BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: SYLMAR OUTLASTS NEAL'S 41.

Byline: Daily News

Sylmar High, playing its first basketball game of the season, overcame a 16-point second-half deficit Wednesday night to narrowly escape with a 75-72 victory over Canoga Park in a pool-play game at the Sylmar tournament.

Frank Robinson, who recently became eligible after attending Chatsworth and Littlerock high schools this year, scored the last four points of the game, including a spinning layup in the lane, to give Sylmar the win. Robinson finished with 14 points, coming off the bench.

The loss spoiled a brilliant performance by junior Maurice Neal of Canoga Park. Neal single-handedly kept the Hunters (1-5) in the game, scoring 41 points, including 10 3-point baskets.

Seniors Louis Darby and Jeff Morse scored 20 and 19 points, respectively, to lead Sylmar.

In other Sylmar tournament games:

--Montclair Prep 76, Sylmar JV 54: Robert Lewis scored 18 points, Marko Bozovic 16 and Anthony Davis 15, including 11 in the third quarter, for the Mounties of Van Nuys (4-0). Tommy McNutt scored 18, 13 coming in the fourth quarter, for the Sylmar JV team (3-2), a late addition to the tournament after Chatsworth dropped out last week.

-Jack Pollon

In the Crescenta Valley boys' tournament:

--Simi Valley 60, Franklin 52 (OT): Junior guard Travis Clark gave the Pioneers a lift when they needed it most, scoring all eight of his points in overtime, including two 3-point baskets.

John Schock had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Simi Valley (4-3), which overcame a 12-point first-half lead by Franklin of Highland Park (2-5). Mitch McManus added 13 points, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for the Pioneers.

--Crescenta Valley 57, Quartz Hill 46: Jimmy Goffredo scored 26 points, including six 3-pointers, for the winning Falcons of La Crescenta (6-1), who scored 12 consecutive points after Quartz Hill took a 39-36 lead in the third quarter.

Barron Harrell scored 18 points, 16 in the first half, and Mychael Williams had 10 for the Rebels (4-8).

--Temple City 62, Verdugo Hills 58: Daniel Dingman scored 12 points and Luis Cortes, Salim Kordab and Danny Castro contributed 10 apiece in the loss for the Dons of Tujunga (3-6). Tim Sweeny scored 21 points to lead Temple City (5-0).

-Kirby Lee

In the Providence girls' tournament:

--Cantwell-Sacred Heart 85, Santa Clarita Christian 41: All-Southern Section guard Amber Buehlman scored the opening bucket, but the Cardinals (4-1) were held without a field goal for the next nine minutes as CSH thoroughly dominated play to win tournament title.

CSH of Montebello (6-1) quickly dismantled the Cardinals' zone defense, popping from the outside and then driving open lanes with Maritiza Vallarta (23 points) and tournament MVP Kathy Suria (15 points) leading the way. On defense, a trapping CSH press forced turnover after turnover, holding SCC to just three first-half field goals.

All-tourney selection Kristen Mercier led the Cardinals with 11 points.

--Providence 69, New Roads 49: Selina Tech and Natalie Guzman scored 16 points apiece to lift the Pioneers (3-2) to third place. Tech hit four 3-pointers and Talar Bouldoukian added 11 points for Providence of Burbank, which landed Michelle Panteleo on the all-tournament team.

-Gary Miereanu

In the Duarte girls' tournament:

--Muir 83, Flintridge Prep 22: The Mustangs of Pasadena (8-0) held the Rebels of La Canada Flintridge (4-4) to 10 points through the first three quarters.

In the Santa Paula girls' tournament:

--Chaminade 61, St. Bonaventure 36: Christina Zdenek had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles of West Hills (5-3) past the Seraphs of Ventura (3-3).

In the girls' nonleague play:

--Montclair Prep 41, Cate 39: Eshaya Murphy had 25 points and 27 rebounds to lead the Mounties of Van Nuys (4-2) past the host Rams of Carpinteria.