HS HOOPS: Home sweet home for Valencia in win over Golden Valley

VALENCIA - There's no place like home for the Valencia High Vikings.

The team has struggled on the road this basketball season, including two consecutive Foothill League losses last month, but the boys are perfect in their gym after defeating Golden Valley 65-59 tonight for their fifth home win without a loss before a near-capacity crowd of about 1,500.

Dating back to the 2006-2007 season, Valencia has won its last seven home games and 21 of 24.

Valencia proved a much different team than the one that lost at Golden Valley by seven points on Jan. 19, as Lonnie Jackson scored 25 points after totaling just 12 in the first meeting.

Jackson, a 6-foot-3 junior, was 9 of 18 from the floor, including three 3-pointers, and he added five steals and three assists.

"Last time, I thought I let my team down, so I've spent the past two weeks getting ready for this one," Jackson said. "I came through tonight, and my teammates came through, too. It feels great, but we haven't done anything yet. There are two more games, and we have to get ready for Canyon on Tuesday.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, Valencia (19-4, 6-2), Golden Valley (20-5, 6-2) and Canyon (16-7, 5-2xxxxx) all have a good shot to win the league title.

Valencia's win Friday might be its biggest victory so far, and the Vikings have to be a favorite because the final two games are in their own gym.

"We came out ready and were a lot more poised tonight," Valencia's Stevie Sansone said. "We played hard, and Lonnie was awesome. The crowd kept trying to get into his head, but he was so focused. He stepped up big-time tonight."

The victory snapped defending league champion Golden Valley's winning streak at seven games, as the Grizzlies were limited to 22 points in the second half.

Golden Valley's top player, Trevor Wiseman, was so upset that he refused comment.
Wiseman, a 6-foot-8 senior, scored 20 points, but it was not his best game. He was 7 of 16 from the floor with three assists and three turnovers, and he was held scoreless over the final six minutes, as a large contingent of Valencia students constantly razzed him.

With just over a minute remaining and Golden Valley trailing by three points, Wiseman was called for a traveling violation. Valencia's Aaron Spargo then missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Jackson hustled to grab the offensive rebound, and Jake Kelfer followed a few moments later with a 3-pointer to put the contest out of reach.

Tanner Tredick added 10 points for Valencia, Sansone scored eight, and Kelfer and Brandon Bennett both chipped in seven.

Taylor Statham scored 11 points for Golden Valley, and Robert Looper added 10.

-- Gerry Gittelson

BOX SCORE:

Valencia 65, Golden Valley 59

Golden Valley 17-20-11-11-59
Valencia 12-25-14-14-65
V: Lonnie Jackson 25 and five steals, Stevie Sansone 8, Brandon Bennett 7, Davis 4, Kelfer 7, Tredick 10, Spargo 2, Sommer 2.
GV: Trevor Wiseman 20; Price 6, Jeff Darko), Statham 11, Looper 10, Hale 5, Darko 4, Serrano 2, Chaisson 1.

R: V 19-4, 6-2; GV 20-5, 6-2