Moorpark Win Comes With a Foster Flourish

VALENCIA —  Although a freshman, Moorpark College’s Paul Foster has been an offensive force the past two games in the Canyons tournament.

Foster, a 6-foot-8 forward from Thousand Oaks High, scored a game-high 32 points and had 12 rebounds to lead Moorpark College to a 75-60 victory over East L.A. in a semifinal game Tuesday.

“He’s a man out there,” Raider Coach Al Nordquist said. “He was the whole thing tonight.”

Foster had 21 points in the first half, many after offensive rebounds. He was 14 for 18 from the field and four for four from the free-throw line. Foster scored 29 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in Moorpark’s 103-87 victory over Antelope Valley in the first round.

Moorpark (13-4) advanced to the title game at 7 tonight against L.A. City, which beat Cypress, 58-55.

The Raiders took a 14-2 lead after six minutes and never trailed. Foster had six of the points, including the first four of the game on a short bank shot and a layup.

David Ng paced the Huskies (4-13) with 16 points.

In another Canyons tournament game:

Canyons 69, Antelope Valley 68--Randy Eason scored a layup after a full-court pass from Jagos Medenica at the buzzer to lift the Cougars in a consolation semifinal.

“Maybe I’ll be the quarterback when they start a football team at (Canyons),” Medenica said.

Medenica, a 6-6 sophomore center, threw the inbounds pass from under the Antelope Valley (7-9) basket to Eason, who was positioned around the free-throw line at the opposite end. Eason made a leaping catch with Marauder defenders around him and made the shot. “We are supposed to hit the guy at the high post but we overshot him,” Canyons Coach Lee Smelser said.

It was the first victory for Canyons (4-10) over Antelope Valley in three meetings this season. The Cougars will play West L.A. for the consolation title at 3 today.