ROUNDUP : Rider’s Return Fails to Rally Antelope Valley in Title Game

J. R. Rider, who learned Friday morning that he had regained his sophomore eligibility, scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his Antelope Valley College debut Friday night in the Antelope Valley tournament championship.

Despite Rider’s presence, Antelope Valley, which was attempting to win its own tournament for the first time since 1968, lost, 91-83, to Santa Monica in the title game.

The Southern California Appeals Board of the Commission on Athletics ruled in Rider’s favor Thursday. He had been ineligible since the beginning of the season because he fell short of the required 2.0 grade-point average.

Rider, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Allen County (Kan.) College, entered the game against Santa Monica about one-third of the way through the first half and scored his first basket on an alley-oop dunk.

In other Antelope Valley tournament games:

Canyons 78, Riverside 74--Five players scored in double figures to help Canyon lock up third place.

Jason Harrison scored 18 points, Nick Sanderson had 17, Dan Murphy 12, Reggie Bell had 11 points and 10 rebounds and all-tournament pick Jeff Dorst scored 10 points to go with 11 rebounds.

Glendale 80, Palomar 67--Glendale bounced back from a two-point first-round loss to win its final two games and the consolation title.

In the Moorpark tournament:

Moorpark 103, Pasadena 96: Damian Wilson scored 23 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to key an up-tempo attack and lift the Raiders into the championship game.

Moorpark (7-1) trailed, 50-48, at halftime, however Wilson was able to penetrate the Lancer defense to key a 14-4 run that put the Raiders ahead, 88-74, with eight minutes left.

Moorpark guard Sam Crawford scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half and added 12 assists. Forward Mike Waggoner grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Raiders.

Moorpark will play Mt. San Antonio, a 67-66 victor over Ventura, for the championship tonight at 6.