Valencia’s Minor Does Major Work in Victory

For about 20 minutes on Friday night, Royce Minor wasn’t himself.

Royce was more like an Edsel.

But in the final moments of a Foothill League boys’ basketball game against Canyon High, Valencia’s junior guard was a finely tuned machine.

He hit off-balance jump shots. He made a crucial three-pointer.

And, fittingly, he sealed a 68-65 Valencia victory on a drive.

After connecting on three consecutive fourth-quarter shots, he penetrated the lane with 16 seconds left, attracted considerable attention, then floated a pretty no-look pass to Will Broadous for a layup that extended a tenuous 66-65 lead.

Broadous had 13 points.

“I did what I had to do,” said Minor, who scored only three points in the first half, but finished with 13 points and four assists.

Guard Eskias Daniels, who entered averaging 21.4 points, scored 27 against Canyon (10-10, 3-2 in league play). Daniels connected for five three-point baskets, including two from NBA range, and had 12 rebounds.

“I thought the guards stepped up big-time tonight,” said Coach Gary Spindt of Valencia (11-10, 4-1), whose team took over sole possession of first place.

Hart, which has won seven of the last eight league championships, has proven vulnerable this season. Valencia routed the Indians, 67-46, and Canyon mugged Hart, 60-26.

Entering the week, it appeared it would be a Valencia-Canyon runaway. However, Burroughs beat Canyon and Saugus outlasted Valencia on Tuesday, pulling everyone closer to the pack and making the game Friday night between the league’s co-leaders even more crucial.

Valencia has not won a league title since moving to the varsity level four seasons ago. Canyon’s last league championship came in 1987.

“This was an important win,” Spindt said. “But all it does is put us one game ahead. We haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

The loss was particularly frustrating to defensive-minded Canyon, which was allowing 37 points per game in league play.

“We just didn’t do the job defensively,” said Coach David Humphreys of Canyon, whose team fell to 6-1 at home. “When you score 65 points and don’t win the game, that’s not good . . . not from our standpoint.

Offense was not a problem for Canyon, which went on a 14-1 run in the first quarter to take a 20-10 lead.

Bryson Everett scored 16 points, and Jimmy Jennings and Anthony Falasca each added 14 points. Falasca made three of five three-point attempts. Jennings took nine rebounds.

Canyon led, 35-32, at the half, but McDaniels exploded for 12 points in the third quarter.