Arriaran Has 41 in Norco Victory

Erika Arriaran put on a show against one of the best defenses in the Southland on Thursday night at the Murrieta Nighthawk Classic, scoring 41 points to lead Norco, ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times, to a 66-62 double-overtime victory over No. 2 Fullerton Troy in the tournament championship game at Murrieta Valley High.

The most points that Troy (10-2) had given up this season was 47, and no other opponent had scored more than 34.

Norco led, 38-34, at intermission behind 20 first-half points by Arriaran.

Troy defeated Norco three times last season, including in last year’s Murrieta Valley tournament final game, in the Division II-AA final and in the state quarterfinals.

“Last year, we wore her down, and by the end of the game, she came up short,� said Kevin Kiernan, Troy’s coach. “We didn’t do it this time. She didn’t come up short. Today, she was the best player on the planet.�

Rheia Neabors finished with 18 points, and her sister, Rhaya Neabors, had 15 points for Troy.

Martin Henderson

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Kyle Brown, known more for his receiving in football, scored a season-high 23 points, and tournament MVP Taylor King added 18 points and nine rebounds as Santa Ana Mater Dei defeated Orange Lutheran, 67-60, in the championship game of the Orange tournament at Chapman University.

Orange Lutheran (10-4), coached by Chris Nordstrom, who spent 12 years as a Mater Dei assistant, had four players reach double figures in scoring. David Wilson led the Lancers with 15 points.

Mater Dei (12-2), ranked No. 4 by The Times, struggled with fouls and turnovers but took control when Brown scored eight points in the final eight minutes.

-- Eric Sondheimer