This Rivalry Doesn’t Look Too Friendly

NEWHALL — What figured to be the best game on the first day of Northwest Valley Conference play next month has become that much more interesting.

Emotions nearly boiled over during and following San Fernando High’s 76-70 victory over Cleveland in the semifinals of the Hart tournament Monday night.

Two technical fouls were called on Cleveland; San Fernando committed an intentional foul. After the game, Cleveland Coach Andre Chevalier got into a shouting match with San Fernando assistant Darryl McDonald, prompting Chevalier’s assistants to escort him off the court.

Cleveland and San Fernando, the two conference favorites, play again on Jan. 14.

In the meantime, the Cavaliers (10-4) need to find a way to stop San Fernando’s balanced attack.

Luis DeLaRosa scored 21 points and Tyrone Purnell added 17 for San Fernando (13-1). Purnell put the Tigers ahead for good when he converted a three-point play with two minutes to play for a 70-67 lead.

Sean Atkins added a three-point basket 30 seconds later and Cleveland never threatened again.

Simmagin Smith kept the Cavaliers close in the fourth quarter, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Kent Dennis scored 15 and Kenny Mason added 13 for Cleveland.

San Fernando will play Simi Valley in the championship game tonight at 8.

In other tournament games:

Simi Valley 66, Sylmar 52--The underdog Spartans played evenly with Simi Valley for three quarters before a 15-0 run by the Pioneers in the fourth quarter decided matters.

Rafael Berumen scored 14 of his 26 points in the third quarter for Simi Valley (12-2), the top-ranked team in The Times’ regional poll.

Berumen was held to six points in the first half after committing two quick fouls.

Joey Youman scored 12 points for Sylmar (5-5), all in the first three quarters.

Hart 79, Royal 72--J.T. Stotts scored 19 points and David Neill added 17 for the Indians (6-7) in a consolation game.

Matt Janousek scored 16 points for Royal (5-7).

Jerry Owens scored 15 points for Hart, which will play W.F. West for fifth place.

W.F. West (Wash.) 70, Canyon 63--John McCroskey made 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Cowboys in a consolation game.

Mike Reardon had four three-pointers and finished with 12 points for Canyon (6-8).

Sanger 53, Glendale 50--Krikor Karamanovkian scored 16 points for the Dynamiters in a consolation game.

Valencia 63, Hollywood 48--Sophomore Manuel White scored 16 points and Jerrohn Jordan added 14 for the Vikings (11-3) in a consolation game.

Bell-Jeff 82, Beverly Hills 73--Ruben Douglas scored 44 points, 21 in the fourth quarter, for the Guards in a consolation game.