LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - Adam Malik pumped in 36 points to lead La Canada High over Hanford West 68-56 in a CIF Southern California Regional Division III game on Thursday night.

"He was as good as advertised," Hanford West coach Tim Caudillo said of Malik, who tallied 27 points in the first half. "He would be the best player in the Central Valley if he played up there with us. He was really smooth and shoots the ball well for a 6-foot-7 guy. His teammates really do a good job getting him the ball, too."

The Huskies (18-13) started slow, but finished strong.

The Spartans (29-3) led 20-11 in the first period with Malik scoring 15 points.

"We missed some easy buckets early that I think could have kept us in the game a little more early," Caudillo said. "We really just didn't have an answer for Malik, though."

Malik chipped in 12 points in the second period to push the Spartans up 29-21 at the half.

Mohamed Fara scored 12 points for the Huskies and Roy Ramirez chipped in eight.

Hanford West was playing in a regional playoff game for the first time in school history.

"I think it was a great experience for our kids," Caudillo said. "When we got back into the game we had two freshmen and a sophomore on the floor. I feel like we outplayed them in the second half. We really played hard."

The Huskies trailed 56-33 entering the final period, but outscored La Canada 23-12 in the final stanza.

Darren Ho tallied 11 points for the Spartans and Christian Nitu chipped in seven.

Malik's 36-point effort could hardly be considered a surprise. He was coming off a 31-point performance vs. Campbell Hall of North Hollywood, the No. 19-ranked team in the nation according to USA TODAY.

La Canada will host Mission Bay in the regional semifinals on Saturday. Mission Bay defeated Corona del Mar 74-67.

The Spartans were seeded No. 2 in region behind No. 1 Artesia, which trounced St. Augustine 99-55 and will take on Twentynine Palms in the other semifinal. Twentynine Palms was a 76-60 winner over Central Section Division III champion Tehachapi.

(March 9, 2007)