Flanagan Plays the Ace in a Flush for Royal

SIMI VALLEY — Nick Flanagan played full speed in a slowdown game Wednesday night, scoring 24 points to lead Royal High to a 51-45 upset of Simi Valley in a Marmonte League boys’ basketball game.

In a tightly played game with an imposing post player on each side, Flanagan was the wild card, scoring five of his 24 points in the final two minutes.

With the game tied, 44-44, Flanagan took a pass from center Ryan Nielsen and missed an inside shot before grabbing the rebound and scoring while being fouled.

Flanagan hit a free throw to complete the three-point play and give Royal (12-7 overall, 4-3 in league play) a 47-44 lead.

Rafael Berumen made a free throw on Simi Valley’s ensuing possession, and after the teams traded errant shots, Flanagan again found the ball in his hands with Royal holding a two-point lead and about 20 seconds to play.

Nonplused, the senior spun past a Pioneer defender on the baseline and sank a clinching layup.

“We wanted to just pull the ball out and go with a spread [offense] to kill time,” Flanagan said. “But I saw the shot was open and went for it. It’s one of those that, you make it, and you’re the hero. If you don’t you’re in the coach’s doghouse.”

Flanagan’s heroics avenged a six-point Royal loss to the Pioneers in the championship game of the Hart tournament earlier this season. They also gave fourth-year Highlander Coach Larry Wiksell his first victory at Simi Valley.

“I thought we were lucky to make [the Hart tournament title game] as close as we did,” Wiksell said. “I didn’t think we’d be able to beat them [at Simi Valley] because they shoot so well in this gym.”

Simi Valley (15-2, 5-2), which fell into a tie for first place with Newbury Park, hit 47% of its shots, while Royal sank only 43%.

But when the Pioneers needed some clutch long-range shooting in the second half, it was not to be found.

Berumen, the Pioneers’ center and leading scorer, had 14 points in the first half but only three in the second after being double-teamed more intensely by Nielsen and Sol Rafia.

“[The double-team] wasn’t anything new,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “But we weren’t fortunate enough to nail those outside shots like we’ve been doing.”

Nielsen scored 13 points but made only five of 20 shots.

Kurt Mjoen scored 11 points for Simi Valley and teammate Branduinn Fullove had 10.

The Pioneers made only one of nine three-point shots.