Arriaran Has 41 in Norco Victory

Erika Arriaran put on a show against one of the best defenses in the Southland on Thursday night at the Murrieta Nighthawk Classic, scoring 41 points to lead Norco, ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times, to a 66-62 double-overtime victory over No. 2 Fullerton Troy in the tournament championship game at Murrieta Valley High.

The most points that Troy (10-2) had given up this season was 47, and no other opponent had scored more than 34.

Norco led, 38-34, at intermission behind 20 first-half points by Arriaran.

Troy defeated Norco three times last season, including in last year’s Murrieta Valley tournament final game, in the Division II-AA final and in the state quarterfinals.

“Last year, we wore her down, and by the end of the game, she came up short,” said Kevin Kiernan, Troy’s coach. “We didn’t do it this time. She didn’t come up short. Today, she was the best player on the planet.”

Rheia Neabors finished with 18 points, and her sister, Rhaya Neabors, had 15 points for Troy.

Martin Henderson

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Kyle Brown, known more for his receiving in football, scored a season-high 23 points, and tournament MVP Taylor King added 18 points and nine rebounds as Santa Ana Mater Dei defeated Orange Lutheran, 67-60, in the championship game of the Orange tournament at Chapman University.

Orange Lutheran (10-4), coached by Chris Nordstrom, who spent 12 years as a Mater Dei assistant, had four players reach double figures in scoring. David Wilson led the Lancers with 15 points.

Mater Dei (12-2), ranked No. 4 by The Times, struggled with fouls and turnovers but took control when Brown scored eight points in the final eight minutes.

-- Eric Sondheimer