With a brand new roster and a few questions heading into the 2022-23 season, the Irvine Valley men's basketball team is doing just fine so far.
After beating Cuyamaca by 14 points to begin the year last week, the Lasers had another solid win on Thursday night to open the Fast Action Basketball IVC Classic at home.
Irvine Valley played a strong second half and then held on down the stretch to defeat Canyons, 64-63.
The Lasers (2-0) handed the Cougars their first loss of the season. Canyons, which won its own 14th Annual Clash at Canyons last weekend, had its record go to 2-1 overall.
Irvine Valley trailed, 33-31, at the half after shooting just 39.4 percent (13 of 33) from the field and 3 of 9 from three-point range.
But the Lasers picked it up in the second half, especially with the three ball. IVC made 5 of 8 three pointers in the final 20 minutes.
It was close throughout the second half, but Irvine Valley took the lead at 34-33 on a three-pointer by sophomore forward Charlie Henderson.
Canyons tied the game at 49 on a basket by Dillon Barrientos with 11:08 to play and then went up by three points (52-49) on a three-pointer by Barrientos with 10:42 left.
The Cougars were up, 56-51, with 7:34 left on a layup by Andrew Henderson.
And after a jumper by Jimmy Galgano, Canyons led, 58-51, with 6:43 to play.
But the Lasers never gave in.
The comeback started with a jumper by freshman guard Roman Swizek to make it a five-point game.
Another basket by Swizek pulled IVC to within 59-55.
A layup by freshman forward Ethan McCanless pushed Irvine Valley within two points at 59-57 with 3:08 to go.
Irvine Valley started to get stops on the other end and a layup by Henderson off an assist from McCanless tied things up at 59.
The Lasers took the lead for good at 61-59 with 1:52 left on another Henderson basket off a pass from McCanless.
And a pure Henderson three-pointer with 1:12 to go made it a 64-60 game.
Barrientos drilled a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to pull Canyons within a point and then after IVC missed a free throw, the Cougars had one last opportunity.
Andrew Henderson got a good look on a long pass down the court, but his shot was just off the mark at the buzzer for Canyons.
Charlie Henderson had his best game in a Laser uniform, finishing with 22 points and 13 rebounds. He added four assists and three blocks and knocked down all four of his three-pointers on the night.
Swizek contributed 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals and McCanless had nine points, seven rebounds and three assists for IVC.
Canyons was paced by Barrientos with 28 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the field. He added six rebounds and two assists. Galgano had nine points and Jonah El-Farra had 10 rebounds, five points and three assists.
Irvine Valley will take on Cerritos at 6 p.m. Friday in the championship of the classic on Friday.
Cerritos defeated Ventura, 72-68, in an action-packed game earlier on Thursday.
Ventura and Canyons will face off in the consolation final Friday at 4 p.m.
