BOYS' BASKETBALL BEAT: FOOTHILL LEAGUE RACE TIGHTER THAN EXPECTED.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Blame it on the stars or El Nino. Call it the most amazing thing if you like.

But make no mistake: The Foothill League is more wide open than previously thought.

On Friday, the three teams people expected to finish at the top lost to the three chosen for the bottom.

``Shows how much everybody knows,'' Valencia coach Gary Spindt said. ``I said it all along: The Foothill League is very competitive. That's just an indication. Night in and night out, whoever you play, you've got to be ready.''

Canyon (9-8) beat Valencia (13-4) - who some thought would go 10-0 in the league - 66-62 in double overtime at Valencia.

Saugus (7-9) knocked off defending champion Hart (9-8) for the first time in three years, 63-60 in overtime.

Burbank (4-11) upset Burroughs (11-6) 51-46 without Juni Williams, who was the league's leading scorer before becoming academically ineligible.

``I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between worst and first,'' Saugus coach Jeff Hallman said. ``When people play hard, anyone can beat anyone on any given night.''

The results turn everything on its head. Suddenly, Tuesday's Burbank at Saugus game - not the Valencia at Burroughs game - was for first place.

Canyon coach Dave Humphreys joined Hallman in saying home games have become particularly crucial. To win the league, they said, a team must get five home wins and a few road wins.

That puts Saugus and Canyon on the right track.

A look back:

Canyon 66, Valencia 62: Humphreys saw how focused Justin Orefice was during warmups, so he knew something good would happen.

Orefice responded with his best game: 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, three assists and three steals.

``He's got 10 games left in his high school career and he wants to make sure he goes out with a bang,'' Humphreys said.

Valencia got off to a 12-2 lead and Humphreys decided his man-to-man defense wasn't working. So he switched to zone and forced the Vikings to shoot outside.

Valencia made 18 of 71 shots, including 4 of 26 from beyond the 3-point line. Humphreys said guards Jimmy Cox, Mike Reardon and Jeremy Suarez were effective in shutting down the lanes so Valencia's Jerrohn Jordan and Fabian Leon couldn't get inside.

Valencia still held a comfortable rebound advantage 46-22. That includes 25 offensive rebounds.

``It was a combination of poor shooting and good defense by Canyon,'' Spindt said.

Saugus 63, Hart 60: During a pep rally that day, Hallman introduced Matt Bradley as ``the best player in the Santa Clarita Valley no one talks about.''

People likely are talking now after Bradley scored a career-best 29 points that included a nice Tyus Edney impersonation.

With about six seconds to play in regulation, Bradley received the inbound pass and dribbled forward. He said he wanted to go inside like Edney did for UCLA against Missouri in the 1995 NCAA Tournament.

But Hart closed the lane, forcing Bradley to the baseline. He made an 18-foot jump-shot with several defenders in his face to send the game into overtime.

In OT, he made a key 3-pointer and two free throws.

``This year, I've been more consistent,'' Bradley said. ``It might be more experience.''

Bradley was a nothing-special player last year, but he dedicated himself to an offseason shooting program. The Centurions also practice shooting a great deal every day.

In addition to Friday's output, Bradley has scored 27 twice and 21 once.

``That's the best game I've ever seen him play,'' Hart's J.T. Stotts said. ``I don't even know how he got that shot off. He was making tough shots off-balanced.''

Hart was hampered by 24-for-76 shooting from the field. The Indians also made just half of their 16 free throws.

Still, Stotts scored 26 points, getting about 10 of those from steals or transition baskets.

``I take pride in that,'' he said. ``You're gonna have bad shoomating nights. You've got to find other ways to score.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: BRADLEY