Prep Basketball CITY BOYS : Meyer, Idolor Add to Cook’s Stew as Van Nuys Wins, 82-79

Yes, there is more to the Van Nuys’ basketball team than Anthony Cook.

That was proven Wednesday afternoon when the Wolves defeated Marshall, 82-79, at Van Nuys High School in an East Valley League game that the Wolves made close only by missing nine free throws in the final quarter.

Sure, Cook led the Wolves with 26 points and 9 rebounds. A 6-8 senior forward/center who will play at the University of Arizona next season, he had four crowd-pleasing dunks in the victory that lifted Van Nuys to 7-0 in league and 16-2 overall.

But Cook went to the bench with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter after receiving his fourth foul--and the Barristers, who are 4-3 in league and 12-6 overall, immediately pushed the ball inside. Jasen Mackenzie scored and Van Nuys’ lead, once as high as 17 points, was down to 11 points.

Then Pat Meyer took over for Van Nuys. The junior guard hit three straight baskets and a free throw to lift the Wolves’ lead to 53-35.

With 2:22 remaining in the third quarter, however, the Wolves lost Meyer with an ankle injury.

So Maurice Idolor, Jerry Dorsey and Mohamed Marhaba stepped forward for Van Nuys. Idolor, who shares the ball-handling duties with Meyer, took the ball up court expertly against Marshall’s full-court pressure.

While his teammates had their problems with turnovers, Idolor kept his poise and handed off 10 assists. He also had 15 points, as did Meyer and Dorsey.

Marhaba controlled the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds. He also scored nine points. Dorsey made 5 of 6 free throws in the last eight minutes to hold off the Barristers, who trailed, 58-41, after three quarters.

Marshall’s Jimmy Rudy, who was held scoreless the first three quarters, scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to bring the Barristers back. Jerry Simon had 25 points and Mackenzie had 18 for Marshall, which dropped a 56-53 overtime decision to Van Nuys earlier this season.

Poly 100, Verdugo Hills 49

Polytechnic High exploded for 38 points in the second quarter and 32 in the fourth quarter to move easily into second place in the East Valley League.

The Parrots, who are 5-2 in league and 8-8 overall, were led at Verdugo Hills High by junior forward Alex Ruzich, who scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Dean Erlich had 18 points, while Mark Harkay had 14 points and 7 assists. The Dons were led by senior guard Anphon Ngov, who had 18 points.

Verdugo Hills is now 0-7 in league and 0-10 overall. Poly, which has won five of its last six games, trails Van Nuys by two games in league.

Birmingham 74, Sylmar 49

Birmingham High had four players score in double figures as it pulled away in the fourth quarter of the East Valley League game at Sylmar.

Howard Zuckerman led the Braves with 18 points, 10 assists and 5 steals. Dean Stuart and Milak Clarke each had 14 points. Ron Currie had a game-high 20 rebounds to go along with his 11 points.

The Spartans, who are 1-6 in league and 1-12 overall, were paced by Clark Christensen’s 12 points. Birmingham is 4-3 in league and 8-6 overall.

Reseda 58, N. Hollywood 52

North Hollywood High scored the first eight points of the second half to cut an 11-point halftime deficit to 36-33 and eventually went ahead, 49-48, late in the fourth quarter. But better free-throw shooting down the stretch kept Reseda undefeated in the Valley 3-A League.

Alan Gindlesperger had 12 points to lead Reseda, which is 7-0 in league and 12-5 overall. North Hollywood, which is 3-4 and 4-9, was led by Derrick Preston’s 14 points and Cliff Barnes’ 12 points.

Reseda, the visiting team, made 12 of its 19 free-throw attempts, while North Hollywood converted only 4 of its 17 attempts.

Granada Hills 64, Canoga Park 48

Desmond Cerceo scored eight points in the first minute and a half of the second quarter and finished with 25 points to lead the Highlanders at home.

Granada Hills High was down, 25-24, at the half, but erupted for 40 points in the final 16 minutes. Lavar Ball led the Hunters with 22 points.

The Highlanders improved to 6-1 in the Valley 3-A league and 11-5 overall. Canoga Park fell to 1-5 and 3-11. Granada Hills faces Reseda, which is 7-0 in league, in a showdown game Friday at Granada Hills.