Scott, Hofman torch nets in win

Hamlet Nalbandyan

La Canada High ended the summer the way it began, by cruising to a

blowout victory.

The victim this time was Belmont, as Tom Hofman’s squad capped a

successful two-month stretch with a 69-51 win in a Hoover High Summer

League game Tuesday at the Tornado gym.

The Spartans finished the summer with a 31-14 record, and like

usual, it was their outside shooting that carried them Tuesday.

La Canada hit nine three-pointers -- a modest total, considering

it hit 16 on Saturday against Sylmar and 13 on Monday against

Burroughs -- and never trailed in the contest.

Leading the way was senior Andrew Scott with five long-range

bombs. He finished with a game-high 19.

Four-year varsity player Billy Hofman did his usual thing, scoring

16 points and dishing out six assists, despite still being bothered

by a recent bout of food poisoning.

And rounding out the offensive trio was Umar Khan with 14 points,

including two three-pointers.

“This is the best shooting team I’ve had,” said Tom Hofman, who

will enter his 16th year as the Spartan coach. “We’ve had the

starters before, but never depth like this.”

Belmont was able to stay close in the first half, trailing just,

34-26.

Leading the charge was Larry Medina with 19 points. But a seven-point fourth quarter ended any hope of a comeback for the

Sentinels.

Craig Ballard added eight points for the Spartans.