In a battle of crosstown rivals looking for their first win in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play, the San Lorenzo Valley High boys basketball team emerged the victors over the Scotts Valley Falcons in the “Back Alley Valley Bowl.”
The racket in the SLV gym could be clearly heard all the way from Highway 9 — 200 yards away — as students from both schools ardently cheered on their teams.
SLV (6-9 overall, 1-2 SCCAL,) took the close contest in the trenches under the hoop, 62-55, as big man Luke Roberts (6 feet, 5 inches) scored 19 points and pulled in 15 rebounds on his way to a double-double while also blocking two shots.
The teams were tied 8-8 after the first quarter, and the Falcons took a 22-21 lead into halftime. It was only in the second half that the Cougars started their defensive attack.
Roberts and Nick Gorman cleaned up on the glass as the Falcons shot well from the field but couldn’t get the rebounds when they needed them. By the end of the third, it was SLV on top, 43-37.
“It was really nice to finally have size on our side,” Roberts said. “So far, we have been the smaller team in all our matchups.”
Desmond Balco led the Falcons (6-8, 0-3) with 21 points and seemed to have no problem driving the lane, but Scotts Valley missed a number of fast breaks that looked like sure things, much to the delight of the SLV fans.
“This was really big for our guys,” SLV coach Marcus Northcutt said. “It was really important for our boys to get a win. It just happened to be against Scotts Valley.”
Blake Bechtle scored 18 points and Gorman put in 14 as the Cougars posted their highest score in five games.
Both teams had been frustrated, without wins in league play, going into the game, and bragging rights among the two valleys seems to be the driving force behind their meetings.
Both schools’ football coaches were in the stands for the game.
“People from (the San Lorenzo Valley) have to use a lot of their facilities,” SLV football coach Doug Morris said. “If you want to go to McDonalds but you live in Felton, then we head onto their ‘turf,’ and vice versa. It is like that with a lot of things.”
Falcon athletic director and football coach Louie Walters said he sees a benefit to the rivalry.
“These players from both schools have developed a healthy respect for one another,” Walters said. “It is turning into a really fun thing. Both schools really want to bring it when they play each other.”
Girls
The Scotts Valley girls team (10-4, 3-0) won handily and remain undefeated in league play after a 60-24 win over the San Lorenzo Valley girls, who are winless in league.
Liz Munger scored 22 points for the Falcons. Savannah Prather led the Cougars (1-13, 0-3) with seven.
The two teams will meet again Jan. 31 at Scotts Valley High.
