SF Michael Bolden scored 27 pts, including 3 three-pointers, and added 8 rebs, 4 asts and 2 blocked shots to lead Irvine Valley to a 74-66 win over host LA Valley Friday evening at the Monarch Sports Pavilion in Valley Glen.
Irvine Valley (8-6) led wire-to-wire, opening a 17-point lead early in the second half. LA Valley (3-9) narrowed the gap to just five points with about six minutes left, and stayed close down the stretch, but never got any closer.
IVC started the game with a 2-0 lead after 2 free throws by PF Zach Mills thanks to an administrative technical foul against LA Valley before the start. LA Valley tied the game, 6-6, 3:55 into the game, but never actually took the lead.
The Lasers took a 7-point lead after a 3-pointer by Bolden that made it 19-12, and also led, 24-17, after a 3-pointer by SG Shaquille Hunter. After Hunter's trey, PG J.R. Parker stole the ensuing inbounds pass and passed to Bolden for a short jumper to make it 26-17.
Bolden made a three to push IVC's lead to double digits at 29-17. LA Valley rallied to cut the margin to nine points at 33-24 after a free throw by PF Alex Smith, but Irvine Valley pushed its lead to 14 points on another Hunter 3-pointer and led, 40-26, at the half.
In the second half, Hunter hit a baseline jumper to push IVC's lead to 42-26 in the opening seconds, and Mills hit a 3-pointer to make it 47-30, giving the Lasers what would be their largest lead of the game.
LA Valley got the deficit back to ten points on a 3-pointer by Smith that made it 51-41 with 12:40 to go. PG Lance Bailey scored on a putback to get the Monarchs within single digits at 54-45 with just under 8 minutes left. A 3-pointer by SF Andrew Estes made it a 6-point game at 54-48 with 7:15 left. Estes hit another three with just under six minutes left to get LA Valley within five points at 56-51.
But LA Valley never got any closer. Irvine Valley pushed its lead back to double digits when SG Dathon Spencer made a short jumper with 4:15 left to make it 65-55. Spencer made two free throws with 1:52 left to restore the ten-point lead again for the Lasers, making it 69-59, with the Monarchs' Bailey fouling out on that play.
SG Ginno Soliman made a 3-point field goal to get LA Valley within seven points at 69-62 with 1:39 left. After PG James Bailey made two free throws for Irvine Valley, Soliman converted a traditional 3-point play with 1:13 left to bring LA Valley within six points at 71-65.
Bolden made a pair of free throws with 55.9 seconds left and James Bailey split two free throws with 46.1 seconds left to close out the scoring for Irvine Valley and secure the win for the Lasers.
Bolden led all scorers with his 27 pts for Irvine Valley in a strong all-around performance. Hunter had 17 pts, including 3 three-pointers. zMills flirted with a double-double before settling for 9 pts and 8 rebs. Spencer came off the bench for 11 pts and 4 asts.
For LA Valley, Soliman and Estes each scored 19 pts, with Soliman making 4 three-pointers and Estes making two. Smith had the game's only double-double with 14 pts and a game-high 12 rebs. Bailey had 8 pts, 8 asts and 7 rebs before fouling out. PF Eddie La Torre had a rough night shooting, making just 1 of 9 shot attempts, but hustled to grab 11 rebs.
box score
Friday, December 28, 2012 - 5 pm
at the Monarch Sports Pavilion, Valley Glen
Irvine Valley Lasers 74:
11-Shaquille Hunter, SG - 6/13 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 17 pts
15-James Bailey, PG - 0/2 fg, 3/4 ft, 5 reb, 3 pf, 3 pts
25-Zach Mills, PF - 3/8 fg, 2/2 ft, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 pf, 9 pts
30-Michael Bolden, SF - 10/17 fg, 4/4 ft, 8 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 3 pf, 27 pts
33-Jeff Given, C - 2/3 fg, 1 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl, 2 pf, 4 pts
5-J.R. Parker, G - 0/1 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 2 pts
44-Tommy Walker, C - 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 pt
22-Dathon Spencer, G - 2/5 fg, 7/8 ft, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 11 pts
31-Steele Sylte, F - 0/2 fg, 4 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 0 pts
3-Brandon Ruffin, G - 0/1 fg, 0/3 ft, 0 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 23/52 fg (.442), 21/27 ft (.778), 37 reb, 17 ast, 3 blk, 5 stl, 20 pf, 74 pts
3-pt fg (7): Hunter 3, Bolden 3, Mills
Turnovers (14): Hunter 4, Mills 4, Spencer 2, Bolden, Parker, Sylte, team
LA Valley Monarchs 66:
5-Alex Smith, PF - 6/12 ft, 1/2 ft, 12 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 14 pts
14-Eddie La Torre, SF - 1/9 fg, 0/2 ft, 11 reb, 1 stl, 3 pf, 2 pts
15-Nathaniel Boykin, C - 1/6 fg, 1/4 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 pf, 3 pts
20-Lance Bailey, PG - 4/9 fg, 0/3 ft, 7 reb, 8 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 8 pts
32-Ginno Soliman, SG - 6/13 fg, 3/3 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 4 pf, 19 pts
30-Andrew Estes, F - 5/13 fg, 7/8 ft, 2 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 19 pts
12-Travon White, G - 0/3 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 4 ast, 5 pf, 1 pt
35-Christian Boyer, C - 1 reb, 1 pf, 0 pts
2-Michael Evans, F - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 0 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 23/66 fg (.348), 13/24 ft (.542), 45 reb, 15 ast, 4 blk, 4 stl, 24 pf, 66 pts
3-pt fg (7): Soliman 4, Estes 2, Smith
Technical Foul: Bench (administrative - prior to start)
Fouled Out: Bailey 1:52 left, White 46.1 secs left
Turnovers (13): Soliman 5, Bailey 4, La Torre 2, White 2
Halftime Score: Irvine Valley 40, LA Valley 26
Updated Records: Irvine Valley 8-6, LA Valley 3-9
Irvine Valley led wire to wire, opening a 17-point lead at 47-30 early in the 2nd half.
LA Valley closed it to 5 at 56-51 with about 6 mins left but never quite caught up.
