Saints’ Magic Is Gone

For the first time since Dwight D. Eisenhower was President, the Santa Clara High boys’ basketball team opened the season with someone other than Lou Cvijanovich as coach.

But Martin Meyer, the man hired to replace the legendary Cvijanovich, said he didn’t feel pressure following the winningest coach in state history until he walked past Lou Cvijanovich gymnasium on the Santa Clara campus Tuesday.

“I didn’t feel any pressure until then,” he said. “But then I realized that this is his gym. He built this place.”

Cvijanovich, who is assisting Tom McCollum at Hueneme, guided Santa Clara to a state-record 829 victories during 41 seasons before retiring in March.

The Saints won 29 league, 15 Southern Section and three state titles during his tenure, but none of those statistics could prevent North Hollywood from defeating Santa Clara, 56-49, in a first-round game of the Simi Valley tournament on Tuesday.

Santa Clara took a 49-47 lead with 2:12 left on a three-point shot by Jason Angel, but North Hollywood countered with a three-point play by Guz Ruiz with 1:52 left and the Saints didn’t score again.

“I think that took a little out of us,” Angel said. “But we didn’t execute at the end either.”

While Santa Clara missed its final seven shots, North Hollywood took a 52-49 lead on a basket by Ken Hauser with a minute left.

Nathan Stern made two free throws for a 54-49 lead with 23 seconds remaining and he made two more with 15 seconds to go.

Hauser, a junior guard, scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half, including 13 of North Hollywood’s 15 points in the third quarter.

Angel scored 16 points for Santa Clara and Chris Post had 14, but the Saints are a vastly different team than the one that went 30-3 last season and won the state Division V title.

Guards B.J. Ward and Nick Jones are at UC Santa Barbara, there are no returning starters. Only Angel and Earl Hall have substantial varsity experience.

In other first-round games:

Simi Valley 87, Franklin 34--Shaun Michel was held out of the game for disciplinary reasons by first-year Coach Christian Aurand but the Pioneers still dominated.

Brett Michel had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for Simi Valley, with Branduinn Fullove contributing 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Pioneers, the No. 1-ranked team in the region.

Dustin Villepigue had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Simi Valley.

Littlerock 62, L.A. Marshall 50--Gene Myvet scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help the Lobos win.

Marshall cut its deficit to 43-41 early in the fourth quarter, but Myvet’s three-pointer gave Littlerock a 46-41 lead. His layup after a turnover extended the advantage to 48-41.

Frank Robinson scored 16 points for the Lobos.

Pasadena Marshall 56, Taft 54--Ronald Gray missed a short jumper in the waning seconds, two teammates failed to convert follow shots and the Eagles held on.

Greg Guenther had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Taft (0-1), which led, 28-25, at halftime.

Santa Paula 59, Reseda 57--Ryan Frutos scored 17 points and the Cardinals won in overtime.

Bobby Mitchell scored points 29 for Reseda.

El Camino Real 61, San Fernando 58--Justin Saad-Anthony had 31 points and 22 rebounds for the Conquistadores (1-0), who held off a late rally by the Tigers.

Mike Hernandez scored 25 points, making four of 10 three-pointers for San Fernando (0-2), which led, 33-29, at halftime.

Granada Hills 78, Poly 61--Midwin Francis scored 17 points to help the Highlanders cruise.