Simi Valley Wins Tournament After MacLean Gets Thrown Out

In a most bizarre ending to a most sublime basketball tournament, Simi Valley High held off Glendale, 75-70, to win its own tournament for the second straight year.

Glendale, which was down, 57-39, at the end of the third period, came to within 10 points at 6:46 in the fourth period on six technical free throws by Mike McDowell.

Glendale received the free throws after Simi Valley center Don MacLean was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Simi Valley Coach Bob Hawking received two technicals for arguing the call. McDowell’s free throws cut Simi Valley’s lead to 59-49.

MacLean scored 22 points before he was ejected.

Simi Valley, which had coasted to wins over Dos Pueblos in the first round and Saugus in the second, withstood the final Glendale comeback bid in the fourth quarter. Two free throws from Glendale’s Jeff Sofro and a field goal by Luis Baqueiro brought Glendale to within three, 73-70, with 10 seconds left. But two free throws by Butch Hawking put the Pioneers ahead for good.

Simi forward Shawn DeLaittre, who scored a game-high 25 points, was named the championship game’s most valuable player. MacLean and DeLaittre were named co-tournament MVPs.

In the game for third place, Alemany beat Saugus, 77-54, behind the scoring of David Swanson, who had a game-high 26 points.

For Saugus, Rusty Morse had 19 points.

In the game for fifth place, Birmingham--behind 23 points from Keith Owens and 17 from Ennerea Maxwell--beat Hart, 65-59.

Mike Michaelson had 15 points for Hart.