BOYS' BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: HART BOUNCES BACK IN TIME FOR PLAYOFFS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Hart boys' basketball coach Tom Kelly worried about his Indians after losing to Valencia last Tuesday, a loss that ruined any hopes of a fourth consecutive Foothill League title.

``Looking at their faces the next day in practice you would have thought their puppy dog had run away from home,'' Kelly said. ``As coaches, it was a concern. I mean, no league championship, does that mean these guys are just going to cave in?''

Hardly.

The Indians responded with their best effort of the year two days later, routing Saugus 54-38 Thursday to secure third place in the Foothill League.

It was the ideal way to end the regular season for a team that struggled through the first half of the year, and an ideal launch into the Div. I-AA playoffs.

The Indians begin the postseason at home against Fountain Valley in a wild-card matchup Wednesday. Though Hart is accustomed to playing first-round home games after winning three league titles in a row, no one is taking anything for granted this year.

Two weeks ago, the Indians appeared out of playoff contention after searching for an identity and any sort of consistency. At one point, they were in fifth place.

Now Hart (14-12) goes into the playoffs fresh off its best game of the season.

``To start the year the way did and go through all the ups and downs we did it's a great achievement to find away to get into the playoffs,'' Kelly said. ``I can't tell you how proud I am of this team.''

In all, four teams from the Foothill League made the playoffs.

Valencia (20-6) won the Foothill League championship and plays host to Arcadia at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the first round. Saugus (19-6) finished in second place and plays host to Don Lugo on Friday in a first round Div. I-A game. Canyon (12-14 ) plays at Mira Costa in a Div. I-A wild-card game Wednesday.

--Clean slate: Canyon finished a disappointing fifth place in the Foothill League, but the Cowboys are confident they can make a run in the Div. I-A playoffs.

All season long Canyon played teams tough through the first half, but seemed to fade as games wore on. That was evident in their shooting percentages, which took a noticeable dip after halftime.

``It's hurt us all year,'' Canyon coach Chad Phillips said. ``It's frustrating because we know that if we can just shore that up a little bit we'd put ourselves in much better position to win some of the games we've been losing. And it's not like we're not capable. We've got guys who can shot the ball.''

Canyon is a young team, so the experience of the playoffs will be beneficial in seasons to come. Still, Phillips isn't about to concede anything at this point. His team has new life with a playoff berth, and in the postseason, anything is possible.

``We just have to figure out a way to make our shots in the third and fourth quarters,'' Phillips said. ``This is a team that hasn't reached its potential just yet, but there's still time to do that.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com