in the state, grabbed a 10-0 lead and coasted to their seventh consecutive victory while opening defense of their division title.

Sophomore post player Leon Brisport collected 24 points and 15 rebounds for Valley. Sophomore guard Germaine Chase scored 20 points, including six three-pointers to raise his total to 18 in the past three games.

Valley, ranked first defensively in the WSC, limited Canyons guard Bryan Finley, the conference’s leading scorer, to nine points and two baskets.

“I like our team,” Valley Coach Doug Michelson said. “We take a lot of pride in our defense. That’s our statement.

“We have a quick guy in every position. We have a no-star system. Although we have a dominant inside player, he gets the ball out to the shooters.”

Brisport, a 6-foot-9 native of Brooklyn, dominated beneath the boards but found opportunity to move the ball to the perimeter.

Twelve players scored for Valley.

“That’s what we preach in practice--to get it around to everyone,” Brisport said. “We get the inside-outside game going.”

Chase, a 6-9 sophomore from Westchester High, connected on five three-pointers in the first half as Valley rushed to a 44-27 lead. Chase capped the first half by making a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“I’m confident of my shooting,” Chase said. “We can work it to any one of our big men. It’s all about what poison they want to take.”

Finley, who was averaging 21.5 points a game, made two of seven shots. He scored three points in the first half.

Sophomore guard Woodley Polynice kept Canyons (8-12) within striking distance by scoring 12 of his 19 points in the first half.

Guard Charles Madison, a freshman from Fairfax High, picked up the scoring load for Canyons with 22 of his 23 points in the second half. He made six three-point baskets.

“That’s not my job, to shoot the ball a lot,” Madison said. “But we were on the verge of being blown out. They kept putting points on the board and I tried to help my team.”

The Cougars have lost four in a row since defeating Antelope Valley three weeks ago to win the Canyons tournament.

Valley plays host to Santa Monica, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, on Saturday.