Mistakes Prove Costly for Valley

With 25 turnovers, this will not go down as the finest hour for the Valley College men’s basketball team.

But it was a mental mistake that cost the host Monarchs the most in a 51-49 loss to Irvine Valley (20-12) in the first round of the Southern California Regional.

That blunder allowed Irvine Valley guard Damian Raibon to break loose under the basket on an inbound play and score on a lob pass from Donald Williams with one second to play.

The basket left the Monarchs (22-10) in disbelief.

The mistake ruined an outstanding second-half effor by Valley.

After trailing, 27-22, at the half, the Monarchs used a 9-0 run to take a 43-42 lead with 6:10 remaining.

The lead changed hands four times down the stretch before Raibon’s basket.

Valley center Leon Brisport had 27 points and seven rebounds.

“It’s just very disappointing,” Brisport said. “We worked so hard for this game in practice and I thought we played well . . . until the end.”

Brisport was the only player to score in double figures for Valley. Irvine Valley was led by Raibon with 12 points.