Canyon Tops Calabasas at the Buzzer

Canyon High guard Darrin Moloznik sank an eight-foot shot with no time left Tuesday night to give the Cowboys a 68-66 victory over Calabasas.

Canyon (2-0) was trailing, 52-48, going into the final period, but was able to close to within two points, 66-64, with 43 seconds remaining. At that point, junior guard Greg Paskwietz and senior forward Butch Mettinger sank back-to-back shots to tie the score at 66.

The Coyotes (1-2) had two opportunities to pull ahead, but Calabasas guard Steve Ward, who had a game high 27 points, missed a shot from inside and Coyote center Jon Perlstein missed on a follow.

The Cowboys then moved the ball into their end of the court and called time out.

After inbounding, it was only a matter of seconds before Moloznik had the ball in his hands and put up the winning basket.

“I shot to make it,” said Moloznik. “It felt good when it left my hands. I knew that I wasn’t having a good night shooting, and I figured something had to give.”

Mettinger finished with a team-high 24 points. Paskwietz scored 14.

The game began with Canyon taking a 10-6 lead on its way to a 16-12 first quarter lead.

In the second quarter, Canyon took a four-point lead, 20-16, after Moloznik sank a basket and Paskwietz dropped two free throws. But the Coyotes then tied the game, 24-24, on a basket by Perlstein.

Calabasas seized the momentum and entered halftime leading, 29-27.

The third period belonged to Mettinger, who scored 14 points for Canyon, and Ward, who scored 10 for Calabasas.

The Cowboys trailed by four points going into the final period.

In a game last week, Calabasas turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter and lost to Camarillo, 82-66.