BOYS’ BASKETBALL / HART TOURNAMENT : Van Etten’s Shot Lifts Simi Valley

VALENCIA —  Canyon High and Simi Valley engaged in a contest that was nip and tuck for 32 minutes. Neither team led by more than four points.

It stayed tight until Dan Van Etten awoke in the fourth quarter and scored the winning basket with three seconds remaining to give Simi Valley a 57-55 victory over the Cowboys in the Hart tournament championship game Friday night at Valencia High.

Van Etten scored 12 points, including six in the fourth quarter. He also blocked a shot by Canyon’s Mike Moye late in the game that saved two points.

“Dan has delivered a lot of big buckets during the preseason,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “It’s nice to see him come through like that.”

Canyon forward Greg Minor, whose status was questionable before the game, played despite a strained groin.

It wasn’t until the second half that Minor started to warm up. And when he did, Canyon was able to take a 50-46 lead with four minutes remaining.

Said Minor, who finished with 19 points: “I felt tight during the early part and I couldn’t really get a good feel until late in the game.”

Minor was held to five points in the first half. When he did have the feel, it was from long range. He had two clutch three-point shots for the Cowboys (7-5).

Simi Valley (11-1) used a 9-2 run to take a 55-52 lead with less than a minute to play.

On Canyon’s next possession, Ruben Castaneda was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made all three free throws to tie the score before Van Etten’s heroics.

Simi Valley then ran the clock down for the final shot, the short jumper by Van Etten.

Notre Dame 54, Hart 48--Tom Zapata scored 23 points and Tyler Murphy and Ryan Bowne added 11 each for the Knights (9-4) in the third-place game.

Hart trailed by 15 points in the second half as a fourth-quarter rally fell short. Amir Parvinchiha had nine points for Hart (7-7).

Littlerock 73, Antelope Valley 58--John George scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lobos in the consolation championship. Four players scored in double figures for Littlerock (9-5). James Jefferson had 15.

Joe Glover scored 16 points for Antelope Valley (10-2).

Glendale 72, Venice 57--The Dynamiters made seven of 10 three-point shots in the seventh-place game. Chris Farmer scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as Glendale (8-5) extended a three-point lead. Steve Avetyan added 16 points for Glendale.

San Fernando 69, Canoga Park 63--Dwayne Lucas scored 37 points to lead the Tigers past Canoga Park in a consolation-round game.

Kevin Fishman scored 16 points for Canoga Park.