GIRLS' BASKETBALL: HART GIVES IN TO VALENCIA VIKINGS' PRESSURE FORCES 30 TURNOVERS BY INDIANS VALENCIA 55, HART 53.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The Hart High girls' basketball team, which seemed to hold a spell over the Foothill League for much of the '90s, has now fallen victim to the Curse of the Vikings.

Valencia took a big step toward defending its league title Friday night, beating Hart for the third consecutive time as Marissa Meadows scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Vikings to a 55-53 home victory.

The Vikings (16-3, 3-0), ranked No. 10 in the area by the Daily News, won with a pressure defense that forced the No. 2-ranked Indians (13-4, 2-1) into a season-high 30 turnovers.

``When you turn the ball over 30 times, you should lose by 50,'' said Hart coach Dave Munroe, whose teams won seven consecutive league titles in the last decade. ``Give them credit, they were the better team.''

Valencia had to survive a late scare, as the Indians rallied from an eight-point deficit with three minutes to play and forced a thrilling end.

The Indians climbed to within 54-50 with 40 seconds left on two free throws by Whitney Downen. Valencia's Stephanie Patterson (10 points) then made one of two free throws and Hart's Sarah McIntosh made a driving layup to make the score 55-52 with seven seconds left.

Valencia's Valerie Pina, usually an excellent free-throw shooter, was fouled immediately but missed the first free throw. The Vikings, with just six team fouls, smartly fouled Brandi Kimble with one second left.

Kimble, a freshman, made the first free throw and perfectly glanced the ball off the rim on the second shot. Downen grabbed the rebound, but could not get a shot off.

``Brandi made a great play on that,'' Munroe said. ``I think what happened was that our players actually fouled Whitney, because they were all going for the ball.''

The Vikings led by as many as 10 points in the first half, thanks to their ability to get the ball inside to Meadows for high-percentage shots as well as a stifling defense that never allowed Hart's offense to get in sync.

Kimble led the Indians with 13 points and also had eight rebounds and two blocks, and Whitney Downen added 11 points despite dealing with foul trouble for much of the game.

Hart point guard Amanda Patton, who was sick and missed Thursday's practice, was constantly shadowed by Valencia's Holly Feneht, who held Patton to one field goal. Free throws allowed Patton to total 10 points.

``It wasn't really the points, it's that (Patton) is the focal point of their offense,'' Valencia coach Jerry Mike said. ``They run everything through her.''

Patton's illness was evident, as her passes were often poorly timed and off target. The Indians totaled 20 turnovers in the first half but trailed by just eight points at the break.