San Bernardino Valley upsets defending state champion West Valley, 68-40
3C2A Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Central
WALNUT - San Bernardino Valley has been good at closing out games this season.
After taking a 36-25 halftime lead over West Valley, the defending state champion, the Wolverines held West Valley to 15 second-half points in a 68-40 quarterfinal victory at the 3C2A State Basketball Championship at Mt. San Antonio College.
With the victory over, San Bernardino Valley advances to the semifinals on Saturday against the winner of the Fullerton-Cosumnes River game at either 1 or 3 pm. The Wolverines, under head coach Quincy Brewer, are making their third straight Final Eight appearance. In its two previous two state quarterfinal games, San Bernardino Valley lost both.
Twice San Bernardino Valley has advanced to the state finals, in 2005 and 2014, but lost both times.
The loss snapped a 15-game win streak for West Valley, which suffered its worst offensive output this season. The 40 points was the lowest since the Vikings scored 69 against Marin on November 26.
San Bernardino Valley largest lead was 30 points, 68-38, with 1:26 remaining. West Valley San Bernardino Valley forced six West Valley turnovers over the final 10:19 and West Valley struggled with its shooting.
San Bernardino Valley was led by Khemanni Davis, an all-conference player, with 17 points. Teammate Jason Lee, another all-conference player, added 16, and Jason Hillard, all-conference, added 12. But it was the defense of Hillard, the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, that Brewer was impressed with.
"I haven't fully looked at the state sheet, but Hillard stood out tonight," Brewer said. "He did a great job on ball screens, making it hard for West Valley to get off shots. He did a great job rebounding, but I think all of the guards did a really good job of keeping the ball in front of them."
West Valley got 12 points from Jake Davis and Robel Zemmo, but it was the Vikings' shooting woes that really stood out. West Valley shot 31 percent from the floor (13 of 42) and 34.8 percent from three-point line (8-23). Even free throw shooting proved difficult as the Vikings made just 6 of 12. West Valley also committed 27 turnovers.
"I really felt the guys were playing unselfishly tonight," Brewer said. "I think my guys are buying in. This group has grown a lot. This group of players is very talented. I think we are more of a team now than at any other time this season. It has been a long process with this group. I think the focus tonight was really good by the guys."
West Valley ended the season with a 27-4 record, while San Bernardino Valley improved to 27-5.
(Robert Schmidt, CCCMBCA)
