Locals bid farewell

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

NORTHRIDGE -- This wasn’t the way Arsineh Eskandari and Chris Tarne

envisioned their high school careers coming to an end, but playing in the

sixth annual Battle of the Valley All-Star game between the CIF Southern

Section and the L.A. City Section was an honor in itself.

Eskandari, a three-year varsity member at Hoover High, didn’t attempt

a field goal in 11 minutes and was on the court in the waning seconds as

her Southern Section team came away with a 76-69 victory Saturday night

at Cal State Northridge.

“It meant so much to be chosen among so many girls,” said Eskandari,

who earned Pacific League second-team honors in her senior season.

“It was a honor and privilege.”

She also had three assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Tarne’s Southern Section team was routed, 135-111, in a game that

featured little defensive pressure, a human highlight reel in Sylmar’s

Louis Darby -- who won the slam-dunk contest at halftime -- and four of

his teammates competing for the City Section.

Tarne, who averaged 15 points per game in his senior season at

Crescenta Valley, was one for eight from the field and missed all three

of his three-point attempts.

He grabbed three rebounds -- two offensive -- and had one assist in 11

minutes.

“You want to show up and do good, but things happen,” Tarne said.

Darby set a boys’ record for most points in a game with 27. The 135

points by the City Section was also a new benchmark, as was the combined

score.