Villepigue Powers Simi Valley, 87-73

It’s easy to shoot 19 of 23 from the field when nearly every shot is an uncontested layup. Ask Dustin Villepigue, who scored 24 of his 38 points in the first half to lead the Simi Valley High boys’ basketball team past previously undefeated Dorsey, 87-73, Friday night in pool play of the War on the Floor tournament at Chatsworth High.

Simi Valley (7-0) plays Fresno Edison (4-3) in the championship game tonight at 7:30.

Villepigue, a 6-9 senior center who will attend Gonzaga, was virtually unstoppable in the paint. When he wasn’t scoring, he was boxing out or passing to open teammates. He finished with 10 rebounds and six assists.

“Dustin was awesome inside and we look to get him the ball whenever we can,” Coach Christian Aurand said. “He draws a lot of attention and that leaves other guys open. And tonight we were hitting our outside shots.”

Despite Villepigue’s effectiveness, the Pioneers led only 42-38 at halftime. A steal and dunk by Donald Wilson of Dorsey (7-1) tied the score early in the third quarter, but Simi Valley guard Jered Weaver answered with three consecutive three-pointers.

Three minutes later, Ryan Bradshaw hit three consecutive three pointers of his own to extend the Pioneers’ lead to 70-56. Simi Valley made seven of 10 three-point attempts in the second half.

“We are a lot deeper than we’ve been in years past and our depth helped us tonight,” Aurand said.

Weaver had 19 points and six assists. Bradshaw scored 11 points.

Simi Valley pulled away late in the third quarter, using an 8-0 run to build a 63-51 lead.

Canoga Park 88, Edison 81--Cecil Brown scored 50 points, including 10 in overtime, for the Hunters (4-4), who finished second in their pool to Edison because of point differential.

Brown made 14 of 16 free throws and four of six three-pointers.

Donte Witherspoon had 16 points and Walter Burch added 11 points for Canoga Park (4-4), which made 26 of 34 free throws.

Garfield 44, El Camino Real 37--Spencer Schulte scored eight points for the Conquistadores (6-2), who trailed by 15 points before closing to within 36-34 on Schulte’s three-pointer with 2:03 left.

El Camino Real was outscored, 15-4, in the first quarter.