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Basketball: Fauria steals the show at Battle of the Valley

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Leave it up to a football standout to steal the spotlight at an all-star basketball game. That’s what happened Sunday night in the Battle of the Valley, where the West defeated the East, 117-103, with Highland’s 6-foot-7 Kyisean Reed earning MVP honors by scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds at Cal State Northridge.

But it was 6-7 Joseph Fauria of Crespi, headed to Notre Dame on a football scholarship, who caused a stir during the halftime dunk contest. Fauria threw the ball off the wall at Cal State Northridge, and it somehow went over the basket, with Fauria catching it and throwing down the dunk. He then proceeded to run around the court and take off his jersey like a soccer player as the judges gave him all 10s. And he didn’t even win the dunk contest. It went to Harvard-Westlake’s Renaldo Woolridge.

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But Fauria’s enthusiasm in his final high school basketball game was contagious for the West, which had six players score in double figures. Fauria had 14 points, along with Simi Valley’s Mike Meza. Ben Ricard from Agoura had 19 points. Bryce Smith from Taft and Matt Johnson from Oaks Christian had 11 and 10, respectively.

Paul George from Palmdale Knight, expected to sign with Fresno State on Wednesday, scored 24 points for the East. He made five three-pointers and was probably the most talented player on the court. Cody Anderson from Canyon Country Canyon scored 18 points and Dallas Rutherford from Campbell Hall had 17.

In the girls’ game, Saugus’ Lauren Labat was selected the MVP in leading the East to victory.

LA 36 will air both games this week. By then, Fauria should have a YouTube moment.

-- Eric Sondheimer

-- Image by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times

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