Littlerock Comes Through at Line, Defeats Ventura

The memories of last year are similar to Coach Ben Dale.

Clang. Bonk. Boing. Anything but swish.

Littlerock High shot an embarassing 28% from the free-throw line last season, a percentage that would even make Shaq blush.

But that was history Wednesday, when the Lobos made six of six free throws in the final 35 seconds to hold off Ventura, 60-53, in a quarterfinal game in the Valencia boys’ basketball tournament.

“The coaching staff became free-throw shot doctors [during the off-season],” Dale said.

The coaches also demand every player shoot 50 free throws at practice each day. The work paid off against Ventura. Having frittered away a 15-point lead, last year’s boogeyman had a chance to resurface.

Jason Smith, who hadn’t scored a point, was at the free-throw line with 35 seconds left and Littlerock holding a one-point edge.

Swish. Swish.

Fourteen seconds later, after a missed shot by Ventura, Gene Myvett was in the same situation. Same outcome.

For good measure, Brandon White made both of his free throws after another Ventura miss, clinching the victory.

Littlerock (6-2) was nearly the second victim in as many days of a Ventura comeback.

The Cougars (3-4) trailed by eight at the end of three quarters Tuesday against Crespi and won, 56-52.

Against Littlerock, Ventura was down at the end of three, 49-38, before charging back.

Tyler Ebell scored six points in the first four minutes of the quarter for Ventura, which pulled to within 54-53 on a free-throw by Mike Derse with 1:05 left.

But the Cougars did not score again.

“We buried ourselves in the first half,” said Coach Dan Larsen of Ventura, who received 26 points from Ebell. “Like any competitors will, we made the move. Sometimes you just run out of steam.”

Myvett scored 25 for Littlerock in a first-round victory over Reseda, but was in early foul trouble and scored only 13 against Ventura.

Frank Robinson scored 19 points and White added 12 for Littlerock, which plays Lynwood in a semifinal on Friday.

“My game wasn’t at its fullest point, but [my teammates] stepped it up,” Myvett said.

Lynwood 79, Quartz Hill 57--Kevin Johnson scored 28 points, including eight three-pointers, but Quartz Hill (6-2) never challenged Lynwood (4-1).

Eisenhower 60, Notre Dame 45--In his first game of the season, Travis Johnson scored nine points, but the Knights (5-2) lost a quarterfinal game against Eisenhower (6-1).

Notre Dame was without leading scorer Cody Pearson, who is out for at least another week because of a sprained ankle.

Crespi 76, Reseda 59--Andrew Moore scored 20 points with eight assists and a school-record 10 steals to lead the No. 4 Celts (4-3).

Granada Hills 93, Valencia 76--Ryan Hicks scored 24 points and Walter Burch added 21 to lead the Highlanders (5-2).

Royce Minor scored 22 for Valencia (4-3).